Beyond the Bus

As the temperatures drop and the leaves begin to change, it’s the perfect time to explore fun fall activities with your family. CATA’s many services make it easy to get around town and enjoy all that the season has to offer.  Here are five exciting outings in the region you can enjoy and access by CATA:

1. Free rides to select Ingham County Parks

CATA is committed to enhancing access to outdoor spaces for residents. In partnership with the Ingham County Parks and Recreation Department, CATA makes it easier to visit select Ingham County Parks, all featuring trails, playgrounds, picnic areas and sports facilities. 

• Burchfield Park in Delhi Township
• Hawk Island Park in the City of Lansing
• Lake Lansing Park South & North in Meridian Township                                             

These parks are perfect for outdoor recreation, whether you’re hiking the scenic trails, enjoying a picnic, or letting the kids swing on the tire swings. During the fall, these parks transform into breathtaking landscapes. Stroll along scenic routes, surrounded by vibrant reds and yellows, and soak in the stunning views.

Fare-free rides are available on CATA Redi-Ride, Spec-Tran and CATA Rural Service for eligible customers.  All trips are subject to CATA's service hours, ride availability and service area boundaries. For trips on Spec-Tran, ADA certification is required.

Visit www.cata.org/InghamCountyParks for additional details about this program.

2. Go on a River Town Adventure

Are you looking spend more time outdoors? Head to Rotary Park for an unforgettable river adventure!  This is the perfect activity to spend quality time with family and friends. As you paddle down the Grand or Red Cedar River, you’ll get to see Michigan in all its fall beauty.

Take CATA Routes 1, 8, 10 or 13 to easily reach Rotary Park and enjoy a scenic six-minute walk, leaving the stress of parking behind.

Plan your trip with our Trip Planner Tool.

3. Get in the Spartan Spirit                                                                                                                                                        

It’s football season, and that means the excitement is guaranteed to be electric! Attending a Michigan State University football game is always a fun experience, filled with passionate fans, delicious food and exciting atmosphere. Make it a family tradition and share the love for MSU with future generations.

CATA makes it easy to get to the games. Simply hop on Route 1 to reach campus, where you can connect to a route straight to the stadium. Skip the parking hassle and arrive ready to cheer!

Visit our MSU Game Day webpage for details on shuttles and detours.

4. Visit Potter Park Zoo

Fall is an enchanting time to visit Potter Park Zoo, with the cool air and autumn hues, Potter Park Zoo turns into a cozy and relaxing spot that’s great for spending time with friends and family. The animals are up and active in this cooler weather so now is the perfect time to connect with them. Walk through tree-lined paths, connect with nature, and be a part in the special events that Potter Park has to offer.

Route 8 provides a convenient way to travel to the zoo. Don’t miss out on the autumn festivities!

Plan your trip with our Trip Planner Tool.

5. Come to the City for Silver Bells                                                                                                                             

Join the fun at Downtown Lansing’s Silver Bells, a 40 year long tradition. Bring your family to see local businesses, marching bands, and CATA take part in the parade. Don’t miss the chance to see CATA’S “CATApillar” bus light up the road!

 You can get to this event with any route that travels to the CATA Transportation Center, just be mindful of detours. The festivities are also just a short walk from our downtown CATA Transportation Center.

Plan your trip with our Trip Planner Tool.

Get in the fall spirit with these exciting activities! From enjoying the vibrant autumn leaves to cheering on your favorite football team, CATA can get you there. Plan your trip today!

Related Content:

• Top 5 Destinations To Discover By CATA This Fall
• Explore Ingham County Parks for Free
• 7 Things to do in Lansing this Winter

For Elyse Gambino, art is more than just a profession—it's a lifeline. During challenging times, it has been a source of solace.  “It has been the one thing that’s always been with me… it has been a lifeline in that, in my darkest periods like Covid and just kind of the untethered nothingness, I tethered myself to something very specific,” said Gambino.

It's not just about showcasing her talent but also about sparking joy and curiosity in everyday life. She believes that art has the power to transform mundane moments into something special, making public spaces more vibrant and engaging. 

