johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jun 9, 2016 12:56:40 GMT
We have to go up there next month for ODS' basketball tournament. I'm looking at hotels and trying to figure out which would be best. A couple weeks ago we had a tournament in Mt. Pleasant and stayed at a waterpark hotel which was perfect. There was something for the boys (14-ish) to do on their off time and, more importantly, there was plenty of fun for their younger siblings who are drug around to these things.
There's no waterpark hotels in GR but maybe I can find something with a nearby park/waterpark/beach/fun-zone/something. The event is at/near MVP fieldhouse. My younger ds is 5, there's one sibling younger (3) the rest of them are mostly in the 7-12 range. Any tips?
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 13:22:20 GMT
I have friends who live in GR, and I grew up kinda close-ish to it!  My friend's in-laws stayed at the Country Inn & Suites at I96 & East Beltline the last time they came to GR. My family and I stayed in a Country Inn when we went to Traverse City, and it was really nice! According to Trip Advisor it's the #1 hotel in the GR. There's so much to do in GR! A must-do is Fredrick Meijer Gardens. Their children's garden is awesome! Water to play in (shaped like the Great Lakes!), a huge "treehouse" to explore, lots of trails to walk. We love it and will spend hours there. Another recommendation is John Ball Zoo. They have a new tiger exhibit, petting zoo, zipline, a funicular...Lots of fun! There's a children's museum downtown. My daughter loved it when she was little. The younger two would definitely enjoy it. Let me talk to a couple friends who live in GR and see what they recommend. |
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 13:23:06 GMT
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 13:35:10 GMT
Boulder Ridge Animal Park is a little bit of a drive from GR (about 20 miles) but is definitely worth it! They have a safari ride and lots of hands on learning experiences. My friend's kids love it!
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 13:36:46 GMT
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jun 9, 2016 13:38:47 GMT
Thanks sprout! Unfortunately I have no idea how much down time we'll have and what it will be. My guess is we'll play 2-4 games/day, they might be right in a row or they might have a 2-4 hour break between, won't know till we get there  But it looks like the Meijer garden is only about 10 minutes away so maybe we could plan a picnic there on a day we have a longer break. |
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 13:56:55 GMT
You're welcome! Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be happy to help.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,005 
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Post by blue tulip on Jun 9, 2016 15:44:54 GMT
there is a hotel with a smaller zero-entry water park for kids, ideally for the younger kids. it's a holiday inn express & suites. i haven't been but many of my friends have.
not sure where you're coming from and what kind of zoos you've been to, but john ball is a smaller zoo and won't hold up to say, binder park zoo in battle creek. they did recently renovate some exhibits tho and i haven't been there since, so maybe it's improved. boulder ridge gets good reviews from everyone.
Frederick Meijer gardens is pretty neat and would be a great place for a picnic.
have you been to an indoor trampoline park? skyzone is fun, my boys LOVE it. and there's a new dave and busters across the road from it.
ETA: oh! millennium park might be good for you! cheap, come whenever you want, there's a beach and a splashpad and such. then you could get in some beach time without having to go to the lakeshore! also great picnic spot. www.kentcountyparks.org/millennium/photogallery.php |
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Post by beepdave on Jun 9, 2016 16:04:26 GMT
I live in Grand Rapids! I would definitely recommend the Country Inn & Suites mentioned above to stay close to where your event is. I work right by the hotel. You're minutes away. You are also near a Meijer store, several restaurants (I suggest you hit Twisted Rooster up the road from your hotel!) and you're 2 minutes from Frederik Meijer Gardens.
I don't think the Holiday Inn Express is worth the drive - it's quite a bit southwest of where you'll need to be and the traffic could be a problem, depending on the time of day.
Please let me know if you have further questions. I'd be happy to help!
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Post by littlemama on Jun 9, 2016 16:24:31 GMT
I live in Grand Rapids! I would definitely recommend the Country Inn & Suites mentioned above to stay close to where your event is. I work right by the hotel. You're minutes away. You are also near a Meijer store, several restaurants (I suggest you hit Twisted Rooster up the road from your hotel!) and you're 2 minutes from Frederik Meijer Gardens. I don't think the Holiday Inn Express is worth the drive - it's quite a bit southwest of where you'll need to be and the traffic could be a problem, depending on the time of day. Please let me know if you have further questions. I'd be happy to help! There is a Twisted Rooster on my side of the state as well, and I will second that recommendation! |
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Post by shutterbug2sue on Jun 9, 2016 16:29:50 GMT
I've stayed at the Holiday Inn with the "water park". It has a kid-friendly area splash area with structure, a water slide and a typical pool area. The drive was south of town, but not terrible as it is just a few miles only and it is close to the main north/south freeway.
