Grand Rapids is a city that combines urban sophistication with small-town warmth. Grand Rapids is Michigan's second largest city. With more than one million residents in the metro area, it offers all the big-city amenities and excitement you can imagine. Yet it's also a region of abundant natural wonders, where outdoor recreation is a year-round pursuit. And it's all served up with a heaping helping of small-town friendliness, safety and affordability. Grand Rapids is named after the river that runs through the heart of the city. There are no longer any rapids to be found in the Grand River as it winds its way through downtown – but there are plenty of fishermen casting for trout, salmon and steelhead amidst the vibrant energy of our city streets. (No wonder Field & Stream Magazine named Grand Rapids America's 6th Best Fishing City.)

downtown gr

Downtown is clean, safe and oh-so-walkable – there are more than 75 hotels, restaurants, museums, and sports and entertainment venues within a five-minute walk of each other. Some of Grand Rapids' other unique attractions are less than a ten-minute drive away: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (one of the Midwest's most popular tourist spots); John Ball Zoo (one of the nation's oldest urban zoos); and Woodland Mall and Rivertown Crossings (two of Michigan's largest indoor malls).

transit

Amtrak Pere Marquette Line
Train travel between Grand Rapids and Chicago

DASH Service
A monthly parking option with shuttle service to the downtown

The Rapid
A full scale bus transit system that takes you to any part of Downtown

gr events

Want to know what is going on in downtown Grand Rapids? Visit Downtowngr.org's Event Calendar.