spring 2019 — $3.95 Ohio Michigan Fripp Island Princess Cruises New Jersey Panama City Beach Southwestern Ontario 1 - CROSSINGS “The Prettiest Town in Michigan” ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST 2018 TULIP TIME FESTIVAL 800.506.1299 ∙ HOLLAND.ORG Celebrating 90 Years #discoverholland May 4-12, 2019 “The Prettiest Town in Michigan” ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST 2018 TULIP TIME FESTIVAL 800.506.1299 ∙ HOLLAND.ORG Celebrating 90 Years #discoverholland May 4-12, 2019 Volume 20, Number 1, Spring 2019 PARADISE. Life & Style 16 the monroe doctrine Michigan’s Front Porch rolls MAKE IT YOURS. out the welcome mat. 20 in like flint Practice your swing in Flint & Genesee County. 50 midsize luxury Volkswagen glams up 2020 Passat sedan. 8 36 Cheetahs at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. Travel 8 34 spring forward in michigan walking on sunshine This four-season playground comes The surf’s up in Panama City Beach alive in the spring. Florida. 18 38 Snow Snake Golf Course in Clare County MI. tiptoe through the tulips an ohio spring adventure Holland Michigan will be a Dutch treat The Buckeye State will put some spring this spring and summer. back in your step. Free Wheeling 24 52 27 go for the green in traverse city reaching for the sky island style All thing considered, it’s a really great Princess Cruises celebrates 50 years of Living the barefoot life at Fripp place to be. sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage. Island Golf & Beach Resort. 28 56 32 the garden state an ontario odyssey you’ll take manhattan New Jersy offers some fertile ground Celebrate the rites of spring in Holland Hotel makes the Big for visitors. Southwestern Ontario. Apple more affordable. 36 Spring means getting out in your sports car and many Porsche enthusiasts Get away to paradise. Come play on miles of white-sand beaches, splash in turquoise waters and explore moonwalk in wapakoneta consider the 997-generation GT3 RS 4.0 endless family fun, eco-adventures, nonstop thrills and romantic escapes. Exhilaration awaits. Make it yours. Celebrate Apollo 11 in Neil the greatest 911 of all-time. Armstrong’s hometown. 54 spinning your wheels VISIT NOW Chatham-Kent is the classic VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/make-it-yours car capital of Canada. Cover: Holland Michigan Tulip Festival. Photo: Hayley Moore. 4 - CROSSINGS PARADISE. MAKE IT YOURS. Get away to paradise. Come play on miles of white-sand beaches, splash in turquoise waters and explore endless family fun, eco-adventures, nonstop thrills and romantic escapes. Exhilaration awaits. Make it yours. VISIT NOW VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/make-it-yours EDITORIAL Publisher AJR Publishing Managing Editor Renu Saggar Art Director Wayne Mansfield Assistant Editor Adelina Irvine Contributing Editors Parker Zone Gail Mero-O’Neil ADVERTISING National Sales Renu Saggar 1455 Normandy LaSalle, ON N9J 3N1 Phone: 519-969-7646 Fax: 519-969-1066 Email: [email protected] AJR PUBLISHING INC. President Renu Saggar Office Manager Adelina Irvine Email: [email protected] Crossings Magazine is published by AJR Pub- lishing Inc. Editorial and advertising offices: 1455 Normandy, LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, N9J 3N1. Annual subscription rate is $17.85 plus HST. Published three times a year in Spring- Summer, Summer, and Fall/Winter. The infor- mation in this magazine has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to insure accuracy. Manuscripts and photographs submitted for editorial consideration must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope and return postage. Copyright © 2019. The publisher will not be held responsible for loss or destruction of unsolicited material. Adver- tising agencies and advertisers assume full and complete liability for all content (includ- ing text, representation and illustrations) of advertisements and also assume responsibility for any claims arising thereof made against the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. www.CrossingsMagazine.ca Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved. PRINTED IN CANADA 6 - CROSSINGS NATURAL ADVENTURE Miles of trails just minutes from authentic cuisine and craft beer CHART YOUR ADVENTURE AT TRAVELMARQUETTE.COM TRAVEL MARQUETTE 1-800-544-4321 EMBRACE YOUR NATURAL IDENTITY BY RENU SAGGAR away from home. The 21 newly-renovated rooms each offer a scenic view of the river. Every room is beautifully furnished and ame- nities include in-room coffee makers, DINE & STAY complimentary Wi-Fi, cable television, plush robes, continental breakfast and a seasonal outdoor pool. Experience dining right on the water’s edge at The River Crab seafood restaurant. Dock your boat at the restaurant, or at the St. Clair Boat Harbor and climb aboard their complementary shuttle. River Crab is operated by Landry’s, a leader in the casual seafood restaurant category. The menu is full of fresh seafood, tender steaks and pastas, with so many choices it won’t be an easy decision. Join them for Happy Hour with