Grand Rapids Blog
Gather at the river: Why meeting planners sing Grand Rapids' praises as a great convention site
Meeting planners sing the praises of Grand Rapids for gatherings of all sizes....more
Visitors
Upcoming Events
Sep 22 – Oct 10
ArtPrize 2010
ArtPrize has been created to reboot the conversation between artists… More
So what are you in the mood for today?
Grand Rapids offers a diversion for every whim: Indulge your cultural side at museums, historic sites and performing arts venues. Get in touch with nature at one of our many parks, golf courses and fishing spots. Shop ‘til you drop at a mega-mall, neighborhood shopping district or charming lakeside village. Organize a day of kid-friendly fun, from the zoo to the baseball stadium to the amusement park on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. Spend a night living it up in our downtown entertainment district, complete with live-music bars, sports bars, brewpubs, comedy clubs and more.
Whatever you do, you can feast your palate on an incredible diversity of savory delights along the way, from just-picked berries at roadside farm stands to family-recipe comfort food dishes at homegrown restaurants to the finest cuisine served in the most elegant eateries.
In the mood for something else? Check out all our Things To Do - your options are endless!
Top 10 Reasons to Visit
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Glass Sculptures
Dale Chihuly, the most sought-after glass artist in the world, is spotlighted in a large-scale outdoor exhibition at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. A New Eden features 14 glass sculptures in diverse locations across the Gardens. Runs April 30 through October 31. More
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ArtPrize 2010
It's the world's largest art prize - and your vote helps decide the winner! Hundreds of emerging artists explore different mediums to showcase their artwork throughout Grand Rapids to playfully engage in the public. Don't miss this event coming September 22 - October 10, 2010 More
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From School House to White House
Journey back to a time of one room school houses, large public schools, and private tutors. See these future presidents as young sports stars, choir members, and musicians. Watch them mature into serious college and military academy students. More
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Farmer's Markets
Sample the fresh bounty of Michigan’s West Coast – fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, homemade goods and more – at numerous area farm markets. The largest include Fulton Street in Grand Rapids
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Big-Time Baseball
The West Michigan Whitecaps, a professional minor league baseball team, play 70 home games each season starting April 11th through August 31st. Every Friday home game from June through August, a former Detroit Tiger great will be on hand to greet fans. More
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Festival Fun
Check out some of the area’s biggest community celebrations: the Ionia Free Fair (July 21-31); the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven (July 30-Aug 8); Greenville's Danish Festival (Aug 19-22) Celebration on the Grand (Sept 9-11); Hispanic Festival (Sept 10-12). More
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Secret Beach
There are 18 public beaches on Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Saugatuck/Douglas. One of our favorites is Kirk Park, which boasts more than 68 acres of sandy beach, high bluffs and wooded dunes. It’s often less crowded than other higher profile beaches, so keep it a secret! More
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Local Performances
Take advantage of all the talented performers in Grand Rapids. The Frederik Meijer Gardens annual Summer Concert Series runs May through August. This years lineup features the Doobie Brothers, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer, Kenny Loggins and much more. More
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Outdoor Dining
With warm weather on its way, enjoy the fantastic dining in Grand Rapids outdoors. Find restaurants with outdoor patios or enjoy your meal by the lake. More
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Traveler's Choice
There’s something for everybody in Grand Rapids. If we haven’t hit your sweet spot with reasons 1-9, check our Grand Ideas for even more events and attractions and even book your stay with one of our Grand Ideas hotel packages. More
