Grand Rapids is a vibrant city with plenty of activities, sights, and restaurants to keep you and your friends or family busy. I am originally from Michigan and lived only a short drive away from Grand Rapids, so here are some of my favorite things to do in the city.

Try a new coffee shop

I don’t know about you, but I love to have a slow morning and try a new coffee shop when I get a day off of work. Grand Rapids has some great and unique coffee shops. My favorite is called Outside Coffee Co. This unique coffee shop serves its beverages from an artsy food truck. The property has outdoor seating and several igloos where you can sit and enjoy your coffee in the heat of the summer or in the middle of winter with a heater by your side. It is such a fun environment with a friendly staff! My favorite drink to order here is their iced miel (latte with cinnamon and honey).

Explore the Downtown Market

Grand Rapids Downtown Market is a lively spot with indoor market stands and restaurants. You can grab a coffee, a fancy dessert, or a delicious meal here and catch up with friends. There is additional seating on the second floor near the greenhouse. The address is 435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Walk through Rosa Parks Circle

Rosa Parks Circle is in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. This park is a popular spot to go for a walk or have a picnic. In the winter, they have an ice rink where people gather to go ice skating, which I definitely recommend.

Attend an event at Van Andel Arena

Van Andel Arena hosts big concerts, hockey games, comedy shows, monster truck rallies, and other exciting entertaining events. Check out their website for their schedule of events.

Head to Fredrick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

I have been to Fredrick Meijer Gardens several times, and it always makes for a nice, relaxing day. Enjoy walking through the incredible botanical gardens as hundreds of butterflies fly around you. There is plenty of artwork to find around the property and calming natural areas to relax as well. This is a great spot for a date night or for a family adventure.

Visit Art Prize

If you are in Grand Rapids in the fall, you should definitely walk around downtown Grand Rapids during Art Prize. This international art competition brings visitors from all over. For specific event information each year, check out their website.

Enjoy GR’s night life

Some popular bars in Grand Rapids include The BOB, The BackForty Saloon, and Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar. New Holland Brewing is a popular restaurant. Lots of people head to New Holland on Wednesdays for stein and boot night where they serve $5 mainstay stein fills and serve hard cider. There are plenty of nightclubs downtown to keep you awake and dancing as well.

Conclusion

Grand Rapids has a great variety of activities to keep your trip interesting.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out the destinations tab on my website to find all my other blog posts. Cheers to exploring new cities and making connections around the world!