Add this Midwest city to your summer plans
World-class art. “Beer City USA.” Freshwater access and over 100 parks.
We’re talking about Grand Rapids—Michigan’s second-largest city and one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets. Despite its size (the Grand Rapids metro area has a population of over 1 million), this West Michigan destination emits a charming small-town feel, even when exploring its bustling downtown.
While the city is lovely any time of year, summer is when it truly comes alive. Restaurant patios buzz with activity, the parks beckon with public art and ample green space, and Lake Michigan's beaches are just 30 minutes away.
As locals will tell you, there’s nothing quite like summer in Michigan.
So if Grand Rapids has flown under your radar, allow this guide to be the first step in planning your getaway. Whether you're after world-class art, bespoke beverages or the great outdoors (not that you have to choose just one), the city has everything you need for a memorable summer vacation.
Planning your stay
Grand Rapids is situated on the west side of "the mitten" (as Michiganders affectionately call the state's Lower Peninsula), less than a three-hour drive from Detroit and Chicago.
Not that you need to be a Midwesterner to make the trip. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport, located about 20 minutes from downtown, welcomes nonstop flights from more than 30 cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, New York and Los Angeles.
Along with the usual hotel chains, Grand Rapids boasts several boutique options that cater to travelers seeking unique lodging experiences. The Finnley Hotel in Downtown Grand Rapids features amenities like vintage record players, espresso machines and cocktail mixing sets.
CityFlatsHotel is located just a few hundred feet away on Monroe Center Street, while The BlueJay (Bridge Street), the Ada Hotel (Downtown Ada) and the Hotel Rose (opening soon in Downtown Rockford) offer similarly distinctive experiences and easy access to the city’s attractions.
The artist
Do it for the GRAM. The Grand Rapids Art Museum, that is.
Located in the heart of downtown, the GRAM features a permanent collection of over 6,000 works of art, with a focus on 19th- and 20th-century European and American painting and sculpture. Admission is free on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings.
Recognized as the best sculpture park in the country by USA Today and one of the most-visited art museums in the world, according to The Art Newspaper, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park serves as a referendum on Grand Rapids' commitment to the arts.
More than half of the visitors who amble through the 158 acres of outdoor sculptures each year are members of the museum, while the park’s interactive children’s garden, carnivorous plant house and extensive Japanese garden are just a few of the reasons art and nature enthusiasts flock to this West Michigan treasure.
ArtPrize (Sept. 18–Oct. 4) is an annual international art competition and cultural festival that celebrates artists working in a variety of mediums. The $400,000 in prize money distributed each year draws artists from around the world to transform Grand Rapids into an expansive gallery space; restaurants and businesses curate displays, matching with artists to showcase their work and infusing the city with creativity and energy.
The entire event is free, and visitors get to vote on the winners, deciding which artists receive the prestigious awards and substantial financial support to further their artistic endeavors.
The recreationist
Grand Rapids locals have a reputation for embracing the outdoors, from golfing at Boulder Creek Golf Club to cycling along the 15-mile path that winds through Millennium Park. Running through downtown on the way to Lake Michigan, the Grand River is the lifeblood of the city—as well as a popular source of recreation.
The former site of a Native American village, Ah-Nab-Awen Park is a 6.5-acre green space on the riverfront that offers walking paths, gardens and scenic views of the city skyline. In addition to its proximity to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Ah-Nab-Awen Park features public art pieces and hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the summer. Children are fond of climbing on Lorrie’s Button—a giant pop-art playground sculpture.
A bit further up the river, Fish Ladder Park is a functional piece of artwork that allows visitors to witness migrating salmon leaping up a series of concrete steps as they make their way upstream to spawn. Grand Rapids was named the country’s sixth-best fishing city by Field & Stream magazine due to its downtown location on a major salmon run, as well as its access to nearby lakes like Big Pine Island Lake, Wabasis Lake and Campau Lake.
Visit one of the 125 parks in and around the city, and you’re bound to encounter folks playing pickleball. Each summer, Belknap Park hosts the Beer City Open (July 8–13), which draws hundreds of players from 38 states and five countries to compete for $90,000 in prize money. The local scene also includes drop-in opportunities at courts throughout the city, including Ace Pickleball Club, Pickle & Pin, Broad Leaf Brewery and RoofTop Pickleball.
The food and beverage connoisseur
The Beer City Open isn’t the only reason for Grand Rapids’ beer-y reputation. Grand Rapids has held the title of "Beer City USA" since 2012, according to a well-regarded online poll, earning the moniker on account of the 40 craft breweries within a 30-minute drive that include heavy hitters like Founders Brewing Co., City Built Brewing Company, Vivant and The Mitten.
The Beer City Ale Trail and Beer City Brewsader App make it easy to locate breweries and track your progress as you sample local offerings. Flights of Flavor, an ongoing promotion at various bars and restaurants throughout the city, lets patrons sample food-and-drink pairings while earning points toward prizes.
Always innovating, Grand Rapids has recently experienced a rise in distilleries like Mammoth Distilling and Long Road Distillers. Located amidst one of the best apple-growing regions in the world, Grand Rapids also showcases hard cider producers like Vander Mill and Pux Cider.
For a fine-dining alternative, MDRD at the Amway Grand Plaza is a moody, modern Spanish restaurant with terraced seating overlooking the Grand River from the 27th floor.