West Michigan

Dance Fitness Facilitator Heather Winia believes dancing offers physical and mental health benefits not found in other activities.

From participating in civics to easier grocery shopping, Lucia Rios’ life has changed dramatically during the pandemic. She hopes the access continues.

As the National Parks System celebrates it’s centennial, it’s important for visitors to know a few rules when visiting them.

Hiking in Michigan? This comprehensive guide includes tips on what to pack, how much food and drink you’ll need and how to stay safe on the trail.

Whether you’re on the water for a short period of time or the whole day, make sure you are practicing safe practices and are aware of your surroundings.

Make a dent in the caloric damage you’ll do on Thanksgiving with one of these fun community turkey runs.

Whether you are more of a trick or a treat person, these Halloween events across Michigan are certain to be fun for the entire family.

Learn more about the blueberry festivals happening in Michigan this August.

Ferris State University’s Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia uses “objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote social justice.”

If you’re looking for inspiration, here are eight fun ways to ring in 2019 across Michigan.

Catch up with Matt Puempel, a second-season Grand Rapids Griffin on hockey, life and why he loves giving back to the communities he plays in.

Hope College is a liberal arts school located just off the shore of Lake Michigan in Holland. There are plenty of healthy on-campus resources for students.

If you’re hoping to make your “Laker effect”, it’s important to stay healthy throughout your experience at Grand Valley State University. Here’s how.

Here are some of the healthiest spots on campus for students attending Western Michigan University.

Heard of bullet journaling? Find out how this low-tech organizational tool helped a Grand Rapids woman get it all together.

Urban Roots is a community farm and education center located in Grand Rapids. Learn more about their mission to empower access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

There is something about “unplugging” from busy day-to-day lives and then recharging in the Michigan backcountry.

At Grand Rapids Public Schools, everyone can participate in athletics, regardless of their ability to pay. Find out how they’re empowering kids through sports.

As the recipient of the Autism Alliance of Michigan’s Autism Seal of Approval, the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum strives to be a welcoming place for all.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is proud to partner with Tulip Time to bring the community a series of special yoga events this May.

Find out how the more than 7,000 tropical butterflies that call Frederik Meijer Gardens home in March and April make the journey to West Michigan.

This Michigan destination draws visitors from throughout the Midwest. Its luge track is one of only four in the U.S., plus there are winter activities for all.

LaughFest takes place March 8-18. The annual event is a fundraiser for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and features top comedic talent plus events for all ages.

Michigan is beautiful, but beach season is short. If you’re craving warmth and water, you’re only a road trip away from one of these indoor water parks.

Blue Cross' #MIKidsCan Champion of the Month is Caebre Baty. He's playing a young Martin Luther King Jr. in Opera Grand Rapids' production of I DREAM.

Simultaneous premiers of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19 in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. Money raised will benefit Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice Pediatric Care.

Try these Michigan themed crafts to bring the beauty of the fall season into your home!

Looking to up your Halloween game? Check out these real-life haunted destinations.

Michigan offers many unique excursions during the fall and Halloween season. Try one of these suggestions!

Plan to incorporate healthy habits into your ArtPrize visit this year.

There are so many great places to hike in west and southwest Michigan. Start planning your adventure here with these ideas.

Located just minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan in Shelby, a lavender labyrinth attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Black History 101 Mobile Museum boasts an award-winning collection of over 7,000 original artifacts dating from the slave trade era to hip-hop culture.

Bring your kids to the #MIKidsCan fitness area at this weekend’s Hispanic Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, where they can try out new fitness activities.

Eating fresh, local ingredients is important for a healthy diet. Find out how Michigan food trucks can be part of yours.

Gorgeous beaches? Check. Adventure, history, good eats, art and more? Muskegon really has it all. Find out why you should visit this West Michigan beach town.

The Grand Rapids Griffins’ Put a Lid On It program stresses the importance of wearing a bike helmet. Kids who pledge to do so can earn free hockey tickets.

If the friends you keep aren’t always up for the adventure you crave, a new Michigan social community aims to connect members with adventure and each other.

Poetry helped Marcel Price process mental health diagnoses and trauma from his youth. As GR’s new poet laureate, he’s trying to help others find their voice.

Hammocks aren’t just for trees anymore. Enjoy hanging out in a new and improved way this summer.

Prepared staff at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum helped a West Michigan man survive a heart attack mere months after they’d been trained to do so.

A Grand Rapids doctor says patients affected by the opioid epidemic need understanding and evidence-backed treatment to become well.

Check out one of these park locations for free outdoor movie screenings this summer.

Do you love Michigan's great outdoors? Got questions about camping, hiking, biking or more? Join the #MIBigGreenGym Twitter chat June 27 at 11 a.m.

Get the winning recipe from this year’s Real Men Cook and Eat Healthy cooking competition.

Throw away some stress and get a low-impact workout in with a round of disc golf.

Tips on raising healthy, happy kids from Jermale Eddie, owner of Malamiah Juice Bar.

Meet this year’s #MIKidsCan cooking contest winner and make her recipe. The competition was held Monday, June 12 at Baxter Community Center in Grand Rapids.

