The small village of Hanover is located in southern Michigan’s Jackson County. The area’s rolling green farmlands and peaceful lakes, marshes and streams provide a picturesque backdrop for a number of activities. Whether you want to be one with nature or explore the local culture, there is plenty to do in the areas surrounding Hanover.
Parks
- Enjoy the natural beauty of the area at one of the nearby parks. Waterloo Recreation Area is about 30 miles northeast of Hanover in Township and covers 20,000 acres. Hike or ride on horseback over 47 miles of trails, sunbathe on the beaches or reel in fish. Facilities include picnic areas, playgrounds, camping areas, a beach and boat launch site. About 20 miles west in the heart of the Irish Hills of Onstead, W.J. Hayes State Park has great fishing at Wamplers and Round lakes. Other activities include geocaching, metal detecting and swimming. Mini cabins, a fishing pier, picnic areas and playgrounds are on site. Lake Hudson Recreation Area is 30 miles southeast in Hudson and is a premier game-hunting and muskie-fishing location. The park is a great place to swim and soak up the sun on the beach, watch wildlife or eat in the shade at the picnic area.
Museums
- Visit the Hanover-Horton Area Historical Society’s Lee Conklin Antique Reed Organ Museum in Hanover to see the 95 fully restored and working antique reed organs on display. Browse the exhibits featuring art from rural America, or book a guided tour for an in-depth look at the past. The museum is open to visitors May through October. About 30 miles northwest in Albion, Gardner House Museum is decorated to represent a typical home from the 1875 to 1900 time period. Rooms feature items and furniture that were used in area homes, and the Henry D. Brown Memorial Room features displays on local history. In the museum’s basement, you can see a mock-up of a kitchen, grocery store and tool room from the 1900s.
Golf
- Practice your swing at one of 20 golf courses in Jackson County. Designed by Arthur Hamm in 1925, Arbor Hills Golf Club is about 18 miles away in Jackson. Enjoy the classic beauty of the course as you golf along the tree-lined fairways and beautifully manicured greens. Family-owned Clark Lake Golf Course lies between Columbia and Clark lakes in Brooklyn, about 17 miles west of Hanover. Three courses are available, with the North and South being the longest regulation blue tees in Michigan and totaling 7,580 yards.
Zoos
- About 30 miles away in Battle Creek, Binder Park Zoo covers 433 acres and features more than 140 species. Take a ride on the tram to Wild Africa to learn about and feed one of the country’s largest herds of giraffes. The zoo is open daily from spring to fall. At Potter Park Zoo, roughly 50 miles away in Lansing, travel Down Under and watch more than 400 Australian birds in the free-flight interactive aviary. Spend the rest of the day roaming the zoo and watching more than 160 species of animals, including some that are threatened or endangered.
