Guidebook for Grand Rapids
Drinks & Nightlife
Closest brewery to the house. Largest brewery in Grand Rapids; it covers a full city block. It is located on Bridge Street, which includes the West Side's largest strip of breweries, restaurants and bars. New Holland has awesome architecture and beer garden (and drinks) Also has a nice cocktail lounge/club upstairs.
75 locals recommend
New Holland Brewing - Pub on 8th
66 E 8th StClosest brewery to the house. Largest brewery in Grand Rapids; it covers a full city block. It is located on Bridge Street, which includes the West Side's largest strip of breweries, restaurants and bars. New Holland has awesome architecture and beer garden (and drinks) Also has a nice cocktail lounge/club upstairs.
Best known Brewery that started in GR. Fun atmosphere, great sandwiches, and my favorite beer in town!
176 locals recommend
Founders Brewing Co
235 Grandville Ave SWBest known Brewery that started in GR. Fun atmosphere, great sandwiches, and my favorite beer in town!
Fun place with a diverse crowd! Young or old; it's a fun place to dance and enjoy drinks with a live DJ or band. Recommend going after 11pm for most fun. Cover charge is typically $5. The Woods-tini is a nice drink to try (vodka-infused fruit)!
11 locals recommend
Grand Woods Lounge
77 Grandville Ave SWFun place with a diverse crowd! Young or old; it's a fun place to dance and enjoy drinks with a live DJ or band. Recommend going after 11pm for most fun. Cover charge is typically $5. The Woods-tini is a nice drink to try (vodka-infused fruit)!
The B.O.B is a fun go-to place for a variety of things. It is compiled of multiple restaurants with night club(EVE, opens at 11pm and is on top floor), a comedy club(Dr. Grins, sells tickets online), a steak house(Judson's), a seafood place(Gilly's), a pizzeria(Bobarinos) and is attached to a new concert venue, (20 Monroe LIVE). A cool place to check out and see a lot of artwork year-round from the infamous annual ArtPrize event, too! Check out what is happening at http://www.thebob.com/
50 locals recommend
The B.O.B.
20 Monroe Ave NWThe B.O.B is a fun go-to place for a variety of things. It is compiled of multiple restaurants with night club(EVE, opens at 11pm and is on top floor), a comedy club(Dr. Grins, sells tickets online), a steak house(Judson's), a seafood place(Gilly's), a pizzeria(Bobarinos) and is attached to a new concert venue, (20 Monroe LIVE). A cool place to check out and see a lot of artwork year-round from the infamous annual ArtPrize event, too! Check out what is happening at http://www.thebob.com/
Unique bar on the infamous "Ionia" street in downtown Grand Rapids (where most people go to bar hop). Stella's bar is surrounded in arcade games, and has a dance club in the back. Be careful with the Stella's punch; it's deliciously sneaky!
79 locals recommend
Stella's Lounge
53 Commerce Ave SWUnique bar on the infamous "Ionia" street in downtown Grand Rapids (where most people go to bar hop). Stella's bar is surrounded in arcade games, and has a dance club in the back. Be careful with the Stella's punch; it's deliciously sneaky!
On Ionia Street. Great food and beer, and has a fun game room in the back. Right in the heart of downtown.
39 locals recommend
Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
1 Ionia Ave SWOn Ionia Street. Great food and beer, and has a fun game room in the back. Right in the heart of downtown.
Harmony Hall
401 Stocking Ave NWGreat local brewery, close to the house! German food.
HopCat
25 Ionia Ave SWRestaurant with busy nightlife. Great beer, even better fries and food!
Bestside Bar & Grill
1645 Leonard Street NorthwestThis bar is just around the corner! Great place to hangout.
The Holiday Bar is very close to the house and is a local favorite go-to for dancing at night.
6 locals recommend
The Holiday Bar
801 5th St NWThe Holiday Bar is very close to the house and is a local favorite go-to for dancing at night.
Parks & Nature
It is a nearby nature center with a hiking trail. They have forestry, barns, wildlife, etc! SUCH a peaceful place to relax and just be.
19 locals recommend
Blandford Nature Center
1715 Hillburn Ave NWIt is a nearby nature center with a hiking trail. They have forestry, barns, wildlife, etc! SUCH a peaceful place to relax and just be.
Aman Park
113 Lake Michigan Dr NWGreat place to hike!
Nearby park. Has a beach, hiking/running trails and extends throughout Grand Rapids!