Her inspiration often comes from the Rust Belt, where the blend of old and new elements profoundly influences her creative direction. She finds beauty in unexpected places and incorporates humor into her work, making it relatable and enjoyable for everyone. The pandemic also shifted her focus, leading her to create more colorful and absurd pieces, including vibrant depictions of drag queens.

Trained in drawing and painting, Gambino is moving towards a new medium to bring her ideas to life that is fueled by her desire to explore new creative possibilities and bring art into unconventional spaces. 

“I have been in an exciting transition space of moving toward working in exclusively fiber, but it still feels to me like it’s drawing and painting. So, thread feels like a drawn line, and layers of transparent fabric feels like layers of paint,” said Gambino.

Gambino, finds immense inspiration in connecting with the community through her art. Her artwork is featured on billboards and a CATA bus moving across the region. This unique approach allows her to reach a broader audience, encouraging people to slow down and truly appreciate the beauty around them. 

“I think we are so encouraged to be extremely busy and to be on the go…artwork, even if it’s moving, can encourage people to slow down and to listen and notice…and that’s when we get back to, like, connecting to each other as humans,” said Gambino.

Through her featured piece featured billboards and buses, Gambino continues to inspire and engage the community, proving that art can thrive in the most unexpected places and bring people together in appreciation of the world around them.

Catch one of Elyse Gambino’s bubbly pieces of art on one of CATA’s buses. The Arts Council of Greater Lansing and CATA’s partnership showcases Capital City Region’s local artists through the Art in Motion campaign.

Related Links: 

• CATA unveils ‘Art in Motion’ initiative in partnership with Arts Council
• Arts Council of Greater Lansing 
  • Art in the Sky Billboard Project 
• Other Art in Motion Stories  
  • Daniel J. Hogan 
  • Steph Joy Hogan
  • Lucy A. Synk 
  • Jennifer Taggart Wilson

Drawing inspiration from all sorts of things in the world, Lucy Synk’s artwork can focus on realism or plunge into the world of fantasy. Her passion and commitment to the creative world is part of an extensive and personal journey.

Even though her artistic style has evolved over the years doing a variety of training in different art mediums including portraiture and still life, she has always had a passion for art.   

“I’ve always been drawing and painting my whole life. It was just sort of a given that this is what I was going to be doing, and I just love painting,” Synk said. 

For Synk, creating art is more than a profession; it’s a meditative and spiritual endeavor. The complexity of her pieces helps her navigate her own personal challenges and emotions.   

“It can be therapeutical, especially if I’m playing with mixed media or a still life or a palette knife. And the more complicated pieces do kind of give me a purpose in life. They help me connect to people,” Synk said.  

One of Synk’s most exciting artworks, Farmers Market, is displayed on one of CATA’s Art in Motion buses. Inspired by jigsaw puzzles, this masterpiece is meaningful as it seeks to accurately represent a more diverse America. Shifting the narrative was her priority when creating this work to be more inclusive.

“I really think it’s important to try to image a diverse America in a positive way. There’s a lot of anger going on right now, and rightfully so, but I wanted to sort of picture what is we’re working towards, what it is we’re hoping for,” Synk said. 

In a world rife with negativity and conflict, Synk’s art serves as a beacon of hope. She hopes to instill a strong sense of joy among the everyday activities that people of different backgrounds share together. 

“Not only rejoice in diversity but rejoice in life. Seek the beauty that’s hiding in plain sight,” Synk said.

With a keen eye for realism, Synk’s artistic journey is a testament to the power of creativity to foster an inclusive community. Through her vivid artwork, she reminds us to envision the beauty in diversity and a better future for our world.

Keep your eyes peeled for Lucy Synk’s beautifully realistic art scene on one of our CATA buses. The Arts Council of Greater Lansing and CATA’s partnership have helped display Capital City Region’s local art scene through the Art in Motion campaign.

Related Links: 

• CATA unveils ‘Art in Motion’ initiative in partnership with Arts Council
• Arts Council of Greater Lansing 
  • Art in the Sky Billboard Project 
• Other Art in Motion Stories 
  • ​Elyse Gambino 
  • Daniel J. Hogan 
  • Steph Joy Hogan
  • Jennifer Taggart Wilson