- Vacation location in Michigan:   Grand Haven, Michigan, an idyllic fishing and recreational and camping town on the shores of Lake Michigan--the stroll along the boardwalk to the historic lighthouse is breathtaking. The evening sunset is spectacular! And there's nothing better than the soft, soothing sands along the beach!

- Appetizer:  the barbeque meatballs at Win Schulers in Marshall, Michigan--melt in your mouth. Four generations of family members have been operating this historic restaurant since 1909. First class service and exceptional food are just some of the reasons this epicurean delight has withstood the strains of a changing economy.

- Hotel:  The Ritz-Carlton (Dearborn) ambience and personal attention are the hallmarks. The Ladies and Gentlemen of the hotel as they are called provide some of the best guest service on the planet! And having won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award twice separates this prestigious hotel from the other wanna-bes.

- White bean chili soup: Kirby Grill in Grand Haven--soup so good your knees will buckle when you taste it.

- Summer vacation:  Mackinac Island with lunch at The Grand Hotel. The Hotel boasts the world's longest porch. No cars allowed on the Island just horse drawn carriages. The aroma of fudge and equine droppings fill the air but travel there in June for the lilac festival for a nostril treat!

- Pizza: Buddy's in Detroit

- Amusement Park:  the Michigan Adventure Park in Muskegon takes high honors and a ride on the roller coaster Shivering Timbers is spectacular. Over 60 rides and attractions and a spectacular water park with 20 wild water rides.

- Michigan restaurant:  The 1913 Room at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. This is the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in our state and the service and the menu selections are first class. In 2008 it won that distinction for the seventh time.

- Canoe trip:   the White River in Montague, Michigan. The site of blue heron taking flight, ducks swimming frantically away and startled deer racing through the grass and the occasional muskrat swimming in the river provide memories that will last a lifetime.

- Golf course:  Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan. Panoramic views of northern Michigan foliage and firs and well manicured fairways.

- Romantic getaway:  the Betsie Bay Inn in Frankfort, Michigan. Rooms are outfitted with hot tubs, saunas, canopy beds, and wood burning stoves. Perfect getaway for married couples and if you weren't married when you arrived, you will be when you leave!

- Snack:  the Pronto Pup Stand in Grand Haven has been delighting hot dog aficionados for over 60 years. Grab a couple of doggies and then stroll along the boardwalk. And then settle in for the Musical Fountain at dusk along the Grand River.

(Editor's note: Cobo Hall no longer hosts a Christmas event, but you can search site for the other Holiday events going on in and around the metro Detroit area).

Dickens Festival
Holly, November 27-December 6 --For over 30 years, the sights, sounds, smells and surprises of the Dickens Festival have been delighting holiday revelers in Historic Downtown Holly. Join in the fun as Charles Dickens’ Merry Old England comes alive in the atmosphere of turn of the century buildings, welcoming shopkeepers, and skilled craftspeople. Each weekend will feature different activities. An ice sculptor, black smith, candle maker, and others will be showcasing their talents throughout the weekends. The event also includes a parade of lights.

Holiday Homes Tour in Greenfield Village
Dearborn, Fridays-Sundays only November 27 - December 27--Experience 250 Years of American Holiday Traditions. Take as self-guided "homes tour" in the Greenfield Village Porches and Parlors district and experience firsthand the sights, sounds, smells and traditions of the season. Discover the American holiday history where you'll see home decorating, cooking demonstrations and special presentations of each home throughout the years.

Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend
Manistee, December 3-6--Oh what fun it is to ride in this nostalgic Victorian parade (December 5), featuring horse-drawn sleighs and passengers in period costume. Draft horses bring up the rear, pulling the 40-foot-tall community Christmas tree on a sled to its downtown location. Join in caroling around the tree after the mayor lights it up.

Christmas in Ida Festival and Parade of Lights
Ida, December 4-6--The community of Ida celebrates its 28th Christmas festival with a bang-up lineup, with spectacular fireworks, craft shows, Santa's Zoo with live reindeer and llamas, great entertainment, ice sculptures and the country's largest crèche display. The Parade of Lights gets glowing reviews for its illuminated floats, fire trucks, bands, balloons and cartoon characters.

WinterFest: A Season of Celebrations
Lansing, December 5--Stop by the Michigan Historical Museum to take in our festive atmosphere! We've decked our halls with holiday trimmings and added special winter and holiday displays throughout the galleries. You will enjoy family-friendly activities that celebrate the excitement of the season and the diversity of our Michigan heritage through art, dance, music, crafts and sports.

Holiday Tea & Tour - Edsel & Eleanor
Grosse Pointe Shores, December 5--What better way to spend an afternoon than enjoying a holiday tour of the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House followed by flavorful tea and delectable bite-sized treats in the mansion’s elegant Tea Room. Reservations required.

For a complete list of events taking place over the next month, click here.

Toast the Season
Leelanau Peninsula, November 7-8 & 14-15--Toast the Season will feature a special wine pour and holiday themed gourmet food at area wineries. Participants will receive a special souvenir glass when they make their first stop. Along the way you will also be given a handcrafted gift basket filled with some additional gifts and discounts from area merchants and eateries. Participants will receive a special collectable ornament from each winery visited.

25th Annual Silver Bells in the City
Lansing, November 20--"It's Christmas time in the city" when Lansing ignites its holiday season with an electric light parade of glowing floats, fire trucks and high school marching bands with lights on their uniforms and instruments. Michigan's official holiday tree is lit at the capitol, and fireworks cascade above the dome. A horse-drawn wagon takes you through downtown to see the twinkling lights and nearly 50 local arts organizations, such as bell choirs. You're also admitted free to Lansing’s downtown cultural institutions, including museums, theaters and art galleries.

