Grand Rapids is awesome!
Food scene
Donkey Taqueria
665 Wealthy St SEBest margaritas and tacos! Service is always amazing.
Mokaya
638 Wealthy St SEIncredible chocolate!
From incredible bbq to sushi to everything in between.
98 locals recommend
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
435 Ionia Ave SWFrom incredible bbq to sushi to everything in between.
Pinkie's Ice Cream and Desserts
1127 Wealthy St SEThe baby cone is 3 three scoops!
Cherry Hill Market
721 Cherry St SEPopular ice cream stop.
Wolfgang's Restaurant
1530 Wealthy St SEWorth the wait!
Outside Coffee
734 Wealthy St SEAwesome year round coffee garden!
Squibb Coffee and Wine Bar
955 Wealthy St SECoffee and wine...need I say more?
Zivio Modern European Tavern and Grill
724 Wealthy St SEMeat heavy but delicious.
Grove
919 Cherry St SEIncredible food and service!
Toppers Pizza
18417 Soledad Canyon RdSo much more than pizza!! Nothing disappoints, and, they deliver!
Jersey Junction
652 Croswell Ave SEIn gaslight village. Adorable and yummy ice cream parlor.
Yesterdog
1505 Wealthy St SEFamously known hot dog stop!
Bloody Mary bar is incredible as is the entire menu! Classic video games are plenty! Worth a trip downtown.
79 locals recommend
Stella's Lounge
53 Commerce Ave SWBloody Mary bar is incredible as is the entire menu! Classic video games are plenty! Worth a trip downtown.
The Electric Cheetah
1015 Wealthy St SELove the menu!! Local favorite.
If you love soup and a sandwich... this is the stop! Not too pricey and you can sample the soups
16 locals recommend
Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop
1133 Wealthy St SEIf you love soup and a sandwich... this is the stop! Not too pricey and you can sample the soups
Bars and breweries
Meanwhile Bar, Inc.
1005 Wealthy St SEClassic dive bar with great people and cheap drinks!
Brewery Vivant
925 Cherry St SEBeautiful atmosphere! Delicious food and brews!
Harmony Brewing Company
1551 Lake Dr SEDelicious!
The Green Well
924 Cherry Street SoutheastGreat atmosphere, nice patio and delicious food and drink.
The giant Bavarian pretzel and the chocolate cookie is sooo worth ordering!
8 locals recommend
Blue Dog Tavern
638 Stocking Ave NWThe giant Bavarian pretzel and the chocolate cookie is sooo worth ordering!
Founders Brewing Co
235 Grandville Ave SWELK Brewing
700 Wealthy St SEGood for drinks… food is very simple apps.
Local Shops
Rebel
1555 Wealthy St SEEclectic shop.
Lee & Birch
759 Wealthy St SEBoutique shop with trendy clothes!
Dime & Regal
656 Wealthy St SEQuaint local shop.
Urban Exchange
926 Fulton St EAwesome consignment shop!
Rock Paper Scissors Consignment Boutique
145 Diamond Ave SEAwesome consignment shop!
Woosah Outfitters
738 Wealthy St SELove everything in this shop!
Grand Rapids Bicycle Company - Fulton
1311 Fulton St ERepair or new...they can help
Wealthy Market
1012 Wealthy St SEGreat beer and wine selection with reasonable prices. Has all your basic needs too.
Books & Mortar
966 Cherry St SESweet little bookstore!
Grocery store, fun shops, great restaurants (cheap kids meals), salons, coffee and ice cream.
11 locals recommend
Gaslight Village
Grocery store, fun shops, great restaurants (cheap kids meals), salons, coffee and ice cream.
Higher end grocery and corner store. Amazing deli.
54 locals recommend
Martha's Vineyard Fine Wine & Gourmet Grocery
200 Union Ave NEHigher end grocery and corner store. Amazing deli.
The best place to buy brats! Also, best bulk candy( classic candy) selection! The Old Goat is next door... eat then shop or shop then eat!
