herring – the suite life of travel

When I think of springtime, I imagine the first blooms of delicate tulips and daffodils that burst into color against a gloomy grey sky. Hibernating through the cold of winter, these beautiful flowers signal a resounding rebirth of life that can only mean that spring is around the corner.

Since 1959, the town of Holland, Michigan has been known for its production of tulips. Growing a variety of species in a multitude of colors, Holland pays tribute to its Dutch heritage with their annual Tulip Time festivities.

Displaying over 200,000 tulips throughout the city, Holland hosts their annual Tulip Time celebration in May. Visitors come from all over the world to experience “old Netherlands customs and traditions.” The theme of the 2015 festival was “Join the Dance.” The city of Holland would attempt to break the world record for klomping, exceeding the number of people “simultaneously dancing in wooden shoes”.

Preparing for my visit, I began my research online by checking out the festival’s website. With a wealth of information, it was easy to plan my visit based on the site’s schedule of events, maps and detailed instructions for getting around town. From windmill tours to trolley rides, I was starting to wonder if I was going to have enough time exploring the charming little town of Holland.

The list of festivities went on to include Dutch dancing, parades, educational talks and tours. Most of the events were within walking distance but if I needed an extra lift to reach one of the venues, I could always rely on the hop on trolley.

One of the highlights of my visit was watching the local high school students performing the traditional Dutch Dancing. Training to become a “klomper” begins at a young age and the Dutch costumes are designed in accordance to the clothing of the Dutch Provinces.

I attended a few of the festival events and leisurely strolled the “Great American Main Street” of East 8^th Street. While there were several eateries and concession stands, I was most interested in sampling some of the locally prepared dishes at the Dutch Marktplaats. Authentic entrees ranged from Mettwurst to Maatjesharing (Dutch new herring).

After a short pause for lunch, I was looking forward to riding the hop on, hop off trolley tour of the city. With a Dutch-costumed guide, I learned more about the settlement of Holland with its historic district, downtown and city parks. My $30 ticket also included discounts to some of the local attractions including Windmill Island Gardens, the Holland Museum and Cappon House. While the trolley admission was valid for the day of purchase, I could use the discount tickets throughout the week.

There were so many venues and events to explore during the Tulip Time celebration but I had only planned one day for a visit. I could have easily spent a couple of days to enjoy the festival with more time to explore the town of Holland and had even suggested it as a stay for our family vacation in the summer. I was excited that our family agreed that this would be a fun place to explore and I looked forward to an upcoming return.

Have you attended a cultural event that was so fabulous you wanted to experience it again? I would love to hear about your recommendation if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading about my visit to Holland, Michigan during the Tulip Time festival and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Tulip Time
Holland, Michigan
Telephone: 800 822 2770

Tips for Your Visit: I would encourage visitors to check out the Tulip Time website (www.tuliptime.com) in advance to plan their stay during the festival. You will find that not all of the events take place on a daily basis, so checking out the itinerary may assist one with preparing a schedule ahead of time. For example, if you arrive on Friday, there may not be a parade and if you happen to attend on the day of a parade, you can purchase grandstand tickets ahead of time. The site also provides a detailed schedule of the events that take place as well as a great map to help you get around. And if you stop by on a whim, you will find various information stands throughout the enchanting town of Holland that offer assistance as well. Happy klomping!

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn Holland
12427 Felch Street
Holland, Michigan, 49424
Phone number: 855 605 0317

Hampton Inn is one of my favorite, low cost hotels and this was, by far, one of the best accommodations for this hotel chain.

Where to Eat:

Crust 54 – (two locations in Holland, Michigan)
*54 E. 8th Street, 616 394 3002

1145 S. Washington Avenue, 616 848 7787

*We stopped by Crust 54’s downtown location because it was convenient and kid-friendly. We loved the Chicago style pizza and highly recommend this as a place to dine.

Where to Drink:

What to Read:

Holland, the Tulip Town, by Randall P. Vande Water
Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, by Geoffrey D. Reynolds
Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City, by Robert P. Swierenga

Photo Guide for Tulip Time and Holland:

The Fields of Tulips throughout the city
DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens
Sunset on Lake Michigan
Polder Molen Windmill at Nelis’ Dutch Village
Dutch Dancers
Nelis’ Dutch Village: landscaped gardens, canals, carousel, brick walkways, gardens of tulips, petting farm, Carillon Bell Tower, The East Gate, Dutch houses
Windmill Island Gardens, merry-go-round, carousel, dutch dancers

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Some of the best scuba diving takes place in the countries of Belize, Honduras and Mexico. Here are just a few photos of the underwater sea life I encountered on several dives.

The Wrasse is a fish with over 600 species. It is a brightly colored fish that is a popular choice for saltwater aquariums as they help to keep the tank clean.

A spotted moray eel snatching up a fish for lunch. They are usually hiding in reef crevices, but once in awhile can be found near the bottom of the ocean feeding on fish or crustaceans.

Up close, the Squirrelfish have big dark eyes, which helps them to see at night. These fish are more prevalent during night dives, but can also be seen during the day hanging around in dark areas.

The lobster is one of many crustaceans found in the Caribbean. They have a hard exoskeleton which provides protection from predators. They can live up to 70 years of age.

It is not uncommon to find large Angelfish on reef dives in the Caribbean. They can be found in various colors with a wide arrange of names, i.e., Gray Angelfish or Queen Angelfish.

Some new divers and snorkelers may become frightened when coming in contact with the barracuda. They are an intimidating fish with sharp teeth, but they are not considered a threat. Some divers agree that these fish are attracted to shiny objects and suggest water lovers to not wear bright, metallic jewelry.

The Blue Tang is a popular Caribbean fish and was made popular by the movie “Finding Nemo.” Depending on where they are swimming, they can camouflage themselves by changing various shades of blue. Here one can see the yellow spike towards the back of its body where the tail meets the body.

French Grunts and Blue-Striped Grunts are very common in the Caribbean and Florida. They swim in large numbers and are usually spotted on shallow reef dives. Pictured here are the Blue-Striped Grunts.

The Yellowtail Snapper can easily be confused with the Goatfish, but there are a couple of differences. The Yellow Goatfish have barbels, also described as whiskers, that can be found under their chins. The Yellowtail Snapper may be found within schools of Yellow Goatfish and vice versa.

Herring fish travel in schools and are a popular meal for the larger fish as well as seabirds.

The Tiger Grouper is a beautiful fish that lives in sheltered reef areas. They usually hang out in shallow waters and can grow up to 35 inches, weighing around 10 pounds.

There are over 200 species of Moray Eel found in both saltwater and freshwater environments. They look like a sea snake but do not belong to the reptile family. They prefer warm temperatures and like to eat meat, such as other fish and crustaceans.

Whether you plan to scuba dive or snorkel the waters of the Caribbean, you may come into contact with one or more of these animals. There are so many beautiful creatures of the sea where you can feel as though you are in a world all its own.

Do you like to snorkel and/or scuba dive? What is one of your favorite experiences under water? I would love to hear your story in the comments below! Many thanks for checking out some of the fish you will find in Central America and wishing you many Happy Travels!

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Tag Archives: herring

It’s Tulip Time in Holland!

Underwater Photos from Belize, Honduras and Mexico circa 1989