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    Midwest Miniatures

    4.9 (8 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Verna N.

    This museum isn't large by any means but it's a cute and fun stop. The miniatures are amazing. There was one person manning the museum while we were there. We did a scavenger hunt in which you get a little lollipop in the end for finishing. The gift shop is small. It's a few built in shelves of goods. There are restrooms and a kids playroom in the back. I was told they are considering expanding to the second floor but they need an elevator installed first.

    The fairy tree house
    Carol U.

    We were looking for something unusual to do as we drove by Kalamazoo one Sunday morning and the Midwest Miniatures Museum was the perfect stop. It's run by volunteers and located in an old farmhouse by the Gilmore Car Museum. After a beautiful drive through the autumnal countryside, we were treated to rooms bursting with miniature houses, scenes, and objects. Some were historical, like the recreation of Van Gogh's house at Arles and an Irish cottage. Others were inspired by history, like the walk around 1960s house. And others were pure fantasy, like the fairy tree house and Mary Fisher's French rooms. Don't miss the Noah's Ark collection in the bathroom! We got a tour from Nick, who was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, then walked around some more to look in more detail. We loved it and might return with our kids in the future.

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    Tri Cities Historical Museum - Tri Cities Historical Museum

    Tri Cities Historical Museum

    4.3(8 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    It had been years since my last visit to the Tri Cities Historical Museum, and Nate had never…read morevisited, so we stopped in while in the area recently during our "Christmas break." It's free to visit, although they do have a suggested donation. The museum explores the area's history, starting with the native Odawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi tribes, moving into the fur trade, pioneers, and into Victorian times. The displays are well done with many artifacts. My favorite part was the Victorian house as you can see into a bedroom, kitchen, and dining room. The second floor hosts two permanent exhibits - one about the coast guard and one about the Bastian and Blessing Soda Fountain, with a replica soda fountain counter. The rotating exhibit we saw was about Ferrysburg, a small town in the area. I didn't find that one as intriguing but I'm sure people from the area might connect with it a bit more. The museum is small but really well done for one of this size. Plus you can't really beat free entry! There isn't a ton for younger kids although they do have a small play room with books and some toys on the second level. I'd stop in here anytime I'm in the area as it looks like they are planning some updates.

    This place was pretty cool. Disregard the "NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS" sign in front, too - they have them…read moreon the (new?) second floor. I had never been before and they have some cool stuff about Grand Haven and other local history. It's free to walk around but there is a $5 suggested donation. There's also a gift shop near the front. One of my friends said that the 2nd floor is completely new, which is also cool. Worth a stop if you're in downtown GH.

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    Tri Cities Historical Museum
    Tri Cities Historical Museum - Tri Cities Historical Museum

    Tri Cities Historical Museum

    Tri Cities Historical Museum

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    Grand Rapids Public Museum - Pullman train lobby recreation

    Grand Rapids Public Museum

    4.3(117 reviews)
    28.6 mi

    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.

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    Grand Rapids Public Museum - Kid garden

    Kid garden

    Grand Rapids Public Museum - Recreated downtown Grand Rapids

    Recreated downtown Grand Rapids

    Grand Rapids Public Museum - Recreated downtown Grand Rapids

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    Recreated downtown Grand Rapids

    White River Light Station Museum - Lake Michigan

    White River Light Station Museum

    4.8(11 reviews)
    23.8 mi

    One of the best things you could do in the White Lake area... climb the White River Lighthouse! The…read morelighthouse is so historic and is truly a one of a kind. It is tucked away in Whitehall but worth the drive. There is free parking on site. You can only climb the lighthouse May-October as it is a seasonal operation. It is $8 for adults to climb and $5 for children 17 and under. It is worth every dollar to climb the lighthouse. The view of Lake MI and the White Lake Channel in unreal. The blue tones of the water really show. A beautiful sight to see! There is a small gift shop where you can purchase nautical, Great Lakes themed items such as keychains, wall art, t-shirts, etc. The lighthouse keeper is always very kind when we take our family from out of town there.

