St Vincent De Paul Society

I like to stop by this store every once in a while to browse the selection. They have a little bit of everything at good prices. You have to be willing to look through the racks of clothes and shelves of household items, but if you do, you'll be rewarded with some good finds. It's a small store, so you're not going to get the selection of a Goodwill in the city of Lansing, but that just gives it a friendly, small-town feel.

Hobby Hub

I've only visited the Hobby Hub a few times, but I've always been impressed by their eclectic mix of products. You can find comics, model trains, dollhouse furniture, science kits, Barbies, stuffed animals and much more in one small store. Like the other reviewer said, you may have to dig to find your treasure, but it's worth the trip.

21st Century Comics & Games

This has always been my favorite comic book shop. I love the selection of everything from brooding indie titles to Powerpuff Girls comics. This place carried shelves of manga long before the genre became mainstream and invaded Barnes & Noble. They seem to have an extensive selection of games, but that's just not my area of expertise. They sell a few anime and comic-inspired action figures and posters to round out this geek paradise. They also offer some used graphic novels and game manuals, which you don't always see in a comic shop.

Fortress Comics & Games Inc

I've heard nothing but good things about this store, and it certainly seems to be the place to go for all your gaming and comic book needs, so I don't want to criticize the place unnecessarily. But the one time I visited the store, I found the service lacking. My husband needed to buy some dice, but we couldn't even get to the counter or ask anyone for help because of all the "regulars" standing around and chatting. The place also seemed a bit crowded and unorganized.

Richies Playhouse Collectible

This store has a little bit of everything in the way of collectible toys and cards, and I think the best thing about it is that they offer many collectible toys that were around during my lifetime. It's a blast from the past to see Strawberry Shortcake and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles items. You can find popular franchises like Star Wars there, as well as sports and collectible cards.

But just because the store focuses on collectibles doesn't mean you can't find a few bargains. I bought a Pokemon watch for a dollar there once and purchased a few Beanie Babies for a couple of dollars because they were less popular styles with wrinkled tags, so if you're not concerned with your items being in pristine condition, be on the lookout for a bargain bin.

I miss their Frandor location, though, because it was more conveniently located for me.

Scavenger Hunt

If you're looking for vintage, retro or ironic clothing, this is the place to go. They're located within walking distance of campus for easy shopping. It's hard to describe the clothing they offer because they have a little bit of everything from vintage 60s dresses to t-shirts and jeans from the 80s or 90s. They also carry shoes, hats and other accessories to complete your look.

The only downside is that since this place focuses on being a vintage clothing store, the prices are more expensive because they know what people are willing to pay. But while you won't get the deals of a Goodwill or Salvation Army, you won't have to dig through racks of junk to get to the trendy and kitschy items you're looking for.

Causeway Bay Lansing Hotel

I've been to this Holiday Inn, referred to in the area as the Holiday Inn-South, several times for their conference and meeting facilities, although I've never had a chance to stay in one of their rooms. I've been there for small training sessions that required the use of one room and statewide teaching association conferences that took up an entire wing of the building, and each time I've had a great experience. There are a number of different-sized rooms for different needs, including a sectioned ballroom that can be divided into individual meeting spaces or opened up for a product showroom or large dinner/dance. The decor is pleasant and clean, the bathrooms were well-stocked, there were always pitchers of cold water at the back of the room, and the staff seemed friendly, the few times I encountered them.

East Lansing Public Library

I visited the East Lansing Library regularly when I was a student at Michigan State University. At first, I wasn't sure if I counted as an "East Lansing" resident for the purpose of getting a library card, but I just had to bring in a bill or other proof of residence (unless the policy has changed recently).

While the library on campus is great for research, this is the place to go if you love to read. It was also a great source for children's and teen books for some of my education courses.

They have a great selection of books, including the newest releases and old favorites. They also have a larger selection of magazines than most libraries.

The decor is pleasant, and the library was always quiet and great for reading or studying when I was there.

They also have a few shelves with a permanent "Friends of the Library" book sale, which I always loved because I'm a sucker for used book sales.

Fremont City Library

I've only been to this library once when I was traveling through the area, but I must say that I was impressed.

It was one of the biggest libraries I've even been in, especially considering that it's in a fairly rural area. The interior was well-designed, and they just seemed to have "more" of everything than other libraries. There were more audio books, there was a larger children's section, there were more computers for public use, there were more magazines and new release books. The atmosphere was perfect for browsing and there were many comfortable places to sit and read a book. It was actually more like a bookstore in that regard!

I left the library happy to have found it, but sad that I didn't live anywhere near it so I could visit regularly.

Miller's Resort

Miller's Resort is a group of several cabins on the lake, perfect for a summer family getaway "up north." Now, this isn't a fancy resort, but it's a nice, small, family-owned place to stay.

The cabin I stayed in had two bedrooms, a sun porch, and an area that could be separated off into a room of its own with a combination of beds, mattresses and a sleeper sofa (or maybe it was a futon) between them all. More than enough room for the largest family.

The cabin came with a refrigerator, stove, microwave and TV. There were even a few magazines and a deck of cards left out for me. The appliances weren't state of the art, but they did what they were supposed to do.

My only complaint was that the bathroom and shower were excessively small.

The owners were very nice, and went above and beyond with small things like getting some ice cubes ready for me in the freezer.

I stayed here in the off-season, and it was very reasonably priced. I was working in the area, and staying here for three days was a much better option than staying in a hotel because I was able to save money by cooking food and also relax in a more home-like atmosphere.