Dynamic Variation:

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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Veen Observatory: A Hidden Gem in The Grand Rapids Area

In Grand Rapids, you don't have to travel far to escape the lights of the city for dark, starry country skies. About a 25-minute drive from Grand Rapids, in Lowell, amateur astronomers and curious members of the public can visit the James C. Veen Observatory to view stars, planets, and other…

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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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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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Free Spring Family Fun around Grand Rapids

Now that it’s spring, there is so much to explore in greater Grand Rapids. Art, nature, and baby animals are just some of the treats waiting to be discovered. Gather the family and head out to these free West Michigan events and experiences. Events A Historical Betty Ford Easter Egg-Stravaganza…

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