10 Things to Do This Weekend In Grand Rapids
Bloomfield Townhomes is located in southeast Grand Rapids, an area which provides convenient access to the city’s major thoroughfares. The community is surrounded by cherished restaurants, bars, and entertainment options. If you’re looking for exciting things to do on the weekend, our team has compiled a list of our local favorites!
5 PLACES TO VISIT IN GRAND RAPIDS
Nestled into the ravines and bluffs on the City’s western edge, John Ball Zoological Park is home to over 2000 animals across 140+ acres. Founded in 1884 with a donation from famed explorer John Ball, the Zoo has grown into a regional attraction welcoming more than a half-million annual visitors. The Park offers a gift shop, numerous concession options, and the new Monkey Bar for snacks and rotating draught beers.
The Zoo features a Funicular inclined railway that transports visitors to the upper portions of the property, offering spectacular views of Downtown Grand Rapids. In addition to countless animal exhibits throughout the Park, visitors can choose from a variety of experiences, including a zip line, ropes course, camel rides, and panning for precious gems and artifacts. The facility also hosts conservation education and community events throughout the season.
1300 Fulton St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Dedicated to the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, the Ford Presidential Museum spans more than 44,000 square feet along the banks of the Grand River. The Museum’s archives house over 20,000 items from the lives and career of President Ford and beloved wife, Betty, who were also laid to rest on the 20-acre campus. The Museum’s grounds are joined with other Downtown Grand Rapids destinations via a pedestrian bridge over the Grand River.
Exhibits cover Ford’s life from childhood through the Presidency, featuring an exact replica of the Oval Office, candid family photographs and presentations on the Watergate era, pop culture of the 1970s, and more. The Museum also hosts a rotating array of temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and community events. For a deeper look into the Ford Presidency, visit the Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor.
303 Pearl St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Spanning more than 150 acres, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is home to one of the nation’s preeminent botanical gardens and sculpture collections. Lena Meijer Conservatory, the crown jewel of the Gardens, showcases exotic plants from around the world in a breathtaking five-story glass structure. Trails and boardwalks crisscross the Park as you tour through the diverse ecosystems of the Western Michigan region.
On display throughout the Park, you’ll find a permanent collection of nearly 300 works of sculpture, as well as rotating temporary exhibitions both classic and contemporary. From Rodin and Degas to Coosjie van Bruggen and Ai Weiwei, the internationally-acclaimed collection is sure to impress. The vast grounds of the Garden also include an amphitheater, meeting rooms, a souvenir shop, library, café, and education center.
1000 E Beltline Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Founded in 1854, Grand Rapids Public Museum is the oldest museum in Michigan and among the oldest in the United States. After outgrowing the site it called home for nearly 100 years, GRPM transitioned to its current downtown facility on the banks of the Grand River in 1994. The Museum features over 250,000 artifacts and specimens in the 155,000 square foot Van Andel Center and other sites in and around Grand Rapids.
With permanent exhibitions on the city’s heritage as a furniture manufacturing capital, the region’s Native American culture, and heritage, and the diverse ecology of Western Michigan, the Museum is a regional treasure. Home to a gift shop, café, meeting space, a theater, the Chaffee Planetarium, and a 1928 Spillman carousel in a pavilion built over the Grand River, this sprawling facility can’t be fully appreciated in a single visit.
272 Pearl St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Commissioned in 1908 by Meyer and Sophie May, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Meyer May House is situated in Grand Rapids’ Heritage Hill Historic District east of Downtown. Typical of Wright’s work during his Prairie School period, the two-story pale brick home features decorative art glass windows, skylights, broad eaves, and hipped roofs. “Michigan’s Prairie Masterpiece” was painstakingly restored to its original grandeur in the late 1980s.
In addition to a fully-restored exterior, the home is beautifully furnished with a mixture of original, restored, and miscellaneous Arts and Crafts period furnishings. The grounds and landscaping have also been returned to their early 20th-century design. Tours are offered on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays throughout the year; for Frank Lloyd Wright and architecture enthusiasts, the Meyer May House is an experience not to be missed!
450 Madison Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
TOP 5 AMAZING PLACES TO EAT IN SE GRAND RAPIDS
LIA'S PIZZA
Best Pizza
Lia’s Pizza is a family-owned shop with an extensive menu of classic Italian dishes— pizzas with loads of toppings, strombolis, homemade pastas, fresh salads, and baked subs. There’s a tasty option for every palate. Lia’s also offers specialty pies like BBQ chicken pizza, Hawaiian, chicken bacon ranch, and a super deluxe with four different meats. Inside, the restaurant is cozy, filled with red & white gingham covered tables and the alluring smell of fresh baked pizzas. Lia’s is just a few miles north of Bloomfield Townhomes, making it a convenient option for residents.
4405 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
JAKU SUSHI & GRILL
A short drive south, Jaku Sushi and Grill is a local favorite for fresh sushi and Japanese cuisine. Start with an order of seaweed salad, miso soup, or edamame, then choose from an excellent assortment of sashimi, nigiri, and unique rolls. If you’re not in the mood for sushi, try something from the hibachi grill, an udon noodle bowl, or teriyaki stir fry.
1671 SE Marketplace Dr Caledonia, MI 49316
THE RED GERANIUM CAFE
Best Breakfast
The Red Geranium is a no-frills breakfast and lunch haunt turning out delicious made-from-scratch fare to please all palettes. From AM staples like omelets, skillets, benedicts, and their famous banana pancakes, to a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches for the afternoon crowd, The Red Geranium’s generous portions are sure to hit the spot.
6670 Kalamazoo Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508
PENN STATION EAST COAST SUBS
Best Deli
Featuring hot and cold subs, Philly cheesesteaks, wraps, salads, and subs, Penn Station East Coast Subs near Celebration Cinema, makes a great stop before or after catching a movie! Try a Philly-inspired cheesesteak, chicken parm, or Reuben from the grill, stay on the lighter side with a chicken caesar or turkey avocado wrap, and pair it all with fresh-cut french fries, chips, or cheese bread.
6333 Kalamazoo Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508