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Things To Do Lists in West Michigan!
62
items Things to Do Lists in West Michigan! Most are in Grand Rapids (GR), but locations vary across West Michigan. I don’t earn any commission from these lists—just here to share. Enjoy!
Map
Sections
6
Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Coffee Shops
Entertainment
Photographer
Indoor Activities
Outdoor Activities
Parks, Gardens and everything else outside!
Beautiful place with scenic viewpoints and great for family and friend gatherings. Parking must be paid at the machine by the bathroom and changing room before you go to the beach. This place is quite popular for those in need of a place to take pict...
Tunnel Park
Been here a couple of times to hang out with friends and their dogs. There's two side, one for the large dogs and the other side is for small dogs. There's enough parking and it's also a park within a park.
Cascade Dog Park
Amazing garden and sculpture park. You must pay a fee to enter into this place. They have different policies that you must follow when you're in here. They also have a photo policy. No professional photo taking unless you have permission to. I been h...
Welcome To Meijer Gardens » Meijer Gardens | Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Great place. free and anyone can come here to enjoy this garden. Please respect the signs and have fun!
Kent/MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden | Grand Rapids MI
This farmer market does not only do farmer markets, they host so many different events and markets. Check out their calendar!
FULTON STREET MARKET
Went here with my family and we had a blast. The levels are nice. Only work what you're comfortable with. Will be back in the future! Great place.
TreeRunner Home - TreeRunner Adventure Parks Grand Rapids
Great place for the family, or friends. I went here with my family and friend years ago. We didn't buy food here. My family actually packed and made food at home. We brought tables and chairs and ate in the parking lot. The watermelon that day was am...
Instagram (@michigansadventure)
Great for trails, walking, running and more. Great for family, hanging out with friends, or your fur babies. Lots to do!
Millennium Park
Right off the highway and great family place to enjoy. Been there for a couple different events that they had.
Welcome To Grand Rapids Local Zoo | John Ball Zoo
Great park and place for pictures. I and my sisters have gone here just for pictures and they came out amazing. There is a school near by so you will hear them sometime.
The Highlands
Went here for the first time and it was not bad. I thought it was big but smaller and good for a quick stop to walk with a friend or pet. It is a wooded trail so not open. I didn't do the trail but I walked the dog around the fields and we walked by ...
Caledonia Lakeside Park
Get $15 off your online purchase. Support your local business, and come check out this beautiful place. Our experience for the lavender harvest was amazing. They limit how many car passes they have for the time slots. It's from 9am-3pm for the time s...
Lavender Life Co
Calder Plaza is the place to be and check out. There's always events going on there. And the events vary in culture, food, performances, music, merchandise, and more!
Calder Plaza
Great area with many restaurants, by the highway, close to Downtown and hotels.
Sixth Street Bridge Park - Grand Rapids MI, 49503
Right by Sixth Street Bridge Park, a couple of events yearly and you don't want to miss the Return To River happening on 8/24-8/25/24.
Canal Street Park - Grand Rapids MI, 49503
Want to see Downtown GR from high up? Check out this spot, I love watching the sun set and enjoying my dinner or lunch picnic style with my friends.
Lookout Park - Grand Rapids MI, 49505
Love taking walks here. Great place with a decent pathway for walks and runs.
Riverside Park
A fantastic spot for fresh apples, delicious donuts, apple cider, and more. It's a charming location with plenty of parking across the street, plus handicap and compact spaces right out front.
Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery in Grand Rapids
Don't miss World of Winter! This free, two-month Grand Rapids festival celebrates the season with incredible outdoor art and activities.
World of Winter 2026 | Largest Winter Festival in the U.S.
The Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Foundation (GRAPF) enriches West Michigan through cultural events, business support, education, and community building. GRAPF also hosts events such as GRAPF Fest, Noodle Fest, and Global Water Fest.
GR Asian-Pacific Foundation
ArtPrize is an international art competition and festival held annually in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It transforms the city into a canvas, showcasing diverse art forms and engaging the community through various events and educational opportunities. *Co...
