Part of the ‘Day Out in Macomb County’ series
Harrison Township is known for its fresh water access and being home to the Selfridge Air National Guard (SANG) Base. As I spent my day roaming the area, I was able to explore all that and more! Warm weather paired with adventuring through Harrison Township made for another great summer day.
The first stop on my journey was the newly remodeled and renamed Col. Donald and Candice Miller Park. With a beautiful DIA mural, fishing pier and a “softened” shoreline, the park was looking better than ever. The day was nice and the breeze was warm as the new pier filled up with fishing poles and visitors hoping to get a pull on their line. As we walked and checked out all of the advancements, what stood out the most was the mural. It’s definitely a creative piece of art that you have to see for yourself.
As we left the park and started back down Jefferson Avenue we had to pull into Eddies Drive-In. The atmosphere there can instantly send you back to the 50’s. The drive-up ordering, waitresses on roller skates and delicious food creates not only a fun experience, but a good meal too! We ordered some fries because we were saving our appetites for later, but let me tell you they do not disappoint.
Already wanting to go back for more greasy goodness, we headed to our next destination. Along the way we passed by Lake St. Clair Metropark and watched cars pull into the entrance, ready to have the best day and utilize all of the park's amenities – including things like adventure golf, the beach, a splash pad and the nature center. The metropark has so many activities to explore, there is no way you can get bored!
Continuing our journey to the next stop, we also drove along the outskirts of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, viewing all of the different aircrafts as we passed. The base does not only consist of the air force, but all other branches of the military, as well. What many people may not know is that there is actually a museum on the base. The Selfridge Military Air Museum is open to the public on weekends, and full of historic displays and even aircraft displays.
Taking in the views of the base and hoping to see an aircraft coming in to land, we eventually made it to Bumpers Landing for lunch! With waterfront seating and perfect weather we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sit outside and watch all of the boats. The vibe of the restaurant was tropical and the menu had so many options, it was hard to choose what to eat. Ending up on a Bumpers bar burger and chicken caesar wrap, we placed our orders. Once the food came out we quickly devoured it, paid and headed out the door. It was such a fantastic experience that we will certainly be going back and trying the new Dos Bumpers.
It was quite warm at this point in the day and ice cream was on our minds after we had just jumped out of the car to take a picture with the scuba statue outside of Harrison's Speakeasy. Lucky for us, Frosty Boy ice cream was nearby. There are so many options and flavors to choose from that it took us a good five minutes of staring at the menu to pick what we wanted: a Reese's peanut butter cup “frost bite” and a dirt sundae. We sat down in the shade and watched cars go by until our names were called and the ice cream was ready. Instantly cooling us down and making our tastebuds dance, it was pure happiness.
Harrison Township is so much more than fresh water access and Selfridge. My day out exploring the area unveiled hidden gems that I will be visiting again. Before it gets cold, get out there and have some fun. Try out a restaurant, fish the new pier, learn about history, soak up the sun and indulge in some ice cream. Macomb County is a beautiful place to live and Harrison Township is just one of the many reasons why.
Ella Hill is an intern for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
