My family and I have road tripped all around Michigan, and we have come to one conclusion: We love Michigan! Recently, we visited Grand Rapids for a fun family weekend, and now we can add this Michigan city to the many reasons why love the state. Located east of Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids is just under a four hour drive from Indianapolis, and there is so much for families to do there! Here is some of what we experienced during our long weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
When visiting Grand Rapids, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park should definitely be on your must-visit list! It’s 158 acres of horticultural beauty at one of the world’s top 45 most-visited art museums, featuring a collection of over 200 sculptures that merge art and nature. The grounds are huge, and you can easily spend all day here, going from indoor museum galleries and botanical gardens to outdoor play spaces and the sculpture garden.
If you have the time and energy, you can definitely explore the grounds by foot. However, there’s also another, more relaxing, way to see the sculptures that are located all around the grounds. Hop on the tram, which leaves every 30 minutes, and is located near the children’s area. It will take you on a tour to see the sculptures, and you’ll learn a little about them from the narration that happens throughout.
Afterward, we headed straight for the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, a hands-on space for kids to play, learn and explore. My kids especially loved the Treehouse Village, where we looked for birds and sat in a giant bird’s nest. Another fun area was the Great Lakes Garden, an area that’s open seasonally during the warmer months, where we played with sailboats in the water feature. My older kids had just as much fun as the younger kids around us!
John Ball Zoo
The John Ball Zoo is a great zoo for families, especially those with young children. But people of all ages will find something to love among the more than 2,000 animals on this 31 acre park. My kids especially loved the barnyard petting zoo area, where they could interact with goats, and the aquarium that houses Magellanic penguins, which playfully dove and swam near us in their tank. Other zoo adventures include camel rides, gemstone mining, a ropes course and a zip line, for an additional fee.
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Focusing on science, history and culture, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is three floors of exploration. Founded in 1854, this museum is among the oldest history museums in the United States! Stroll through the nostalgic “Streets of Old Grand Rapids” exhibit, which immerses you in a 1890s recreation of the city, visit the planetarium, learn about West Michigan habitats, and lots more.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
You’re encouraged to explore where you heart leads you at Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, which is the perfect size for young tots. This museum is two floors of hands-on exhibits, with fun things to play with and discover around every corner. Make a meal in the pretend restaurant, blow a giant bubble at the bubble station, or create a craft project in the makerspace. The ideas for fun are almost endless!
Woodrows Duckpin Bowling
Inside the Amway Grand Plaza is Woodrows Duckpin Bowling, featuring seven lanes and comfortable lounge seating. Duckpin bowling uses smaller, lightweight pins and palm-sized balls that are easier for small hands to control, making duckpin bowling a great activity for kids. Bonus: There’s no need for special shoes! The only duckpin bowling alley in Grand Rapids, Woodrows offers a selection of beverages, but no food — however, you’re welcome to bring in your own food.
Kayaking at Millennium Park
Millennium Park is one of the largest urban parks in Grand Rapids, and features trails, a six-acre beach, playgrounds and a splash pad. You can also rent kayaks (which is what we did!), as well as canoes and paddle boats. There is a fee to gain entrance to the beach and splash pad, but the playgrounds are completely free.
Bocce at SILVA
The bocce courts at SILVA recently opened, making this circus-themed restaurant a fun place to toss some balls. Courts are open to all ages and abilities, and if you don’t exactly know the rules to the game, no worries! There’s a referee available to explain them to you and offer tips throughout your playtime. Food and drinks are delivered directly to your bocce court, so you don’t have to leave the action to get a little nourishment.
Where to Stay
The beautiful and historic Amway Grand Plaza is located along the Grand River, and has sweeping views from most of its rooms. Adults can take a ride all the way up to the 29th floor to enjoy the rooftop bar, and families can enjoy amenities like a pool and hot tub, pickle ball courts and a fully equipped gym. It’s an elegant — yet family-friendly — option when you’re visiting Grand Rapids.
Where to Eat
In Grand Rapids, you can find almost any kind of food or cuisine. Here are a few of the places we visited and loved:
Grand Rapids Downtown Market: With 19 indoor food merchants and restaurants and year-round public events, Grand Rapids Downtown Market is the one-and-done place to find something to please everyone’s palates — all under one roof. We sampled Mediterranean food at Cafe de Miro, burgers at Carvers, a chocolate shake at Love’s Ice Cream & Chocolate, a creme brulee at Gaby’s Gourmandise and even picked up some gourmet sodas for the road at Rudy’s Sub Shop.
Social Misfits: Waffles all day, every day! That’s what you’ll find at Social Misfits, a waffles, coffee and cocktails restaurant. You’ll find breakfast classics — like the Little Lad, with berries and chantilly cream — and dinner-focused waffle dishes, like the Teen Spirit, a waffle topped with cavatappi pasta and cream sauce.
Ato Sushi: In the mood for a quick bento lunch or a sushi roll? Ato Sushi is a great place to find Japanese and Korean food, all in a welcoming setting. We got a variety of sushi rolls and tempura to share, and we left with happy tummies!
SILVA: Like mentioned above, you can visit SILVA for bocce ball, and also delicious food. We made a meal of their appetizers — a basket of fries, mozzarella sticks and deviled eggs — and we loved them all. While you’re dining in this circus-chic restaurant, enjoy the spectacle of wandering performers entertaining guests at their table!
Nantucket Baking Company: Tucked into a quiet neighborhood, Nantucket Baking Company is a great place to find freshly baked goodies, like muffins, scones, donuts, croissants and loaves of bread. We kind of went wild and chose what felt like one of everything! But it’s just because everything in the display case looked so delicious.
