The Best of Michigan for 2005

Sports & Recreation: POTPOURRI

Best Michigan landmark

Mackinac Bridge

Second place: Belle Isle

Third place: Uniroyal Tire

Best marina

Mackinac Island Marina

(906) 847-3561

Second place: Jefferson Beach Marina

24400 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores

(586) 7788-7600

Third place: Mac & Rays Marina Resort

30675 N. River Rd., Harrison Twp. (586) 463-9660

Best new Detroit attraction

Campus Martius

Second place: Winterfest

Third place: Hard Rock Café

45 Monroe St., Detroit

(313) 964-7625

Best kiddie playground

Metro Beach

31300 Metro Pkwy., Mt. Clemens

(586) 463-4581

Second place: Stoney Creek

4300 Main Park Rd., Shelby Twp.. (586) 781-4242

Third place: Heritage Park

Weiss St., Frankenmuth (989) 652-6106

Best indoor go-cart racing

Kart 2 Kart

42705 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights

(586) 997-8800

Second place: C J Barrymores

21750 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp.. (586) 463-4874

Third place: Great Escape Fun

2630 E. Grand River Ave., Howell (517) 548-6457

Best health club

Lifetime Fitness

lifetimefitness.com

Second place: Bally Total Fitness

For locations: ballyfitness.com

Third place: Powerhouse Gym

For locations: powerhousegym.com

Best game for neighbors with yards

Bocci ball

Second place: Volleyball

Third place: Croquet

Best dog Park

Hines Park

Westland

Second place: Lake Orion Bark Park

Clarkston Rd. between Baldwin & Joslyn Rds.

(248) 858-0906

Third place: Stoney Creek Metropark Nature

4300 Main Park Dr., Shelby Twp. (586) 781-4621

Best country club

Oakland Hills

Country Club

3951 W. Maple Rd., Bloomfield Hills

(248) 644-2048

Second place: Meadowbrook

Country Club

40941 8 Mile Rd., Northville (248) 349-3600

Third place: Dearborn Country Club

800 N. Military St., Dearborn (313) 561-0800

Best sports hairdo

Ben Wallace

Second place: Rip Hamilton

Third place: Derian Hatcher

Ankur Dholakia / The Detroit News Bowlers enjoy a game at Pampa Lanes in Warren, which takes top honors as Metro Detroit's Best Bowling Alley.

Best bowling alley

Pampa Lanes

31925 Van Dyke Ave., Warren

(586) 264-8877

Second place: Town & Country Lanes

1100 S. Wayne Rd., Westland (734) 722-5000

Third place: Cloverlanes Bowl

28900 Schoolcraft Rd., Livonia (734) 427-6410

Best arcade

Marvin’s Marvelous

Mechanical Museum

31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills

(248) 626-5020

Second place: Dave & Busters

M-59 & M-53, Utica (586) 930-1515

Third place: C J Barrymores

21750 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp. (586) 463-4874

Best sports venue hot dog

Comerica Park

2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit

(313) 962-4000

Second place: Ford Field

2000 Brush St., Detroit (313) 262-2000

Third place: Michigan Stadium

Main St. & Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor

(734) 764-0247

Best place to eat before a big game

Hockeytown Cafe

2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit

(313) 965-9500

Second place: Mario’s Restaurant

4222 2nd Ave., Detroit (313) 832-1616

Third place: Hoops Sports & Spirits

2705 Lapeer Rd., Auburn Hills (248) 373-4744

Elwood Bar & Grill

300 E. Adams Ave., Detroit

(313) 962-2337

Best public golf course

Shepherds Hollow

9085 Big Lake Rd., Clarkston

(248) 922-0300

Second place: Dearborn Hills Golf Course

1300 S. Telegraph Rd., Dearborn

(313) 563-4653

Third place: Grande Golf Club

1293 Floyd Ave., Jackson (517) 768-9494

Best place to shoot the breeze

Starbucks

starbucks.com

Second place: Bahama Breeze

Troy and Livonia locations

Third place: Belle Isle

Best biking community

Mackinac Island

Second place: Rochester Hills

Third place: Northville

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News Alysa Nelson, 34, of Detroit shoots pool at Snooker's Pool & Pub in Royal Oak.

Best pool hall to shoot some stick

Snooker’s Pool & Pub

snookerspool.com

Second place: Electric Stick

6581 N. Wayne Rd., Westland (734) 467-1717

Third place: Shark Club

42070 Ford Rd., Canton (734) 844-7665

Best place to win tickets to an event

The Detroit News

615 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit

(313) 222-2300

Second place: 101.1 FM, WRIF

1 Radio Plaza Rd., Detroit (248) 547-0101

Third place: Detroit Free Press

600 W. Fort St., Detroit (313) 222-2441

Best place to view inner-city graffiti

People Mover

Second place: I-94 & Grand Boulevard

Third place: I-94 & Trumbull

Best place to throw darts

Drinks Saloon

19380 Allen Rd.,

Brownstown Twp.

(734) 479-0260

Second place:

Duggan’s Irish Pub

31501 Woodward Ave.,

Royal Oak

(248) 549-3659

Third place: Wheat & Rye

For locations: wheatandrye.com

Best place to take yoga

Bikram Yoga Grosse Pointe

15000 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Park

(313) 331-9641

Second place: Bikram's Yoga College Of India

28857 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills

(248) 489-9923

Third place: Namaste Yoga

309 S. Troy St., Royal Oak (248) 399-9642

Best place to meet athletes

Hockeytown Cafe

2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit

(313) 965-9500

Second place: Post Bar

For locations: postbars.com

Third place: Cheli’s Chili

21918 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 274-9700

Best place to fix your NASCAR jones

Michigan International Speedway

12626 U.S. Highway 12, Brooklyn

(517) 592-6666

Second place: Final Score Lounge

22762 Dix Toledo Hwy., Brownstown Twp.

(734) 676-3535

Third place: Buffalo Wild Wings

For locations: buffalowildwings.com

Best old sport to bring back

Arena football

Second place: Bike track racing

Third place: Horseshoes

Best place to experience a small midwestern town’s night out

Boyne City

Second place: Red Dog Saloon

250 W. Summit St., Milford (248) 685-2171

Third place: Lucky's Steakhouse

2000 S. Cedar St., Imlay City (810) 724-4100

Best place to celebrate a big win

Hockeytown Cafe

2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 965-9500

Second place: Cheli’s Chili

21918 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 274-9700

Third place: Hard Rock Cafe

45 Monroe St., Detroit (313) 964-7625