ArtPrize Home
The Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt is a European-style Christmas market with artisan vendors, food, and holiday entertainment.
Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt
The Wild Strides 5K is a family-friendly event at John Ball Zoo on April 22, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Participants run through the zoo and the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival to support wildlife conservation. The event includes a Kids Half Mile F...
Wild Strides 5K | John Ball Zoo
The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival, held at John Ball Zoo from April 9th to June 15th, 2025, is a one-mile light tour featuring handcrafted Asian lantern displays. The festival illuminates the zoo, telling the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian ...
GRAND RAPIDS LANTERN FESTIVAL | John Ball Zoo
Enjoy free lunchtime concerts at Relax at Rosa every Thursday, May 1st - September 11th. Discover 20 Michigan bands, food trucks, and outdoor fun.
Relax at Rosa Series
Restaurants
Places that I been to, and enjoyed my meal.
*2024* Update, went back recently and there's more light now and this is a good spot for dates and hanging out with your friends. Their menu is printed new every day, the drink menu is the same. Service was amazing and our waiter, Mark was awesome. W...
Butcher's Union | Grand Rapids
One of my favorite Mexican restaurants; great service, good food and affordable prices. Love their lunch specials!
El Granjero Mexican Grill | Grand Rapids | Home
Been here more than once for the pizzas. And had good service, and good food but during new year this year; it was a memorable one. The pizza was just not great. I would advise to order when they're not busy because the pizza that day was not made wi...
F K & B
Pretty good burgers, fries and chicken sandwiches. Been here a couple of times. Great service and they recently won “The Grand Taco Winner” in GR (Grand Rapids). Trying that winning “NB Crispy Hot Chicken Taco!”
Burgers Grand Rapids | Nonla Burger | United States
A mix of Japanese and Korean food. I love the Chicken Katsu Curry here. Great service. good food and we got our food pretty quick when we went in last time. I also had take out before.
Instagram (@kcmgrandrapids)
Decent Thai food, and owners are Hmong. The previous owners sold the restaurant to the current family. I normally order a Taro Milk tea with rainbow jellies. I also love the N8 Peanut Curry Pad Thai with chicken with medium spice. The wings are also ...
GR Bangkok Taste Cuisine
LOCATION LAST DAY MARCH 22, 2025! Love their food, service is good and the kindness of the the business owners. They do so much for the community!
Adobo Boy
NO LONGER AT THIS LOCATION! This spot shares the same restaurant as Adobo Boy and Amazing Myanmar Asian Cuisine. It's a food hall and I love the small plates and drinks! Great Laos, Thai and Hmong food!
About | Brunch and Rice
Right by Dairy Queen on the West side; this is a great place that opens until Midnight and 1am depending on the day. If you have a craving for pizza late a night; this is the place for you. Great food, service and price. Everything that we ordered fr...
Gino's Pizza (616)454-1800 - Grand Rapids Michigan - 1132 Walker Ave NW Grand Rapids Michigan 49504
A small place, limited outside seating, great food, affordable prices, and decent portions. One of my favorite places to get burrito, tacos, rice and beans.
Tacos El Cuñado Bridge St | Grand Rapids MI
One of the few Asian restaurants that serve Korean and Sushi all in one place off of Alpine. Good customer service, not a long time wait, family owned, good food and portion size are decent.
Oppa Sushi And Korean
Good customer service, the waiter did make a small error in our order but it was a quick fix. We had a large party of 10 people. I called ahead and make an reservation an hour before we arrived. Parking is available in the front and in the back of th...
Jaku Sushi North
Coffee Shops
Just coffee shops because this gal loves her coffee!
No longer in this location. They closed it October 2024. I love the vibe and the drinks are on point. Great after a walk on Wealthy Street.
Instagram (@outsidecoffeeco)
This is one of many coffee shops but it opens 24 hours. Great for everyone who needs a place from home to work on anything. They now charge more when you use a card. My sister noticed this. But bring cash to save yourself that extra fee.
