Hello Sunshine & Hello Things to do in Spring!
We know you’re ready to leave cabin fever behind and maybe even enjoy things like you did pre-quarantine.
But can you even remember what things we have going on around town?
Get ready for the memories to flood back with this list.
Find the area’s best spring break ideas, free spring activities, ideas for daily fun, biking and hiking trails, short-term travel and staycation ideas, consignment and garage sales, and more!
These spring-centric fun ideas are part of our massive list of the best things to do with kids in West Michigan.
And if you’re craving even more ideas, find something for every day in spring in the list of daily things to do in West Michigan.
This daily activities calendar is a lifeline for many young families around GR. With little kids, it’s often hard to plan ahead or even plan your day, but our daily activity lists are perfect for that parent who needs an idea right now.
Must-Do Spring Events
Tulip Time
See all the events and where to find the best photo ops at the biggest tulip festival in America.
Maple Syrup Festival
Sugar shacks celebrations are one of our favorite early spring events.
April Storywalk Book in Hastings
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W Cloverdale Rd, Hastings, MI 49058
Join a young artist as explores the world around her to make her art with a splash of imagination and stroke of creativity. Details
Mother’s Day Brunch
Treat mom to a special brunch or activity. And while you’re at it, register to win $100 to Design 1 Salon Spa!
Outdoor Spring Activities
We don’t need to tell you that Michigan comes alive in spring, but this limited-run season needs to be enjoyed in every way possible before the humid summer days zap the energy of even the busiest kids.
Our readers know best, so when looking for some outdoor fun, start by choosing from this menu of outdoor activities for Grand Rapids families.
Hit the Trails
Head out on one of West Michigan’s many hiking trails.
It’s also a great time to visit a nature center and go for a hike, as the bugs of summer haven’t woken up yet, but lots of flowers are coming out of their winter slumber.
2.5-mile City Adventure Walk
Best Family Bike Ride Spots
Whitecaps Baseball
There are so many family-friendly things to do at a Whitecaps game!
Chase Art
Want an urban adventure? Go on the Grand Rapids Mural Crawl.
Frisbee / Disc Golf
Geocaching
Download the free geocaching app to your phone, lace up your shoes, and head out on a Geocaching Scavenger Hunt or try your hand at Orienteering
Visit Animals
West Michigan has zoo and farm experiences galore!
Ziplining
Lots of outdoor play centers have ziplines.
Play Putt Putt
Everyone feels like a winner after playing mini golf around GR.
Discover a New Park or Playground
Try a new-to-you Grand Rapids area playground.
Or, one of our favorites: Pack a lunch and watch the planes land at Ford Airport Viewing Park.
Dog Park
Dine Alfresco
There’s nothing better than eating on a patio when the weather warms up. Use this guide to restaurants with patios, decks, and other outdoor options to find the next best place to enjoy a sandwich in the sun!
Indoor Spring Things to Do
We all know spring can be rainy, but no worries. The Indoor Play Guide is always a great resource when you want to escape the weather, as is this list of 22 things to do on a rainy day in West Michigan.
Looking for more indoor spring things to do? Read on:
Indoor Water Parks
Michigan has the corner on indoor water parks.
Local Indoor Pools
Indoor pools around GR are also great mini getaways.
Trampolines
Trampoline parks keep kids on the move for hours.
Indoor Activity Centers
Go-Karts, zip lines, laser tag, ninja warrior – and more. Try Craig’s Cruisers, Allegan Event, BattleGR or Amped Virtual Reality.
Paint Your Own Pottery
Get creative at The Mud Room.
See the Butterflies
Meijer Garden’s annual butterfly display is a must see for every kid at least once.
Children’s Museums
See what’s new at your favorite children’s museum in West Michigan.
Spring Break Specials
Lots of businesses offer extended hours and spring break specials each year. Find all things Spring Break things to do in Grand Rapids here.
Easter Fun
This is one of my favorite parts of spring.
Egg-citing Egg Hunts
Use this complete list of Easter egg hunts to find the biggest, best, or most convenient egg hunt for your family!
DIY an Easter Egg Hunt for Your Friends
If you’re feeling ambitious, use the instructions here to plan a super awesome egg hunt for all of your friends and family!
Easter Brunch, Maybe with the Easter Bunny
Take a Short Road Trip
Want to make a quick getaway?
There are so many great drivable spring break trips for families to visit, explore, and enjoy a change of scenery.
Traverse City
If you want to stay in our home state, you’ll find lots to do in Traverse City!
Milwaukee
Head west to Milwaukee for a midwest vacation in a new town. (If ferry service isn’t open, the drive is very doable!)
Indianapolis / Fort Wayne
Travel to our neighbor to the south – Indiana – and check out Fort Wayne or Indianapolis.
St. Louis
If you’re up for a bit more driving, St. Louis has a lot of family fun to offer, including an incredible city museum.
Canada
Go international and visit Canada! Both Niagara Falls and Toronto are well within a day’s drive, leaving plenty of time to explore over spring break.
Kentucky
Explore caves, ride horses and incredible state parks are a few of the things to do in Kentucky.
Grand Rapids
Yeah, that’s right – there are a lot of spring beak things to do right here in town!
Explore Local
But with so much to do, how do you know where to start? Try one (or several!) of these 25 Staycation Ideas.
Be a Tourist in GR
If you want to stay local and see all that our city has to offer, play tourist for a day and experience Grand Rapids with kids.
Explore Downtown
Downtown Grand Rapids on its own has enough to entertain.
Free Things to do Downtown
Discover GR’s hidden gems on this list of free things to do with kids downtown.
Spring Savings
Spring means shopping for deals, right?
Consignment Sales
Snag deals with the Spring Consignment Sale Guide, and then spend your savings on other family fun around town.
Garage Sales
Find the best neighborhood garage sales around West Michigan.
Shopping
All the best shopping in Grand Rapids is found here.
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