Grand Rapids is one of our favorite places for an easy family getaway in West Michigan because there is always something different to do. We’ve visited for everything from animals and museums to concerts, gardens and seasonal events. Some places have even brought us back again and again—especially the Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo and the butterfly exhibit at Frederik Meijer Gardens.
Whether we’re exploring downtown, walking through a garden or getting up close to animals, Grand Rapids has given us plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
Grand Rapids is one of those places we keep finding reasons to visit. I love that there is such a variety of things to do, whether we’re looking for a fun family day, something outdoors or a special seasonal event. Even after several trips, there are still places we haven’t explored yet. It’s an easy destination to return to without feeling like we’re doing the same trip twice.
Quick Facts
- 📍 Location: West Michigan
- 👨👩👧👦 Best For: Families, museums, outdoor attractions & seasonal events
- ⏱️ Suggested Visit: A day trip works, but a weekend gives you time to experience several attractions
- 🚗 Getting Around: Car, public bus & free downtown DASH service
- 🗓️ Best Time to Visit: Year-round
Visitor Tips
- 🚗 Think About Transportation: Having a car is helpful for reaching attractions throughout Grand Rapids and the surrounding area, but it isn’t your only option. The city also has public bus service, and the free DASH bus makes getting around downtown easier.
- 📅 Check the Calendar Before You Go: There are festivals, concerts and seasonal events throughout the year, so it’s worth seeing what is happening during your visit.
- 🌦️ Have a Weather Backup: Grand Rapids has a good mix of indoor and outdoor attractions, making it easy to change your plans if Michigan weather doesn’t cooperate.
- 🏙️ Leave Time to Explore Downtown
Even if your main attraction is outside downtown, consider adding some time to walk around, grab something to eat or explore along the Grand River.
Things to Do
John Ball Zoo & Lantern Festival
John Ball Zoo is one of our favorite family attractions in Grand Rapids. The zoo is home to animals from around the world, with exhibits spread throughout a wooded, hilly setting that makes exploring feel like part of the experience. Along with seeing the animals, there are several interactive experiences and seasonal activities that can make each visit a little different.
We’ve visited the zoo during the day twice, but one of our favorite reasons to return is the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival held here in the evening.
Each spring, John Ball Zoo transforms after dark for the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival. The pathways are filled with enormous illuminated lanterns depicting animals, flowers and other colorful scenes, along with music and interactive displays.
We’ve been to the Lantern Festival three times, and it’s one of those events we continue to look forward to. Even though it’s held at the zoo, it feels completely different from a regular daytime visit. Walking through after dark and seeing the glowing displays makes the entire zoo feel transformed.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
John Ball Zoo is a fun place to spend a day with kids, but I especially love that there are reasons to come back beyond a regular zoo visit. The Lantern Festival has become one of our favorite spring traditions, and the fact that we’ve returned three times probably says it best!
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 📍 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
- 🦁 Zoo Season: Check current operating dates and hours before visiting
- ⏰ Time Needed: 3–5 hours for the zoo
- 🏮 Lantern Festival: This special spring evening event requires a separate ticket, and popular dates can fill up.
- 🌙 Go After Dark: For the best Lantern Festival experience, choose a time when you’ll see the displays illuminated against the night sky.
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park combines beautiful gardens, impressive sculptures and family-friendly spaces all in one place. There is plenty to explore both indoors and outdoors, from tropical plants and winding garden paths to waterfalls, sculptures and the children’s garden.
Our favorite time to visit is during the annual butterfly exhibit in the spring. Walking through the tropical conservatory surrounded by colorful butterflies is such a fun experience and one we’ve enjoyed more than once.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
The butterfly exhibit is what keeps bringing us back. There’s something pretty amazing about walking through a tropical garden while butterflies fly all around you, and it has been a favorite for our family through the years. There’s also enough to explore throughout the rest of the gardens that it feels like much more than a quick stop.
One year, we even paired the butterfly exhibit with the Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo later that day, which made for a really fun spring day in Grand Rapids.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 📍 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
- ⏱️ Time Needed: Plan about 2–4 hours, especially if you want to explore both the indoor and outdoor areas.
