Explore What Michigan's Culture Rich Coast Has to Offer

by Jeff Voth

I must admit the invitation came as a bit of a surprise and I was less than hopeful of having a memorable time on the five day trip that lay ahead. The thought of heading to Grand Rapids, Michigan located along the banks of the Grand River was not at the top of my list of must see destination hot spots.

The city is most famous as the furniture capital of America and the corporate headquarters of Alticor (formerly the Amway Corporation). All of which begged the question: How much fun could cleaning supplies and furniture really be?

Never shy to admit my mistakes, I couldn't have been more wrong.

Grand Rapids, Michigan:

Aerial shot of Downtown Grand Rapids

Culture comes from many different things including climate and geography, but mostly it is defined by the people who live and breathe the city they call home. Grand Rapids is no exception, as both longstanding citizens and new arrivals add to the flavor of this unique community.

With a population base of 200,000 in Grand Rapids and 600,000 in surrounding Kent County, this area is in the midst of a rejuvenation process that every midsize city would be wise to emulate.

Private investment is at an all-time high, with the founding families providing a wealth of resources to various new projects including the DeVos Place Convention Center, Van Andel Arena and the ever expanding Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of only two places in the world to feature "The American Horse" sculpture by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Calvin College in Grand Rapids is the lone Midwest stop on the "Petra: Lost City of Stone" tour in North America. A fascinating exhibit of over 200 artifacts collected through the years, it represents the first major cultural collaboration between Jordan and the United States.

Located equidistant from Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois, Grand Rapids is a favorite stop for many of the biggest headliners in entertainment as they make their way between the two larger cities. Upcoming shows this summer will spotlight Bruce Springsteen and Hillary Duff, with past performers include Sting, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp and Stevie Nicks to name a few.

The downtown core is a continuous beehive of activity, with chic restaurants and bistros in abundance. Included in the list of available places to eat is Michigan's only AAA 5-diamond restaurant, the 1913 Room located in the Amway Grand.

Sidewalks are "Disney World" clean and the people are genuinely warm and friendly. My stay came during a weekend long street festival at which families, teens, adults and seniors mixed in an alcohol free environment and yet still seemed to have fun. Middle America lives! And it does so proudly in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott offer first-class downtown accommodations, with additional luxury properties set to open over the next few years.

Restored Merry-Go-Round at the Van Andel Museum

Around the corner from the Amway Grand sits the Van Andel Museum of Grand Rapids. The public institution offers one of the finest interactive exhibits in the world. Here families are treated to a fantastic display of unusual American artifacts. There is even a full-scale replica of turn of the century Grand Rapids and a fully restored 1920's merry-go-round for visitors to enjoy.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is located directly across the street. Taking visitors on a memorable ride through his early years and the Watergate scandal, it also recounts his term as President and the significant contributions Mr. and Mrs. Ford have made to our world. My favorite part of the exhibit was a rare display of 70's memorabilia including an 8-track tape of Neil Diamond's "Hot August Night".

Eclectic art galleries and luxury condominiums have taken root where abandoned factories once stood, and revitalization has grabbed hold of several national architectural treasures and restored them to their previous luster. Included in this list are the Voigt House Victoria Museum and the Frank Lloyd Wright Meyer May House.

A visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan is anything but dull, as days can be spent exploring the many activities available in this vibrant city on the Grand River.

Holland, Michigan:

The view from the top floor of the Dutch windmill revealed a town under siege by a superior armed force. The approach of a German infantry division was enough to send any remaining villagers scrambling for cover. It had taken only a scant five days for the Nazi's to conquer the Netherlands, but the resulting occupation would seem to last an eternity.

Except for a few bullet holes from where the troops had taken target practice, the 12-story windmill at the end of town stood mostly unscathed. From here, an occupying force could see the entire surrounding countryside.

Hiding in the rafters, undetected by the soldiers below, two young Dutchmen and a lone Jewish man lay motionless for many hours. Fearing for the life of their young Jewish friend, the townsmen were finally able to assist in his escape once the pale evening sky turned black and the guards relaxed their watch for the night.

DeZwaan Windmill a.k.a The Swan

DeZwaan, (The Swan) as it is called, is the last authentic Dutch windmill to have been allowed out of the Netherlands. At a respectable 244 years old, it still provides milled grain to the local community, while offering tourists a glimpse into the past.

Reconstructed to its original specifications in 1964, the opening ceremonies in Holland, Michigan played host to many distinguished guests, including the Jewish man whose life had been spared many years prior with the help of two young men.

The sights and smells of Holland, Michigan are pungent, especially during the Tulip Time Festival in early May, named the Best Small Town Festival in the U.S. by Reader's Digest.

Shopping and dining is a unique experience to be enjoyed in downtown Holland, as old and new businesses line the main street, pulling customers in with their distinctive collections of candy, clothing and oven baked pizza. The smell of fresh baked goods and homegrown vegetables permeate the Farmer's Market, and if you can resist the chocolate chip cookies, you are a stronger person than I am.

A short drive from downtown, the beaches at Macatawa offer some of the finest sandy shores on which to sunbath, or cool off in the clear waters of Lake Michigan. Here the Big Red Lighthouse guards the entrance to the Holland Channel, playing host to pleasure crafts both large and small.

With so much to do and see in Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan, it is easy to spend a weekend or longer exploring the area. Yes furniture manufacturing and Alticor still play a significant role in defining the area, but with a rich heritage and vibrant plan for the future, Michigan's West Coast is sure to be a highly regarded tourist destination for many years to come.

If You Go:

Grand Rapids/Kent County CVB
171 Monroe Avenue NW, Suite 700
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2694
(877) VISIT-GR (toll free)
(616) 459-8287 (direct)
(616) 459-7291 (fax)
www.visitgrandrapids.org