Top Attractions
The most popular attractions in the Lansing region come from both locals and visitors and demonstrate why Lansing is a great place to work, play, live and visit. Here’s a list of our top ten attractions.
1. State Capitol Building
Step back into the Victorian era with a visit to Michigan’s award-winning Capitol Building. This is Michigan’s third capitol building and was dedicated to the citizens of Michigan in 1879. Discover stunning views of the dome’s interior and over nine acres of hand painted surfaces, making it one of the country’s premier examples of decorative painting. Tours of the public areas and the House and Senate galleries are available every hour Monday through Friday.
2. Michigan History Museum
Housed in the Michigan History Center with the State Archives and the Library of Michigan, the Michigan History Museum has three floors of Michigan history spanning decades from the native peoples through the latter part of the 20th century. Visitors can walk through an Upper Peninsula copper mine, sit in a one room school house or a 1920’s movie theater, wander and window shop in a turn of the century streetscape or learn about Michigan’s agricultural contributions.
3. Impression 5 Science Center
This family friendly center is named after the five senses and is an interactive space to play, create and challenge your understanding of science. Experience a two-level water room and other hands-on exhibits exploring topics like fluid dynamics, kinetic energy, nature, light and more all while having fun.
4. Michigan State University
Michigan State University is the nation’s pioneer land-grant university and began as a bold experiment to bring science and innovation into everyday life. Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world—on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation—and is home to a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders. Visitors can enjoy the 4-H Children’s Garden, the MSU Museum, the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum and of course stop by the Dairy Store for a scoop of the best and freshest ice cream in the region. Go Green! Go White!
5. Potter Park Zoo
The beautifully landscaped 80-acre park, gardens and zoo are situated in an old oak forest along the Red Cedar River. This is Michigan’s oldest zoo and exhibits more than 500 animals from around the world. Potter Park Zoo is open 364 days and is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA.)
6. R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
This museum tells Lansing’s automotive history with a collection of cars and memorabilia courtesy of one of Lansing’s most prominent citizens, Ransom Eli Olds. The very first Oldsmobile, built in 1897 is on display along with antique REOs, Stars, and decades of Oldsmobiles mostly built here in Lansing.
7. Lansing Lugnuts at Jackson Field
Find family fun at affordable prices at Jackson Field, home to the Lansing Lugnuts. This is your chance to “Go Nuts” in the heart of downtown Lansing. The Lugnuts are a high A minor league team and an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
8. Old Town Lansing
Located on the northside of the downtown area is Old Town Lansing, a trendy neighborhood of approximately four blocks with boutiques, unique shopping, annual festivals and diverse dining. This was Lansing’s original downtown, before Lansing was even considered as the state’s capital city. Old Town is located along the Grand River and the trailhead for the Lansing River Trail is located nearby. This vibrant and artsy neighborhood is the perfect destination to spend a day of shopping, dining and is totally photo-worthy.
9. Lansing River Trail
The Lansing River Trail is 17+ miles of paved accessible trail in Lansing tracing the banks of the Grand River, the Red Cedar River and Sycamore Creek with multiple boardwalk sections skirting out over the river and wetland areas. Find many free parking access areas throughout Lansing and East Lansing.
10. Hawk Island Park
Hawk Island Park has four season of activity options with pedal boat rentals, a swimming beach and beach house, Splash Pad®, a playground and more. The 1.5 mile paved loop trail connects to the Lansing River Trail and is debris and snow free, year round for walkers, runners and bicyclists. In the winter, the park offers a snow-tubing hill complete with a magic carpet and snow
machines, ice fishing and warming building.
For the walkable downtown Lansing attractions that you can see in a five-block radius check out Take 5 in Downtown Lansing
