LANSING - Upon arrival at MSU, most freshmen are overwhelmed by campus and East Lansing. The trek from south campus to Grand River Avenue can seem exhausting. And Grand River, East Lansing’s main drag, looks a lot bigger at first glance.

As students advance through their MSU years, they get to know the East Lansing area and the restaurants, shops, bars and nature it has to offer. Some venture into Lansing once in awhile but many stay unaware of many of its landmarks and attractions.

“There’s so much that people don’t realize,” said Korey Steinhauer, a Lansing resident who works at the Greater Lansing Visitors Center, 1223 Turner St. in Lansing. “Especially if you’re an MSU student from out of town, out of state, you don’t know what’s going on.”

While you’re researching the candidates for Tuesday’s election, you can take a break and visit one of the many attractions in Lansing and its surrounding areas.

You can begin an eight-mile tour of Michigan’s capital city right at the edge of campus. Hop on your bike or put on your in-line skates or walking shoes and go to Kalamazoo Street just past Harrison Avenue to get on the Lansing River Trail. The trail along the Red Cedar and Grand rivers winds past city landmarks such as the Lansing Center, the state Capitol and the Potter Park Zoo.

Learn about Michigan wildlife at Fenner Nature Center, then take a walk on one of the center’s hiking trails. Pack a lunch to eat at one of the picnic facilities at the center, located along the trail.

If you want to wait a little longer to eat but still want to see more nature, visit the Cooley Gardens, farther along the trail. The gardens offer benches, picnic tables and a pavilion.

You’ll see nature of a different sort about halfway through the trail, on the Planet Walk. The walk, beginning outside Impression Five Science Center, 200 Museum Drive, features small models of the planets in the solar system, beginning with a 20-inch diameter sun.

Steinhauer said the Planet Walk is one of her favorite parts of the River Trail.

“It has all the planets to scale,” she said. “It’s really kind of fun to walk along it.”

Take a detour to Lansing’s principal shopping district on Washington Avenue near the state Capitol. Hometown stores such as the Peanut Shop, 117 Washington Square - which processes a variety of peanut foods every day - and Michigania, 100 S. Washington Square, line the street.

Michigania sells items such as Traverse City jellies and jams, Petoskey stones and coffees from around the state.

“We sell Michigan products and products related to Michigan,” manager Joani Klotz said. “Ninety-nine percent of the things we sell are made in Michigan.”

For some more shops and local culture, visit Old Town, near the end of the trail. The area, which is under redevelopment, offers art galleries, restaurants and some shops.

“There are all kinds of things to do down here,” said Amy Collett, program manager of Old Town Mainstreet, a nonprofit organization that focuses on downtown economic development. “It’s kind of a neat, hip place to be.”

One of the activities Old Town offers is the Creole Gallery, 218 Turner St., a smoke- and alcohol-free entertainment venue that offers live jazz and blues music on weekends. The gallery, which offers a student discount, is “not the typical place students go to hang out,” Collett said.

This Sunday, as well as the first Sunday of every month, you can go on the Old Town First Sunday Gallery Walk and purchase art from most of the local galleries.

“It’s really unusual to be able to go to a place and you can buy the art on the wall - it’s fun,” Collett said.

The organization wants to “bring back” Old Town as an arts and entertainment destination, Collett said.

Although it is under redevelopment, Old Town has a historic flavor and a mix of businesses East Lansing doesn’t have, Collett said.

“It’s still on the edgy side - it’s really art-oriented,” she said. “A lot of college students would find that to be appealing. A lot of young people would find it interesting and worth the drive.”

In Old Town, right along the Grand River, Grand Café Sir Pizza, 201 E. Grand River Ave., provides a big-city coffee shop feel, with “Friends”-style couches and different kinds of coffees. The café, which opened in July, has spaghetti, lasagna and stuffed potato dinners, as well as pizza. Soon it will offer pastries, draft beer and wine coolers, employee Julie Miller said.

“We get students to old-timers,” Miller said. “It’s a good place to study because it’s comfortable and there’s a couch in back.”

Get some fresh fruit or veggies at the Lansing City Market, 333 N. Cedar St. Retailers sell arts and crafts as well as food at the market, which is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

The market offers a “different shopping atmosphere” from grocery stores, said vendor Ruth Hills, who has sold cheese at the market for more than 20 years.

“You get to see the owners of small businesses,” she said.

For some fishing or boating, head east to Lake Lansing. The lake has beaches for swimming in the summer and Lake Lansing offers a peaceful place to study.

Lansing resident Jeff Marquez often fishes in the lake.

“I go mostly in the summertime,” he said. “Sometimes I do a little water-skiing. I like catching bass, and they have good pike.”

Greater Lansing offers many activities, such as rock climbing in Grand Ledge and hay rides in St. Johns. The city and surrounding areas provide nightlife such as bars, bowling and comedy clubs.

“I’m 18 and I’m still making my rounds, still going to everything - and I’ve lived here all my life,” Steinhauer said.

For more information on the area, visit the Greater Lansing Visitors Center, 1223 Turner St.