Lansing is the state capital of Michigan and home to huge Michigan State University. It is the government headquarters of the state, and serves as a major industrial area. With a population of around 120,000, Lansing is a substantial sized city offering up tours of the State Capital, riverboat cruises and a number of galleries and museum.
In an effort to preserve historic Lansing, the Old Town Mainstreet has been restored. Located along the Grand River, this district offers bars, clubs, art galleries, restaurants, and shops. While Lansing is less of a cultural haven than nearby Detroit or Ann Arbor, it still holds a number of art galleries, an opera company and is home to the Michigan Historical Museum. The museum explores the history of the state from Native American settlements to the evolution of the motor industry.
Michigan State University is settled on over 5,000 acres of land and has a student population of over 45,000, making it a big presence in East Lansing. Home to some of the best gardens and horticulture in the entire state, the school is known for its beautiful gardens, preserved, in part, through the Michigan State student body. The University offers the public an art museum, a history museum of the university and the state, and a planetarium.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Lansing has three nature centers, as well as the Riverfront Park and Trail. Along the trail you will find bikers, joggers, and in-line skaters, while The Ledges, nearby in Grand Ledge, offer rock climbing up its cliffs reaching up to fifty feet in height. Lansing is approximately thirty minutes south of Sleepy Hollow State Park, a close destination for camping or fishing.
Lansing is located in the south central region of the state, south of St. Johns and west of Okemos. The Grand River and the Red Cedar River meet along the banks of the town.
