“A Grand Investment” is an ongoing series exploring the business landscape of Grand Rapids. Michigan’s fastest growing metro area and one of the nation’s strongest economies, Grand Rapids is fueled by a creative, collaborative spirit that generates global, national and entrepreneurial investment. This series highlights leading sectors of the local economy and underscores the city’s suitability for innovation-focused meetings.
For decades, game changing building and revitalization projects driven by strong public-private partnerships have been...
Home to more than 130 global companies and one of the fastest growing economies in the U.S., West Michigan has long been...
Grand Rapids has long been a model of sustainability nationwide. Government, business and nonprofit partners have come...
USA Today 10Best named Grand Rapids the craft beverage capital of the U.S.! We weren't surprised but you can learn why here.
Expedia's travel blog "conquer your someday" named Grand Rapids #10 in their list 'Best Places for Older Travelers to Visit in 2020'. View the full article here.
Travel Pulse named Grand Rapids the "Best Travel Destination in Michigan for 2020". Check out the full list here.
Travel + Leisure named Grand Rapids a great "beercation" for the beer lover. Learn why here.
Conde Nast named Grand Rapids the #9 Best Place to Retire in the U.S. in 2019. Learn why here.
Thrillist outlined the 'Best Breweries in Grand Rapids'. Click here to learn more about this great list.
TripAdvisor Rentals Blog named Grand Rapids one of the '7 Midwest Cities that are Absolutely Worth Exploring'.
CNN Travel named Grand Rapids one of the '15 best beer cities around the world'. Read the full article here.
The Discoverer Blog named the '10 U.S. Tours That Even Americans Should Take' which includes a Beer Tour in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Learn more here.
Grand Rapids was named one of the '16 Incredibly Romantic Getaways in the Midwest' by TripAdvisor because of outdoor activities like paddle boarding and picturesque places like Frederik Meijer Gardens
Insurify found the 'Best Cities for Singles' in America which includes Grand Rapids. Learn why at the full article.
Insider named Grand Rapids one of 'The 30 most popular destinations for millennials in 2019'. Click here to read the full article.
Thrillist named 'The Best Food City in Every State', and Grand Rapids was dubbed the best in Michigan. Learn why at the link.
Grand Rapids was named one of the Top 10 Underrated Foodie Cities in the U.S. by Webstaurant Store blog. Click here to read the full list.
Lindsay and Meg of Dopes on the Road visited Grand Rapids in fall 2019 to explore everything the destination had to offer. "Let’s be honest, many of us have no clue what to do in Grand Rapids. It is
Vegan blogger Ashley Hubbard from Wild Hearted visited Grand Rapids to experience all the amazing vegan options there are throughout the city. She comprised a list of her favorite vegan-friendly
Joey Amato of Pride Journeys visited Saugatuck and Grand Rapids in 2019. Click here to learn about his trip highlighting LGBTQ activities and venues.
Dan Allen has been away from Grand Rapids for 20 years. He returned in 2019 to explore the transformed city and it's LGBTQ offerings. Click here to learn why West Michigan 'proved more exciting,
Jen Ruiz of Jen an a Jet Plane visited Grand Rapids and mapped out the best restaurants and 12 fun things to do in GR. Check out both blog posts below: The Best Restaurants in Grand Rapids,
Click here to read the West Michigan weekend itinerary created by Travel + Leisure.
Rachel-Jean Firchau of 'Rachel Off Duty' visited Grand Rapids and was beyond surprised by what she discovered of this 'sleeper city'. Learn more about her click here.
Liz Della Croce of The Lemon Bowl wrote 'The Ultimate Travel Guide' for Grand Rapids, and especially highlighted the food scene. Click here for the full blog post.
Mikkel of Sometimes Home visited Grand Rapids and documented her journey through the food scene. Click here to learn about her favorite spots to chow-down!
Ashley of sincerely, ashley visited the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Click here for her full post.
Maddy Corbin, a lifestyle blogger from Indiana, visited Grand Rapids to explore what the city has to offer. Click here to read her full post.
A blogger from Food Travelist came to Grand Rapids to explore the food scene. Click here to learn about where she went and what she thought of the local grub.
Kelly Rizzo from the blog Eat. Travel. Rock. visited Grand Rapids to explore the food, music, and beer scene. Click here to check out her full post.
Igee Okafur, a fashion and lifestyle blogger, visited Grand Rapids in partnership with Pure Michigan to explore the city. Click here for his list of places to eat and visit in Grand Rapids as well as
In the Grand Rapids area, an increasing number of women are shaping the craft beverage business. From positions like director of operations to co-owner, here are a few of the women who are taking
Amidst the chaos of 2020, Black Calder Brewing Company found itself in a supremely unusual position: trying to open a Grand Rapids brewery in the middle of a pandemic.
Gilda’s LaughFest debuted in 2011 in Grand Rapids as the first-ever community-wide comedy festival in the nation. Every year, internationally-renowned comedians and local talent tickle the funny bones
When Experience Grand Rapids first profiled the local fatbiking community back in 2018, it was clear the snow sport was exploding in popularity and participation. Three years later, we can report that
Whether you prefer frozen or on the rocks, Grand Rapids has plenty of amazing Mexican restaurants that serve tasty margaritas. We’re not just talking tequila and mix here. Check out the innovative
Grand Rapids is full of delicious pizza joints. Whether you’re looking for a traditional pie or something unique, there is a spot for you. In 2019, we asked our followers to tell us what their
Although I’m a relative newcomer to Grand Rapids, I am still a Midwesterner and I can tell you we’re a practical bunch. Case in point: winter. Midwesterners make the best of this season with
Snowshoeing has been around for almost as long as civilizations have interacted with deep snow. Historians believe snowshoeing traces its roots back 6,000 years to Central Asia and were necessities
Take this tour, or other GR Walks tours, any time by downloading the GR Walks smart phone app. This story was updated February 1, 2021
With so many options for dining and entertainment, planning a night out in Grand Rapids with friends, family, or your significant other can be a challenge. Whether you’re looking for a romantic spot
Celebrating Grand Rapids means celebrating the people, traditions, cultures, and of course, food! This post was initially published in 2018 commemorating Black History Month, we've updated this this
Whether you’re trying to reach your New Year’s fitness goals, looking to adopt a new hobby, or simply looking to explore the beautiful city of Grand Rapids, joining one of the local community running
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
Michiganders are crazy. Why? Because we willingly endure cold winter days for months in order to reach the invigorating warmth of the summer sun. It's unnecessary, however, to wait until the balmy
If there is one thing 2020 has brought, it is change. This winter season is no exception. For one thing, I’ve noticed I’ve been spending more time outside, including dining out. Yes that’s right –
For decades, game changing building and revitalization projects driven by strong public-private partnerships have been the hallmark of the Kent County region. Grand Action – or more recently, Grand
The Grand Rapids food scene is now home to a James Beard award-winning chef as Paul Berglund assumes the executive chef duties at Mertens Prime, a downtown restaurant serving classic French cuisine
The COVID-19 crisis has cut straight to the core of the meetings industry, as stay-at-home orders, travel shutdowns and health recommendations necessitated the cancellation of thousands of events
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is experimenting with revolutionary new tools in its ongoing efforts to make airline travel safer. Most recently, the airport served as a test site for a
What will large-scale meetings and events look like amid concerns over the coronavirus? In some respects, not much different from before. They will still feature teams of people dedicated to
Our Visitor's Guide features 90 colorful pages of don't-leave-home-without-it information on attractions, activities, lodging and more. Flip through the online guide or request your FREE copy by mail.