USA, Michigan – Grand Rapids

You won't be bored in it and when you're done visiting museums, try other interesting places. We will first invite you to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which are outdoor and indoor gardens associated with the sculpture exhibition. Inside the complex you will admire bronze sculptures by internationally renowned artists and relax in quiet green corners. The interior consists of a five-storey winter garden, where in a tropical climate there are various exotic plants from around the world.

We will stay in nature as we head to the Blandford Nature Center, a kind of nature park that offers wooded groves, fields, streams and ponds on 60 hectares. The purpose of the visit should be environmental education. The staff of the center also take care of wild animals, some of which will find a permanent home here. Children and adults can then get to know these animals up close. In addition, there are gardens for children where they can learn something about sustainable agriculture.

You will see more animals at the John Ball Zoo, where various species of animals from all over the world live. There are also lions, tigers, sloths and bald eagles. The zoo excels especially in arranging close encounters with animals. You can feed monkeys, bears, penguins or pelicans here. One of the top experiences is the opportunity to look behind the curtain of chimpanzee exercises and learn about their daily needs. Other experiences the zoo offers include camel riding and goat fur cleaning.

Additional area points of interest include Meyer May House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. His most famous works include the famous Guggenheim Museum in New York. Meyer May House was built in 1908 for a wealthy fashion merchant. Originally a relatively modest house, it has grown and changed over the years.

In the end, the house was bought and intricately restored to its original condition. Today, it is open to the public, who have free admission here and can thus see, among other things, a reproduction of the original furniture. By the way, the house has 108 windows and skylights because Wright liked to use leaded glass. By the way, a film about a long and demanding reconstruction is also screened in the house.

The last place in Grand Rapids to look at is the Downtown Market, a paradise for every gourmet. There are endless possibilities to see here. From Neapolitan pizzas to authentic Detroit barbecues to Vietnamese cuisine. You can round off the gastronomic feast with homemade ice cream and a delicious coffee.

GPS: 42°57'57.0"N 85°40'11.0"W

Text: Maxim Kucer

Photos: Wikipedia.org: Michael Barera, WMrapids, WMrapids (2), Jeffness, Jaydec