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| Getting
to Grand Rapids Michigan |
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Rapids, Michigan is easy to get to
by car, air, bus, train or even water. By car, Grand
Rapids is just three hours from Chicago and a little
over two hours from Detroit. The city’s Gerald
R. Ford International Airport receives daily flights
from a dozen major cities including Chicago, Detroit,
New York area and Toronto. Major cities in the United
States are connected to Grand Rapids through Amtrak,
which follows the Pere Marquette route to the Windy
City, Detroit and beyond. Greyhound bus service is available
right in downtown Grand Rapids. Or, if you are adventurous,
you can catch one of two car ferries that will take
you across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin.
Car ferries leave during the season from Ludington and
Grand Haven Michigan,
daily. |
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One
long, grand river
The
Grand River running through Grand Rapids, Michigan
was originally named “O-wash-ta-nong”
by native Indians. The name means “the
far away water” and was given to the river
because of long distance that could be canoed
on the water way in a week of travel. |
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Culture and
more in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand
Rapids Michigan, is one of those rare cities
that can claim to be the birthplace of a U.S. President.
Gerald R. Ford, the 23rd President of the United States,
was born and raised in Grand Rapids and now the city
is the home to the Gerald R. Ford Museum. The museum,
on the banks of the Grand River, is both a presidential
library and museum where visitors can participate
in history through the many exhibits and interactive
displays. |
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Just
up the road is the Public Museum
of Grand Rapids which brings in international cultural
exhibits that in recent years included historical artifacts
from the Cold War and Berlin Wall to actual pieces of
the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Public Museum of Grand Rapids
also has a planetarium and art
gallery and special events scheduled throughout
the year.
Another favorite spot to visit is the Grand Rapids Kid’s
Museum right in downtown. The museum is full of fun
things to do to keep children and their parents happy
for hours. For a great family day, visit the John Ball
Zoo on the city’s west side where you can “talk
to the animals” and maybe feed a few. It’s
a delightful day for young and old alike. |
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Or,
grab the picnic basket and head for Frederik Meijer
Gardens & Sculpture Park on the
east side of the city. The Gardens
are an all-around educational, fun place with beautiful
flower displays,
art exhibits
and special concerts and events.
The Frederik Meijer Gardens has become Internationally
known for being the home of Leonardo da  Vinci’s
giant bronze horse, Il Cavallo. It is also renowned
for it’s indoor butterfly exhibit where hundreds
of thousands of butterflies hatch and take to the air
every March through June. |
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Don’t
like the weather, just wait
The
Grand Rapids area has something for everyone weather-wise.
Temperatures can range from -10 degrees in winter
to a scorching 100 degrees in summer. Usual summer
temperatures come in at a respectable 72 to 80
degrees. Average winter snowfall measures up at
about 52 inches per year. The best part of weather
in Grand Rapids, is that it is influenced by Lake
Michigan and change rapidly from sun, to thunder
showers and back again to sun in a single afternoon. |
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| Grand
Rapids Michigan Golf |
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Grand
Rapids and the surrounding area of West Michigan
has been rated in the top five regions in the country
to retire and play golf
because of the abundance and quality of courses and
reasonable rates. Even if you are not ready for retirement,
the Grand Rapids area is a great place to play golf.
There are more than 40 courses
to play within a short drive from Grand Rapids. And,
depending on the season and the course you can get some
great bargains on golf with prices ranging from $20
to $35 for 18 holes with a cart. |
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Whether
you enjoy links-style courses
or the challenge of dog legs cut through forests with
holes meandering along the rivers, streams and lakes,
the Grand Rapids area has them all. One of the best
bargains is town is the Kent County public links L.E.
Kaufman Golf
Course where you can play most days for $22 walking.
Grand Rapids is also the home of the seniors Champions
Tour in June where some of the best senior golfers in
the country take each other on in exciting competition. |
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| Big
old houses of Grand Rapids
Heritage
Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is one of the
largest historical neighborhood districts in
the United States. Established in 1848 it was
built on top of the hills next to downtown Grand
Rapids. Its 600 historical homes represent more
than 60 architectural styles ranging from Victorian
and Queen Anne to Italianate and Art Deco. |
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Fishing and water
sports 
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Living
around the Grand Rapids, Michigan area is an anglers
dream.
Land the big ones like walleye, northern pike, whitefish
and salmon from your private boat or charter fishing
cruises on Lake Michigan. Trout and bass are abundant
in the lakes and streams in almost any direction you
travel from
the city. |
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And
in the fall, the banks of the Grand River
are lined with anglers trying to land the huge salmon
as they move up river to spawn. Dozens of boat launches
are available along the Grand River and other waterways
in the area to put you on the water for a day of boating
or fishing.
There are an estimated 630 lakes and rivers around the
Grand Rapids area
to sail on, power boat, water ski or ride your personal
water craft on.
Nearly 100 marinas, charters, boat outlets and repair
shops operate within a 25 mile radius of Grand Rapids. |
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Spirits
of Grand Rapids
The
former Michigan Bell Telephone Co. building in
downtown Grand Rapids is reputed to be haunted
by the spirits of Warren and Virginia Randall.
Warren Randall, who had a wooden leg, was reported
to have beaten his wife to death with the wooden
leg during an argument in a house at the building
site. When the house was torn down, the ghosts
moved into the new telephone building often harassing
local residents with late night phone calls. |
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