Four days — Meijer Gardens, John Ball Zoo, Grand Haven beach, and the children's museum.
Land at GRR, quick check-in, and walk the downtown area. The Rosa Parks Circle fountain is good for kids in summer.
The downtown core — Monroe Center to Cherry Street, Pearl to Fulton — is legitimately walkable, clean, and friendly. A lot of mid-size Midwest cities aren't. Grand Rapids downtown is the exception.
GRR is one of the easiest regional airports in the Midwest — small terminal, short security lines, 10 minutes from downtown. The rental car center is at the terminal.
Suite-style rooms near downtown with kitchen, indoor pool, and free breakfast. Good base for family visits — everything downtown is 5 minutes. Rates $110–170/night.
John Ball Zoo in the morning, Rosa Parks Circle area in the afternoon. The waterfront park along the Grand River is good for a bike ride.
Detroit-born BBQ group now with a Grand Rapids location — the brisket and the pulled pork are the standards. The sides are better than most BBQ joints (proper collards, proper mac). Kids menu.
Mid-size zoo with a strong primate collection (bonobos, chimps, orangutans) and a well-maintained African Journey exhibit. Budget 3 hours. $16/adult, $12/child.
The sculpture park is good for curious kids — the scale of the Richard Serra and Calder pieces is impressive. The butterfly house (additional fee) is the hit for younger children.
Grand Haven State Park beach in the afternoon, then the musical fountain show at sunset (Memorial Day–Labor Day, every night at sundown). The fountain show is cheesy and excellent simultaneously.
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