Amie

I will have an extra day in Grand Rapids after visiting the Gerald Ford Museum and before driving to Detroit. Any suggestions on towns or sights near Grand Rapids that would be interesting to visit? Or perhaps in the area of MI returning to Detroit? I have been to Ann Arbor.

Thanks.

travel_addict

Hi Amie,

There is an excellent public museum right across the street from the Ford Museum - the Van Andel Museum.

You might also want to walk around the downtown area too - right across the river. There is a Tom Otterness sculpture exhibit going on here now too - until mid-Sept. Tom has created a whole series of very whimsical bronze (I think?) sculptures and they are all over the downtown area, and at the nearby Frederick Meijer Gardens too. For more info, go to: http://www.meijergardens.org

Also, Lake Michigan towns like Grand Haven & Holland are only about a half hour away too if you're interested in visiting those areas.

My favorite restaurants in the GR area are:

San Chez - a Spanish tapas bistro
Mezze - next door to San Chez, offering middle eastern food
Leo's - excellent fish place
Any restaurant in the Amway Grand Plaza (right across the river from the Ford Museum)
Bull's Head - salads, sandwiches, etc.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Heidi

pepper131

t_a -

Thanks for adding restaurants...I'll be in GR next week for the first time...and didn't have a clue where to eat. Your suggestions sound d-lish. We're staying at the Amway Grand - one night only and off to Chicago in the am.

travel_addict

Pepper131 - you'll love the Amway Grand. I've stayed there many times - I used to work for a company that had lots of events there and that was one of my perks (even though I live here).

For an outstanding (and expensive) meal, make a reservation for the 1913 Room in the hotel. (men have to wear a jacket) For less money and less formality, Bentham's is also wonderful. And if you really want to splurge, Cygnus is a restaurant on the top floor with views of the city. It's very expensive, but the food is fabulous. Cornocopia has great breakfast choices and there is also a Starbuck's right in the hotel now too.

Another good breakfast place is the Sundance Grill on the corner of Pearl & Ottawa - within walking distance of the hotel. They have lots of southwestern style dishes.

pepper131

Thanks t_a...

I'll have my kids w/ me, so no high-end meals.
Breakfast in the morning will probably be Starbucks first thing on the way to the Amtrak to catch the train to Chicago.

I always suffer, food-wise, in Michigan...I'm mostly vegetarian, do eat some fish; but where family lives in Midland and Mt Pleasant, it's a sorry situation...I can only eat so much pasta and veggie burgers!!! Anyway, Grand Rapids sounds like there are good options.

travel_addict

I'm a vegetarian too, Pepper131. How old are your kids? And how adventurous? You'd would really love San Chez. There's a lot of great vegetarian items on their menu, but it can be a little on the expensive side depending on what you order, and non-adventurous kids probably wouldn't like it at all.

There's also a couple of places over near Eastown that serve vegetarian food. Gaia is an all vegetarian restaurant, and Marie Catrib's has quite a bit of veg items on the menu. Bombay Cuisine serves excellent Indian food with a lunch buffet every day. (It's $10 per person though.)

You still might enjoy Cornocopia or Sundance Grill if you get the time - neither are all that expensive and kid friendly.

Depending on how old your kids are, we have a wonderful children's museum right downtown too. And they would probably enjoy the Tom Otterness sculptures all over town right now.

travel_addict

Oops - I meant to comment on the veg options in Midland and Mt. Pleasant. I can definitely relate to what you experience there!

pepper131

t_a -

My kids are 3 and 12; just enough of an age difference where one will be happy, while the other is not.

Maybe we'll try Cornocopia or Sundance Grill - my oldest is not adventurous...we're working on that.

And we will probably walk around downtown and check things out. Funny...I grew up in Midland, but never made it to Grand Rapids. Looking forward to it.

travel_addict

Pepper131 - 3 & 12? Yeah, I can see how one would be happy and the other not. Good luck with that! At least the hotel has a great pool they will probably both enjoy.

Please post back and let us know how your visit went - and you too, Amie.