Grand Rapids: Western Michigan's cultural and entertainment center

7-12-12 Originally published on Examiner.com

With the Summer heat just gearing up, many are looking for quick weekend destinations designed as a romantic vacation for two or the perfect destination to keep the entire family entertained.

Tracy Heck

Grand Rapids is Michigan's second largest city and is perched along the banks of the Grand River, about 25 miles east of Lake Michigan.

The Western Michigan city not only features fantastic views, the downtown area is also home to a number of cultural institutions and is a thriving artistic center.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum, The Grand Rapids Children's Museum, The Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts are all near each other and their low admission fees and fantastic exhibits make them perfect place to visit while checking out the city.

The city is perhaps best known for being the hometown of Gerald Ford, the 38th U.S. President, and Grand Rapids is home to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, which does a great job of allowing visitors to not only learn about history but partake in it.

Just outside of the downtown area is one of the world's Top 30 Must-See Museums, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, which is home to the most extensive outdoor sculpture collection in the Midwest and the largest tropical conservatory in the state.

One of the highlights of a trip to the park is Nina Akamu's The American Horse, a homage to Leonardo da Vinci's original commission by the Duke of Milan.  However, if you are looking for a different type of fun, the Grand Rapids area has a little bit for everyone. In fact, the city has been named as the #3 city in the nation for fun and recreation.

Outdoor fun like biking, golf, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling and dune rides are all available and the area boasts a number of local beaches to swim in.

The John Ball Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals and features more animal touching exhibits than any other zoo in Michigan.

Grand Rapids has a number of performance halls and concert venues including the 12,000 seat Van Andel Arena.

Outdoor concerts run throughout the Spring and Summer at a number of area locations including the upcoming Rock the Rapids music festival August 20-25 behind Van Andel Arena.

The festival will be featuring performances from a number of big name artists including Miranda Lambert, Shinedown and Evanescence.

Some local venues also put forth a number of sporting events throughout the year including Grand Rapids Griffins hockey and West Michigan Whitecaps baseball.

Those looking to head out after dark will find a wide array of entertainment options.  The area is packed full of top-notch breweries, live-music bars, nightclubs and comedy clubs.

With a number of downtown transit options, shopping areas, restaurants and hotels, Grand Rapids has a little bit for everyone and is a short drive away from Michigan's Adventure, the state's largest amusement and water park.