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.

I had never visited a presidential library before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It's…read moredefinitely more museum than library, but, in full disclosure, the library portion of the building was closed the day I visited, so the library part could have been massive. I never really considered myself a huge President Ford fan, but the museum was really cool. Plenty to see and peruse though, starting with his early life and going through his funeral. If you find yourself in Grand Rapids with a couple extra hours and and interest in presidential history, the Ford Presidential Library cam definitely scratch a historical itch.

We went to this this last weekend and honestly I was quite disappointed I was hoping there was…read moregoing to be a lot more than there was I also was thinking it was going to be busier on the plus side it wasn't and we got in for $15 however I do wish there was more The vendors they currently had were great they were just lacking

They're located right on Monroe Center. . The GRAAMA has…read morehosted ArtPrize pieces over the years and even won the Outstanding Venue Award for ArtPrize 10! . . Check out their exhibits and displays of African American traditions and history. They host special events as well - check out their website for details. Their gift shop also features pieces from local artists! .

Small but mighty- a wonderful collection of art and artifacts, as well as archives, of the Black…read moreand African American experience and history in our city and region. Excellent location on Monroe Center, right down the street from the other major GR cultural institutions. Also serves as the We Are Lit book store.

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.

We actually went to Fallasburg to drive over the Fallasburg covered bridge (no faster than a walk)…read more Erected in 1871 on the Flat River, located in the Fallasburg Historic District. 5 miles from Lowell, Michigan, USA

The FHS exists for the purpose of preservation of the 1850s historical Fallasburg village located…read morenortheast of Lowell in Kent County. The flagship museum is the one-room schoolhouse. The museum is open on Sundays from 2 to 4 pm, May through October. What makes this museum unique is that it is an entire historical village with the Fallasburg Covered Bridge leading into it. When you visit, you step back in time in a simple era before phones and computers.

This is a nice spot to stop by when you are around there the workers/volunteers are very nice. I…read morehad a good experience from a older lady named Rhonda who was very kind and knew a lot about everything ther.

ArtPrize is a yearly event that brings thousands of visitors to the downtown Grand Rapids area each…read morefall. The event has changed throughout the past 15 years it's been around, but it typically entails hundreds of art entries that are displayed downtown. Some are inside businesses, some are out on the street, and some are a bit hidden. There is a contest element to the event, with public vote winners as well as juried vote winners. I've always taken a very laid back approach to ArtPrize, preferring to just stumble upon installations as I make my normal way around the city. But there are venues that have large concentrations of art, including DeVos Place, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and more. I think it would be impossible to see every single piece! ArtPrize maps are not really a "thing" - there was a web based map in 2024 but I found it super clunky and not at all user friendly. The event brings tons of people into the downtown area, making it really congested with traffic as well as a lot of foot traffic - I typically try to avoid driving downtown during this time. Overall it's an interesting event that has a lot of discourse around it (both positive and negative), but something to check out if you're interested in art.

ArtPrize--or BoobyPrize??? Navigating around ArtPrize is an…read moreAbsolute nightmare. We wanted to take Our bikes around downtown and were told- no bikes allowed- seriously? We rode bikes all Over DC and Loved it! The QR system was an epic fail. The "interactive link" only linked me To the personal information of the creator Of said failed map. We wandered looking around for the art. No physical maps were available -- the concierge at the Amway Hotel didn't even have a map- nor did the assistant at the Devoss center. I never saw an Art Prize volunteer the entire day. If you're having out-of-area visitors it would be nice to offer some guidance: such as Where to park, information that you can only use city bikes. It would have been nice to click on the QR codes and have more information about the piece or the artist available. Scanning the QR did not work for voting, even after I registered. It kept saying it needed to change my locations setting.( which was set correctly ) And for an art exhibit, the signage stunk!!! Do you want people to actually read what you wrote? Then how about printing in a decent size font and posting the information higher than 2 feet off the ground! Ugh. Fun Day? More like frustrating.

2022 drink and food ticket system was WAY better than 2021s. Signs of improvement are wonderful…read more Had a great time again. Even had the honor of running into our Yelp leader Katy! Definitely the best event in November, hands down. In 2021 we went late, 2022 early, and I can say that our experience was so much better when we went early. We could actually walk, and get drinks without waiting in lines, or asking people to move who wanted to talk in front of booths. There were tables available to sit and eat, or listen to the music. Highly recommend going early if you have the ability to.

This annual event is definitely one for anyone who likes to eat or drink. With over 1,200 wines,…read morebeers, ciders, and spirits to try, as well as plated dinners, cooking demos, items for sale, small plates and samples galore, there's something for everyone at the International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival each year. I've been attending this festival for the past several years and it's always fun. Here are my tips: -Dress in layers and take advantage of the complimentary coat check. It can get a little chilly in the beer room, but you might not want to be holding your coat the whole time if you get warm. -Bring a small tote bag if you like free stuff or want to buy things. Lots of the beer booths have free swag and you may end up purchasing items as well. -Wear comfortable shoes. The beer room floors are all polished concrete, which can be hard on the feet. -Eat a little beforehand if you're mostly interested in drinking. Or check out some of the great local food options at the festival! -Check the prices on food items. In 2022 they had cash pricing as well as ticketed prices for most of the food booths, and often the cash prices were a better deal. Most of the vendors took credit cards. -The best time to go is usually early on Friday. Lines can get long and it can be a bit crowded on Saturday or in the evenings. I love going to the Festival and finding new favorites. It's a great way to sample things without having to buy a whole can or six pack of a beer or cider. I found a seltzer from Austin that I really enjoyed and ended up buying from a local store after the festival. I also ended up buying some salami chips for my Thanksgiving charcuterie board! Other favorites included Odd Brothers Cider out of Homer, Michigan, and local lychee vodka. I was happy to see more non-alcoholic options being offered and finally got to try the Liquid Death water. I'm already looking forward to next year!