[bethanta]

We are planning a short trip to Grand Rapids in a couple weeks and I was just curious if anyone has any "must see" places or things to do.<br><br>
I'm very excited about this trip. I've never been to Grand Rapids before even though I've lived in MI my whole life! Plus this is probably going to be our last just DH & me trip for a while with LO coming in Sept. Very excited about that, but glad we get to get away one last time just the two of us. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br><br>
TIA!

 

[JunipersMom]

Depends... what do you like?? Frederick Meijer Gardens is a beautiful garden and sculpture park, Gerald Ford museum is cool for history buffs, theres a good farmers/craft market on Fuller and Fulton intersection, art galleries everwhere and the art museum and Kendall College of Art and Design... there are some great spots - but its hard to suggest without knowing your interests

 

[bethanta]

actually everything you mentioned sounds great!<br><br>
I figure we will probably go to a museum or two, one definitely art related (if not both). And we love being outside and going to garden/parks. We also plan a day of shopping, or at least window shopping. Just to walk around downtown and see what it is like. I have no clue where the best part of grand rapids to do that is though.

 

[rainbowmoon]

I hear Gaia is "the" place to eat breakfast! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[bethanta]

Thanks! I hadn't even thought about finding good places to eat! and we are usually pretty picky about our food so that would probably lead to a lot of wondering around and getting irritated <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[Fay]

If you stay at the Amway Grand Plaza, you can get a room overlooking the river. It's beautiful. The art museum is within walking distance of that hotel, in the heart of downtown. The Meijer Gardens are just outisde the city, well worth the trip! Have a great time! We visited GR in 2004, and I thought it was very romantic.

 

[midnightmommy]

Don't forget the zoo! Entry is pretty cheap, and it's a nice little zoo they have been making lots of improvements to. There is also the public museum.(Not cheap, but lots of stuff to do.) There are tons of parks around here too. A children's museum too.

 

[FlowerMomma]

the new Art museum is really cool. There's a great new Thai restaurant right across from it. Stop by the Wonderwagon at the Beerhorst's home and art studio on Fuller between Fulton and Lake Dr! Tons of great new restaurants on Wealthy between Diamond and Fuller too. See what's going on at the Wealthy theater right by there too!

 

[blissbabies]

The East Hills are ( Diamond/Lake/Cherry) has great shopping and food. There are natural Clothing stores, natural toy/diaper stores.<br>
YT Galleria is a fun shop, with a bath/lotion shop attached.<br>
Hip clothing stores<br>
A gallery, a great tea shop called Global Infusion with fair trade products and organic fair trade coffee teas and treats.<br>
There are a bunch of terrific restaurants, Marie Catribs is GF, Vegan friendly with a terrific selection, Cheri Inn is great for breakfast, their crab eggs benedict is to die for, Gaia is awesome vegatarian,vegan. Mangiamos is Italian, Green Well is hip, natural concious food/pub.<br>
There's a playground behind the blackport building, if you have kids who want to run around.

 

[LauraLoo]

GRNow site will give you ideas of happenings in the area:<br><a href="http://www.grnow.com/" target="_blank">http://www.grnow.com/</a><br><br>
The Electric Cheetah is another good place to eat -- pretty diverse menu:<br><a href="http://www.electriccheetah.com/" target="_blank">http://www.electriccheetah.com/</a><br><br>
Frederick Meijer Gardens is spectacular - very family friendly, and they have a Dale Chihuly exhbit going on right now that's out of this world:<br><br><a href="http://meijergardens.org/" target="_blank">http://meijergardens.org/</a>