Where to go in west Michigan?
June 12, 2012 1:46 PM Subscribe
Interesting, quirky places to visit, explore within an hour of Grand Rapids?
My BFF of all time and I are ditching our menfolk and children and meeting up in Grand Rapids for two days of girl fun/adult time. We are free all day Friday and Saturday and neither of us has had a chance to research what to do with those two days.
We're both up for just about anything. We like to explore and haven't decided if we wanted to hit the road to a bunch of different towns or hide away getting pampered and then go out for a nice meal. If there's anything we shouldn't miss, I'd love to know. We like dive bars as much as foodie palaces. We have a car and are willing to drive. We're both in our mid-30s with kids, so we're sort of past our bar-hopping days.
My BFF of all time and I are ditching our menfolk and children and meeting up in Grand Rapids for two days of girl fun/adult time. We are free all day Friday and Saturday and neither of us has had a chance to research what to do with those two days.
We're both up for just about anything. We like to explore and haven't decided if we wanted to hit the road to a bunch of different towns or hide away getting pampered and then go out for a nice meal. If there's anything we shouldn't miss, I'd love to know. We like dive bars as much as foodie palaces. We have a car and are willing to drive. We're both in our mid-30s with kids, so we're sort of past our bar-hopping days.
Here's a tripadivsor link; http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g42683-Saugatuck_Allegan_County_Michigan-Vacations.html
posted by k8t at 2:43 PM on June 12, 2012
posted by k8t at 2:43 PM on June 12, 2012
Best answer: Frederick Meijer Gardens--butterflies, flowers, sculpture.
Windmill Island--the only authentic Dutch windmill in the US? Because who else would bring one in except the city of Holland?
posted by stevis23 at 3:18 PM on June 12, 2012
Windmill Island--the only authentic Dutch windmill in the US? Because who else would bring one in except the city of Holland?
posted by stevis23 at 3:18 PM on June 12, 2012
Best answer: I'll second the Fredrick Meijer Gardens and Windmill Island. There's also Binder Park Zoo who have the most successfull red panda breeding program. It's overall a grade A+ zoo where all of the animals are well cared for and have a ton of space. Plus yo, red pandas are hella cute.
In Grand Rapids one of my favorite places to eat is Brewery Vivant. I've been told the burgers and duck salad are top shelf and I personally have really enjoyed the vegeterian options. The dining area is set up with common tables that combined with the ciders and beers they brew make each trip very interesting socially.
If you head in the direction of Kalamazoo there's alpaca farms to tour, a sock market themed bar, and Bilbo's a Lord of the Rings themed duo of pizza parlors.
posted by TaconibsPHD at 4:49 PM on June 12, 2012
In Grand Rapids one of my favorite places to eat is Brewery Vivant. I've been told the burgers and duck salad are top shelf and I personally have really enjoyed the vegeterian options. The dining area is set up with common tables that combined with the ciders and beers they brew make each trip very interesting socially.
If you head in the direction of Kalamazoo there's alpaca farms to tour, a sock market themed bar, and Bilbo's a Lord of the Rings themed duo of pizza parlors.
posted by TaconibsPHD at 4:49 PM on June 12, 2012
Best answer: Seconding Saugatuck/Douglas. If you're an antique shop/arts n' crafts boutique/foodie kind of bunch, you'll find lots to do. I can't speak personally to the quality of the beach (because my partner and I went in the fall) but the town itself is lovely.
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 5:18 PM on June 12, 2012
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 5:18 PM on June 12, 2012
I second the motion for Meijer Gardens. Beautiful, world class sculpture. A perfect place for adult ladies to spend the afternoon at a leisure pace. Also, the Ford Museum is surprisingly good for the genre.
posted by Old Timer at 9:40 AM on June 15, 2012
posted by Old Timer at 9:40 AM on June 15, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by k8t at 2:42 PM on June 12, 2012