- The Local Element West Michigan
Things To Do In Grand Rapids
No matter the time of day or the weather, Grand Rapids has something fun to offer. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed morning activity, a way to beat the heat, or a cozy escape from the rain, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading for the best things to do in Grand Rapids—morning, afternoon, or night—and for every kind of day, from sunny and hot to cloudy and cool.
In the morning
1. Coffee is a must!
Here are some great coffee shops we recommend in GR:
The Bradbury Cafe
Madcap Coffee
Stovetop Roasters
Sparrows Coffee at Kingma’s Market
Orchardhouse Books
And more!
2. The Fulton St Farmers Market
This beloved Grand Rapids market makes for a fun morning scoping out the best local goods. Find everything from fruits, veggies, baked goods, and more!
During the main season, they are open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8AM-2PM.
3. Get breakfast at a local breakfast spot
Here are a few we LOVE in GR:
Lucy’s Cafe
Wolfgang’s
Matchbox Diner
Morning Belle
Cherie Inn
MudPenny
4. Take a fitness class
There are plenty of great options when it comes to fitness classes in the Grand Rapids area that will be both fun and rewarding. Here are a few spots we recommend checking out:
Zeal Aerial Fitness
Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse
TLD Fitness
5. Take a walk at a local park
Grand Rapids has some great options when it comes to getting out and enjoying nature on a park trail, whether it be paved or not, there are options for every preference!
Reed’s Lake Loop – paved
Crahen Valley Park – paved and unpaved
Riverside Park – paved
Aman Park – unpaved
In the afternoon
1. Go to a local museum
Whether it’s the Art Museum, the Public Museum, the Ford Museum, or the Children’s Museum, you’re sure to have a great time learning and enjoying the exhibits no matter what one you choose!
Pro tip: The GRAM has free admission on Tuesdays all day and Thursday nights.
2. Have a park picnic!
What’s better than a picnic and a beautiful view?….We’ll wait!
Head out to Lookout Park, Reeds Lake, or Millennium Park with your picnic basket and blanket for the best lunch option in our opinion!
Want to pick up takeout for your picnic? We recommend Tacos El Cunado, Bagel Kitchen, or Rak Thai!
3. Visit Frederik Meijer Gardens
Frederik Meijer Gardens is truly a Grand Rapids staple. It’s a must. And for so many reasons!
You can visit all year round, and they have various seasonal exhibits. The most well-known seasonal exhibit is the “Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibit, which normally occurs in March and April.
4. Shop Wealthy Street
The shops on Wealthy are the BEST and make for a fun afternoon of shopping! Don’t miss the following shops:
Fox Naturals
Stoffer Home
Rebel
The Counting House
Art of The Table
Basic Bee
Dime and Regal
5. Go to the John Ball Zoo
Another great way to spend your afternoon! The John Ball Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals from all different parts of the world. The zoo also offers a ropes course, animal encounters, zip lines, virtual reality experiences, and more!
In the Evening
1. Go out for dinner
Ok, there are wayyyy too many great restaurants in Grand Rapids to name them all, but we’ll give you just a few that we recommend you go to!
Gin Gin’s
Grove
San Chez
MDRD
Butchers Union
Bistro Bella Vita
El Cerrito
Blue Dog Tavern
2. Find a local trivia night
We’ll make it easy for you: click HERE to get a list of weekly trivia nights in the area for each day of the week!
3. GR Ghost Tours
You heard that right! Did you know you can tour some of the most haunted places around Grand Rapids and learn about the mysteries that plague “Furniture City”? Grand Rapids Ghost Tours is a fun way to spend an evening in Grand Rapids with a “spooky” touch!
CLICK HERE to sign up for a tour!
4. See a movie at Studio Park
Downtown Grand Rapids is home to one of the best movie theatres in West Michigan. Studio Park has indoor and outdoor movie options throughout the year and they also offer a food and drink menu that you’ll love and recliner seats to add to the experience.
5. Go out for drinks on a rooftop or patio
Grand Rapids has a great food scene overall, but it also has a great drink scene! There are a few rooftops and outdoor patios that are a MUST. Here they are:
Mertens Rooftop
Knoop
Rapid River Stillhouse
MDRD
Less Traveled
IDC GR
On a rainy or snowy day
1. House Rules Board Game Lounge
Nothing says a rainy day quite like playing your favorite board games and card games. Add a lounge to enjoy with snacks and drinks and a wall full of games you already love as well as games you could learn and you’ve got the BEST time.
2. Indoor Golf
There are a few places you can enjoy indoor golf around Grand Rapids and a lot of them offer a full bar as well. The Leaderboard Golf, Pickle x Pin, and Gimme’s Par and Grill are all fun spots to enjoy a round of simulated golf on some of your favorite courses around the world. Is mini golf more up your alley? The Big Mini Putt Club Downtown GR is also full of fun and perfect for a cold or rainy day.
3. Battle GR
Welcome to a space full of all of your favorite adventures! From axe-throwing to laser tag to a sports court and so much more, this is a great place to burn some energy and have some fun!
4. Find a fun workshop to take!
There are a few different spaces in Grand Rapids that offer various workshops, whether it be with crafts or skincare, or something else. Here are some spots to check out:
The Honeysuckle Co
Gathered Botanicals
Sable Candle Co
All The Things Creative Studios
The Local Epicurean
On a hot, sunny day
1. Millennium Park
Looking for one place to go with a TON of options? Look no further! Here are some things you can enjoy at Millennium Park:
A splash pad
Paddleboard, canoe, paddle boat, and kayak rentals
A beach
Fishing
Playgrounds
Trails
2. TreeRunner Adventure Park
TreeRunner Adventure Park is an outdoor adventure park featuring treetop obstacle courses, zip-lines, and more, all set among the trees, so you’ll be sure to catch some shade while you’re there.
3. Catch a Whitecaps Game
If it’s hot and sunny, then it’s more than likely baseball season for the West Michigan Whitecaps, and if that’s the case, then you wont want to miss out on a classic Whitecaps Game – it’s a must in GR!