About

Explore the heart of downtown Grand Rapids on a relaxed, fun, and social walking tour that starts at Van Andel Arena and takes you through some of the city’s best local spots, landmarks, photo areas, and hidden gems. We’ll walk through downtown’s entertainment district, pass by Studio Park, explore the Monroe Center and Grand Rapids Art Museum area, stop at Rosa Parks Circle, visit the iconic Calder Plaza, and make our way toward the Blue Bridge and Grand River for some of the best skyline view

Details

Duration

3 hr

Capacity

8 people

Format

Public group

Location

At the host's place

Itinerary

• Van Andel Arena Welcome Point10 minWe’ll meet outside Van Andel Arena, one of Grand Rapids’ biggest entertainment anchors. This is a great starting point because it sits right in the middle of downtown and is surrounded by restaurants, nightlife, and walkable attractions. Experience Grand Rapids notes that Van Andel regularly hosts major touring acts and is one of the top venues of its size
• Studio Park and Ionia Avenue20 minFrom Van Andel, we’ll walk over to Studio Park, one of downtown’s newer entertainment districts. It has restaurants, a cinema, hotel, outdoor plaza energy, and a modern city feel. Studio Park describes itself as being in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids’ entertainment district
• Monroe Center and Grand Rapids Art25 minNext, we’ll head toward Monroe Center and the Grand Rapids Art Museum area. GRAM is located in the heart of downtown and is known as the world’s first LEED Gold-certified art museum. This is a good stop for photos, architecture, and introducing Grand Rapids’ art and design culture.
• Rosa Parks Circle20 minWe’ll stop at Rosa Parks Circle, one of downtown’s most recognizable public gathering spaces. It is known as a community plaza designed by Maya Lin and hosts outdoor music, food trucks, games, and seasonal activities
• Calder Plaza and La Grande Vitesse25 minFrom Rosa Parks Circle, we’ll walk to Calder Plaza to see La Grande Vitesse, the iconic red Alexander Calder sculpture. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of Grand Rapids, standing 43 feet tall, 54 feet long, and 30 feet wide.
• Grand River, Blue Bridge Photo Walk30 minNext, we’ll head toward the riverfront and the Blue Bridge, one of the most iconic photo spots in the city. The Blue Bridge was originally built in 1892 as a railroad bridge and later converted into a pedestrian bridge across the Grand River.
• Grand Rapids Public Museum or Ford20 minOn the west side of the river, we’ll walk near the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The Public Museum focuses on science, history, and culture, while the Ford Museum is located on the bank of the Grand River and includes permanent and changing exhibits.
• Downtown Market Food Finish30 minWe’ll end at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, a strong final stop because guests can grab food, dessert, coffee, or drinks after the walk. The Market Hall is open seven days a week and includes dine-in, carry-out, specialty grocery, and retail options from a mix of butchers, bakers, ice cream makers, and other food merchants.