6 locals recommend
Ken's Fruit Market
2420 Eastern Ave SEThe best place to buy brats! Also, best bulk candy( classic candy) selection! The Old Goat is next door... eat then shop or shop then eat!
Sightseeing
Have a beer or cocktail and watch a throwback film. Once a month they have a Maker’s Flea Market.
12 locals recommend
Wealthy Theatre
1130 Wealthy St SEHave a beer or cocktail and watch a throwback film. Once a month they have a Maker’s Flea Market.
Cherry Park
725 Cherry St SEAdorable splash pad and playground. Live music in the summer.
Busy but awesome! Later in the day is less crowded. There is s free night each week.
91 locals recommend
Marie Catrib's of Grand Rapids
Busy but awesome! Later in the day is less crowded. There is s free night each week.
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
11 Sheldon Ave NELove this museum!
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl Street NorthwestHuge park with tons to offer. From biking and walking paths to playgrounds and beaches.
59 locals recommend
Millennium Park
1415 Maynard Ave SWHuge park with tons to offer. From biking and walking paths to playgrounds and beaches.
Must see! You will want to pack a snack or lunch as you will end up making a day out of this trip. Most amazing children’s area ever! Complete with underground tunnels.
14 locals recommend
Deer Tracks Junction
7850 14 Mile Rd NEMust see! You will want to pack a snack or lunch as you will end up making a day out of this trip. Most amazing children’s area ever! Complete with underground tunnels.
From outdoor free concerts to ice skating. This is a downtown local place to see Grand Rapids in action.
38 locals recommend
Rosa Park Circle
135 Monroe Center St NWFrom outdoor free concerts to ice skating. This is a downtown local place to see Grand Rapids in action.
DeVos Place
303 Monroe Ave NWGrand Rapids Art Museum
Beautiful museum with a very unique gift shop.
Neighborhoods
Smaller homes but very well maintained. Gaslight Village is the only spot with shopping and dining. But expect to pay a little more.
14 locals recommend
East Grand Rapids
Smaller homes but very well maintained. Gaslight Village is the only spot with shopping and dining. But expect to pay a little more.
Eastown
Filled with quaint shops, delicious food, local bars and is walkable.
Busy but filled with stuff to do! You won’t find a chain. Parking is not always easy especially if there is an event/concert in town. Parking can also get spendy. Uber/Lyft if you can.
16 locals recommend
Downtown
Busy but filled with stuff to do! You won’t find a chain. Parking is not always easy especially if there is an event/concert in town. Parking can also get spendy. Uber/Lyft if you can.
Creston
Up and coming with a great brewery and restaurants. Local bowling alley is a “gem.”
Awesome library with a huge children’s and youth area complete with STEM labs and hands on fun. Best story time in GR.
Kent District Library - East Grand Rapids Branch
746 Lakeside Dr SEAwesome library with a huge children’s and youth area complete with STEM labs and hands on fun. Best story time in GR.
Traveler advice
Getting around
28th Street adds 20 minutes
28th Street and East Beltline are loaded with chains and traffic. Add 20 min to your GPS because inevitably there will be a holdup.
What to pack
Layers. Layers. Layers.
The weather is ever changing and unpredictable. Check before you pack but no matter what season, layering is best!!
Traveling with kids
Pack Light!
It’s a humid then wet cold kinda city. Awesome in its own light but we are by water. Pack light and stay where the amenities are actually family friendly... toys, outdoor toys, beds, etc. You do not want to be bogged down and sweating.
Don't miss
Art Prize
In awe every year in the way a city and artists can collaborate and bring to the lay people an incredible art experience.
Book before you go
Summer is expensive !
We have the most incredible lakes and state parks... not to mention the UP. Don’t wait to make reservations. Prices go up and places fill up fast for late spring thru early fall.