discounted drinks and appetizers. An unforgettable evening overlooking the river begins with a crisp Martha’s Vineyard salad, or a bowl of New England The East Lansing Arts Festival. Clam Chowder, and ends with their suc- culent desserts. Entrees include Snapper Hemmingway and Planked Salmon. Spring Forward in Michigan If spur of the moment decisions aren’t This is where it happens every Spring your style, you can easily make a reserva- tion online. No matter how you arrive, the pringtime in Michigan is amaz- River Crab Restaurant & Blue end result is the same—fresh seafood and ing. There’s no better place to UPSCALE CASUAL DINING • SUNDAY BRUNCH • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • HAPPY HOUR Water Inn unmatched views in a casual, fine dining get in tune with nature, indulge atmosphere. Please be on the lookout S No matter what time of year you visit in diverse dining, or take part in a packed for any private events and promotions you will enjoy the beauty of the St. Clair lineup of festivals and events. From they may be offering on their website. River at the picturesque River Crab Res- blooming flowers and longer days, to For more information visit them at taurant & Blue Water Inn — a perfect countless rounds of golf, bike rides, lei- www.rivercrabbluewaterinn.com. destination for a relaxing meal, or restful surely walks and more, spring in Michigan getaway. With magnificent views of the Lansing means something special to everyone. river and unmatched amenities, the Blue Pack your bag, hop in the car and Detroit Water Inn is ready to become your home cross the border to Lansing — Michi- The transformation of Downtown De- troit continues with hotel properties like The St. Joseph Lighthouse. the Trumbull and Porter, the Foundation and Aloft at the David Whiney. The newly opened Shinola Hotel embodies the pride and ingenuity of Detroit with unparal- leled design, a timeless sense of style, approachable service and an obsession with quality craftsmanship. The luxury watchmaker/retailer partnered with other Michigan companies to incorporate locally-made furniture, wall coverings and furniture for the 129 room property, which opened in January, following two years of renovations. Dining choices in- BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED GUEST ROOMS • UPSCALE AMENITIES • AMAZING RIVER VIEWS clude San Morello, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, and featuring a seasonal menu inspired LANDRY’S SELECT CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE DOUBLE POINTS EVERY MONDAY by the seaside towns of southern Italy. 1337 RIVER ROAD (M-29) • ST. CLAIR, MI • 810.329.2261 8 - CROSSINGS LIKE US AND WE’LL LOVE YOU BACK! RiverCrabBlueWaterInn.com DINE & STAY UPSCALE CASUAL DINING • SUNDAY BRUNCH • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • HAPPY HOUR BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED GUEST ROOMS • UPSCALE AMENITIES • AMAZING RIVER VIEWS LANDRY’S SELECT CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE DOUBLE POINTS EVERY MONDAY 1337 RIVER ROAD (M-29) • ST. CLAIR, MI • 810.329.2261 LIKE US AND WE’LL LOVE YOU BACK! RiverCrabBlueWaterInn.com Michigan Binder Park Zoo you to be as close up to these magnificent Binder Park Zoo in southwest Michi- creatures as you’ll ever be! gan’s capital city. With over 60 festivals gan is unlike any other zoo experience! A 600 lb. Aldabra giant tortoise, Monkey and events throughout the year, it’s no Set on 433 spectacular acres, the zoo is Valley, exotic birds, Red River hogs and wonder Lansing is known as Michigan’s home to more than 500 exotic and na- domestic African farm animals still lie festival capital and provides the perfect tive animal species. Thoughtful exhibit ahead on your route before completing reason to visit. This Spring find Mighty design blends spacious animal habitats the loop back to the tram station. Uke Day 9, the largest ukulele festival in into the surrounding landscape — a 40 A full schedule of Education Programs the Midwest, the East Lansing Art Festival year hallmark of the zoo that inspires including group and family overnights and adjacent MSU Arts and Crafts Show, awe and commands respect for these in an authentic African tented camp — Margarita Festival and Beerfest at the amazing creatures. the only one in the Midwest — teach Ballpark. Speaking of ballparks, Spring In the East Zoo, paths wind around the importance of conservation through ushers in some minor league baseball (the spaces where kangaroos bound, a snow creative and fun experiences and an excit- Lansing Lugnuts are a Toronto Blue Jays leopard prowls and black bears wrestle. ing roster of unique fund-raising events affiliate) or even some professional soccer Drop into the Adventure Station to peek in (like the Cheetah Chase 5K, Corks for with the newly-formed Lansing Ignite, on the sloths, amphibians and reptiles. Conservation wine festival and others) Michigan’s only professional soccer team. Hear the whistle blow as you board the engage zoo-lovers and party-goers alike. While in town, take advantage of Lan- Z.O. & O.