One of the Grands in the Grand Rapids area. This p...

One of the Grands in the Grand Rapids area. This place truly has something for everyone. The atmosphere is relaxing, and fairly cultured and sophisticated without feeling pretentious or overly middle class, and the ticket prices are reasonable. Absolutely worth every penny. Try to arrive in the morning or at least before early afternoon though, because the line gets long quickly.

Your kids will have a great time here, especially in the summer. I have many fond memories of the children's playground outdoors, playing in the scale Great Lakes with toy boats, and looking at butterflies in the summer and Christmas trees in the winter. Seeing the multi-storey-tall bronze horse is another childhood highlight.

If you're the type who hates modern art, you'll still probably enjoy the art exhibits. This art is not the 'lazy artist full of themselves' type. Sure, lots of it is abstract and conceptual, but it's all either interesting or at least large enough that it's impressive to behold. If you do appreciate conceptual and abstract art, this is your go-to in the GR area. The indoor pieces cycle through quickly enough for regular visits to be enjoyable, and their tastes in what they put through are good as far as I can tell.

Even if you absolutely disdain art of all kinds, the Japanese gardens are beautiful any dry day. The water, trails, and foliage combine to create a very relaxing experience, bar any crowds. The nature trails in the outskirts are also therapeutic, and are representative of the typical Michigan nature trail. Similar to Millennium Park, but more secluded and closer to nature.

The food here is also delicious. About on par with the Grand Rapids Public Museum's cafe. A bit pricy, but it works in a pinch of you don't have lots of kids and tastes great. If you are bringing a large family and need a budget option, tickets offer re-entry and you can pack a 'picnic' lunch to eat in the car.

In conclusion, I would recommend Frederick Meijer Gardens to anyone looking for a relaxing time observing both art and nature, dancing together in a masterfully crafted and maintained duality. I would encourage you to visit once before considering a membership, as it's not for everyone as a regular stop. But everyone living in and around Grand Rapids should have the opportunity to experience this modern-day Garden of Eden.