    Interesting lighthouse with a surprisingly deep history. Home of Michigan's first female lighthouse…read morekeeper. Interesting history of light keepers and the changes throughout. You can even climb up the spiral staircase to the top (about 50 steps) and look out over Lake Michigan like the light keepers did in the past. A great little museum is in the building with great old photos, nautical artifacts, a life ring from The Edmund Fitzgerald, and even the original 4th order Fresnel Lens. There's an intro movie in the building next to the lighthouse with more artifacts. Easy walk to the beach. Took just under an hour.

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    White River Light Station Museum
    White River Light Station Museum - White River Light

    White River Light

    White River Light Station Museum

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    Lakeshore Museum Center - Display honoring Muskegon's Jewish Community at Lakeshore Museum Center

    Lakeshore Museum Center

    4.2(5 reviews)
    11.9 mi

    This is a cute, smaller, inexpensive museum. Our kids are 7 and 3. They enjoyed it and so did we…read more We were staying in town for a few nights and needed something to keep kids busy. This was a fun morning trip. Spent almost 2 hours here. It was clean and organized. The basement had more than we thought. I think we spent the majority of our time there. Worth a trip if you are in town!

    I'm a big museum buff and when I travel, I want to experience museums in the region…read more The plus: beautiful, historic building. Easy parking on the street two hours free parking on the street or unlimited in the museum nearby parking lot. Nice flow in the museum through the exhibits, including a few exhibits geared toward children. Nice diversity of exhibits. Good proximity to downtown, restaurants, parks, public art and cultural items. The minuses: I'm going to lay this directly on the young woman in the gift shop and the staff. She seemed to be put out by taking my entrance fee. Unhelpful when I was shopping in the gift shop. And when I asked if the historic Hackley/Hume homes were within walking distance, she said curtly: YES. Wow. How about, "it's one block to the left, then turn right and go down one block, it'll be on the right hand side but I'm sorry but those museums are closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays." Also, while walking through the museum there seemed to be a lot of staff milling about in the hallway, discussing a recent social event. They obstructed the traffic flow and I pinged about like pac-man on a race trying to navigate the museum. No one asked if I had any questions or offered to show me around so rather consider this a museum "visit", I'd call it a "half-visit" since I could have gotten so much more from my visit. I'm a professional tour guide, I've worked in museums in four major cities and I've never found this level of indifference anywhere. It's so sad, this museum has the potential to be so much more but without the assistance of the help, it will never be what it could be.

    Photos
    Lakeshore Museum Center - Wigwam village at MI Heritage Park in Whitehall

    Wigwam village at MI Heritage Park in Whitehall

    Lakeshore Museum Center - Kids learning how to make fire

    Kids learning how to make fire

    Lakeshore Museum Center - Staff at our Steampunk-themed annual fundraiser

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    Staff at our Steampunk-themed annual fundraiser

    Coast Guard Festival - View from the ship

    Coast Guard Festival

    4.8(4 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    The Coast Guard Festival is a big deal in Grand Haven, and it shows. The festivals lasts for 10…read moredays, spanning across two weekends at the end of July and beginning of August. What's in the itinerary? It depends on the day. One of my favorites is Tuesday night's Dancing in the Street, where a large stage is set up downstage for--you guessed it--dancing in the street to a very good local cover band. This year I got to take a tour of two Coast Guard ships that were docked in the channel. My spouse was thrilled. If you're a music fan, there's nightly concerts, the majority of them being cover bands. On the second Saturday of the festival, there's fireworks, which people make sure they have a great spot for viewing as early as the morning of. The last thing I'll mention is the carnival with games, rides, and the kids who love them. Food-wise, there's a row of fair food trailers and a section of food trucks around the Elks Lodge off of Washington Street. Plus, just about all the local of the local businesses around downtown will gladly take your money. This summer New Holland Brewing Co. opened a pizza-inspired pinwheels kitchen, which appeared to be very popular with patrons of the festival. There's also plenty of opportunities for booze in the Social District as well as sweets, from ice cream to chocolates to Kilwin's fudge. I've attended the festival two years in a row, and I'll continue to come on the Dancing in the Street night. It's a great night of community and fun. I'll also try to check out the cardboard boat race, which takes place on the first Saturday of the festival. Should you come too? My vote is yes!

