If you find yourself wanting to take a trip this summer that does not require getting on a plane, consider visiting West Michigan. There are many fun and exciting places to visit in West Michigan. As someone in the area, I know all the exciting places. Here is the inside scoop of fun places in West MI.
To state the obvious, any Lake Michigan beach is always nice. If you are not a swimmer, take a boat out or lay out in the sand and feel the sun's warmth on your face. It is always nice to plan a day trip to the beach so you can watch the sunset. A personal favorite of mine is Holland State Park, it has a beautiful lighthouse boardwalk and the sunsets look prettiest there. It also contains a campground if you would like to spend one night or two in the Holland area. Located near the park is the Mt. Pisgah Dune Climb and Boardwalk.
The Gerald R. Ford Airport has a plane viewing area, here you can even tune in to listen to the live air traffic. This is also a beautiful place to watch the sunset, there are picnic tables where you can munch, chat and watch all the planes go by. It is a very wholesome place to visit.
Frederik Meijer Gardens contains peaceful gardens to walk among and art and sculptures that you can admire, it is kid-friendly as it has a play area in the outside parts. It has a Japanese garden and a farm garden that can be a great learning experience for children. Located inside is James and Shirley Balk Cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. The gift shop is located at the entrance where you can find many keepsakes with the theme of the gardens.
Downtown Grand Rapids has so much available to explore. Starting with the blue bridge that especially stands out at night, this bridge has an area where you can take pictures. There are so many bars to choose from if that is your scene. There are an unthinkable amount of food options such as fine dining, sports bars, local restaurants, cafes, and more. After grabbing a bite to eat consider walking around GR towards Rosa Parks circle, if you are lucky there might be an event going on that day. The Grand Rapids Public Museum has interesting and admirable art and exhibits. This is just a small portion of the many things there are to do downtown.
Binder Park Zoo located in Battle Creek is a great time for everyone. It is the zoo with the most acres in Michigan and it includes many different animal species, and there are trollies. You can hang out with giraffes at the Twiga Overlook and feed them grass, it is one of the many fun things you can do at the Binder Park Zoo.
I hope that after hearing all the lovely things there are to do in West Michigan, you will consider visiting. These are just some of the things you can do, there is so much more to do. If you visit any of the big cities there will always be something to do, there will not be a dull moment. West Michigan has a lot to offer and all of these places contribute to that.
