 Whether it’s your first time in West Michigan or you’re visiting friends and family, when you go is a pretty important factor. Midwest winters can be brutal, and while Spring and Fall have their perks, the best time to travel to Michigan is in the Summer. So I’m going to break down just why summers in Grand Rapids are the best so that you can make the most of your time there.
1. The Weather First things first, Summer weather in Michigan is ideal. It’s the sunniest, warmest time of the year, which means you can comfortably spend more time outdoors. Rather than being holed up inside because of a snow storm, you can go out for a nice afternoon bike ride or have an outdoor lunch on your family’s backyard deck. Granted, you can expect some humidity and nighttime mosquitoes, but we could probably agree that this is much better than trudging through 7 inches of dirty, slushy snow in 20-degree weather. 2. There’s More to Do Anyone who thinks there’s nothing to do in Grand Rapids probably hasn’t been there in the Summer months. Because of the warmer weather, there are way more activities in the area and places you can enjoy. First, there are the major outdoor events like the Festival of the Arts and the Coast Guard Festival. Then, spend an afternoon or evening at a Whitecaps baseball game. Or take the family for a beach day at one of the many gorgeous beaches along Lake Michigan. You can also visit nearby towns like Saugatuck that come alive in summer, with lots of great local shops and eateries. You’ll also see outdoor seating at restaurants downtown, making the city feel more vibrant than it does in the colder months. 3. Longer Days Summer also means longer days, and while this isn’t unique to just Michigan, the days are exceptionally longer here than in areas like Los Angeles. During summer in LA, you can expect sunsets around 8:00 p.m., but in the Midwest, the sun may set as late as 9:30-9:45 p.m. The extra sunlight is great for your mental health, as many experts say that time outdoors and in the sun boosts serotonin levels. Plus, you’ll feel that you have more time and energy to do things with the extra daylight. 4. People are in a Better Mood People in the Midwest are very friendly throughout the year, but there’s something about the summer that makes people there even more relaxed and happy. And I get it! After being cooped up during a long Winter, it probably feels amazing to get outside and enjoy summer. There’s a great, friendly energy that I love about Michigan summers, and you’ll likely notice it for yourself too.
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When you live in Los Angeles, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how much Hollywood history is really here. Any weekend you can find famous venues and landmarks where the stars of the past would frequent. One of LA’s most famous fast food spots also happens to be beloved by the stars of Hollywood’s past and present.
Pink’s Hot Dogs has been in business since 1939. Though they’ve since gained a few more Southern California locations, their original site at Melrose and La Brea still stands. Pink’s is known for their wide variety of chili dogs, and over time, they’ve created signature hot dogs named after some of the stars who loved to visit. One such movie star who was a fan of Pink’s was Marlon Brando. So when I recently visited, I knew that The Brando Dog would have to be my pick for what to eat – and it did not disappoint! This meal features a 9-inch stretch dog, mustard, onions, chili, and shredded cheddar cheese. There’s so much variety on the Pink’s menu, too. Any hot dog combination you could think of, and Pink’s probably has it. Some other hot dog titles include the Martha Stewart Dog, Lord of the Rings Dog, Carl Reiner Dog, Rosie O’Donnell Long Island Dog, Hollywood Walk of Fame Dog, and the Mulholland Drive Dog – to name a few! You can expect to pay an average of around $8-10 for a hot dog here, with some options more expensive and cheaper than others. Plus, as you wait for your meal order to be called, you can check out the walls inside that are covered with photos of the many celebrities that have visited Pink’s over the years.  Like any big city, Los Angeles has plenty of incredible food spots to choose from. Whether you're visiting or a local, it can be tough to narrow down the choices. Maybe you’re looking for a fabulous place to go for brunch, or you want to visit a hip and trendy venue. I’ve included in this list some great finds I’ve personally tried out recently, each with its own unique reasons to go. With that being said, check out these 4 great LA restaurants.
