Midwestern Vacation Destination: Grand Rapids Michigan

  • Filed Under:

About three hours distant from Chicago and Detroit, Grand Rapids and western Michigan are a surprise to first-time visitors, yet a favored destination for those in the know.

Grand Rapids was settled by Dutch immigrants with a stringent work ethic and strong sense of community. Once the furniture capital of America, the city was built on the philanthropy of its furniture barons, and today the region is still a major player in the high-end office furnishings niche.

Those business and civic leaders of the past fostered an environment of creativity benevolence which continues today; the result is a heritage of imagination and a city rich in the arts.

Day 1: Art & Architecture

Start with a visit to the GRAM – the Grand Rapids Museum of Art, which has become a catalyst in the revitalization of the downtown district. The GRAM’s collection centers on American art of all periods, as well as spanning Renaissance to Modern art. Upon opening, deserves at least a half-day for a comprehensive tour.

Following the GRAM, pop over to the ‘big old building’ – or the BOB, as its known, for a spot of lunch at. This renovated warehouse is now a multi-level entertainment and dining complex, featuring six eateries and bars.

After lunch, tour the Heritage Hill Historic District – 40 blocks featuring more than 60 residential architectural styles. Visit the Voight House and its Victorian splendor, and up at the Meyer May House, the 1908 prairie-style home designed for the May family by Frank Lloyd Wright. The home has been painstakingly brought back to its original and simplistic grandeur, down to the furniture and rugs, through a grant from Steelcase, the office furniture manufacturer which calls Grand Rapids home.

Public art has a prominent visage in Grand Rapids; scour the city and find the sculptural brilliance of Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse, Mark DiSuervo’s Motu, Joseph Kinnebrew’s Fish Ladder (built to help spawning fish stream upstream) and Maya Lin’s Rosa Parks Circle.

A stop at the Kendall College of Art & Design Gallery to view its excellent collections of student and professional work, including that of its instructors and professors, is an excellent way to end the day on the arts trail in Western Michigan.

Take on a bit more art that night, with a meal at Bar Divani, and be sure to watch where you walk and sit, as the restaurant floor is a work of art in its own way, with sections removed for lighted displays of wine paraphernalia.


Day 2: Garden of Delight

One of Grand Rapids’ most notable philanthropists are Frederik and Lena Meijer, who fully embraced the idea of a horticultural and arts destination for the city. The result it the amazing Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, encompassing 125 acres of woodlands and wetlands, an excellent children’s garden, carnivorous and Victorian gardens, and an unmatched sculpture park featuring the works of Rodin, Oldenberg, DiSuvero and other artists of international importance.

Even for those with brown thumbs and bland tastes, the Meijer Gardns are worthy of a half-day, if not more time.

If the weather is cooperative upon leaving the gardens, some time contemplating the work of another artist, Mother Nature, may be in order.

Millennium Park, built on a former industrial site, has a 100-acre lake with a sandy beach, as well as hiking trails, a water park and nature trails. The park is open from May through October.

If the need for more arts exploration is felt, then head over to LaFontsee Galleries, with its comprehensive showing of the work of dozens of local and regional artists, displayed in a renovated riverfront warehouse.

Dine on day two at the bustling San Chez, a Spanish tapas bar where one can unwind with a tango lesson or some salsa dancing on the weekends.

Day 3: Water Break

The western coast of Michigan is chockfull of charming beach communities; two of the best for a day trip from Grand Rapids are Holland and Grand Haven.

Both towns are about 40 minutes from Grand Rapids, and offer very different experiences.

Holland’s Dutch influence is obvious everywhere though the city, from the charming Windmill Island, home to the last windmill allowed to leave the country of Holland, to the downtown cafes. Downtown Holland offers unique shopping, with heated sidewalks in the winter, as well as dozes of public art displays.

Big Red is the city’s famous lighthouse, and accessible from the Holland State Park on Lake Michigan, an excellent beach for swimming and sunning.

In Holland, try the Alpen Rose for scrumptious pastries and Weiner schnitzel, or Butch’s Dry Dock for everything from deli sandwiches to aged beef.

Grand Haven’s downtown abuts the Grand River, which flows right into Lake Michigan, and all eyes are on the waterfront no matter the time of year.

Go for a sail on the 61-foot Wind Dancer, a schooner which can be chartered for the day, or simply for a sunset cruise. Enjoy the expansive beach at any of the state or city beaches just south of the lighthouse, or simply wander through downtown’s quaint shops and boardwalk.

Try Grand Seafood and Oyster Bar, in the lobby of the old Grand Theatre, for steaks and seafood, or watch the sun set from the roof with an al fresco dining experience at the casual Snug Harbor.