Nine lifestyle changes to help you blow out the candles at your 100th birthday party.

Making your home and neighborhood a safer place to be can yield positive health benefits.

Michigan's Brett Masserant will attempt a new world record during a West Michigan Whitecaps School Days game.

Advice from a therapist on choosing the right therapist.

Foster parents and children need support. Find out how you can help.

Experience more Michigan destinations this summer without spending a lot of money through the Michigan Activity Pass program.

Tulip Time in Holland is right around the corner. One of the traditional Dutch dancers shares what it’s like to be a part of the celebration.

Beer, Brussels sprouts and bacon: you’re going to want to make this flavorful side dish pronto.

This marinade featuring Founders Brewing Company’s All Day IPA will take your steak to new heights.

Dark chocolate, coconut, toasted nuts and Arcadia Ales’ Porter Rico beer combine for these can’t-eat-just-one truffles.

Running helped Sasha Wolff deal with her depression. She’s started a community called Still I Run to help others do the same.

Just because the mosquitos that carry Zika aren’t likely to infect you in Michigan, there are still precautions you need to take, especially if you’re pregnant.

Laughing at his Tourette’s has helped Samuel Comroe bond with audiences and take back the condition from people who perpetuate negative stereotypes.

Young or old, there’s something for everyone at LaughFest, which kicks off on Thursday, March 9.

For the almost 150 people gathered at Grand Rapids’ Rosa Parks Circle for the second annual Human Hungry Hungry Hippos tournament, the hunger for fun was real.

For seniors living in and around Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, CentraCare is helping them live independently. Find out about available services near you.

Chocolates and flowers? Yawn. Be adventurous as you plan this year’s big date.

With a little preparation, you can make sure your kids fall in love with sports and feel good about themselves.

The Soup’s On For All event raises over $100,000 annually to benefit God’s Kitchen. Try two of the 2017 event recipes for yourself.

Want to get away from it all? Bundle up and find your new favorite quiet winter recreation spot in Michigan.

Ten reasons we love Michigan, in celebration of our state’s 180th birthday.

Take back your vacation time this year by planning a getaway closer to home. These tips will get you started.

If you’re a social butterfly bored by the gym, sport and social clubs in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo might be just what you’re looking for.

From Marquette to Detroit, Michiganders have no shortage of festive community events to choose from as they ring in the New Year.

Michigan Christmas tree growers donated more than 1,000 trees this year as part of a national initiative called Trees for Troops.

There’s a 50 percent greater chance of someone dying in a house fire without a working smoke alarm. Fire officials are working to equip more Michigan homes.

The Mary Free Bed YMCA near SE Grand Rapids is the first in the world to earn a global universal design certification, which recognizes its accessibility.

Hosting for the holidays? Make sure your home is a safe haven for young visitors.

Michigan cyclists are pushing for expanded laws to keep them safe on the road. Here’s what they’re doing and how you can help.

Instead of watching the floats make their way down Woodward Avenue, 11-year-old Gavin DeVore will get to ride one.

Want to maximize your jolliness this holiday season? Grand Rapids is the place to be.

On Veterans Day, thank those who have served our country. Read on for some interesting facts about Michigan veterans.

Juanita Lillie helps disabled students travel the world through Abroad with Disabilities, the non-profit organization she founded as a college student.

The new Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives is open for visitors. Organizers are working to raise money for a larger, permanent location.

Caring for an infant can be a hard adjustment to make. Read on for tips about how to take care of yourself and your mental health after baby’s arrival.

A Step it Up walking program in Ottawa County has residents on the move–in fact, they’ve gone around the world four times.

The farm at Blandford Nature Center is bringing agriculture to the community in new and exciting ways.

Planning a visit to ArtPrize Eight? Make sure to look for these Michigan-inspired entries.

Many ArtPrize Eight artists are raising awareness for causes near and dear to them through their entries.

ArtPrize Eight kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Find out what’s new and how you can fully take part in the Grand Rapids event.

This West Michigan mountain biking group builds confidence and teaches kids about trail safety and stewardship.

There’s a surprising story behind how West Michigan’s Lubbers Family Farm came to be.

Find out what what’s in store at the 39th annual Grand Rapids Hispanic Festival, which returns to Calder Plaza Aug. 26-28, 2016.

Check out these tips and tricks so you’re not really “roughing it” before your first big camping trip.

Find out how you can celebrate the National Parks’ centennial right here in Michigan.

The Grand Rapids Creative Youth Center empowers young voices through creative expression. Find out how you can help them expand services to more kids.

If you’ve been wanting to try some new Grand Rapids restaurants, Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity.

Pastor Troy Evans served up honey herb salmon with sweet potato hash and green beans. Find the winning recipe here.

Hundreds of bicycle races are taking place this summer, but ones in August look particularly interesting.

The Grand Rapids Original Swing Society needs your help to bring the title for World’s Largest Swing Dance back to Michigan.

The new millennial trend, hanging a hammock between two trees, is changing the way Michiganders relax, camp and sleep. Have you tried one yet?