- 🦋 Butterfly Exhibit: Held annually in the spring and one of our favorite times to visit!
- 📅 Check What’s Happening: Exhibits, events and seasonal displays change throughout the year, so check the schedule before your trip.
- 🌿 Explore Beyond the Butterflies: Leave time for the outdoor gardens, sculptures and other exhibits.
- 🧒 Don’t Skip the Children’s Garden: If you’re visiting with kids, save some time for the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden.
Deer Tracks Junction
Deer Tracks Junction is a fun, hands-on animal adventure just north of Grand Rapids with plenty to keep families busy. Walk through the animal park where you can feed and interact with a variety of animals, hold rabbits, and get surprisingly close to some of the residents. There’s also a huge playground that younger kids could easily spend hours exploring. For even more animal encounters, you can add the separately priced drive-through safari and feed animals right from your vehicle.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
We loved Deer Tracks Junction because there was so much more to do than we expected. My daughter enjoyed holding the rabbits and feeding the goats, deer and even a camel, but the drive-through safari was one of the highlights. Having animals come right up to our vehicle made the experience even more memorable. And with the huge playground added in, this is a place where families with younger kids could easily spend several hours.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 📍 Location: Cedar Springs, Michigan — just north of Grand Rapids.
- ⏱️ Time Needed: Allow 2 – 4 hours if you want to enjoy the animal park, playground and drive-through safari without rushing.
- 🦌 Animal Encounters: Be ready for plenty of hands-on fun! You can feed several animals throughout the walk-through park.
- 🚗 Drive-Through Safari: The safari is a separate experience with its own admission, so plan ahead if you want to do both.
- 🥕 Expect Up-Close Encounters: During the safari, animals may come right up to your vehicle for food — definitely one of the fun parts!
- 🛝 Save Time for the Playground: If you have younger kids, leave extra time for the huge playground. They may not want to leave!
Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum has a little bit of everything, making it a great stop for families with different interests. You can explore local history, science and natural history exhibits, see dinosaur and other prehistoric remains, play vintage arcade games and even ride a historic carousel.
The museum also sits right along the Grand River, with some beautiful views of downtown Grand Rapids that are worth stopping to enjoy while you explore.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
There is so much variety here that it’s easy for everyone to find something they enjoy. Our kids could go from exploring an old-fashioned street and playing arcade games to learning about science and seeing huge skeletons all in the same visit. I also love that many of the exhibits are interactive, so kids can do more than just look at displays. The carousel and views of the city are an added bonus!
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 📍 Location: Downtown Grand Rapids, along the Grand River
- ⏱️ Time Needed: Plan about 2–4 hours to explore the museum.
- 🏛️ What You’ll Find: History, science, cultural exhibits, arcade games & more
- 🎠 Don’t Miss the Carousel: Save time for a ride on the historic carousel — it’s one of the museum’s most unique features.
- 🕹️ Let Kids Explore: There are plenty of hands-on exhibits and interactive areas, so give kids time to stop and try things along the way.
- 🌊 Stop for the View: Take a look outside while you’re there — the museum’s location along the Grand River offers beautiful views of downtown.
- 🚗 Plan for Parking: Since the museum is downtown, check your parking options before you arrive.
Fish Ladder Park
Fish Ladder Park is a quick and unique stop along the Grand River near downtown Grand Rapids. The fish ladder was designed to help migrating fish make their way upstream past the Sixth Street Dam, and you may be able to spot fish making their way through during migration season.
Even when the fish aren’t active, it’s a nice place to take a short walk, enjoy views of the river and add a little outdoor time to a day in Grand Rapids.
Good To Know
- 🐟 Best Time to See Fish: Spring and fall migration seasons give you the best chance of seeing fish using the ladder.
- ⏰ Time Needed: About 15–30 minutes for a quick stop
- 💲 Cost: Free
- 🏙️ Easy to Combine: Pair it with other downtown Grand Rapids attractions.