Ideas for Accessible Attractions to Visit in Grand Rapids

Travelers looking for accessibility will find a lot to love about Grand Rapids, Michigan. The city has achieved “Destination Verified” status as an accessible city through Wheel the World, an online travel booking platform dedicated to enhancing global travel accessibility.

Wheel the World worked with Experience Grand Rapids and Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC) to audit the accessibility features at 50 local businesses, and suggest accessibility improvements. A nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving equal access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities, DAKC is also partnering with Experience Grand Rapids to collect detailed accessibility information for another 300+ local businesses.

We asked DAKC to recommend five local attractions that go above and beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make sure the programming they offer is accessible to as many people as possible.

John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo is home to 2,000+ animals and more animal-touching exhibits than any other zoo in Michigan. The Zoo has been collaborating with DAKC for more than a decade on strategies to become more accessible to more visitors, from making it easier for wheelchair users to negotiate elevation changes to adding tactile elements that help everyone, especially those with visual impairments, engage with animal exhibits.

For those with sensory needs, the Zoo offers noise-canceling headphones, lap pads, fidget toys and a feeling card along with designated quiet areas that minimize sensory input to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Zoo staff members are trained to understand and implement accessibility best practices.

You can find detailed accessibility information for John Ball Zoo – including floor types, restaurant table heights, bathroom door widths and much more – at Wheel the World.

DeVos Place

Housing both a convention center and a performance hall, DeVos Place attracts more than 1.5 million people to downtown Grand Rapids each year for meetings, trade shows, public events, concerts, Broadway performances and more.

DeVos Place provides a full range of accommodations to ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of guests with disabilities. That includes accessible parking in a ramp below the facility and elevator access to the main convention center hall. DeVos Performance Hall accommodations include accessible seating, complimentary Assisted Listening Devices, a T-coil hearing loop system and sensory bags.

DeVos Place is also profiled at Wheel the World.

Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum in downtown GR focuses on science, history and culture, telling the stories of West Michigan and beyond through one of Michigan’s largest collections of artifacts and year-round schedule of traveling exhibitions.

The Museum’s accessible features include Aira, an app-based verbal description service that connects people who are blind or have low vision to remote agents who will guide them through the Museum, a Quiet Room to manage sensory discomfort, sensory tools and a hearing loop system in the Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium.

The Museum is currently in the midst of a capital improvement project aimed at expanding access for all visitors, inside and out. DAKC worked with the Museum to develop a new accessible trail along the facility’s riverfront site and add a fully wheelchair-accessible space to the popular 1928 Spillman Carousel. These changes are set to debut in fall 2025.

Visit the accessible Grand Rapids Public Museum page at Wheel the World.

Grand Rapids Art Museum

Internationally known for its distinguished design and status as the world’s first LEED® Gold certified art museum, the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is home to 6,700 works of art and hosts a wide range of touring exhibitions.

All public entrances and restrooms at GRAM are wheelchair accessible, sensory kits are available and Assistive Learning Devices are offered for lectures, presentations and films in the auditorium.

Discover more of GRAM’s accessibility features at Wheel the World.

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

One of the nation’s oldest and largest community theatres, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre (GRCT) produces nine mainstage productions each year and operates a School of Theatre Arts that encourages students of all ages to explore all elements of theater.

Guests with disabilities are invited to submit an Accessibility Account Form to assist staff in providing the best possible service and receive notice of accessibility programming, including audio-described performances, low-sensory performances, relaxed environment performances, touch tours and more.

GRCT is not currently featured on Wheel the World but it is part of the accessibility audit DAKC is conducting for Experience Grand Rapids. This information will be posted online later in 2025 to give accessible travelers even more resources to plan an enjoyable and accommodating trip to Grand Rapids.

For more information on accessible Grand Rapids, check out DAKC’s recommendations for accessible local restaurants and accessible parks/trails.

You may also be interested in our articles on accessible hotels, accessible transportation and accessible performing arts venues, as well as our guides to visiting Grand Rapids for wheelchair users, hard-of-hearing travelers and those with sensory needs.