This is a perfect mid size Midwest city. There are a ton of great restaurants, breweries, and…read morethings to do for all types of people. Do you like the outdoors? Check out all of the park and gardens, including the Meijer Gardens. One of the best sculpture gardens I have ever been to. There is also a river walk which is nice. This town has a lot of college opportunities as well. It has multiple satellite campuses as well as Grand Valley. Ferris, MSU, Western, and more are all represented here There are a ton of places to eat. We found quite a few that I wrote reviews on. Highly recommended to come here. A little of something for everyone.

Great beer and great art Cheers Beer City USA!…read moreI'm a Brewsader I had been wanting to get to Grand Rapids to visit for probably ten or more years now. It is the long reigning Beer City USA. Founders is the most well known of their breweries and lived up to the hype. I also really enjoyed City Built which is just north of Downtown, Two Guys to the South, and Perrin to the North. Lots of public murals and I have heard nothing but great things about their annual Artprize event every fall. Although I did not partake, there is a free public bus that does loops around the Downtown area (I guess they call it Center City there). The metro population checks in at a little over a million which is not that much smaller than Buffalo or New Orleans. Not quite big enough for any pro sports teams yet. If you decide to go there for the beer like me, make sure to download the BeerCity Brewsader app on your phone. Check into eight different breweries and score a sweet T-shirt which you now pick up at Founders. Hope I make it back to Grand Rapids at some point in the future!

Ah-Nab-Awen Park is a long park along the Grand River with public art, city views, a running trail…read moreand sculptures. Murals line the running trail along the water. There are a few hills inside the park that make for picnic spots with views of downtown Grand Rapids.

You can take a nice walk along the river. Really nice and peaceful however you can see many sign…read moreand evidence of the city needing to cut back on maintenance budget. Over grown weeds, garden sort of out of control, trash along the passage, etc.

Grand Rapids is very lucky to have the Meijer Gardens & Sculptor Park. We were visiting from out of…read morestate and made sure we made time to visit. It did not disappoint. There are many exhibitions from desert to tropical to Japanese gardens as well as an interactive children's garden. There was also a CHIHULY exhibition which added to our experience at the gardens. A cafe, gift shop and clean restrooms can be found in the main building. We spent about four hours exploring the beautiful gardens and look forward to returning and enjoying the park.

To start, I cannot believe I've never reviewed Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park having…read morebeen a member for many, many years and a regular visitor. It is sometimes hard to believe our "little town" has such a wonderful place to go to. Meijer Gardens is where we regularly take our walks. Whether on the Boardwalk, Shade trail, Japanese Gardens or the Sculpture Park, there is always an abundance of beauty to enjoy. Currently Meijer Gardens has a Chihuly Exhibition on display throughout the park. Chihuly is a glass sculpture who has created amazing pieces. Usually I've seen his work in museums. (Baker Museum in Naples has a fantastic display for example) It is amazing to see his work outdoors in the variety of settings available at Meijer Gardens. There is also a paid indoor exhibition that we have not seen. In addition to the various gardens and sculptures, Meijer Gardens also sponsors a Summer Concert Series in their outdoor venue. We have enjoyed dozens of concerts over the years. Thankful we have this treasure so nearby.

It is a really nice park! It is usually very very crowded. I usually have a hard time parking here…read more I would not go here by yourself and I often walk fast past this when leaving late theater rehearsals. The coffee shop is lovely.

This park is up a small mound or hill…read more A nice short walk up to the Veteran's memorial. At the top, feels like you are away from the downtown.

This was a last min trip due to rain and it was an unexpected surprise…read more It's an imposing structure. It's very clean and the landscaping is nicely done. Staff inside is so friendly - and they even had a scavenger hunt (with prizes)! We meandered along in the exhibits. The Oval Office and cabinet room were very neat - with interesting tidbits on the sides. All in all a good visit. We only had an hour - so we had to race through - you probably want to leave 2 hours to really experience everything. Take pics and look later was the advice of the woman who sold us our tickets (and it was good advice!) I didn't know much about Gerald Ford - and even so - this was a fascinating visit. Truly interesting.

Very impressive presidential museum and well worth the price of admission. I only had an hour and…read morea half to explore but could easily have spent double that amount of time. I knew very little about Gerald R. Ford and left with a lot of cool information. Highly recommend. I think kids over 5 would find it entertaining.

Calder Plaza is home to La Grande Vitesse, an Alexander Calder sculpture that was formally…read morededicated in 1969. The plaza is also a popular gathering place for events, art exhibits, festivals, etc. As of January 2023, there are some World of Winter exhibits at Calder Plaza, including a big house of cards that features art from local artists. It lights up at nighttime. I've attended many festivals and events at Calder Plaza throughout the years. The sculpture is impressive and makes for great photos - It's 43 feet tall! Street parking can be tough to find close to Calder Plaza, and there is no natural shade for events that take place there during the summer. The Plaza connects City Hall and the Kent County building in downtown Grand Rapids. La Grande Vitesse is one of the most recognizable icons of Grand Rapids, and is included in the city's official logo.

Calder Plaza. ⁣ ⁣ The…read moreproper name for this 42 ton red sculpture is actually La Grande Vitesse. Translated from French, it means The Grand Rapids. However, us locals refer to it as The Calder, because Alexander Calder, an American sculptor, created it. ‍⁣ ⁣ The Calder is an ode to our city that is home to so many artists and has inspired numerous new art initiatives. It hosts many events, festivals, and even summer food trucks! The Calder is an iconic spot for those of us who call this city home. ⁣

The dedication of this monument took place 19 April 2007 (on the 96th anniversary of the 1911…read moreFurniture Strike). The statues are located on Pearl St. in a recessed area near the Indian Mounds at the entrance to the Ford Museum property along the Grand River. The figures were carved and cast by Roberto Chenlo. The project was the work of the Labor Heritage Society of West Michigan. It's a rare thing to commemorate organized labour in West Michigan...

Incredibly kind and attentive staff. Pleasant shopping experience of getting to peruse both hand…read moremade and vintage items, so fun! They have a great selection, I had a hard time leaving!

I've been coming to Gallery 154 for a couple of decades now and I always love it. So many unique…read moretreasures to be found here. Walking around and looking at the walls, shelves, and ceiling is such an adventure. The ornament selection at the holidays is unmatched by any other retailer and the quality of them is exquisite. I think they're celebrating their 33rd year here - let's give them another 33 years, Yelpers!

Hagar Park is a great old growth forest with trails, old and "new" playground. Many shelters…read moreavailable for rent and picnic tables everywhere for a fun/ low key get together. I love biking or walking through the trails. I love how this park backs up to a neighborhood and feels quiet yet is still residential. There is a huge wooden play ground that overlooks a grass and rock replica of the USA complete with hills representing mountain ranges. You can walk the perimeter of it for a close up view, but the best vantage point is from the top of the hill. Many things to play on and do at Hagar Park. Pack yourself a picnic and enjoy the facilities during these warmer summer months.

We have a family reunion here most summers, reserving Maples Shelter. It is a gazebo styled covered…read morepicnic area with a concrete floor. There are several picnic tables, AC power outlets to plug in crock-pots, etc., and a counter to lay out food to serve. There is a drinking fountain just outside the shelter. Parking is close and the adjacent grassy area is great for yard games. It is also reasonably close to the massive wooden play structure and modern restrooms.