A VISITOR’S 2018 GUIDE TO THE BEST OF GRAND RAPIDS the experience 2018 | 1 | ExperienceGR.com the experience 2018 | 2 | ExperienceGR.com 2018 the experience WELCOME 4 art & CULTURE 6 FOOD 12 MUSIC 30 BEER 34 CRAFT BEVERAGES 44 faMILY FUN 48 TOURS & EXPERIENCES 52 BEACHES 56 OUTDOOR RECreatioN 58 SPorts 60 EVENTS 64 SHOPPING 66 AIR SERVICE 70 ACCOMMODatioNS 72 TRIP ESSENTIALS 79 TO ADVERTISE: (616) 458-8371 PROJECT MANAGEMENT Published by: PRICE PER COPY $4.00 Kelly Messerly, Experience Grand Rapids Team Laura Edgington, Experience Grand Rapids Team EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS The 2018 Grand Rapids/Kent County Ben DeVries, Group Tour Media 171 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 545 Official Visitors Guide is published for the Grand Rapids, MI 49503 benefit of the visiting public and partners DESIGN & EDITORIAL (616) 258-7388 / (800) 678-9859 of Experience Grand Rapids. While every Greg Wagner, Wagner Design Inc. ExperienceGR.com Mike Dykstra, Copywriting reasonable effort has been made to ensure GROUP TOUR MEDIA the accuracy of the information contained PHOTOGRAPHY 2465 112th Ave. within this guide, no responsibility will be Mod Bettie, Experience Grand Rapids, William Hebert, Holland, MI 49424-9657 assumed by Experience Grand Rapids, any Brian Kelly Photography, Paul Jendrasiak, Terry (800) 767-3489 of its partners, or Group Tour Media, LLC. Johnston, Regina Joy, Robert Neumann, Richard grouptour.com for errors or omissions. No warranties are Prepetit, Bradley Scott and Craig van der Lende made regarding the information contained herein. No endorsement of the views and GUIDE & SUPPLEMENT COVER PHOTO opinions in advertisements are binding. Photographed by Brian Kelly, All of the information furnished herein is Brian Kelly Photography subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. No portion of this guide may be ADVERTISING SALES reproduced without prior written consent. Jamie Cannon and Elly DeVries, Group Tour Media the experience 2018 | 3 | ExperienceGR.com Doug Small at the Visitor Information Center in the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. COOL CITY WELCOME I’ve been telling people Grand Rapids is cool since customize your visit and get the most out of I first moved here nine years ago. It seems I’ve been your trip, whether it’s a romantic getaway, family selling the city short – because Grand Rapids isn’t vacation, reunion with friends or business meeting. just cool, it’s “super cool,” according to the travel One more thing: Grand Rapids is cool, but it’s not experts at Expedia. pretentious. Everywhere you go – starting with the Last year, Expedia ranked “the hippest spots to visit airport – you’ll encounter people who are eager to in the states” based on such criteria as food, drink, assist you. Don’t hesitate to ask! art and music. Grand Rapids excels at these (and Have a grand time in our cool city – and be sure to many other) quality-of-life amenities – so it’s only share your photos and experiences on social media! natural that we made the list of Super Cool U.S. Cities. This Visitor’s Guide gives you a glimpse of the many cool things to see and do in Grand Rapids and Kent County. You’ll find much more online at ExperienceGR.com. You can use this information to Douglas Small, CTA President and Chief Experience Officer, Experience Grand Rapids “ Midwest friendliness is no exaggeration in Grand Rapids, which, despite being the second largest metro area in Michigan, exudes small-town warmth.” U.S. News & World Report, 2017 the experiencethe experience 2018 2018| 4 || ExperienceGR.com4 | ExperienceGR.com the experience 2018 | 5 | ExperienceGR.com ART & CULTURE Lift your spirit and enrich your mind through dazzling presentations of local creativity and heritage. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park GET INSPIRED “ Much of the art, food, and music trappings you’d find in Chicago or Detroit, only at half the price and one-quarter the commute times.” Thrillist, 2017 the experiencethe experience 2018 2018| 6 || ExperienceGR.com6 | ExperienceGR.com th Celebrate the 50 anniversary of Opera Grand Rapids with tickets to a show. th Join 500,000 visitors to downtown Grand Rapids for the anniversary of ArtPrize® (Sep. 19 - Oct. 7, 2018). 10 the experience 2018 | 7 | ExperienceGR.com art & CULTURE See natural and manmade art at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park – including an exhibition of global disability sculpture from Sept. 14, 2018 - Jan. 6, 2019. Discover an outstanding collection of public art, on your own or with a guide. More at ExperienceGR.com/Art the experiencethe experience 2018 2018| 8 || ExperienceGR.com8 | ExperienceGR.com Experience the joy of live theatre on area Explore six downtown museums, from the stages – including Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum to the entertaining audiences since 1925. African American Museum & Archives. Get a Culture Pass to enjoy local arts and entertainment at a great price: CulturePassGR.com