59 locals recommend
Millennium Park
1415 Maynard Ave SWNearby park. Has a beach, hiking/running trails and extends throughout Grand Rapids!
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
220 Front Ave NWA great place to relax in the heart of downtown.
Great biking trail in Walker. See map here: https://www.traillink.com/trail/fred-meijer-heartland-trail/
Fred Meijer Trail
Fred Meijer TrailGreat biking trail in Walker. See map here: https://www.traillink.com/trail/fred-meijer-heartland-trail/
Covell Dog Park
526 Covell Ave NWDog park just a few minutes away.
Arts & Culture
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
11 Sheldon Ave NEGreat art!
Fun place for kids and those of all ages who like to have fun!
91 locals recommend
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St NWFun place for kids and those of all ages who like to have fun!
Local artists star in renound shows!
24 locals recommend
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre And School Of Theatre Arts
30 Division Ave NLocal artists star in renound shows!
A great place to catch symphony concerts, large plays or ballet shows.
34 locals recommend
DeVos Performance Hall
303 Monroe Ave NWA great place to catch symphony concerts, large plays or ballet shows.
A nice museum to visit, but more fun is the events, movies and concerts they have out front in the summer. Check out the 2017 Movies in the Park Showings: http://downtowngr.org/our-work/projects/movies-in-the-park
77 locals recommend
The Gerald Ford Presidential Museum
303 Pearl St NWA nice museum to visit, but more fun is the events, movies and concerts they have out front in the summer. Check out the 2017 Movies in the Park Showings: http://downtowngr.org/our-work/projects/movies-in-the-park
Art Gallery/Garden. Beautiful place to go! Also has an ampitheater that hosts a summer concert series.
200 locals recommend
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 E Beltline Ave NEArt Gallery/Garden. Beautiful place to go! Also has an ampitheater that hosts a summer concert series.
Entertainment & Activities
A great arena that hosts concerts, sports games and anything you can imagine! Check out what is going on before you come at: https://vanandelarena.com/
82 locals recommend
Van Andel Arena
130 Fulton St WA great arena that hosts concerts, sports games and anything you can imagine! Check out what is going on before you come at: https://vanandelarena.com/
Local zoo that is fun to go to with more than animals. Have ropes courses and other fun activities daily! There is also a concert venue in the park out front that has free live music some nights!
91 locals recommend
John Ball Zoo
1300 Fulton St WLocal zoo that is fun to go to with more than animals. Have ropes courses and other fun activities daily! There is also a concert venue in the park out front that has free live music some nights!
The Whitecaps play here in the summer, and they host different events year-round!
23 locals recommend
Fifth Third Ballpark
4500 W River Dr NEThe Whitecaps play here in the summer, and they host different events year-round!
Clique Lanes
533 Stocking Ave NWFun, local bowling spot close to the house and the Bridge Street scene.
Everything Else
Check out https://www.experiencegr.com/ for more information about GR and what is going on around town while you are here!
8 locals recommend
Experience Grand Rapids
171 Monroe Ave NWCheck out https://www.experiencegr.com/ for more information about GR and what is going on around town while you are here!
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
5500 44th St SEThe airport is the best place to rent a car.
Sightseeing
Take a walk along many of Grand Rapids' bridges near downtown. There is usually fun free events that happen on the bridge, from exercise classes to dancing events!
11 locals recommend
Blue Bridge
Blue BridgeTake a walk along many of Grand Rapids' bridges near downtown. There is usually fun free events that happen on the bridge, from exercise classes to dancing events!
Grand Haven Beach
Grand Haven BeachWalk along Monroe Center, in the heart of Downtown Grand Rapids, for shops and restaurants or just to enjoy spending some time in Rosa Parks Circle!
Monroe Center Street Northwest
Monroe Center Street NorthwestWalk along Monroe Center, in the heart of Downtown Grand Rapids, for shops and restaurants or just to enjoy spending some time in Rosa Parks Circle!
Rosa Parks is a nice place to relax. However, sometimes you'll run into random events like workout classes or dancing! In the winter, it turns into a skating rink and has open skate!
38 locals recommend
Rosa Park Circle
135 Monroe Center St NWRosa Parks is a nice place to relax. However, sometimes you'll run into random events like workout classes or dancing! In the winter, it turns into a skating rink and has open skate!
A fancy hotel with many restaurants and bars. Cygnus 27 (on the 27th floor) is a fancy bar with the best view of the town! Depending on the season, they have a great brunch.
15 locals recommend
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Ave NWA fancy hotel with many restaurants and bars. Cygnus 27 (on the 27th floor) is a fancy bar with the best view of the town! Depending on the season, they have a great brunch.
Essentials
Rite Aid
4166 17 Mile Road NortheastPharmacy right around the corner of our house. Has small essentials!
Family Fare Supermarket
2755 Lake Michigan Dr NWClosest supermarket - has everything you should need!
Not as close as Family Fare, but is larger and has clothing and outdoor items!
71 locals recommend
Meijer
746 E 16th StNot as close as Family Fare, but is larger and has clothing and outdoor items!