BC BUCKET LIST: Tour Guide Publishes 101 Things to Do in Bay City Before...

March 22, 2015
By: Dave Rogers

Gene Gillette is a clever guy with words.

The retired educator charms tour groups with storytelling.

He has written and published nine books, the Bay City Bucket List being the last that just came out.

He is president of the beautification initiative Bay City In Bloom.

And, he gets around --the U.K., Scotland, Italy, Ireland, Panama and Route 66.

His list of 101 things to do in Bay City starts with "watch the 4th of July fireworks from a boat."

"Attend the Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival," #10 is sure to be an entertaining one.

Historical entries include #18, "find the grave of O-Ge-Ma-Ke-Ga-To in Roosevelt Park. (That assumes you can find Roosevelt Park -- tip: look for a green area on Broadway near Cass).

"Walk the grounds of the historic Pine Ridge/Soldier's Rest Cemetery," #68 would be more helpful if you took a weed-whacker along and hit a few licks to help out volunteer caretaker Ron Graham.

Indulge your sweet tooth with #20, "buy homemade chocolates at the Sweet Boutique."

"Adopt a pocket park on the Rail Trail," #25, would be a worthy endeavor, and a part of the mission of Bay City in Bloom by the way.

#26, "Take a cruise on the Princess Wenonah" is an old standby, and always fun.

Ditto the suggestion to "visit the Dobson Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum," #28.

Some like "#38, visit the entire length of the Middlegrounds" and "walk historic Center Avenue, #35," would fulfill your daily exercise requirements.

"Check out the new menu at the Uptown Grill," #7, is guaranteed a tasty one.

Fulfill a civic responsibility with #40, "attend a Bay City Commission meeting" or #65 "thank a Bay City police officer or fireman for their service."

It ends with the latest tourism craze here -- "ride the pedal trolley downtown."

So, you get the picture. If you are short of ideas for fun this spring and summer, pick up a copy of Gene's book and live it up!

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