Dynamic Variation:

Grand Rapids Restaurants That Focus on Accessibility

Several years ago, Experience Grand Rapids asked four local residents with disabilities to share their perspective on the accessibility of area restaurants, hotels, transportation options and trails. We recently asked them to revisit these articles and share any new insights and recommendations they…

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You Can Take Your Kids on a Field Trip to the John Ball Zoo

Grand Rapids area attractions like Grand Rapids Public Museum and Grand Rapids Art Museum acknowledged the changes to at-home learning and have created field trip experiences for individual families, as an alternative to a traditional whole-class field trip. To change up their usual virtual school…

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A Family-Friendly Winter Weekend in Grand Rapids

It’s wintertime here in the Mitten state which means there are new activities to experience in the Grand Rapids area. As someone that grew up in California, I’m still utterly fascinated that there are different activities based on the season. With that perspective, I had a lot of fun pulling…

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World of Winter Family Itinerary

Grand Rapids is the city I’ve called home my whole life. And while I’ve traveled Michigan thoroughly over the years, I’ve struggled to embrace Michigan winters once the holiday decor comes down. That is, until downtown Grand Rapids started hosting the World of Winter in 2018. World of Winter is an…

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Things to Do with Little Kids this Holiday Season

The holidays are here, and I love getting out with my family of four and soaking up the season. Now that my children are four and nearly two, they are at a fun age to enjoy all the winter wonder that Grand Rapids and West Michigan offer. If you have younger children like me and are looking for fun…

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Where to Rent Winter Gear in Grand Rapids

From the heart of downtown to the coast of Lake Michigan, the Grand Rapids area offers all sorts of opportunities for cold-weather play. Some of our favorite winter pastimes require specialized gear in addition to warm coats, hats and gloves. If you don’t own gear – or you don’t want to lug it with…

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Iconic Public Art Spots in Downtown Grand Rapids

The art scene is an integral part of Grand Rapids and locals know there are pieces of outdoor art that everyone can enjoy. Whether it’s your first visit, or you live nearby, here are suggestions for “must-see” outdoor art and art-related experiences. Each of the following ten works of art have an…

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Itinerary Ideas for a Kid-Friendly Summer Weekend in GR

West Michiganders anticipate summer with joy for good reason: the weather is gorgeous, the sparkling lakeshore beckons, and every weekend holds the promise of something new and exciting to do around Grand Rapids. Whether you live in West Michigan or are visiting, you can take advantage of the…

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Two-Day, Kid-Friendly GR Itinerary

The Grand Rapids area has been my home for nearly 15 years now – and I’m always thrilled to show it off to my friends and family back on the east side of the state. One of my best friends, Danielle visited me this June with her family. With her husband out of town on business, it seemed like the…

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A Local's Guide to GR-Area Playgrounds

The Makowski family loves flights. Not of the airplane variety, however. I’m talking about “flights” typically associated with beer, pizza, ice cream, dips, donuts, or really anything you can turn into a sampling of variations of things you love. For our family, that now includes playgrounds thanks…

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