This is THE BEST PETTING ZOO/learning farm I have ever seen. Critter Barn animals, staff,…read morevolunteers, and property all exceeded expectations. Very reasonably priced, tons of handwashing stations and a wonderful experience all around. My kids both want to volunteer here now. Worth the drive and the price of admission--without question one of the best attractions in the area.

This is a must see. We have come back year after year. This is great. Please go and enjoy. Feed…read moresome animals and enjoy the farm feeling. The new space is fun and way more room and more animals.

I've been here multiple times and have usually had an enjoyable experience, though accessibility…read morehas always limited my options. (High tables, cramped seating, low movement space) My partner and I stopped in as walk-ins on Saturday around 2pm, fully understanding it would be busy and that there could be a wait. When we entered, there was no signage and no employees directing guests. Like others who walked in, we selected our pottery and sat at an open table. The table was completely clear -- no signage, no tiles, nothing indicating it was reserved. At no point were we informed that the table was reserved or that there was a waitlist. After choosing our colors, we asked an employee to quickly review the instructions. During that interaction, another employee approached and stated the table was reserved. I asked if we needed to move and was told, "No, it's fine, we'll figure it out," and the instructions continued. A few minutes later, after staff were visibly discussing the situation and staring at us, we were told we would need to move because the table was reserved and there was a waitlist. An alternative was offered, but it was not accessible for us, so we declined and left. We were later told that walk-ins are required to check in at the "front desk," which is actually located at the back of the store. This is not stated on the website, and there is no signage in the store explaining this process. We were also told reserved tables are typically marked with tiles -- however, the table we sat at was completely empty and unmarked. By their own stated policy, the process was not followed in this situation. The handling of the situation was disappointing, poorly communicated, and made for an unnecessarily uncomfortable experience

Service was great. Very accommodating for my elderly mom. Also, took the time to help us with the…read moreprocess, clean up, etc. I highly recommend!

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.

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.

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.

I cannot say enough good things about Meijer Gardens. It is the one thing I would recommend for…read moreanyone to see who is new to Grand Rapids or just visiting. I love to bring out of town guests there. It is fun for adults and children. Every staff member is friendly and knowledgeable. These are some pics from the most recent event/exhibit featuring CHIHULY!

Went on a recent roadtrip & decided to use this place as a stop to burn the kids energy & it didn't…read morefail. Nothing out of the ordinary in regards to your typical bounce house establishment. There was a couple of unique slides in addition to an outdoor area which I haven't seen in most places albeit it being closed I'm assuming due to the cold weather.

Tried this place again after my experience from my last review and I will never go back here again…read more Half the arcade machines weren't even in service and half of the ones that were ether didn't work, were missing essential things or just ate your money. The bathrooms were nasty, I felt like a needed a shower after being in them and the stall doors didn't even lock. And the multiple times that we had to inform a worker of something, like the syrup being out in the fountain pop, they didn't show an ounce of concern. I even had one literally tell my wife, that's not my job. Also, I called a couple days before to ask a question, answering machine said they were busy with customers and would call back.... Never did.

I love walking at Millennium Park. I have been exercising here for many years. There are miles and…read moremiles of paths to explore. I enjoy mixing up my different routes to go different distances. There are several small lakes, one of which has a beach and other activities such as paddle boats. There are two different entrances to the park, which helps spread visitors out on really busy days like weekends. On the Secchia Meadows side, there is a nice pavillon where my friends had their wedding. I highly recommend Millennium Park for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, spotting creatures such as deer, turtles, muskrats, eagles, and more.

I've got lots of thoughts running through my head, simultaneously, all the time. So when I stepped…read moreup to the check-in counter at Millennium Park Boat Rentals, the thoughts in my head were: Wow! It only costs $8 per hour to rent a kayak? Sweet! Wow! These people checking me in and telling me safety information are incredibly young! Will they be able to save me and my family if our kayaks flip over and we fall into the lake? Wow! What a beautiful day! But I wonder how often people fall into the lake. I also wonder how deep the lake is. I also wonder if it's possible to be trapped underwater if your kayak flips over. In the end, I decided to kick it on the sandy beach and wave at my family as they happily paddled on the lake. They had a great time kayaking. I had a great time not kayaking. Like Hot Chocolate says: Everyone's a winner, baby. Kayaks are either single-person or double, and we used one of each. There are very few instructions given, which was a little alarming to me. (You mean you just assume we know what we're doing?!) But fortunately, my family knew what they were doing, so they didn't need much instruction to get themselves out on the water. As you paddle around the lake, you pass the Millennium Park beach and splash pad, plus little islands here and there. There is about four miles of shoreline to explore. I was told that the lake was nice and calm, and that it was a pleasant time on the water. We rented kayaks, but Millennium Park Boat Rentals also offers canoes, paddle boats and stand-up paddle boards to rent. Keep in mind that rentals are seasonal -- this place is only open from Memorial Day-ish to Labor Day-ish.

I will start off by saying that this is not the best place to get a salad, apps or some random…read moreentrees. My rating is based almost entirely on their burgers, which are very good. In fact, my kids laughed at my wife when she got a salad and wasn't overly impressed "Mom, why would you get a salad at a place with great burgers?!?" My thoughts exactly. The service is decent, the space is comfortable for a downtown spot on Monroe Center. When I visit, I focus solely on the burgers and I've never been disappointed. The 'Meat Wagon', topped with ribeye, ham and bacon just wants to cuddle your belly from the inside. The 'Otto Von Burger' topped with a fried egg and bacon is one of the best examples of its kind. The 'Alabamer' is great when you're craving pulled pork and bacon on your burger. If you just want a traditional burger, you have that option and won't be disappointed. Also, the loaded fries are solid, but personally, I would pass on the fancier offerings. Remember: Burgers over fancy apps and skip the salads and you'll be fine.

It had been a little while since I've been able to dine at Brick and Porter. It's still amazing!…read more Still has the nice casual pub feel. Our server was friendly and we had prompt service. Prices are very reasonable and the food is amazing! I tried the Chicken Bacon Jammer Sandwich. It was so good! The combo of the Boursin cheese, bacon jam and the reaper mayo was delicious and really balanced out the heat from the mayo. Splurged on desert and the Cookie n' Milk cake was wonderful. Not too rich or sweet. This place is definitely worth a stop if you are downtown!