I enjoyed the old replica of the streets exhibit. It was neat to see them. It would have been nice…read moreto go in some of the shops. The dinosaurs were neat to see.

My son's class went there last month for his field trip. It's a great museum and would've been 5…read morestars, but a pipe had burst and there was no old downtown Grand Rapids. That's my favorite exhibit, it was too bad the kids couldn't interact and learn from the volunteers dressed from that time period. The second floor was open and had a neat exhibit about sturgeon fish, dioramas of different habitats and an enlarged drop of water to see everything that lives in marshlands. It's a whole ecosystem! The carousel was also closed due to maintenance, another disappointment as the kids would've had fun riding this antique. The highlight for me was the planetarium. We were able to view a 15 minute show that was exciting and informative. I looked and found they have shows open to the public for $5 on their website. Worth checking out, though most shows may be geared for a younger population. GRPM is an educational haven full of curiosities and learning opportunities from whale bones, to fashion and all things that relate to Grand Rapids History. Definitely worth checking out. Enjoy a tasty lunch with their hand made sandwiches and soups of the day after a titillating planetarium show.

Great place to take kids, especially on a cold and snowy day! There were many different activities…read morefor kids of all ages. The various activities were very engaging, and thought provoking, which kept everyone entertained for a while. Make sure to check their Facebook for any closures/ late starts due to weather.

I love taking my kids here. It's a great way to get out of the house and have the kids get their…read moreenergy out. I've went a bunch of times and my daughter has yet to get tired of going! They also have a spot for infants which I absolutely love. It's nice to be able to have somewhere that my younger one can play safely.

What a very nice historical place to catch some Michigan history…read more Today seeing a presentation of how the Michigan Civil War were saved through restoration.

Huge museum with lots to do and see! It was a great experience and while we were there we got to…read morelearn extra bits of information from Dean. Would recommend to anybody with some spare time on their hands!

A good thing to do on a rainy day for an hour or so. Interesting and sad at the same time.read more

I thought the museum was excellent. It shows the evolution of hatred toward persons of color. It…read moreis a wonderful resource for educators to lay people.

We found a place that offers kids a fun interactive hands on experience that includes some learning…read morealong the way. If your kiddos like to have fun and explore you need to visit the Grand Rapids Children's Museum. They have exhibits that change often that include local or even trending kids shows! The museum has two floors and has an elevator. They have an array of learning and interactive opportunities. You can find a list of days and times on their website! When we were there we got a chance to learn about music and the kids got to play some instruments. The museum is very inclusive and friendly! They offer sensory kits at the front desk if needed too! According to their website the "kits include noise reduction headphones, a weighted vest and suspenders, emotion recognition flashcards..." All the team members we have encountered have been kind and helpful! My only comment of suggestion would be for a little more adult seating in some of the "middle sections" of the museum. There are a few spots all along the walls but not much towards the middle. I understand it creates more opportunities for grownups to get involved with the kids too but for those of us with disabilities that need a minute to catch our breath it was difficult to find a spot close to where my kids were. Lots of interactive play and many memories made here! I highly suggest visiting. The rate to visit is $12 per person but they offer many types of discounted rates for different reasons. All rate information is available on their website. Parking can be a challenge as they do not have their own parking structure and the closest parking is side street meter parking that you can pay using the parking app. They do not validate parking.

What a cutie patootie children's museum! Grand Rapids Children's Museum is small, but it's…read moreeverything you need in a children's museum, and a great place for young children to play. I visited with a tween and teenager, so we were definitely a little older than the target age. That said, my children had a great time! I had to practically pull them away when it was time to leave. When we arrived, we were told to explore and "follow our hearts" around the museum. I loved that! This children's museum really encourages self-directed play, which is obvious by all of the fun, open-ended objects everywhere. You've got the giant blocks, magna-tiles, LEGO tables, pretend kitchen and house, and lots of other things. Both of my children gravitated to The Spin Zone, a three-tiered table that uses centrifugal force to power different objects. Upstairs, there's a bubble area, where you can create giant bubbles; a play house to pretend in; a train table to drive trains around; a makerspace to make stuff in; and an exhibit called Weathering Emotions, a walk-through spot where you can learn about and experience emotions. Some of these exhibits are permanent, and some are just visiting, so your visit might vary. I would say that the Grand Rapids Children's Museum is the perfect place for ages 2 to 10. Beyond that age, it's definitely fun, but it might not hold the attention of older kids. But that's OK! This children's museum is a space for the little kids, and that's perfect.

