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Old 09-11-2012, 09:51 AM
 
172 posts, read 471,431 times
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Finally made the move to GR after many years of contemplation and false starts. Have 3 kids from 2 on up. Hoping to get some suggestions for things to do around the area to keep them busy and spend some quality time as a family. We are located on the SW of GR. Museums, best parks/playgrounds, festivals, swim clubs.....must do's now that we are living here.

Thanks!!!
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Old 09-12-2012, 05:03 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids
235 posts, read 536,571 times
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Since I've moved here, I've found grkids.com to be helpful. I even got free tickets to the GR Art Museum for later this month b/c of one of her posts. Also, I'm told kids love Art Prize, which starts in a week.
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Old 09-12-2012, 08:33 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids Metro
8,882 posts, read 19,856,367 times
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Children's Museum, IMAX at Celebration Cinema North, Boulder Creek Wildlife Park, the zoo, planetarium at the public museum, carousel at Rivertown Crossings is cheap, the Grand Rapids Art Museum has fun classes for kids.
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Old 09-13-2012, 06:36 AM
 
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Meijer Gardens Children's area, Gymco, Jester's Court, zoo, the Kent District Libraries free storytimes, Millennium Park, Kent Harvest Trail for hayrides and apple picking, frog hollow park, Goldfish Swim School, ... I haven't even scratched the surface. There is a lot for kids here!
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Old 09-13-2012, 08:26 AM
 
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I know next summer is a ways away, but Festival of the Arts is very family friendly. It's always on the first weekend in June.
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Old 09-13-2012, 09:45 PM
 
157 posts, read 302,030 times
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The Kroc also has a nice indoor splash zone, classes, fields, and small playground.
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:56 PM
 
Location: East Grand Rapids, MI
845 posts, read 3,272,099 times
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Saturday mornings at the GRAM make a family membership worth the price of admission. A great hidden gem downtown for winter saturdays.

Go to the beach. Yeah, that's next summer. But it's one of our great assets, and if your'e on the SW side, it'll be easier to get there for you than for those of us on the SE side. Well worth the drive to Holland, Saugatuck (Oval Beach) and Grand Haven. Kids love beaches and ice cream afterward.

Kids love Jersey Junction in EGR. Pumpkin Ice Cream is a favorite this time of year.

The GR Public Museum (aka Van Andel Museum by some locals) is a great kids' attraction. Has a great $1 (i think) carousel too. Childrens' Museum is hit or miss depending on the age of your kids and the exhibit in town at any given time.

My kids are huge fans of Meijer Gardens. We have been going since they were born.

It's ArtPrize time of year. We go 3-4 times a week while it's running. There's more to do and see than we could ever actually cover.

Drive down to kalamazoo and visit the Air Zoo. It's an awesome attraction and you can easily spend the entire day there (eat at Cosmo's or Food Dance!)

Celebration Cinema at Woodland Mall has cheap tickets and late-run movies so you can go see things at a discount. We take the kids on rainy days. It sure beats paying full price.

If we get a nice warm saturday in the next few weeks, canoeing the Rouge River into downtown Rockford is a really fun trip that you can cap with a lunch in town or some shopping. We love doing this in the fall when the colors are out on the trees on whatever nice saturday looks good.

When it gets cold, you can take your kids cross-country skiing at Pigeon Creek COunty Park in Ottawa County. They rent skis and it's a great way to enjoy the snows (if we actually get it this year... last year was horrible... no snow).

We love sledding at the big hill at Manhattan Park in EGR. There are probably good hills near you too. Ask your neighbors.

Ice Skating downtown at ROsa Parks Circle in the winter is cheap and fun.
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Old 09-19-2012, 04:57 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids
235 posts, read 536,571 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by suydam View Post
Celebration Cinema at Woodland Mall has cheap tickets and late-run movies so you can go see things at a discount. We take the kids on rainy days. It sure beats paying full price.
Along those lines, I got a thing from my kid's school with a schedule of free movies for kids at several Celebration locations til November 1st. Adults are $4. Here's the list:

https://celebrationcinema.com/flicksfamilyfilmfest
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