Great Lakes Crossing - A Michigan Travel Story
When the family goes on an RV vacation every member of the
family wants to do something they like. Sometimes this is very difficult.
We discovered something that we think every member of the family will
enjoy.
A shopping centre? Hardly, say dad and the kids as mom nods her head in
approval. However dad and the kids don't know ..."the rest of the
story" as Paul Harvey would say!
There is a shopping centre on Interstate 75 between Detroit and Flint,
Michigan that we think will appeal to everyone. Why? Because it has so
much to offer, especially for the youngsters.
Can you imagine a shopping centre within a day's drive of home with a
roller coaster and other amusement rides? Well Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills has just that.
Take a look at the pictures reproduced with this story. At Gameworks you'll find several amusement rides. It's a party place for kid's birthday parties but you don't have to be part of a party to go in and have some fun. There are other amusements there as well and we guess that
dad and the kids could easily spend several hours in this spot alone.
But lets get back to the main purpose of this complex - shopping. It is
all on one floor and those who like to walk will appreciate the fact that it
is laid out like an oval racetrack. You can do a lap and end up where you started or you can do half a lap and then shortcut in the middle through one of the stores to get back to the other side. Several of the stores have been designated a shortcuts so people don't have to go all the way around to reach the other side.
Great Lakes Crossing is shopper friendly. The six parking lots are
numbered to match the six major mall entrances and you'll find similar
stores are grouped together in lifestyle shopping area. They say that
this allows you to do precision shopping in just a short time or spend
more time and see it all.
The children's play area has a giant hotdog and enormous ladybugs. The
kids love to climb on them. In the Fit For Life section of the ball you
will find bleacher seats. But there is also plenty more cushy seating
places to sit and soothe your shopping feet or for one person to wait
while another checks out a specialty store that they like.
The folks here welcome people from out-of-town. If you present your
identification as one you has driven a distance they will provide you
with a special discount card to use while in the mall. We found ours saved
us a few dollars two or three times during our day visit.
Mall security will provide personal escorts to your vehicle if you wish
and they also assist with lock-outs, jump starts and finding your vehicle
if you forget where you parked. Key stores are the highlight of this mall
and they include a huge Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. You'll find lots
to do in this store alone with an arcade shooting gallery and a live ammunition
shooting area in a restricted part of the store. If fishing is your bag
there is a huge freshwater aquarium where kids love to stand and watch
the fish - especially at feeding time. In this store you will find a multitude
of hunting, fishing and camping equipment and supplies. Dad could spend
a few hours here himself.
Other major stores include T.J. Maxx, Bed Bath and Beyond, Circuit City,
Sportmart, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Liz Claiborne Outlet Store
and Burlington Coat Factory. There is also a huge movie complex at one
end of the mall.
The stores sell athletic goods, books, cards and gifts, bridal apparel,
children's apparel, electronics, photo supplies, footwear, handbags and
luggage, health and beauty supplies, home furnishings, jewellery, eyewear,
men's, women's and children's apparel, toys and there are over a dozen
niche specialty shops.
If you get there before the stores open you can have an early breakfast
at Kerby's Kony Island. There is also a huge food court for a quick snack.
There are plenty of good restaurants to have lunch or dinner including the fabulous Rainforest Cafe. If you have never been to one of these restaurants you'll want to be sure to make a reservation so you can experience this fabulous place. Animated animals of the rainforest put on a continual show and it is so lifelike that one time we were dining a woman brought her just walking child up to see the elephant. Just as they were looking at it the elephant's time to raise its trunk and bellow arrived and when it did the woman screamed and ran out of the restaurant leaving the child behind wondering what had happened. It is rumored that the animation and decoration in each Rainforest Cafe cost in excess of a million dollars. It does not surprise us.
Photos by Harold Merton
You can get further information at http://www.greatlakescrossing.com or by telephone at 1-877-SHOP-GLC local number is (248)454.5000.
We found it took us the best part of the day and we really didn't see
everything we would have liked to.