Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is in West Michigan, in the United States of America.

Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan with a population of just under 200,000 in the city limits (2018), and nearly 570,000 in the surrounding county (2010). The federal West Michigan metropolitan area, which includes Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland (and some intervening farmland), has 1.4 million people (2010).

By plane
. The airport for Grand Rapids and Kent County with daily flights (sometimes several) from most of the country's major hubs. Although it has customs facilities for direct international flights, in practice it has very few. Most flights are on Delta Air Lines, connecting through the Delta hub in nearby Detroit. There are non-stop flights to Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, Orlando, Toronto, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Newark, Fort Lauderdale and Washington.

By car
Major highways to Grand Rapids include I-196 (from the Chicago area), I-96 (from Muskegon, or from Lansing/Detroit), and US-131 (from Kalamazoo, or from northern Michigan).

By train

 * Route stopping in Grand Rapids:
 * Pere Marquette operates daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago with stops in Holland, Bangor, and Saint Joseph. Travel time to Grand Rapids from Holland is 1 hour, from Benton Harbour is 2.25 hours, and from Chicago is 4 hours.
 * Pere Marquette operates daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago with stops in Holland, Bangor, and Saint Joseph. Travel time to Grand Rapids from Holland is 1 hour, from Benton Harbour is 2.25 hours, and from Chicago is 4 hours.

By bus

 * Greyhound and Indian Trails offer bus service to Grand Rapids from various Michigan cities.

Get around
Like most mid-sized U.S. cities, an automobile is the most convenient means of getting around, with convenient free parking available most places outside of downtown. Parking downtown can be inconvenient and somewhat costly on weekdays and during major events (e.g. arena concerts). Parking is not enforced after 6PM on weekdays and on the weekends (besides Monroe Center NW on Saturday). Walking within the immediate downtown area is pleasant enough in good weather, and generally safe.

Several taxi companies operate in the city, and cabs can be picked up at designated locations such as the airport, or by calling their dispatcher; cabs are usually not hailed on the street, except around the time bars close on weekends. Pedicabs are also becoming popular within the downtown area, and operate during special events and weekend evenings.

"The Rapid" bus service has a terminal downtown, and routes throughout the city and its suburbs, running early mornings through late evenings on weekdays. Several routes run with less frequent service on Saturdays and Sundays. The buses are clean, safe, and generally on-time.

Street addresses identify the quadrant of the city by adding NW, NE, SW, or SE after the full street name. There are a few numbered streets just northwest of downtown, but most of the numbered streets are from 28th Street and out on the south side; the far north side instead has Three Mile Road, Four Mile Road, etc. Generally speaking, east-west roads are called "Street" and north-south roads are called "Avenue",

Interwoven bicycle paths and trails make getting around by bike within the city simple. The city website has bike route maps to make finding your way around easy.

Events
There are a lot of ethnic festivals during warmer months and are most often held at the downtown Calder Plaza.

Buy

 * Schuler Books and Music- on 28th Street SE, this large independent bookstore is a great place to relax, read and even get some coffee.

There are several enclosed shopping malls and retail centers in the city and its suburbs - most notably Woodland Mall in the southeast, Rivertown Crossing in the southwest, and Knapp's Corner in the northeast - but they feature much the same stores as similar malls in other cities, so they are mostly of interest to local shoppers and those from less urban areas without such resources.

Eat

 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.
 * El Burrito Loco/Cinco de Mayo (locations downtown, on East Beltline, Alpine Avenue, and Rockford). Another popular Tex-Mex eatery with Mexican-American flavors.

Stay safe
Grand Rapids' crime rate is one of the most uneven in the USA. On the one hand, the city has dealt with rampant property crimes and pick-pocketing in the past. On the other hand, its murder rate is nowhere nearly as bad as Detroit and other Midwestern cities, being usually slightly above the national average.

The downtown area is safe if you use basic precautions. Several areas across the river and to the southwest of downtown are best to be avoided. The rest of the city is safe.

Consulates

 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands

Go next
The lakeside communities of Holland and Grand Haven lie half an hour to the west, with the arty/restaurant/shopping mecca of Saugatuck slightly further, but worth the drive.