With renowned festivals, professional sports teams, craft breweries and outdoor activities throughout the year, it's amazing how Grand Rapids can pack so much entertainment inside of it while maintaining a comfortable and walkable feel.
Grand Rapids stakes its claim as Michigan's art center. The Grand Rapids Art Museum features art exhibitions and educational programming, while the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park showcases more than 200 artworks and 158 acres of botanical landscapes. For those interested in something more contemporary, ArtPrize is an annual international art competition and festival spanning more than two weeks each September, where artists from around the world display their work throughout the city.The city also offers plenty of opportunities to connect with your wild side and explore the wonders of the natural world. The John Ball Zoo is open seasonally from late March through late November and has over 200 species of animals, including close encounter experiences with penguins, chimpanzees and bears. Outdoor recreation includes winter sports like ice skating, skiing and snowshoeing, plus year-round hiking, biking, fishing, boating and golf. For those looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown, Riverside Park and Ah-Nab-Awen Park offer a great place to relax and watch the riverfront.
Grand Rapids has won USA Today’s Best Beer City poll for five consecutive years from 2021 through 2025. The Beer City Ale Trail features more than 80 breweries, brewery tours and hotel beer packages. The city also ranks highly for its brewpubs and restaurants, whose chefs take advantage of fresh produce from local farmers markets. If you're looking for an excuse to partake, the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival is a popular annual fall event that shows off the best culinary experiences the region has to offer.
No discussion of Grand Rapids is complete without mentioning its rich music and theatre scene. Grand Rapids Ballet is Michigan's only professional ballet company and Opera Grand Rapids offers classic, contemporary and light opera. The Grand Rapids Symphony performs at DeVos Performance Hall, which has hosted performers such as B.B. King, Harry Connick Jr., Aretha Franklin and Jerry Seinfeld. The Van Andel Arena is known for hosting chart-topping concert performers like Bruce Springsteen, Janet Jackson, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. When these stars are not tearing up the stage, though, the arena is used by both the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Grand Rapids Gold, the city's respective hockey and basketball teams.
Comedy and special events thrive throughout the city. The Comedy Project features improv, sketch and variety shows, while River City Improv offers family-friendly comedy theater. The Dinner Detective Grand Rapids presents interactive murder mystery dinner theatre. If you're looking to stroll down merchant alleys and celebrate your hobbies, DeVos Place is the city's premier convention center and is known for hosting events like AQS Quilt Week, the GFS Annual Food Show and The Grand Rapids Comic-Con.
Come on, Let's go to Grand Rapids, Michigan!
Indian Trails offers plenty of opportunities to explore Grand Rapids and much, much more. First, we run regular bus routes to and from Grand Rapids throughout the state. Buy a ticket and enjoy trouble-free travel to this wonderful destination. If you’re bringing a lot of traveling companions, you can charter a bus and create a customized sightseeing tour! Travel at your own pace and in comfort.
Either way, you’ll enjoy the trip more with Indian Trails!
