Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan with a population of 195,115 (2004 est), and is also the county seat of Kent County (2004 est pop: 593,898). The West Michigan MSA, which includes Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland, has 1,123,229 people (2003 est).

Get Around

Like most mid-sized U.S. cities, an automobile is the most convenient means of getting around, with convenient free parking available most places outside of downtown. Parking downtown can be inconvenient and somewhat costly on weekdays and during major events (e.g. arena concerts). Several taxi companies operate in the city, and cabs can be picked up at designated locations such as the airport, or by calling their dispatcher; cabs are not hailed on the street. "The Rapid" bus service has a terminal downtown, and routes throughout the city and its suburbs, running early mornings through late evenings on weekdays; several routes run with less frequent service on Saturdays and Sundays.

Attractions

 • Fredrik Meijer Gardens - Plan at least four hours and up to eight hours to enjoy all that there is to offer. Walk the outdoor nature trails and boardwalk, study world-class sculpture within the outdoor Sculpture Park (including a finished interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's never-completed giant horse), enjoy endless hours of fun with the kids in the Children's Garden. Visit the indoor areas including a special sculpture exhibitions in the lovely indoor galleries, see the largest tropical conservatory in the state of Michigan and gaze at exquisite arid and carnivorous plants in the Arid Garden and Carnivorous Plant House. Or, consider a special concert in our outdoor terraced Amphitheater Garden
 • Van Andel Museum Center - offers the sights and sounds of centuries gone by, coming alive once again. Downtown on the west bank of the Grand
 • Gerald R. Ford Museum - chronicles the United States' "accidental" presidency, the only Chief Executive never elected to serve, who nonetheless restored a measure of trust in the office. Downtown on the west bank of the Grand.
 • Grand Rapids Art Museum - In addition to its permanent collection, features special exhibitions. On Pearl St. between Ionia and Division Ave. Moving to a new, larger facility near Rosa Park Circle in 2007.
 • Public Art - Highlights around downtown include La Grande Vitesse, a particularly good example of an Alexander Calder stabile resplendent in trademark bright red-orange, Fish Ladder, a sculpture-cum-overlook platform with views of the riverfront and migrating fish, and Project X, an earthwork by minimalist artist Robert Morris built into a hillside in Belknap Park. The website has extensive information on the pieces, the artists, and their locations, and a section dedicated to the works at Fredrik Meijer Gardens mentioned above.

Dining

 • San Chez Bistro - Upscale food, big city atmosphere, casual attire. Cuisine of Spain with a Latin and Cuban flair. Specializing in Tapas, Sangrio, Sherries, Ports and a wonderful wine list. On Fulton St. downtown.
 • Yesterdog - Genuine early-20th-century memorabilia, genuine all-beef hotdogs, seemingly chaotic order-taking/filling procedure (trust them: it works). A quirky local institution in the Eastown neighborhood, in the wedge between Lake Drive and Wealthy St. (If you want to pass for a regular, skip the "dog" when ordering: e.g. "two Yesterdog's, one Cheddardog".)
 • Sami's Gyros / The Pita House - Made to order eastern-Mediterranean food, a local-immigrant success story. Locations in Eastown, southeast 28th Street, near Celebration Cinemas North and South.
 • Gaia - Ample servings of delicious vegetarian food in the closest Grand Rapids gets to a bohemian atmosphere. On Diamond Ave. just south of Cherry St.
 • The Beltline Bar - Mexican specialties, including their famous sauce-smothered "wet burrito". At 28th Street and Division Ave. (No, it's nowhere near the East Beltline or the South Beltline; way back when they opened, 28th was "the south beltline".)
 • Charlie's Crab - Some of the best seafood Grand Rapids has to offer in a refined setting overlooking the Grand River. Located downtown at 63 Market St. SW.

Drink

 • The B.O.B. ("the Big Old Building") is a popular downtown nightspot featuring a diverse assortment of restaurants and bars under one roof, across the street from the Van Andel Arena.
 • The Intersection is a long-standing venue for live rock and other kinds of music, recently relocated to a larger space downtown.
 • Billy's Lounge on Wealthy in Eastown features live music - especially blues - most nights.
 • Diversions is the most popular gay/lesbian-friendly club in town, downtown on Fountain St. just west of Division Ave.
 • Founders is a great microbrew and taproom on Monroe Ave. just North of I-196. Count on a great variety of beer and occasional live music.

Lodging

 • Comfort Inn Airport Grand Rapids Hotel 4155 28th St., S.E. Tel: (616) 957-2080. Fax: (616) 957-9712. Seven minutes from downtown Grand Rapids and three minutes from the Gerald Ford Airport. INN OF THE YEAR FINALIST: 2002-2003. Business center with high speed internet available.
 • Comfort Suites Grand Rapids Hotel 7644 Caterpillar Court. Tel: (616) 301-2255. Fax: (616) 301-2256.
 • Quality Inn Terrace Club Grand Rapids Hotel 4495 28th St. S.E. Tel: (616) 956-8080. Fax: (616) 956-0619. A Bed and Breakfast atmosphere conveniently located ten minutes from the airport.
 • Sleep Inn Grand Rapids Hotel 4284 29th Street SE. Tel: (616) 975-9000. Fax: (616) 954-6767.

Get in

Gerald R Ford International Airport is the airport for Grand Rapids and Kent County.

Major highways to Grand Rapids include I-196 (from the Chicago area), I-96 (from Muskegon, or from Lansing/Detroit), and US-131 (from Kalamazoo, or from northern Michigan).

Amtrak offers daily evening service from Chicago's Union Station on its Pere Marquette run. Greyhound also offers bus service to Grand Rapids from various Michigan cities.

Activities

 • Grand Rapids Symphony 
 • Grand Rapids Ballet 
 • Van Andel Arena 
 • West Michigan Whitecaps, Minor League Baseball 

Shopping

 • Schuler Books and Music- With two locations in the G.R. area (28th Street and Alpine) this independent bookstore is a great place to relax, read and even get some coffee.
 • Little Bohemia- Cross a bead store with some funky clothing, gifts, and books and what do you get? This boutique store is right downtown on Monroe Center.

There are several enclosed shopping malls and retail centers in the city and its suburbs - most notably Woodland Mall in the southeast and Rivertown Crossing in the southwest - but they feature much the same stores as similar malls in other cities, so they are mostly of interest to local shoppers and those from less urban areas without such resources. However, Woodland Mall recently opened the second Apple store in Michigan.

Links

 • City Of Grand Rapids 
 • Grand Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau 
 • Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce