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Things to do near me
62
items I love researching and exploring, more now than ever I look for inclusive, safe, fun and local places. Hopefully this list is to your liking.
Map
Sections
6
Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Other Food & Drinks
Arts & Entertainment
Local Favorites
Great Stores
Outdoor Activities
Such a great place to visit, during all seasons. Mostly during warm seasons. Check the website for more planned exhibits. Love the Japan styles garden.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
This event space just opened, it’s been a hit with concerts etc. Especially during the summer season.
Acrisure Amphitheater
This is such a beautiful, long and big park, you can bike here, paddle in the water here, there is a restaurant near the path too. I love walking with my best friend when we’re catching up since the walking path is long! I also love finding a place t...
Reeds Lake
I love this path downtown, it hits all major spots near the Grand River which used to be Rapids. This is being turned into again a Rapid River and a place to paddle board and water activities. No swimming though. You can always use Gerald R Ford Muse...
Grand River “Rapids” Walking Path- Bridges
This area has been around for a very long time, we call it Calder because of the red sculpture. There’s usually events in this space like the Mexican festival, Asian Festival, Art Prize, Winterfest, Pride etc.
Calder Plaza
This is one of our popular beaches, the area near by the beach has a lot of shops and restaurants. It is hard to find parking if the beach parking is filled. Walking isn’t bad though!
Grand Haven City Beach
Holland beach lately is more popular, it’s more tucked away from Holland Downtown which is near Hope College. There is a near campground if you love 70-80’s weather during the summer. Bring your bike they have tons of bike paths!
Holland State Park
If you’re here during our white snow season, and you love to ski, tube or snow board this is the place to check out. They have a ski store, they have a rental area if you do not have your skis or snowboard. Parking is hard, and you must wear good win...
Cannonsburg Ski Resort Area Overview
Our zoo is getting bigger this one is closer to GR Downtown area. We do have two more that are 1 hr away both ways. This place has tons of food items, awesome zoo store and more physical interactive events.
John Ball Zoo
Restaurants
This is a fun spot, it’s near one of our rivers bridge which is a whole thing here. They serve Ramen in different varieties, they have alcohol and not alcohol choices, the staff is great!
Noodlepig Ramen and Boba Tea Shop
This place has 3 buildings for one restaurant. One is the food order part, the middle is Mexican street food and the third is candy section etc. My favorite is Gordita’s with lengua (yes cow tongue) don’t judge it till you try it!!!! My street favori...
Mega Tacos
If you’re visiting downtown GR one suggested restaurant will be Stella’s, why? Amazing environment, a bar and restaurant. The decor has you turning your head every few seconds. The bathroom stalls have someone’s phone number, someone’s affirmation, s...
Stella's Lounge
I love this Brewery, it’s a huge core to GR. You’ll see the beer cans in our stores and bars. I love the Nitro Rubaeus, it’s semi sweet and sour. They have great stouts too! And more.
You can sit outside and inside.
Founders Brewing Company Warehouse
This is another huge Brewery/Restaurant. Outside, inside, or upstairs speak easy behind black doors (Whiskey style) sometimes closed.
Grand Rapids Brewpub
This is a smaller whole in the wall bar that is very chill, and always filled with good people, no club music! Food, alcohol, TV’s. There are other walkable bars near this bar if you’re looking for smaller bars that are very casual and chill.
Dukes Bar
This place is a restaurant and sports bar, I love the Italian food, but they have American food too.
Monelli's Italian Grill & Sports Bar
This is another local brewery that is cute!
Atwater Brewery in GR
Hopcat is a great place to eat, tons of food options, menu is changing at times. I love the Cosmic Fries with the cheese dip!!! Beer is great here too.
HopCat
I love eating breakfast, lunch here at times dinner! There is parking I. The back of the building, you can enter from the back or the front. Such great Mexican food. If you don’t speak Spanish you may need to use a translator app.
El Globo Restaurant S Divison
I love eating here once and awhile, it's a little $$$. It's a chill place to hang out with high dining.
Butcher's Union
Amazing place to go for breakfast, lunch and dinner styled items. The food is vegan and gluten free.
Fika Grand Rapids
Other Food & Drinks
This place is amazing, it serves Korean food but also coffee!!! Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.
Kaffeine Place
I love Thai food, this place has been around for awhile. Such friendly service and great sized portions. Lunch is when they have deals.
Bangkok Taste Cuisine
I just love this Vietnamese Coffee place, the drinks are amazing. There is dairy free options. Make sure you bring your patience, they are quite loved so long lines do happen.
SAPO Coffee House
I love this small local sandwich and soup place, near walking shops. They’re always changing there menu except the staples. Sometimes salad.
Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop
This place has been in gaslight village since 1963, outside looks remodeled but the inside brings you back to the time it opened. They have tons of ice cream options, and a few dairy free ice cream.
This location is great, Gas Light village used to...
Jersey Junction
This place has been used for movies such as American Pie (R-rated movie sorry). The hot dogs are great, the chip choices are amazing, and the tip jar on the wall is fun!
Yesterdog
Otoño is such a great thrift and coffee place! Stay on Division st. and you’ll find a galore amount of thrift stores. This coffee is great, I’m a coffee lover, believe me please. No need to go to Madcap, try smaller coffee shops.
OTONO
Healthy grocery store if you’re staying awhile in an Air bnb or hotel! They make sushi and soups to eat right away!
Fresh Thyme | Organic, Natural, & Local Foods | Shop Online
This place is newer downtown GR, there is a few restaurants in the hotel on the first floor and outside! It’s a great place, more fancy and $$$.
JW Marriott Grand Rapids
This is a cute restaurant, more casual or dressy place. I love the wine freeze drinks, the food is great as well. They have a back an a rooftop in the back of the building.
The Friesian Gastro Pub
This is such a cute coffee shop, but it does get busy. So be patient and you’ll get some good coffee.
Lyon Street Cafe
I love this secluded coffee spot, it’s a great place to chill or work on your laptop. Or just enjoy the coffee and pastry.
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea
This is a smaller bar that’s inside and outside. They serve food too. They do have club style music on the weekend. It gets really busy and loud.
Social House Kitchen and Bar
This bar is outside and smaller spots inside. There is dancing here since they have DJs normally.
Grand Woods Lounge
This place is sooo much fun, they have a room for concerts, they have an arcade area, and booths and high tops to socialize.
The Pyramid Scheme • Grand Rapids Music Venue & Bar
The tin can is fun, they serve PBR etc beer. Normally a younger crowd since they do beer pong tournaments etc.
Tin Can Bar
This is a cute popcorn store on Ionia street, near Hopcat! They make fresh popcorn all different flavors. They even do a mix of two or three if you can’t decide in one bag.
Mosby's Popcorn
Have you ever gone to a place that has more than 20+ sandwiches named after celebrities? If you haven’t this place is amazing! I always get the Willie Nelson because it’s the most amazing chicken salad. I believe they sell that chicken salad separate...
Two Beards Deli
Arts & Entertainment
Downtown market has restaurants, herbs, cooking oil, ice cream, fresh meats and fish, Michigan gifts, loose tea etc. It’s a great place to explore and eat, parking cost 💲 after 1 hour I believe. There is street parking too.
Grand Rapids Downtown Market
This is the GR Downtown event hangout. Concerts, Monster Trucks, Hockey and Basketball games. Look at their website to see if any event interest you. Prices can very $20 +
Van Andel Arena
This place is near Monroe street which has a lot of shops, even stores from Detroit it’s a great one way street to walk and shop. This area turns into an ice rink during our winter season. During the summer it’s public and you can sit here and intera...
Rosa Parks Circle
The presidents museum who came from Michigan! It’s near our River wall too!!!
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Piercing and tattoo spot, if you want to leave with a memory!
Mos Eisleys Tattoo Studio
This event space has Orchestra Venue and rooms to rent out for Wine Fest that runs during November, or other events!!!!
DeVos Place
This is one of my favorite library’s, the architecture and the many levels of books, audio etc.
Grand Rapids Public Library
This bar has levels of different bars and different food menus. They do have a spot to play pool. At night these bars ask for $10-20 cover depending if there is an event or celebrity in town.
The B.O.B.
This is our smaller event venue, they serve alcohol here upstairs and downstairs.
GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Local Favorites
There are two location, I added both location images. Make sure to map it or google the locations. I suggest the one near Fuller st. It is where they bake the yummy treats, they make granola, pies, cookies, pastries etc
The smaller location has a mi...
Nantucket Baking Company - Lyon St
This spot is I DON’T CARE, it’s a bar spot where you can see above market street, if you love people watching it’s a great place to do it. It’s a speakeasy bar, need a code to get in or know someone who has the code to enter through the hidden door.
IDC
This is my favorite Supermercado, they sell fresh bread and grocery like items.
Supermercado Mexico
The canopy downtown GR is a rooftop bar, it’s connected to a hotel. Find the elevator as if you’re going to your hotel room. If you get lost as staff, they will help you. They have a rooftop area to sit.
Canopy by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
This is farther from GR but if you love plants and have space to store them in your car or shopping mullah! It’s soooo fun! The Beach is near this area too! You make it an adventure.
Countryside Greenhouse
This place is a great BIG vintage store, lots of vendors are in here, hard try on clothes so try it over your clothes. There is so much variety. The road is near industrial company’s. Parking on the side street.
The Elevated Market and Glasshouse
Great Stores
Amazing and inclusive safe place, if you love Tarot, Crystals, Books, Jewelry, etc. I love this place. It’s such a welcoming place, and the neighborhood is great for food, walking and shopping. Everything is walkable.
Spirit Dreams
I love this place, if you love crystals, tarot, books, jewelry, art etc. This is a safe and inclusive place.
Black Cat Bodega
Very inclusive and safe place, great place to shop for fun, kitchen, plant, socks, cards etc. This is a great local store that has such fun gifting items for yourself or others.
Rebel
This candy store is down the street from Rebel which is the store they own. You can find all types of candy, this place is great for every age. The associates redesign the store for holiday, or just because. Quite a great experience. Great gift place...
Sticky Fingers
To say that I love this place, would be exactly that! They decorate their store so beautifully for each season and just because. It is a very friendly and inclusive place, they sell naturally made items for yourself face, body, hair, skin, etc. You c...
Fox Naturals
This is a local GR store, with the most amazing food, out of US food items, alcohol, wine selection, same day made pizza! They have soooo much, it is a higher priced store but when you step in you know why! My favorite items is the Chicken salad and ...
Martha's Vineyard Fine Wine & Gourmet Grocery
If you have an itch for a new piercing or piercing jewelry this place is amazing!!! The area has great walking food areas and shopping area.
IRIS - a piercing studio
This is such a cute store, there’s selected item that the amazing owner brings into the store and a section for thrifting items!!!! Clothes, jewelry, shoes etc.
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