Meijer Gardens // Andy Piper
It’s great to “get out of your box” every now and then. One of my goals it to take a trip every quarter, even if it is just a weekend getaway. This last weekend my wife, Diana, and I went to Grand Rapids and took a couple of days to unwind. Also, as a little celebration for our 25th Anniversary.
The trip opened our eyes as to what a great town Grand Rapids is and I highly recommend it as a getaway to my Ann Arbor area peeps looking for something close-by, but seemingly worlds away at the same time.
Meijer Gardens // Andy Piper
Here are a few highlights and recommendations if you want to plan such a trip–my little “Grand Rapids Travel Planner.”
Hotels – If you really want the GR experience, stay downtown at the Amway Grand Hotel, and get an upgraded room. Yes it costs a small fortune but this is a very well-run hotel and everything will go perfectly. Old world quality! There is so much to do downtown; you just walk out the door and go–restaurants, museums, the riverwalk.
While we often stay at the Amway Grand, this time we stayed at the Country Inn and Suites on the northeast side (about $100 less per night) and it is just a ten minute ride to downtown and right next to Frederik Meijer Gardens, which is always one of our stops. 28th Street offers all the other choices if you are interested.
Restaurants – Our criteria for restaurants were: local, farm to table, lots of veggies, fun vibe. We found two restaurants that we love so much, I think we could eat there for about a month straight. The feel is totally Grand Rapids, and totally unlike anything in Ann Arbor–and Ann Arbor has lots of great restaurants. Both of our favorites were in the East Hills neighborhood.
- The Green Well – The website does not do it justice. This place buzzes on a Friday night. Lots of young people when we got there but then shifted to an older diner crowd. Tables are close so you end up talking to your neighbors. The food – incredible! Here is a quote from their website that I think is pretty accurate description: “Our creative, ever-changing menu features a global range of eclectic flavors prepared with ingredients from local farmers and paired with a wide array of local craft brews and wines, all to support our local economy. Our greenness also spills over to our guests who benefit from affordable prices and outstanding service by a fun, welcoming staff.”
- Marie Catrib’s – Their website says, “Our idea from day one has been to create, produce and serve super great, full-flavored food that has a beginning, middle, and finish to every bite. Everything at Marie Catrib’s is ruled by taste.” I will say that is exactly what we experienced! The food was so good for lunch, we had to go back the next day to try the breakfast menu. All the employees were pleasant, smiling, enthusiastic. When I met the owner, Fouad, son of the founder, Maria Catrib, I knew why. Nicest, most pleasant guy you could ever meet.
To Do – Here are just a couple of our highlights
- Meijer Gardens has a vast variety of sculpture and plants. You could spend a whole day here, depending on how much you want to explore. In this case, my pictures will speak louder than my words:
- Fresh food at its best. The sheer assortment of offerings, from bakers to fishmongers, will make your eyes light up and your taste buds come alive. There’s an outdoor market in the summer, and an indoor market hall open year-round.
For my wife and I, Grand Rapids was an escape to a different place, even if it wasn’t that far away. It was the perfect weekend getaway; I’d highly recommend it for a delightful weekend.
