A Day in Grand Rapids

We planned on getting up early and going out for a nice breakfast before Nisheet headed to work. Who am I kidding? That didn’t happen. Not even close. I planned on spending the day in Grand Rapids. I wouldn’t need the car, so I took my time getting ready while Nisheet dashed off to work.

Besides a room upgrade, Nisheet’s gold status scored us a gift card to use at the hotel’s restaurants. So, I used this gift card to treat myself to Amway’s continental breakfast. Breakfast wasn’t included with the room, and the bill was a whooping $18. I would not have eaten here if it wasn’t for the gift card. The selection is decent but not spectacular by any standards. There were made-to-order eggs, biscuits, gravy, potatoes, sausage, and bacon. There was a spread of fruits and yogurt. And, there were also pastries including muffins, croissants, and cinnamon rolls. While I grabbed a plate of food, the waitress fixed my tea. Then, I sat back and pretended I was upper class and belonged in the luxury.

Grand Rapids River Walk

I didn’t have a detailed schedule for my day in Grand Rapids. I planned to simply walk around and explore. The river walk is one of my favorites, so that is where I started. Both sides of the river have a sidewalk or board walk to leisurely stroll along. You get great views of the city, buildings, river, and gardens. There are also a couple fountains nearby such as the one at President Ford’s museum. And, be sure to check out the neat statues/artwork scattered here and there.

Pro tip: Watch out for nesting birds. Some will attack and peck at your head.

Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM)

After walking along the river, I decided to do a little shopping. Oddly, one of my favorite stores to wander through is the art museum’s gift shop. I love how they have locally made treasures. Right outside the gift shop, I noticed a sign indicating the museum is free on Tuesday’s this summer. Score! They have the classic works by Gauguin, Cassatt, and the likes. But they also have several unique exhibits. One interesting display is a room lined with crazy looking pieces of furniture. (Grand Rapids is known for furniture making, so this is a very fitting exhibit). My favorite exhibit is The Collection in Content: Representing Women. I loved this section because every piece of art had a backstory to go with it. A little dip into someone’s personal struggle or accomplishment.

Heritage Hill

Heritage Hill is another must to explore in Grand Rapids. There aren’t many shops to browse through, but the neighborhood is gorgeous and there are a few hidden restaurants. This area is the city’s oldest residential district, and you can find houses dating back to 1843. The architecture (if you are into that sort of thing) contains styles from Greek Revival to Prairie. In fact, there is even a Frank Loyd Wright Prairie style house in the area from the early 1900s. It is beautifully restored, and tours are free!

Dinner At Wolfgang’s The Kitchen

Nisheet got back to the hotel late because of a work outing with the customer. So late that we didn’t have many options for dinner. So, we ended up at a restaurant at the hotel. Wolfgang’s The Kitchen. I always have high expectations for famous chef owned restaurants, and The Kitchen didn’t disappoint. The sangria was meh, but the food was delicious. I ordered bacon wrapped meatloaf that came on a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with fried onions. Nisheet had half a chicken with seasonal vegetables. Scrumptious! In hind sight though, we should have split one entree because the portions were huge!