International Festival of Lights
Battle Creek, November 21-December 31--Spark your spirit November 21 with an evening holiday parade and the debut of more than a million twinkling lights downtown. The riverwalk glows with outdoor displays that shine nightly and radiant trees line Michigan Avenue. Other festive favorites: a hot-air balloon festival, candlelight tours of the historic Adventist Village, living nativity scene, ice-sculpture contest and visits with Santa.

Dutch Winterfest
Holland, November 21-January 31--Shop alfresco for handcrafted gifts, live greens, folk art and food, while live music plays at the open-air Christmas market. Sinterklaas arrives on his white horse December 1, along with his mischievous band of helpers. Thousands of lights on floats, bands and people stream by in the Parade of Lights. You can also take in the holiday theater productions and ice-sculpting competition, shop along the heated streets and sidewalks and sample bankets (pastries filled with almond paste), butter cookies and other ethnic treats.

America's 83rd Thanksgiving Parade
Detroit, November 26--The beloved Turkey Day parade steps off at 9:20 a.m. and promenades two miles down the city's famous Woodward Avenue, America's first paved road. Stand by for character balloons, floats, marching bands and nationally-known celebrities. The weekend after the parade, you're invited inside The Parade Company studio for a close-up look at your favorite floats.

Christmas at Crossroads
Flint, November 27–29 & December 4-30 (weekends only)--All aboard the Huckleberry Railroad! Thousands of lights decorate the vintage train that takes passengers past glittering displays tucked in the woods around this living-history village. In the 1800's town, stop by the opera house for a live stage show and mill around as costumed residents celebrate an old-time holiday.

North Pole Express
Owosso, November 27–29 & December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20--The 1225 steam locomotive used as a model for the "Polar Express" movie takes you on a train excursion from the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso to Santa's Village at the Saginaw County Fairgrounds in Chesaning. During the 4-hour outing, kids and their families can relive the "Polar Express" story aboard the train, then visit with Santa, watch elf toymakers at work and take holiday-themed carnival rides.

Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend
Manistee, December 3-6--Bells on bobtail ring as horse-drawn sleighs and people in period costumes parade by. Draft horses bring up the rear, pulling the 40-foot-tall community holiday tree on a sled to its downtown location. After the evening parade, eat roasted chestnuts, sip cider and join in the caroling around the city’s holiday tree.

Donning aprons, each team is assigned two dishes to prepare for the seven-course meal. One lucky guest is crowned Head Chef, complete with the tall white hat. To make it easier for out-of-town guests, the innkeeper does all of the shopping ahead of time.

The evening’s format is informal. More accurately, it’s minimally controlled chaos. Couples move from room to room, slicing, dicing, mincing, and chopping, cutting, singing and dancing. After dinner, quests are given a complete tour of the 1834 Greek Revival-style mansion, including secret rooms and a tunnel, which was a stop for an estimated 400 slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad.

The innkeepers make it clear that these parties are not professional cooking getaways; they’re for amateurs who want to get into the kitchen, met new friends and have a lot of fun.

To learn more about chef night cooking parties, click here. For seasonal packages and other events at the Munro House B&B, click here.

Silver Bells in the City
November 20, Lansing--A 60-unit electric light parade gets glowing reviews for its illuminated floats, fire trucks, snow plows and marching bands, and city sidewalks dress in holiday style for the lighting of Michigan's official tree at the capitol and fireworks bursting above the dome. Nearly 50 arts organizations including community bands, ethnic dancers, barbershop singers, bell choirs and storytellers perform at this event.

Dutch Winterfest
November 21-January 31--This folk celebration takes place on 8th Street in Downtown Holland and is centered around Sinterklaas , the benevolent St. Nicholas. In true Dutch tradition, Sinterklaas arrives on his white horse surrounded by his mischievous Zwarte Piet helpers. The procession proceeds to the 8th Street Market Place where he's "welkomed" by the Mayor.

America’s Thanksgiving Parade
November 26, Detroit--After you've stuffed the turkey, then hustle downtown for the 9:20 a.m. parade down the city's famous Woodward Avenue. More than 75 specialty units pass by, including the popular cartoon characters balloons, movie-themed floats, high school marching bands and Santa's sleigh.

North Pole Express
November 27–29 & December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, Owosso -- All aboard for a magical train ride to the North Pole aboard the 1225 steam locomotive used as a model for the Polar Express movie. On the four-hour excursion, you'll chug from the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso to the North Pole in Chesaning, where you can visit with Santa and his elves before returning to Owosso.

Christmas at Crossroads
November 27–29 & December 4-30 (weekends only), Flint--Make tracks for Crossroads Village to ride the Huckleberry Railroad steam train, outlined with thousands of lights. You'll chug past glittering displays tucked all around this 1800s living-history village. Also, watch a live stage show at the opera house, shop the vintage stores and mill around to see costumed residents celebrating an 1800s holiday.

According to excerpts from the story:

A host of outdoor activities for individuals and families is planned during "Celebrate the Watershed!"on May 30. The environment and improved water quality are the focus of the day, with activities that educate the public but are also fun.

It is the first collaborative event of the Mona Lake Watershed Council, the Mona Lake Improvement Association, Muskegon Conservation District and Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership, according to Brenda Moore, director of Mona Lake Watershed Council.

"We're collaborating to get more public involved," said Moore. "The whole thrust is water quality. Muskegon River feeds to Muskegon Lake, which feeds into Lake Michigan. Black Creek feeds into Mona Lake, which feeds into Lake Michigan. They're all intertwined, but if you don't look at a map or think about it, you might not know.

Read the complete story here.