Grand Rapids

When you come to Grand Rapids, you should discover the Grand Rapids Public Museum along the waterfront to learn about furniture-making traditions and more and to ride the restored 1928 carousel visible through the large windows. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is a short walk and might be the nation's most entertaining presidential museum in the way it lets you “attend” a White House Dinner and eavesdrop on a day in the Oval Office.

Grand Rapids developed on the banks of the Grand River, where there was once a set of rapids, at an altitude of 610 feet above sea level. Ships could navigate on the river up to this fall line, stopping because of the rapids. You can find food and design at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a 125-acre botanic garden and sculpture park featuring Michigan's largest tropical conservatory. One of the world's “top 30 must-see museums” includes 100 sculptural works and a recreation of a 1930s working Michigan farm garden. Your lunch at the Taste of the Gardens Cafe uses vegetables harvested from the farm. Dinner, later, can be on board the Grand Lady Riverboat with a narrated cruise pointing out historic land sites—and more.

Location: Kent County, Michigan, United States

Website: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Home
Distance from Michigan: 105 miles
Travel time: 1 hour 32 minutes
TripAdvisor Review: 190 reviews