Beecher, MI Outdoor Activities

Hot air balloons float into the air from Balloon Quest's idyllic launch location, taking guests on a bird's-eye tour of a stunning natural expanse studded with hills and lakes. Experienced pilots guide the rainbow-colored orbs on languorous tours, sweeping balloons' teardrop-shaped shadows over hills, dales, and the on-site mini-golf course. After their aerial tour, visitors can linger at Balloon Quest for a picnic on the grounds or a thought-provoking discussion of their top 10 favorite gravity-defying experiences. While flights are made year-round, Balloon Quest has very specific weather guidelines for flying, and rescheduling may be common.

Lansing Metro Marinas's Giselle and Ken Settimo had a vision for a new way to see Lansing—from the waterways. The couple purchased a 28-foot pontoon boat, staffed it with a captain and deck hand, and set about their mission to show Michiganders the beauty of their city. Today, the boat cruises down the Grand River from Old Town to Moore's River Park, Red Cedar to Potter Park Zoo, offering stunning views of downtown Lansing. Charters, evening cruises, and private events float down the waterway, enjoying access to seating, party lighting, and a fridge to re-energize glow-stick swords.

For more than 30 years, ZZ Underwater World has initiated swimmers into the world of scuba diving. Their year-round classes have taught people to safely plumb the depths of the Earth's largest seas, and their instructors are both SSI- and PADI–certified, rendering them able to certify their students and lead them on any level of dive from snorkeling to deep scuba. ZZ Underwater World's onsite shop sells snorkels and flippers among other gear from a wide range of brands, useful for people who thought Waterworld was a prophecy and are stocking up. The staff also hosts scuba vacations, taking troupes of divers to explore the wrecks of the Great Lakes or world-class destinations such as Belize or Fiji.

Arcadia Stables stretches out across more than 70 acres of picturesque riding trails, rolling hills, and verdant woods. Formerly Tic-Tac-Toe Farms, the equestrian facility is now under the ownership of Marian Lohff and Danielle Weddle, who have managed to complete a laundry list of renovations in recent years. The equestrian experts’ hard work has helped to maintain the 100’x200’ indoor arena, where riders can master the art of English-style riding during private and group lessons. Adjacent to the indoor arena, a heated observation room—complete with a kitchenette—lets parents keep an eye on lessons, saving students from the hassles of additional pressure or the stench of a parent who hid inside the manure pile just to feel more involved.

Woldumar Nature Center greets visitors with a coterie of trees, flowers, and grasses that populate 178 acres of diverse environs representing the region's larger ecosystem. Visitors explore the center's trails spanning 5 miles of lush scenery, which treats them to a prairie of wildflowers waving their vivid heads in the breeze, the Grand River flowing throughout 1.25 miles, and a hardwood forest that casts cool shade in the shadows of beech and maple trees. Deer peacefully forage in the apple orchard, and a butterfly garden hosts a feast for the gentle winged insects. The herb garden showcases common household herbs such as rosemary alongside oft-forgotten useful plants such as calendula, which pinky swears it goes well in potato soup. The nature center's knowledgeable staff lead educational programs year-round that fill brains with experiences in geocaching, exploring the Grand River, and watching live owl presentations.

Capital City Skydiving's air-riding experts take first-time and experienced jumpers to the stratosphere for jumps above the scenic vistas of Southern Michigan. Tethered to clients, they guide tandem rides to facilitate first tastes of terminal velocity before coasting in for a soft landing. To accommodate licensed skydivers with a current reserve parachute, the staff guides planes over the business's own scenic landing zone so jumpers can take to the air on their own. Beginners who wish to become full-fledged divers can opt for the Accelerated Freefall program, in which aficionados teach the skills necessary to make solo jumps such as how to handle equipment or merge into goose traffic without a blinker.