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

A must wen visiting Grenada rapids So stunning how they…read morebrought this place back to live And on top the tours are free!

If you are in the Grand Rapids area and like Frank Lloyd Wright, don't miss the opportunity to…read morevisit the Meyer May house. It is a very good example of the prairie style that he is known for. The tour starts with video history of the house emphasizing the history of the restoration. It gave a great insight on the research for the restoration. Then the tour of the interior of the house ending with a tour of the gardens. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept us engaged by asking us questions along the way. The tour takes about an hour and a half. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time.

We chose L&R Rosebud again for our daughter's baptism and were just as impressed this second time…read morearound. Hannah and Joey were excellent coordinators and the rental price hadn't changed at all since we rented from them 3 years ago. We also were still allowed to choose our own caterers and decorate as we pleased. The space was still as bright and beautifully decorated with local artists' masterpieces. Overall, my initial review remains the same! Thanks so much!

Lions & Rabbits. ⁣ ⁣…read moreWhen I think of the Creston neighborhood, I immediately think of them. ⁣ ⁣Lions and Rabbits functions as a gallery, education center, and event space in the Creston neighborhood. They write curriculum for Kent District libraries, host classes, organize artist markets, and do community outreach through public space design and street parties through After Dark GR. (They are a main reason why Creston businesses are covered in incredible murals done by artists).⁣ ⁣ We couldn't be more proud to belong to the same city as the people and minds who work with Lions & Rabbits. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the work you do in the community.

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. ⁣

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.

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!

Logistics. East of Beltline between Leonard and Bradford, in Grand Rapids, about 2.5 hours NW of…read moreDetroit metro area. Vibe and First Impressions. Parking is free and accessible. Of course, get there early to since parking fills up. Inside, the ticketing is fairly quick. Inside designed for a lot of events and meetings. Awesome and open. A LOT OF KIDS SCREAMING. Hospitality. Friendly and knowledgeable ticketing. Tour guide on the trolley gave an interesting experience. Offerings. We went for the Chihuly exhibit. BEAUTIFUL. See pics. Wildlife amok: fish, birds, deer, rabbits, squirrels -- were what we witnessed. The HUGE art installations are fascinating. The ampitheater for concerts is an excellent venue. Cozy, intimate, and relaxed. I can see why a lot of entertainers book this place to perform. Of Note and Last Impressions. Loos were clean and stocked. EXTREMELY relaxing and rejunivating to see such art and natural beauty here. Well done. Next time, we would plan to bring snacks or comestibles to picnic at designated dining areas around the garden. Lovely. Highly recommend. Your admission also can go towards a membership that also has reciprocity to visit over 200 gardens. Very cool.

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.

I was walking around downtown Grand Rapids when this mural caught my attention. It's huge! It's…read morecolorful! It's called Raining Wisdom, and it was created by an artist named Abdoulaye Conde, who is from Guinea. I know this because there was a handy informational sign right by the mural. Grand Rapids hosts an annual international art competition called ArtPrize, and apparently, this mural won the top prize in 2023! That's a cool feather in Conde's cap. The mural depicts elephants in the African wilderness, which are the national animal of Guinea. You can learn more about the mural if you scan the QR code on the sign. But at the time, I wanted to just take in the artwork without knowing anything about it, like I usually do with public art. Sometimes, being ignorant is the best mindset for absorbing art properly.

This place is awesome. Fred Bivins owns this facility, he is an incredible craftsman and…read morewoodworker, one of the few Renaissance men left in this world. Fred hosts a gallery once a year with a handful of local talented artists that is open to public with great art for sale. If you can afford one of Fred's quality crafted bowls I would encourage the purchase, they are really cool.

From the owner: Wood turned items including bowls, bottle stoppers, and a variety of other wood items. Plus,…read moreletterpress-printed note cards.