Help my trip to the Rapids be Grand!

June 13, 2023 5:17 PM

I’m spending 3 nights in Grand Rapids beginning tomorrow…yay! This trip is two fold: go to an outdoor concert but also scout for relocation. What must I do?

I have never been to Michigan, but researched Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo to the death last year. Note: the primary reason for this trip is seeing Tegan and Sara on Friday night outdoors at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, but it’s also the perfect reason to see if I want to move there.

I could be wrong on this, but on the surface so much of Grand Rapids reminds me of why I moved to Minneapolis way back when (though I no longer live there). Also, GR is pretty much heavy job wise in my industry. As I’ve been searching at ultimately settling down and buy a place, very few places have ticked the boxes for me like GR does.

What are some things I can do to orient myself and get a “feel” for the city? I’ve moved to places sight unseen so this is actually a step up!

I do like living car-free, so any neighborhoods or interesting places that you consider must do? My Airbnb is near the Fulton St Market, which looks like a walkable area that’s not Downtown.

I think I’m covered on food/drink recommendations from my Airbnb host, but if you must: love coffee, craft beer, lively neighborhood bars, pizza, most food. But I was most looking for “can’t miss” things…if those exist.

Thank you!

posted by signondiego to Travel & Transportation around Grand Rapids, MI (10 answers total)

I grew up in west Michigan. The people are kind, welcoming, warm-hearted.
posted by ragtimepiano at 5:59 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

I grew up in west Michigan. The people are kind, welcoming, warm-hearted.

I grew up in west Michigan, too, and while I don't completely disagree I would regretfully add a significant YMMV to that depending on several factors. I don't want to scare off the poster away from the area but I think it's more complicated than the quoted section above makes it sound.

For what it's worth, though, my experience is more with communities along the lakeshore than with Grand Rapids specifically, so I don't have a whole lot of specific guidance on GR.
posted by Nerd of the North at 6:29 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

“My Airbnb is near the Fulton St Market, which looks like a walkable area that’s not Downtown.“

Your Airb&b is very close two terrific, walkable districts: Fulton Street Business District, and Eastown, close to the Aquinas College. Ask your hosts about Eastown (and East Hills) and they’ll give you a good description of both neighborhoods. We bought our house in Eastown in 2000 and love it here.

Good Luck, and have a great time at the concert! Come back to the Meijer Gardens in the daytime when there isn’t a concert on. It’s an absolute jewel of an attraction.
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:46 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yes, that area is nice. The whole Lake Drive/Wealthy Street area is cool. I ate at Brewery Vivant once. I don't drink, but the people I was with said it was nice. Founders is downtown and worth a trip if you're into craft beer. Yesterdog is near where you are and kind of quintessentially GR. Taco Boy, too, although that's much further out. If you're into architecture, the Meyer May house is a Frank Lloyd Wright house with a good, informative tour that's close to where you'll be.

A big part of the above comments are because West Michigan is pretty heavily Dutch Calvinist. Which is to say, friendly and welcoming (Dutch, midwestern), but with a strong social conservative streak (Calvinist). It's the kind of place that is really appealing when you visit. You'll absolutely fall in love.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:50 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]

If you can get to the Fulton Street Market, do so. I was visiting a friend in GR last year who took me there -- there was a baker who sold (among many other tasty treats) poppy-seed strudel the likes of which I haven't had since I went to Hungary twenty-odd years ago. She should have been charging three times what she was. SO GOOD.
posted by humbug at 8:16 PM on June 13, 2023

I moved to West MIchigan and lived in Kentwood for 6 years which was suburban and family oriented. If I had to do it over again, I might live in East Grand Rapids.
posted by aworks at 8:53 PM on June 13, 2023

I'm a neighbor to the south (Kzoo area). I hesitantly moved to West Michigan nearly 16 years ago, nervous about the conservative reputation. As it turns out, I love West Michigan. The weather is aggressively seasonal in ways that I really enjoy. Fruit farms abound. The convenient drives to Lake Michigan are amazing. Nice cultural attractions, great beer, good restaurants, friendly people. I am very happy here.
posted by hessie at 6:18 AM on June 14, 2023

I'd like to second Brewery Vivant. I loved their beers and the food was also quite good. It's been a few years since I've been, but word on the street is that it's still great.

Dr. Advicepig grew up in GR, and it's a much more lively place now than it was then, and while the city itself is still quite conservative, you should be able to find some liberal community if you aren't so conservative. I don't know how that might play our in BIPOC and queer communities though.
posted by advicepig at 8:09 AM on June 14, 2023

We have family who live near Grand Rapids and have visited many times. The museum complex on the west bank of the river is excellent - the city museum is surprisingly good for the size of the city and next door is the Gerald Ford presidential museum should you be so interested.

Nthing the comments about the Dutch / Calvinist / socially conservative streak - you will probably see the DeVos and Van Andel names on various buildings around town - they're the families behind Amway which is headquartered just to the east of the city if I remember right. Dick DeVos, the son of the founder, lives in the area. He is of course married to Trump education secretary Betsy DeVos (nee Prince) and is the brother in law of Blackwater founder Erik Prince. They have a massive vacation home in nearby Holland MI on the Michigan shoreline (if you visit and go out on the bay, you can't possibly miss it).

Again, it's a lovely area and I am sure there are progressive circles, but if this is the sort of thing that concerns you, you should be aware before moving permanently.
posted by fortitude25 at 11:52 AM on June 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

It's not easy walking distance from where you are staying, but Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill was an unexpected delight. A band I play in was on tour and, none of us ever having been through that part of Michigan before, we had no real idea what to expect. The warmth, friendliness, and inclusivity of the folks we met there made that stop a real highlight of the tour.

Tip Top Deluxe facebook page here.
posted by fikri at 12:13 PM on June 14, 2023