Looking for walkability? Try Grand Rapids

Looking for a convention city where attendees can easily walk to hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions? Look no further than downtown Grand Rapids – WalkScore.com gives it a 98 out of 100 for walkability and Trips to Discover named it one of the top 14 walkable destinations in the U.S.

Downtown Grand Rapids “is truly so compact that you can leave the convention center, walk across the bridge, go to a park, go to a museum, and be back within an hour,” says Annie Diaz-Cannon, Director of Sales for AHR Site Selection Solutions. “The restaurants, the nightlife, the arena, the concerts, there is something here for everyone, for every program.”

There are more than 300 dining, shopping and entertainment destinations within a 10-minute walk of downtown’s DeVos Place Convention Center. Here’s a look at just a few of them:

Hotels

There are 13 hotels (2400+ rooms) a short walk from our convention center. The JW Marriott Grand Rapids, Downtown Courtyard by Marriott and Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton are connected to the convention center by the city’s climate-controlled indoor skywalk system, so you can enjoy a pleasant walk in any weather.

The Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids Downtown, is the farthest hotel from the convention center, a mile walk up a somewhat steep hill – perfect for working the glutes, hamstrings and calves, if you’re so inclined. Check out our Hotels page to browse even more accommodations.

Restaurants

Grand Rapids has been named Michigan’s Best Food City by Thrillist. It’s a matter of both quality and quantity: there are 175+ restaurants of all cuisines and price points within a 10-minute walk of the convention center. Whether you have a taste for a latte, a lunch, a craft brew, a quick bite or an elegant dining experience, they're all just steps away. Many restaurants are located in the downtown Refreshment Area, which allows you to enjoy an adult beverage while you stroll city sidewalks and trails. If you need to recharge, settle in at an outdoor dining spot and watch the city bustle around you.

Head to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market – just about a mile from the convention center – to enjoy several dining options under one roof – tacos, charcuterie, sushi, ice cream and more – and browse artisan food shops. If a mile seems too ambitious for a walk, you can take the DASH, Grand Rapids’ free downtown bus service, to and/or from the Market.

Museums

Want to take in a bit of culture between seminars? Take your pick from five downtown museums. Stroll across the pedestrian bridge behind the convention center to visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum (with a planetarium) and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Or head the opposite direction to tour the Grand Rapids Art Museum and – in case you want to indulge your inner child – the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. All are within a 10-minute walk of the convention center. A 13-minute walk will take you to the new, expanded home of the Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives.

Entertainment

Live music is easily found at 35+ downtown venues, large and small. Megastars from Taylor Swift to Machine Gun Kelley perform at the indoor Van Andel Arena and, starting in May 2026, the new outdoor Acrisure Amphitheater. GLC Live at 20 Monroe, Midtown, The Intersection, The Pyramid Scheme and St. Cecilia Music Center draw well-known names to more intimate environs. Downtown bars, restaurants and clubs feature local and regional musicians, while the performance hall connected to our convention center hosts musical events from Broadway Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Symphony and Opera Grand Rapids.

More Downtown Strolls

If attendees would like to explore even more of the city by foot, here are a few more options:

• Follow the Riverwalk along the Grand River just behind our convention center – the “loop” trail traverses the original rapids for which the city is named and passes by some of the area’s most notable attractions (including the historic Sixth Street Bridge).
• Cross the iconic Blue Bridge, a few blocks due south of the convention center, to view an impressive collection of outdoor public art on the downtown campus of Grand Valley State University.  
• Take a self-guided tour of downtown murals, sculptures, painted ticket booths and/or electrical boxes – there are more than 150 art pieces included, with more popping up all the time.
• Take a walking tour of downtown breweries led by Grand Rapids Beer Tours, Grand Rapids Running Tours or Tours Around Michigan. Tours Around Michigan also offers walking tours of downtown landmarks, art, the riverfront and more.
• Walk a mile due east of the convention center to Heritage Hill, one of the nation’s largest urban historic districts, to see hundreds of homes dating back to the 1840s.

That's just a partial list. There are also a variety of stores and boutiques for shopping, theater venues for a show, and parks and greenspaces for peaceful relaxation, all within walking distance of your event site. And if you don’t feel like walking back after your stroll, just hop on a free DASH bus to the convention center or your hotel!

Walk into the Future With Us

Downtown Grand Rapids is in the midst of one of the nation’s largest active riverfront revitalization efforts, which is bringing even more walkable attractions to enjoy. In May 2026, meeting attendees will be able to walk to the Acrisure Amphitheater, an outdoor concert and event venue hosting the biggest names in music. In spring 2027, it will be a quick walk to the new Amway Stadium, home of AC Grand Rapids, an MLS NEXT Pro soccer team. Downtown’s riverfront trails are being expanded and upgraded as part of the 85-mile-long Grand River Greenway, and the city’s namesake rapids – eliminated in the early 1900s – are being restored to expand river recreation opportunities in the heart of the city.

See how these and other development projects are reshaping downtown Grand Rapids – and making it an even more awesome meeting destination!