Plan a Winter Adventure in Flint & Genesee

As winter settles in, for some this becomes a season of nesting and comfort as far away from the cold as possible. The problem is that there is still fun to be had and adventures to take and you can only find out if you’re willing to brave the weather to do it. Pack a bag, bundle up, and get ready for a fun staycation that will fill you with enough warm memories to last you until spring. If you want reminders of summer, need some exercise, care for some culture, and desire a chance to get away for a weekend then you’ve come to the right place.  

The weekend you’re targeting is February 9-11 and you can start by booking a room at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Grand Blanc for Friday 9th. The hotel is lovely and near the highway, making any excursions an easy prospect. Depending on what sort of staycation you want to make, you can keep things simple with a room that has a king or two queen beds or go for something with room to stretch out to get the whole vacation vibe. Before heading out to dinner, you can take a dip in the pool or have a nice soak in their hot tub to get your mind in a vacation place before starting the rest of your weekend. Once you’re settled in, you can head down the street to Blondie’s Food & Spirits where you’ll find a large selection of delicious comfort dishes and an inviting atmosphere. You may even be able to catch some entertainment or a fire in their fireplace. Once you’re full, you can head back to the hotel to get some rest. There’s more to come.  

Bright and early Saturday morning you’ll head to one of the hottest new breakfast and brunch destinations in the county – Brothers Brunch House where you’ll find fresh and delicious food that will start your day off perfectly. From here, you’ll head to the Dort Federal Event Center for Chrome & Ice Winter Indoor Car Show, put on by Back to the Bricks. This indoor car show will feature rare and exotic cars and bring a little bit of summer deep in the heart of winter. You can snack on concessions as you make your way around the exhibits while checking out the many cars and trucks on display before heading over to the Sloan Museum of Discovery for their Mazes & Brain Games exhibition. This exhibit will get your mind and body working together as you explore and solve puzzles and brain teasers that will challenge and engage you. Next you can head downtown to Sauce Italian American Kitchen for dinner before heading to the evening’s plans.  

To end the day, you’ll have your choice of theatrical productions to choose from. You can stay local and head down the street to the University of Michigan-Flint for their presentation of ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged’, an adventurous take on the Bard’s full catalog of work in ninety minutes. If you prefer a story about youth baseball and growing up Black in the 1950’s then you can head to the The New McCree Theatre for ‘The Saints of Saint John’s Street’. The Flint Repertory Theatre will be offering ‘Into the Side of a Hill’ at the Elgood Theatre. This is the world premiere of the play and tells the story of six fraternity brothers at a historically Black university and their time there. Finally, you have the option to head out to Fenton to see ‘Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve’, an adaptation of the book of the same name. After the show it’s back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest.  

Sunday you will want to bundle up for an outdoor adventure, but first you can head out to Valley’s Breakfast and Bistro to start off with a great breakfast. At Valley’s you can take some time to enjoy the meal and the company and talk about the fun you’ve already had before heading out for one last hurrah. Your destination is For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum for a self-guided hike along the many paths to take in some of the wonders of the season. Depending on your ambition and heartiness this can be a brief stroll or a long walk but it’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on a wonderful weekend spent here in Flint & Genesee before you head home knowing that adventure is as close as a few miles away.