Enjoy your stay in beautiful downtown Lansing – only steps away from the Capitol Building. Attendees will have the opportunity to see a number of unique downtown districts including downtown Lansing, Old Town, the Stadium District, Lansing’s West Side, the East Side, ReoTown and more.

Lansing has a variety of unique projects underway, including the new Accident Fund headquarters, which will be located in the former Board of Water & Light’s Ottowa Street Station. Conference participants simply need look out across the river to see this tremendous project. Downtown has a number of other exciting projects, including the new Michigan State Police building and the Capital Club Towers mixed-use development.

Just to the east of the conference, visitors can take a five minute walk west on Michigan Avenue to visit the Stadium District. While you’re there, take in a Lansing Lugnut’s game, stop by the historic Lansing City Market and see their plans for expansion down to the riverfront. Be sure to check out the new condos in the Stadium District building. Just look for the great marquis sign and you’ll know you’re there!

If you like boutique shopping, creative businesses and great small restaurants, Old Town is the place to be. A ten minute walk north on the River Trail or a five minute drive north on Grand Avenue, this neighborhood is a must-see! As a Michigan Main Street neighborhood, its kitschy, cool, laid-back atmosphere welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to help make the neighborhood a better place. The winner of IKEA’s 2008 Small Businesses Big Dreams contest, this neighborhood creative businesses of all sizes from internationally-known Elderly Instruments to Preuss Pets amazing 20,000 square foot pet-lovers paradise to smaller favorites like October Moon or the historic Turner-Dodge mansion. If you’re in the Lansing area for a longer stay, be sure to check out Old Town’s Bluesfest, taking place the weekend after the conference.

If you like a culturally-diverse neighborhood, jump in your car and drive five minutes east down Michigan Avenue to Lansing’s East Side. This is the prime example of what residents can do if they work together. From the Hunter Park Greenhouse, featuring urban gardening certification classes, great youth interaction with locally-grown food and the wonderful Allen Street Farmers Market, this neighborhood knows how to incorporate all types of its great cultural diversity. If you like the blues, don’t miss The Green Door and its wonderful live music or Magdalena’s Tea House with its great, local, alternative and folk music.

ReoTown is one of the city’s up-and-coming neighborhoods. A five minute drive south down Washington Avenue and over 496, this neighborhood is on the way back! It’s home of the Quality Dairy bakery, Izzo’s Pub and a great view of the river.

Last, but certainly not least, the West Side neighborhood has some of the city’s best residential architecture and an up-and-coming commercial district. It’s just a five-minute drive west down Oakland Avenue. If you like Mexican food, don’t miss El Azteco or the great organic food at Sawyer’s Pancake House. Be sure to check out the great new mural, as well as the historic mural on the side Shanora’s on Saginaw Street, completed with the help of the children in the neighborhood.