Staying in Grand Rapids
There are nearly 100 hotels across Grand Rapids and Kent County, giving you a wide range of amenity, price, location and accessibility options – from roll-in showers and pool lifts to braille signage and bed shakers.
You can search our hotel page for lodging options using such criteria as accessible parking, accessible restrooms, automatic doors, elevators and wheelchair accessibility. Individual hotel pages list accessible features. You can also check out A Local’s Guide to Accessible Hotels and visit Accessible Grand Rapids on Wheel the World for comprehensive accessibility information on 15 hotels.
Dining in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has been recognized as a Top 20 U.S. Foodie City and the Craft Beverage Capital of America, so you can count on enjoying exceptional food and drink during your visit. You can also count on feeling comfortable and confident at the many restaurants, bars, craft beverage taprooms and other foodservice providers that embrace accessibility.
Visit our restaurant page to search 1,000 eateries for such accessibility features as accessible parking, accessible restrooms, automatic doors, elevators and wheelchair accessibility. Many individual restaurant pages list accessibility features. You can also check out seven Grand Rapids Restaurants That Focus on Accessibility and visit Accessible Grand Rapids on Wheel the World for comprehensive accessibility information on 26 restaurants.
Enjoying Attractions
Many local attractions and events incorporate accessibility features to maximize everyone’s enjoyment. Here are just a few examples:
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most visited art museums, incorporates Universal Design and meets or exceeds ADA regulations. Indoor and outdoor spaces are barrier-free, with ramps and paved pathways to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Touchable sculptures enhance the Gardens experience for people who are blind or have low vision. Select spaces are equipped with induction/hearing loops, and ASL tours are available upon request. A downloadable Social Guide helps young guests with sensory needs preview their visit to ease stress.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum, the world’s first LEED Gold certified art museum, is committed to connecting visitors of the disability community to the world of art through a wide variety of accessible services. All public areas are wheelchair accessible. Elevators and ramps allow mobility to all floors and public areas of the Museum. Sensory kits and assisted hearing devices are available free of charge for visitors.
The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, devoted to helping kids ages 2-10 learn through play, offers sensory tool kits with noise-reduction headphones, weighted vests and suspenders, tangle bracelets and a museum social story for anyone needing extra sensory support. All staff members have gone through an autism training program.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum offers world-class exhibits on history, nature, cultural heritage and more. The three-story facility is accessible for all visitors, with specific accommodations for individuals with mobility, vision, hearing and sensory needs. In spring 2026, the Museum will unveil even more accessibility features, including a new accessible chariot for its beloved 1928 Spillman Carousel, accessible ramps in and outside the building, and an accessible outdoor classroom.
All areas of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, a tribute to the life and times of the 38th U.S. president, are ADA compliant and accessible to people in wheelchairs. A number of exhibits offers closed captioning, text panels and a T-coil assisted listening loop. Sign language interpreters and an interpretive guide for the visually impaired are available with a minimum of two weeks’ notice.
Accessibility features at John Ball Zoo, home to 2,00+ animals, include step-free entrances, accessible restrooms and wide, smooth pathways. Sensory kits and wheelchairs are available free of charge to guests and electric scooters can be rented. The Zoo is in the midst of a 10-year plan to transform its space with new animals, new habitats and improved guest amenities, all guided by a commitment to create a fully accessible experience.
Riverside Park, five minutes from downtown GR, has an accessible kayak and canoe launch allowing barrier-free access to the park’s lagoon and the Grand River beyond. A universal kayak/canoe launch is also being installed in downtown’s Canal Park, set to reopen in summer 2026.
Johnson Park, 10 minutes from downtown GR, will soon be home to the area’s first adaptive mountain biking trail, part of a larger 8-mile system for all skill levels. The professionally built trail will open in 2026.
Majestic Lake Michigan is just a 30-45 minute drive from downtown GR. Grand Haven State Park, Holland State Park, Muskegon State Park and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park offer free-to-use track chairs enabling visitors with mobility needs to explore beaches, nature trails and shallow waters.
Check out our suggestions for accessible attractions, accessible parks and trails, and accessible performing arts venues for additional inclusive experiences. You can also click on the Activities tab on the Grand Rapids Wheel the World page for detailed accessibility information on 18 attractions.
Attending Meetings and Conferences
DeVos Place Convention Center, the region’s largest and most amenity-rich meeting environment, meets or exceeds all ADA and Michigan accessibility mandates. It’s connected to three hotels – Amway Grand Plaza, Courtyard by Marriott and JW Marriott – by an accessible, climate-controlled skywalk, making it easy for attendees with mobility needs to travel back and forth.
You can use our online Comparison Tool to find other meeting venues that meet the needs of diverse attendees. You can search for spaces that accessible restrooms, accessible parking, automatic doors, wheelchairs, signs with braille, hearing-impaired access, quiet rooms and more.