    Lucky to have been in Grand Haven for my first Coast Guard Festival. A more patriotic atmosphere…read moreyou will have a hard time finding. The way the entire town shows their appreciation for the Coast Guard is inspiring. Flags on every home and business! Tour a ship, watch the helicopters, visit the museums, ride the rides, listen to bands and eat a ton of delicious food. Take a break from the crowds and walk along the boardwalk to the famous red lighthouse to watch the sunset. You will love every minute!

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    Coast Guard Festival
    Coast Guard Festival - Coast Guard Ship Tours

    Coast Guard Ship Tours

    Coast Guard Festival - Cutest boy ever!

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    Cutest boy ever!

    S.S. Milwaukee Clipper

    S.S. Milwaukee Clipper

    4.7(3 reviews)
    11.6 mi

    I visited the Milwaukee Clipper with my mom in August of 2024, and it was an interesting experience…read more(in a good way). We always come over on the Lake Express, and we wanted to finally tour the ship, so we gave it a try. The service was great onboard, the actual tour was informative, and the price was not bad either. First, the service. All of the volunteers working at the Milwaukee Clipper were kind, passionate, and informative. You could tell they were interested about the vessel, and it made for an enjoyable experience. The only gripe I have with the Clipper is the spotty availability. For a Friday, the hours are 1-5pm and the gate is supposed to be open, so we get to the attraction and it was closed with a posted phone number to call. We called the phone number and it wasn't even the Milwaukee Clipper that answered. So, that was an interesting miscommunication. My Rating for this Category: 4/5 Second, the tour itself. The tour was amazing, and the tour guide takes you all around the vessel, explaining everything in detail in the process. Their enthusiasm was appreciated, and she always made you want to know more. The tour took about 40 minutes which was plenty of time. My Rating for this Category: 5/5 Finally, the price. My mom and I paid about $12/piece, and for a forty minute tour of an extremely historical boat, we found the price to be reasonable. There are other pricing rates available depending on various circumstances. Also, with the great customer service, we had no complaints here. My Rating for this Category: 5/5 The next time that I am in the Muskegon area with friends or family between Wednesday and Sunday, I would have no reservation taking them on the Milwaukee Clipper. The great tour with great service and a nice price makes this a no-brainer when in the Muskegon area. So, I have no reservation recommending the Milwaukee Clipper tour to anyone.

    I sailed past this old grand dame of a ship while on the Lake Express boat coming into Muskegon…read moreharbor. She is quite the beauty, although long-in-the-tooth and rusty around the edges. But the S.S. Milwaukee proudly welcomes you for a tour where you can see and experience how our forebears once made the trek across Lake Michigan. I came by while visiting in late April but the ship does not open for tours until May 27 through Sept. 3 and from 1 - 5 p.m. on Saturdays & Sundays only. Admission is $7 for adults; students are $5 and kids 5 and under are free. This National Historic Landmark, also known as "The Queen of the Great Lakes, would be a great adventure to experience. There is a lot of history to discover as the former S.S. Juanita, is a "retired passenger ship and automobile ferry that sailed under two configurations and traveled on all of the Great Lakes except Lake Ontario. Along with the SS Keewatin, the Milwaukee Clipper is one of only two US passenger steamships left on the Great Lakes," according to Wikipedia. She really got around! 4 YELP STARS for that.

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    S.S. Milwaukee Clipper - Grand old ship but rusty.

    Grand old ship but rusty.

    S.S. Milwaukee Clipper - Historical marker.

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    Historical marker.

    Grand Rapids Children's Museum - The Grand Rapids Children's Museum is located on the Rainbow Road in beautiful downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan!

    Grand Rapids Children's Museum

    4.1(58 reviews)
    29.1 mi

    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.

    We visited on our last day in Michigan for July 4th vacation. We came just before closing time but…read morewe made the most of it. We had ACM reciprocal membership so admission was half off. It was Sunday so parking was free. The museum has 2 floors and we finished before museum closed. Upstairs has nice wooden train table without tracks being glued down. There is also an art studio but they closed for the day. Gift shop had nice selection of toys like fire trucks. Overall, we liked this but my son liked impression 5 more and I would agree too.

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    Grand Rapids Children's Museum - Pretend houses everywhere

    Pretend houses everywhere

    Grand Rapids Children's Museum - Bubble space

    Bubble space

    Grand Rapids Children's Museum - Play area

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    Play area

    Midwest Miniatures - museums - Updated May 2026

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