I had been looking for some things to do while visiting Grand Rapids that were within walking…read moredistance of my hotel. The Public Museum had come up in several searches, so I decided to stop in for a visit. This museum was the perfect way to spend a couple hours. The displays and different installations were just long enough to get a better understanding of the subject, but not so long and detailed that it was overwhelming. I particularly liked the baseball collection display. Upon buying my ticket, I was asked if I also wanted a ticket to the carousel or the planetarium. I decided to do both. The carousel was fun, but I think I could have probably skipped it. The planetarium was really cool. It was kind of a "choose your own adventure" as we hopped around via audience input. All in all, a fun way to spend a couple hours and very family friendly.

We had a wonderful visit, two adults. I'm sure our adult kids would have enjoyed it, too, but it…read morewas great for us older adults

This place is great for kids to learn, play, explore, and make friends. All of my experiences here…read morewere positive and they have so much for kids!

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.

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!

Pros: Educates visitors on the subtleties of institutionalized and socialized racism. The exhibit…read moreon racism depicted in cartoons is most fascinating. Cons: Small, but growing collection of artifacts. No need to obtain a parking permit as metered parking and street parking are plentiful.

Very smelly inside and out. It was still super funny and would suggest you go as well…read more Just watch out for the live exhibits in the parking lot that will steal your wallet.

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.

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!

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.

Came here specifically to see the Chihuly Exhibit with my MI gal pal…read more She had seen some of his art while at a Dane National somewhere in the Midwest. Neither of us can remember the location. We were slow to get started and finally arrived close to 230 on this day. Thanks to the reciprocal program of the Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ), I was able to get complimentary passes to the Garden and only needed to pay an additional fee for the special exhibit. I would advise anyone wanting to visit this Garden to plan for 3-4 hours, at least, if they've not visited before. We took in a good amount of this place but I know we didn't see at least two (2) Chihuly pieces. It was already feeling like it was getting late and my friend was feeling tired. I will say when we made it to the parking lot the landscaping we observed in progress was completed and the parking lot more than half of the vehicles that were there when we arrived were now gone. The Garden is quite stunning and I'm glad we made the three (3) hour drive to visit. Wish i was closer. Certainly would be great to see in the different seasons. The Chihuly Exhibit greatly added to the sights. They were very well placed and certainly enhanced the mood, lending to the peace and serenity of some areas, whimsy to others. And the pictures we captured were all great keepers. And almost forgot to mention the wildlife. Bees, Dragonflies, Groundhog(s), Cranes. I bet there's even the occasional Deer sighting here every now and then. Such a beautiful place. So glad I was finally able to visit.

What a beautiful place! Plenty of parking. We came for the Chihuly exhibit…read more There was an option to walk the beautiful grounds or pay to have the shuttle drive to the areas with the sculptures. It was a lot of walking as the grounds are expansive. There are gardens inside also. English gardens. Dessert gardens. Rainforest climates. Complete with giant palm trees, beautiful plants, & even birds. The glass sculptures were amazing. Huge & beautifully arranged. The Chihuly exhibit was there for a limited time. There are also a lot of permanent art sculptures that were so unique. There is a restaurant here also. We had the ice cream at the cute little cafe outside. Lots of restrooms available.

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.

I'm a frequent customer of this establishment, this place has a really fun, unique atmosphere,…read morethat'll put a smile on the faces of parent and child alike! Great place for a date, they've got food, arcade, and a mesmerizing hand painted golf course that changes often and feels fresh! I've used this place for parties, and I'd recommend anyone else to look into doing so if they're interested. The staff are lovely and accommodating, and its just a great location for a birthday or gathering. Cant wait to see these guys re-open.

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!