The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker Reasons to Go:
This restaurant is located in Sunset Plaza, an upscale section of West Hollywood’s famous Sunset Strip, making this a great place if you need to grab a bite to eat while touring the area. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, and the look of the venue is reminiscent of something you’d see in Santorini. One of my favorite things about this venue is that you get a lot for the price. I ordered the traditional breakfast, which costs $19 and was more food than I could finish. I find that sometimes at nice restaurants they’ll charge you an arm and a leg for practically a sliver of food, but this was not the case at The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker. Another interesting thing about this restaurant is the drinks. If you’re into mimosas, they have a cool mimosa flight, but even the lattes here are impressive. The color burst latte is definitely worth an Instagram picture. The Highlight Room Reasons to Go:
The Highlight Room is a rooftop pool and restaurant located in the heart of Hollywood. It’s also one of those LA places where the ‘beautiful people’ go to see and be seen, so if that’s your vibe, then you’ll want to check out this spot. More than likely the majority of those working here are aspiring influencers and actors, and while sometimes that can mean snobby service, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the hosts and servers here were really nice. The best part about The Highlight Room is the view, though. I ate here during the day, and you can see all across Hollywood right from your dining table. Food and drinks were costly, with most meals in the $20-25 range. I ordered a grilled chicken Caesar salad, so not the most interesting thing, but it was good. In comparison to the other restaurants on this list, the food here was probably my least favorite, and it was the same for the other people in my dining group. But again, the bigger draw of this venue isn’t the food so much as the ambiance and views. Plus, it’s in the heart of Hollywood, so if you have plans to sightsee around the Walk of Fame, this is a great spot hit up the same day. All Day Baby Reasons to Go:
All Day Baby is located on Sunset Blvd. in LA’s eclectic Silver Lake neighborhood, east of Hollywood. If you’re a tourist visiting LA, this is where you’re likely to find more locals hanging out. This venue is the most budget-friendly place on this list, but this also depends on what and how much you order. Rather than being seated and ordering from your table, you’ll wait order and pay upfront. You then seat yourself, and your food is delivered to your table. I chose the fried chicken sandwich with a side order of fries. I was pleasantly surprised with the sandwich, but I will say their breakfast sandwich also looked pretty good. As far as food goes, their dinnertime menu did look better than the daytime one, so just keep that in mind as well. This restaurant has plenty of outdoor and open-air indoor seating. They also have some locally-made pastries worth trying, but they can sell out quickly. I had my eye on the cinnamon rolls, and they were long gone by the time I got there. El Coyote Mexican Café Reasons to Go:
As far as food and drinks go, El Coyote is hands down the winner here. I ordered the steak fajitas and a margarita to drink, both of which were incredible! You’ll likely have plenty of leftovers with this meal, but they’re worth ordering. If you’re 21+, be sure to try their margarita. This was honestly the best margarita I’ve ever had, but I want to warn you that it’s the kind that doesn’t taste strong but secretly is. So, if you plan to have one, take a ride share, walk, or give yourself plenty of time to digest it in order to drive safely. They have indoor and outdoor seating. El Coyote is also the most historic restaurant on this list, though part of its fame is steeped in tragedy. El Coyote was the restaurant Sharon Tate and friends dined at the night of the Charles Manson murders. Because of this history, El Coyote was also featured in the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The restaurant has been open for over 90 years, making it one of the city’s oldest spots. So, if you’re into Hollywood history - and want some seriously good Mexican food and margaritas - definitely check out El Coyote. They also have free parking in the back until 4:00 p.m. After that, you’ll have to pay to park there. |
About the author
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer and comedian who has been featured on Amazon, truTV, The New York Times, Matador Network, BUST Magazine, Sleep Advisor, Tiplr, ARTRPRNR Magazine, YourTango, Thought Catalog, GoMad Nomad, Mashable, The Daily Mail UK, the Cannes Film Festival, LaughFest, Women's Lifestyle Magazine, and the Funny Women Festival LA. For more info visit: http://www.jillzwarensteyn.weebly.com Archives
August 2022
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