This is a free and small art museum on the MSU campus. It's fine and a decent way to waste 45…read moreminutes. The design of the building, by Zaha Hadid, definitely provides for a good photo op and sticks out among the brick buildings nearby. The first floor exhibit, featuring Syrian-American artist, Diana Al-Hadid, was gorgeous and engaging. The basement was called the "CORE" and was a Hodge podge of random art. I wasn't fond of how this was set up at all. I love art but other than the featured exhibit, we weren't engaged. The upstairs Mekong art exhibit was pretty cool but small and scattered. I am used to museums having places for students to research and study in. There's not a lot here. Also, there's not really a cafe and the shop is small. Cute stuff in the store though. Overall, the museum was worth checking out in the area but there's no need to make a special trip.

When taking a day trip out to East Lansing, this is always a favorite place to stop and take in…read moresome fantastic art. While the museum is small, they pack several meaningful and amazing exhibits in the halls each time we visit. I am a fan of contemporary vision. This place typically has a lot of work to reflect on and I love the multimedia displays. The kids have grown up coming here to reflect on their own interpretations of the displays and what it means to them. The staff and volunteers are friendly. They also have a cute area for gifts. I love he building architecture. And, if you are a fan of Batman, they did film some scenes in front of the museum, and being a fan of pop culture, that is pretty cool too!

A visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the kind of outing that quietly turns into…read morehours of wandering without you noticing. One minute you're "just taking a stroll," and the next you're deep in a full-on appreciation tour of art, nature, and your step count. The blend of sculptures and natural landscapes is beautifully done. It invites you to slow down, look closer, and occasionally wonder if something is art or just a very confident tree. The butterfly exhibit was a highlight. Peaceful, delicate, and just the right amount of magical without trying too hard. Definitely worth lingering a bit longer there. That said, it was very crowded on a Saturday midday, even with the chilly weather. Apparently, everyone had the same "let's be cultured and outdoorsy today" idea. We're already planning a return visit next time we're in town, likely on a weekday in early fall, when the pace feels a little softer and the experience can breathe a bit more. Highly worth it... just maybe not at peak "everyone had the same plan" hours.

Bought a ticket for their Christmas light show and it was totally worth it!…read more Parking is free. There were attendants in the lot, guiding us where to park. Upon entry, there's a snack bar. You can buy food and drinks and bring them along with you. I got the spiked hot cocoa. I was surprised they have a fireball shot ski!!!! It was so cold that night. I really enjoyed warming up along the walking path at all the fire pits. They also had some pop up tents with heaters and more snacks and drinks. The whole event was well put together. The path was wide enough for adults, kids, strollers and people to pass by or stop and take pics. The sculptures were so pretty! My favorite part was the spot lights because the snow made the lights seem like they were sparkling. The inside of the building had Christmas trees from many countries. I enjoyed reading the captions and learning about their traditions. The gardens were open as well- the desert plants are so cool. The tiny train and building exhibit was nice. They have a ton of local architectural buildings that are miniaturized with natural materials. There is a 15 min Christmas video you can watch; I watched it. It was a little boring. I don't recommend that video for kids. Bathrooms are clean. The gift shop was very nice. They sell ornaments, shirts, plants, etc. Overall, this was such a fun holiday thing to do. I took advantage of all of it. I was there for almost two hours. The pasty was huge and delicious. I took one to go! Worth every penny. The spiked hot cocoa I got was $18 and came in a souvenir cup. It's a really nice cup! It has the museum logo on it. The lid has a great closing mechanism. It has a little air hole though so it can leak. But it kept my drink hot for the whole mile. Bring mittens, wear boots, cover your head and ears, and have hand warmers in your pockets. It's cold out there! But it was so nice to see the lights and the music interacting and to walk the path and enjoy the sculptures lit up. Tickets sell out so buy in advance online.

This place is one of my Sanctuary's. I highly recommend…read morevisiting the museum and gift shop. A great source of information for educators on their website & I recommend this for taking youth on a field trip. If you're looking to source authentic materials, books & Anishinabe History this is the place. Be sure to explore their website!

Beautiful experience! The exhibit was very informative and educational. They did a beautiful job…read more Would definitely recommend to this traveling near by.

Fun entertainment for my 5 year old! This place was tucked way off the main road but had plenty of…read moreparking. We got a package where we could do both mini golf and bowling. Mini golf was fun and just enough challenge. At first, there was no one in front of us or behind us. However, the crowd soon caught up to us. So we had to wait for people in front of us and then people were waiting behind us. It could hardly be helped though since the golf course is small and compact. The bowling was fun and they even had option of using bumpers. My kid had a good time and it was nice that there was no one else bowling around us. The arcade was nice. It had plenty of free games. The pay games were mostly the claw games where you can win a stuffed animal or plastic duck. They offer food, ice cream, and drinks. Ice cream was delicious and my kid approved! Overall, it was a fun time and worth the amount of money that we spent. It was clean and comfortable inside. The golf course was kind of tight quarters with everyone waiting but otherwise, it was a good time!

Very fun gold experience. U would say this is more catered to young family's and children but would…read morestill return again. The course is challenging and engaging, but does seem a bit old. Overall a fair price and food service! 4/5 stars!