The Bitter End Coffeehouse | 24 Hour Coffee House | 752 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
There's 2 location now. The second location is 225 Hastings St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Great vibe, the locations are good, the food is good and the drinks are nice. Both location offers different drinks and food. Similar but different.
Instagram (@themidnightexpresscafe)
Parking on the street (you must pay for it on weekdays, weekends and holidays are free), and parking garages available in the area as well. Great service, love the space, and vibe. Drinks are good.
Lantern Coffee
This location is next to NoodlePig and the place is cozy, free internet for its customers, free water, and spacious.
SWEETWATERS MONROE NORTH
One of my sister's favorite coffee shop; she was a regular here when she worked in this area. She always told us the coffee is good. I normally visit them during Art Prize in September as they feature so many art pieces in their shop. So nice!
Palatte Coffee & Art | Grand Rapids MI
Went by here recently and the vibe is nice. I love the layout that they have here. It's not cluttered and we all have space to move around. If you buy coffee beans here, you get a FREE coffee! They also have prints from local small businesses that th...
Stovetop Roasters Cafe
Been here a couple of times when I drive by; there's a couple of locations. There's also one on 98 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. They build it here in GR before they opened a location in the East side of Michigan in Detroit. The addres...
Now Roasting | Specialty Coffee Subscriptions | Madcap Coffee
Eden is the baby in this collection of coffee shops; they're newer in the market but the coffee is good. I been there a couple of times. They take reviews from customers and they make their drinks better. They also offer bake goods and more. I love t...
Cafe | Eden Cafe | Grand Rapids
Entertainment
The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector includes museums, historical sites, and similar institutions.
Love this place for the kids, the adults like it as well. Great place and tons for the kids to explore and do! They have many workshops and events for the kiddos.
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
I been here to look at art pieces during Art Prize a couple of times. And the museum is amazing. The history and walking around here is nice. Bring your family and come check it out!
Gerald R Ford Presidential Library & Museum
Been here for many concerts, and they also have hockey and more. Food and drink prices are normal for this venue. The lines are long but they go fast so you don't wait long.
Van Andel Arena | Official Website
Been to this place for a Dan and Shay concert a while back and had just a good time. And we got VIP and love the small gathering and the private session with Dan and Shay. We also got decent seats. What a night! I also attended an event for a gatheri...
GLC Live at 20 Monroe - Grand Rapids MI, 49503
Home to a diverse collection of art, from classic to contemporary.
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Explore the history and science of West Michigan with interactive exhibits.
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Hosts concerts, sporting events, and other large-scale performances.
Van Andel Arena | Official Website
Enjoy classical music performances.
Grand Rapids Symphony: A Community Supported Orchestra
This location brings in touring broadway shows.
Broadway In Grand Rapids: Broadway Tickets | Broadway ...
A multi-level entertainment complex with restaurants, bars, and live music.
The BOB | Restaurants, Entertainment, Craft Beer, Grand Rapids, MI
A vibrant market with food vendors, shops, and events.
Grand Rapids Downtown Market
Photographer
You need one to get those perfect shots of you, and your love ones!
I love the services that they offer and the care and time they put into their work is amazing. They offer so many session choices. Take a look and get in touch if you need an amazing Photographer!
Get a great portrait experience at Flair Photos
Indoor Activities
Candle, perfume, gifts, and other indoor activities more!
Hands down of the best candle/wax melt shop in West Michigan. I love purchased in-person at a couple of market events that they were vendors for. They now have 3 physical location. Grand Haven, MI - 129 W. Washington Ave. Saugatuck - MI 109 Butler St...
Garsnett Beacon Candle Co. The highest standards in candles
Great place to get your skincare, have them help you with skin concerns and also reserved for a perfume session with the owner! I love the vibe and of course, everyone there. Nothing but good things to say.
Botanical Perfumes & Skin Care crafted in Grand Rapids | Fox Naturals
Another amazing candle shop, you can make candles, refill your candles, have a team or group candle making and more!
Wax Poetic Candle Bar
Another candle shop that you make a candle, and support your local businesses.
Sable Candle Co.