Well, I wasn't expecting to feel a connection to my deceased Polish grandma at Grand Rapids Public…read moreMuseum. But there I was, making my way through all of the exhibits, when I came across an exhibit about the Polish immigrants who settled in Michigan. My maternal grandmother's parents (my great-great grandparents) emigrated from Warsaw, Poland, to the Detroit area of Michigan more than a century ago, so the exhibit I was looking at pertained directly to me, in a way. It made me wish that my grandma was still around, so I could ask her questions. The room that the exhibit was in was empty and quiet. (It seems like the historical exhibits aren't as popular as the hands-on kid-friendly exhibits). So, it was nice to take in all of this information by myself, quietly. I read about Michigan's Polish culture, and looked at all of the items on display, and thought about what my great-great grandparents were like, living in Michigan. My experience sounds much more sobering than it really was! Really, my family and I had a great time exploring all three floors of the museum. There are lots of things to do. There's a room with giant games, there are displays of taxidermied animals, there's a recreated old-timey Grand Rapids downtown, there's a planetarium for an additional fee, there's a shark exhibit that may or may not be there when you visit because it's temporary. Apparently, there was also a carousel, but I didn't see it! Maybe it was still being repaired. We spent a good hour at this museum, but could have easily spent more time if we weren't on a schedule. The great thing about the Grand Rapids Public Museum is that there's something for all ages. There are things for young kids to touch, and lots of things for older people to read. Truly, this is a museum that will entertain everyone.

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.

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!

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.

A friend and I drove out to Grand Rapids from Chicago to enjoy the Chihuly exhibit…read more The botanical garden is gorgeous. It is well maintained, huge and offers diverse beauty. We took the tram to see more of the garden. Then we walked through the Japanese Garden for the Chihuly exhibit. Everything was beautiful and relaxing. All of the staff we interacted with, were so pleasant and helpful. The gift shop had so many lovely items. Parking was plentiful. We loved our experience and will definitely return.

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!