You can see and do more in Grand Rapids in one day than you can in one week in other cities. We’ve got an endless array of things to do in Grand Rapids – and everything is close and convenient! From the beautiful beaches to the exhibition halls along the streets, here is a list of the Best Things to Do in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Best Things to Do in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Visit John Ball Zoo
John Ball Zoo is an urban zoo and aquarium located in a large park two miles from downtown Grand Rapids. It offers comfortable and realistic habitats for over 1,100 animals from all over the world. Some of the most popular habitats are the Mokomboso Valley Chimpanzee Exhibit, Treasures of the Tropics, Budgie Aviary, Red’s Hobby Farm, and so many others.
If you are wondering what to do in Grand Rapids with kids, this is a great place to visit. The zoo also offers many fun activities for kids and adults such as zip-lining over the entire zoo, going on camel rides, taking a tram that goes to the second highest hilltop in Grand Rapids, going on swan paddleboats, and many others. The zoo depends on more than 200 volunteers to help with the animals, in the garden, or with visitors.
Sightseeing Grand Rapids Art Museum
Housed in a LEED Gold Certified green building in the downtown area, the Grand Rapids Art Museum houses a diverse and growing collection. Home to more than 6,000 works, the permanent collections include 19th- and 20th-century prints, paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Galleries also contain examples of decorative arts and modern art and design. Additional galleries include both permanent and borrowed collections that focus on various themes, and the museum has a new series of exhibits that highlight contemporary Michigan artists. The museum is also home to an extensive research library and special archives, which house the most delicate of photos, drawings, and prints. Dating from the 1400s to the present, these works are carefully guarded against light damage and can be viewed upon request.
Fish Ladder Sculpture
This Sculpture is located at 560 Front Ave under the ingenious design of a man by the name Joseph Kinebrew. The place has a sculpture that is as fascinating as you could ever imagine. The sculpture allows fish to be able to maneuver properly in the spring and the fish around the area jump on the ladder sculpture. You can visit and watch the fish jump by yourself in this amazing spectacle.
Hunt for street art
One of the first things that struck the city was the vibrant street art around town. There’s currently a project honoring rad women from A-Z, inspired by a NYT bestselling book written by Kate Schatz and illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl.
The book features influential women in alphabetical order, and the street art project brings them to the streets of Grand Rapids. You can find them scattered throughout the city. In addition, you can find street art in unexpected places like the “You’re Neat” mural at One Bourbon, across the street from O’Toole’s Public House or behind Zoko 822.
Swim in Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan looks and feels like an ocean, and it has no sharks! It’s the perfect place for a weekend escape. There’s a beach where you can have a picnic, and surrounding trails if you want to get a bit of exercise before or after hitting the beach. You can set up a beach chair and umbrella, though most people opted for towels since you need to carry whatever you bring with you. There’s mainly port-a-potties available, so bring a change of clothes, extra toilet paper and make sure you use the restroom before you go.
You have to purchase the Recreation Passport to get in here. It’s $11 for Michigan residents and $31 for non residents but it’s valid at all Michigan state parks and lasts for one year.
Learn something new at the Public Museum
The Public Museum is a hodgepodge collection, featuring everything and anything. One minute you’re looking at an Egyptian mummy, the next you’re strolling through recreations of children’s bedrooms from different eras so you can appreciate the difference in toys throughout the ages.
There’s a planetarium on site, dinosaur bones hanging as you walk, a charming horse carousel where you have to pay for ride in addition to your admission ticket, and so much more.
It’s impossible to get bored in this museum with so much to offer and everyone in your party is bound to find something that interests them in the expansive collection. Well worth a visit!