The John Ball Zoo is nice and they have reciprocity if you have a zoo membership elsewhere (I think we got in for free because we had a zoo membership elsewhere).
Meijer Gardens is nice, but a bit pricey for a picnic only experience. I would go to Millennium park instead as that is all free to enter/use the grounds and they have picnic tables, a lake, and a variety of play structures (range of ages). You do have to pay to use the beach and splash pad, though. Meijer Gardens also seemed a bit out of the way compared to Millennium park. And, I forgot, Meijer Gardens has an awesome children's garden area with lots of interactive areas but entry just for a few hours of play time is still expensive, in my opinion.
We also did the Children's Muesuem but I was a bit disappointed as it felt like a big daycare place - the stations were kid friendly but it was more play versus learn something...
There is the Grand Rapids Public Museum which I have not been too.
Grand Rapids also has the mini-golf, go-cart type attractions too.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jun 9, 2016 16:39:10 GMT
So much great information, thank you all!
I doubt we'll go to the zoo (our closest zoo is the Toledo Zoo which is one of the best in the country so we don't usually visit others) or the Children's Museum (can't see the teens enjoying that at all). But Millennium Park sounds good. The tournament is recommending hotels along SR 11, some near the mall. That puts us about 20min from the park and 10min from Meijer garden. Doesn't mean we have to stay in that area. I know one family is planning on camping but I don't know where.
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 17:58:50 GMT
So much great information, thank you all! I doubt we'll go to the zoo (our closest zoo is the Toledo Zoo which is one of the best in the country so we don't usually visit others) or the Children's Museum (can't see the teens enjoying that at all). But Millennium Park sounds good. The tournament is recommending hotels along SR 11, some near the mall. That puts us about 20min from the park and 10min from Meijer garden. Doesn't mean we have to stay in that area. I know one family is planning on camping but I don't know where. SR 11?? Eta: Ah! Figured it out! That would be M11, or 28th Street as everyone calls it. |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jun 9, 2016 18:08:26 GMT
So much great information, thank you all! I doubt we'll go to the zoo (our closest zoo is the Toledo Zoo which is one of the best in the country so we don't usually visit others) or the Children's Museum (can't see the teens enjoying that at all). But Millennium Park sounds good. The tournament is recommending hotels along SR 11, some near the mall. That puts us about 20min from the park and 10min from Meijer garden. Doesn't mean we have to stay in that area. I know one family is planning on camping but I don't know where. SR 11?? Eta: Ah! Figured it out! That would be M11, or 28th Street as everyone calls it. lol, I'm from Ohio (though I've lived in MI for almost 10 years) I'm used to State Route or SR, I forgot that Michigan uses M. So, yes, that would be M-11  |
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Post by khaleesi on Jun 9, 2016 20:11:42 GMT
I'm just going to ditto what everyone has suggested as I also am in Grand Rapids If you do get downtown at all, the Public Museum is fun and the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum is open again after renovation. It just opened so I haven't been yet but hope to later this summer. |
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Post by ukfan on Jun 9, 2016 20:17:44 GMT
Yeah Grand Rapids! We were just there last weekend for Festival and the Twenty One Pilots concert at Van Andel Arena. I grew up in Grand Rapids and me and my sister have taken our combined 5 kids there for vacation the last 4 summers in a row. They Love it! My husband and I are actually thinking about moving back - May have to remember who said they are from GR So no real suggestions LOL - but excited to see GR |
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Post by *sprout* on Jun 9, 2016 21:25:24 GMT
We might just have to do a GR/West Michigan pea meet-up!!
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madgie
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by madgie on Jun 9, 2016 23:02:43 GMT
One of my friends was just there for her daughter's volleyball tournament and stayed at the Amway and really liked it.
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Post by pjynx on Jun 10, 2016 14:54:00 GMT
I also live in the Grand Rapids area. I can't really recommend any hotels since I never needed one having lived here all my life. Another vote for Frederick Meijer Gardens. I'll try to think of some other "fun" things to do over on that side of town. There's quite often something going on downtown. Not sure if you'll be here over a weekend or during the week, but here's a link to events downtown: Downtown Events. Here's another one Another events listWe have a minor league baseball team (West Michigan Whitecaps) whose ballpark on the north end of GR, right off highway 131. A good food website: EatGR.com. DH & I eat out quite often, so if you need specific recommendations, I'd be happy to suggest some places. Pam |
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But it looks like the Meijer garden is only about 10 minutes away so maybe we could plan a picnic there on a day we have a longer break.
