If you’re looking for a great day with the kids, head to Grand Rapids. The metropolitan center of western Michigan is the perfect place for families. From stunning outdoor spaces and to family-friendly museums, make it a day trip or stay overnight to squeeze in more fun. Experience Grand Rapids this spring and make plans to check out these fun destinations.
Grand Rapids Children Museum
The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum has two full level’s of fun! Shoot a movie, enjoy a full room dedicated to music making, a giant light bright, and a mini town with a shopping area complete with cashier stations and a bank. All of this and more is just on the first floor! Head upstairs for a bubble area, giant train table, pizza making area and a hands-on room that has rotating fun activities to do. PBS Kids fan will love the latest traveling exhibit – Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure! running now thru May 14th.
The museum is open Thursdays – Sundays and admission is $10 per person. The museum is part of the Museums for All program AND offers reciprocal membership admission for both the Ann Abor Hands-On Museum and Impressions 5 in Lansing.
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Don’t be fooled by the name, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is made for kids and families and features 3 floors of hands-on fun. Walk the streets of old Grand Rapids, come face to face wtih dinosaurs, and stroll through the A to Z exhibit to learn new things. Don’t miss out on the carousel that and sits on enclosed space overlooking the Grand River – it’s the star attraction your littles will love!
The museum is open daily and admission is $12 for adults and $5 for kids.
John Ball Zoo
The John Ball Zoo is always a good time. It’s a hidden oasis inside a city that makes you feel like you’ve traveled a million miles away to see over 1,300 animals including lions, tigers, chimpanzees, red pandas, and koalas, in spaces that look like natural habitat. Visit this spring and experience the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival (April 19th – June 11). The lantern festival will feature handcrafted Asian lantern displays that will illuminate the Zoo and tell the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian culture.
The zoo is open daily from 9am to 6pm during summer months and admission is $19 for adults and $15 for kids. A family membership is $130 and something to consider if you have multiple children over the age of 3 and think you’ll head back for another visit.
Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park
Butterflies are Blooming all April at the Frederik Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park. The largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit is just what you need to start feeling like spring. Throughout the exhibition, there is special educational programming and the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden offers butterfly-themed activities. Put on your walking shoes and dress for the weather as you explore the gorgeous grounds of the Frederik Meijer Garden and Scultupture Park.
The Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park is open daily. Admission is $18 for adults and $8.50 for children. The Gardens is part of the Museums for All program and EBT/WIC cardholders qualify for a reduced admission rate of $2 per person for up to four people.
The Need to Know
The two hour drive from metro Detroit goes fast with a good playlist. If you haven’t been to the city before it is beautiful and easy to navigate. The above listed destinations are all within 15 to 20 minutes of each other and parking is easy. You can spend several hours at a single destination or limit yourself to a couple hours to squeeze in multiple stops.
If you want to turn your day trip into an overnight stay, check out Embassy Suites – Downtown. The Hilton property is PERFECT. It’s located along the river with beautiful views of the city and a short, scenic 20 minute walk to the Grand Rapids Public Museum (designed with kids in mind) and Grand Rapids Children Museum. It’s about a 10 to 15 minute drive to the other destinations mentioned below. The room are large, there’s an indoor pool, complimentary family-friendly happy hour and a quality complimentary breakfast in the morning.