attRACTIONS Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park • 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE • (616) 957-1580 • meijergardens.org Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum • 303 Pearl St. NW • (616) 254-0400 • fordlibrarymuseum.gov Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives • 87 Monroe Center NW • (616) 540-2943 • graama.org Grand Rapids Art Museum • 101 Monroe Center NW • (616) 831-1000 • artmuseumgr.org Grand Rapids Children’s Museum • 11 Sheldon Ave. NE • (616) 235-4726 • grcm.org Grand Rapids Public Museum • 272 Pearl St. NW • (616) 929-1700 • grpm.org Gun Lake Casino • 1123 129th Ave. • Wayland • (269) 792-7777 • gunlakecasino.com John Ball Zoo • 1300 W. Fulton • (616) 336-4300 • jbzoo.org • Open March 10-Nov. 4 Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts • 2 W. Fulton • (616) 454-7000 • uica.org PERFORMING ARTS Actors’ Theatre • (616) 234-3817 • actorstheatregrandrapids.org Broadway Grand Rapids • (616) 235-6285 • broadwaygrandrapids.com Circle Theatre • (616) 456-6656 • circletheatre.org Dog Story Theater • (616) 452-9234 • dogstorytheater.com Grand Rapids Ballet • (616) 454-4771 • grballet.com Grand Rapids Civic Theatre • (616) 222-6650 • grct.org Grand Rapids Symphony • (616) 454-9451 • grsymphony.org Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids • (616) 234-3595 • jtgr.org Opera Grand Rapids • (616) 451-2741 • operagr.com St. Cecilia Music Center • (616) 459-2224 • scmc-online.org the experience 2018 | 9 | ExperienceGR.com the experience 2018 | 10 | ExperienceGR.com the experience 2018 | 11 | ExperienceGR.com FOOD Indulge your taste buds in the city where family farms supply fresh-daily ingredients to eateries and food shops. E K ta A bite “ The world’s 2nd best food/beverage destination experience.” World Food Travel Association, 2017 the experience 2018 | 12 | ExperienceGR.com D’Arts Donuts Craving a donut? Indulge your sweet tooth at two dozen local bakeries. Dine under the sun or stars on outdoor patios and decks. The Sovengard the experience 2018 | 13 | ExperienceGR.com FOOD Blue Spoon Food Truck Get a quick, delicious food truck meal from downtown’s Relax at Rosa lunch caravan on summer Thursdays, and at other places and events around the city. Screaming for ice cream? Try unique handcrafted flavors at artisanal parlors. Love’s Ice Cream the experience 2018 | 14 | ExperienceGR.com + Explore artisan food vendors and restaurants at the Downtown20 Market Grand Rapids. Dig in to tantalizing creations from local chefs during Restaurant Week GR. TASTE THE CITY AUGUST 8-19 SABORES DE LA CIUDAD thethe experience experience 2018 2018 | 15| 15 | ExperienceGR.com| ExperienceGR.com the experience 2018 | 16 | ExperienceGR.com the experience 2018 | 17 | ExperienceGR.com FOOD Indian Masala More at ExperienceGR.com/Food The Green Well Gastro Pub – Rockford Please your palate at 800+ Kent County restaurants serving up most every kind of cuisine. Take a self-guided tour of 50+ delectable destinations on the Grand Rapids Food Trail: ExperienceGR.com/FoodTrail the experience 2018 | 18 | ExperienceGR.com DINING GUIDE Search hundreds of dining spots at ExperienceGR.com/Restaurants Price Range: $ = $2-9, $$ = $10-19, $$$ = $20-30, $$$$ = $31+ Price RSVP Open Outdoor RestaURANT Range Accepted Sunday Dining DOWNTOWN • 201 Michigan St. NW Atwater Brewery - Grand Rapids $$ Yes Yes Yes (616) 649-3020 • atwaterbeer.com/locations/atwater-grand-rapids The B.O.B. • 20 Monroe Ave. NW • (616) 356-2000 • thebob.com $$ Yes No Yes B.O.B.’s Brewery • 20 Monroe Ave. NW $$ No No No (616) 356-2000 • thebobsbrewery.com Big Boy - Downtown • 407 Pearl St. NW • (616) 451-2717 • bigboy.com $ No Yes No • 45 Ottawa Ave. SW Biggby Coffee - Arena Place $ No No No (616) 988-9368 • fb.com/BiggbyCoffeeArenaPlace Bistro Bella Vita • 44 Grandville Ave. SW $$ Yes Yes Yes (616) 222-4600 • bistrobellavita.com The Bistro • 11 Monroe Ave. NW • (616) 242-6000 $$ No Yes No courtyard.marriott.com/tour/bistro • 20 Monroe Ave. NW Bobarino’s at The B.O.B $$ Yes No Yes (616) 356-2000 • thebob.com/bobarinospizza Bull’s Head Tavern • 188 Monroe Ave. NW $$ Yes No Yes (616) 454-3580 • thebullsheadtavern.com • 63 Market Ave. SW Charley’s Crab Restaurant $$$ Yes Yes Yes (616) 459-2500 • muer.com/charleys-crab The Chop House Grand Rapids • 190 Monroe Ave. NW $$$$ Yes No No (888) 456-3463 • thechophousegrandrapids.com City Built Brewing Co. • 820 Monroe Ave. NW $$ No Yes No (616) 805-5755 • citybuiltbrewing.com CitySen Lounge at CityFlats Hotel • 83 Monroe Center St. NW $$ Yes Yes Yes (616) 608-1725 • cityflatshotel.com Cygnus 27 • 187 Monroe Ave. NW $$$ Yes Yes No (616) 776-6425 • amwaygrand.com/dining/cygnus-27 Divani • 15 Ionia Ave. SW • (616) 774-9463 • divanigr.com $$$ Yes No No • 139 Pearl St. NW Flanagan’s Pub $ No Yes Yes (616) 980-0705 • flanagansgr.com Founders Brewing Company • 235 Grandville Ave. SW $ No Yes Yes (616) 776-1195 • foundersbrewing.com Fountain Hill Brewery • 151 Fountain St. NE $$ No No No (616) 234-3700 • grcc.edu/fountainhillbrewery Garage Bar and Grill • 819 Ottawa Ave.