ROSE FAMILY JOURNAL

Grand Rapids is a fun mix of art, historic buildings, a city feel, and ample natural spaces. It is a great (and affordable!) option for a weekend trip for new families, art admirers, and/or appreciators of locally crafted beverages and restaurants. We have had family living in Grand Rapids for many years now, which has given us an opportunity to see and do lots of things in the city. Here are our top suggestions for vegan foodies and those traveling with a stroller and infant in tow.

Activities

1. John Ball Zoo – extremely stroller-friendly zoo with lots of shades, a diverse collection of animals, and a cute petting zoo area.
2. Walking downtown along the river – one of our favorite ways to explore a new city is by foot. You can choose your own adventure along the Grand River that goes through downtown Grand Rapids with plenty of green spaces to stop and let the babies roam at their own pace.
3. Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – another one of our favorite activities to do while out on vacation is to look for botanical gardens or arboretums. This is a stand-out in gardens we have visited with so many areas to explore, a variety of garden areas, and a great way to learn about plants native to the area and around the world.
4. ArtPrize – this is a seasonal art contest where artists can showcase their work around the city for all to admire. It is truly one of my favorite times of the year to visit.

Restaurants

1. Stella’s Lounge – This one is our tried and true, favorite place to eat a tasty vegan meal. I always appreciate it when restaurants have clearly marked vegan options and a staff that understands what goes on and what stays off of a vegan plate. Stella’s gives you that confidence and a creative spin on whatever you’re having. We dearly miss their homemade nacho cheese though, and life hasn’t been the same since they took it off the menu!
2. Rise Authentic Baking Co. – This is another spot where we have started visiting nearly every time we head to Grand Rapids. Their bakery items are marvels — and made without gluten, soy, artificial colors, or dairy yet they taste so good! My favorite are the millionaire bars. However, we just had a savory sandwich and the bread they used for the sandwich was life changing in my opinion.
3. That Early Bird – This was a place we discovered when we stayed at an Airbnb recently, and we love their vegan burritos, breakfast potatoes, vegan breakfast cookies, and oat milk lattes (you may notice this is our go-to coffee order when we’re out and about!). This is a great option for tasty, made from scratch vegan burritos!

Where to stay

Most of the time we have visited Grand Rapids, we have been lucky enough to stay with family. However, we have stayed in an Airbnb in Grand Rapids, and we loved our stay here. Check it out and fall in love with the neighborhood. If you stay here, don’t forget to walk down to That Early Bird for a breakfast burrito and latte too! 🙂

If you’re looking for more weekend trip ideas in the Midwest — you might enjoy a trip to Indianapolis, Ludington, Chattanooga, or an Indiana State Park!