You Probably Don’t Know Just How Much There Is to do in Kentwood & Caledonia
Southeast Grand Rapids is booming. What used to be a more rural, quiet community has seen unprecedented growth in recent years.
Trails and parks are intermingled with play centers and shopping, giving us both indoor and outdoor entertainment options. You can find splash pads, ice cream, ice skating, and river fun.
Kentwood has become a popular hub for families who want to raise their kids in diverse communities and schools. With the 28th and 44th street corridors in their zip code, there’s no end to shopping, food, and fun.
You’ll also see areas sprawling beyond Kentwood grow into popular hubs. Dutton/Cutlerville is a growing part of the M-6 area, where you can find more shopping and catch the latest films at the Phoenix Theatres.
And if the urban sprawl is a little too busy for you, drive a little farther south to Caledonia to one of our area’s favorite small rural towns.
If you’re wondering how much fun your kids can have in Southeast Grand Rapids, here’s your list!
Life in Kentwood
Why people love living here:
Life in Kentwood is as unique as its population. Schools and neighborhoods celebrate many cultures and family types, and has a wide range of fun adventures to be had!
It’s also an affordable area, with housing options ranging from rentals to condos to homes. Families often start out in Kentwood for the affordability and end up staying for the great neighbors, proximity to GR, great shopping, and an active parks and recreation program.
You should know:
Most people in West Michigan know Kentwood has the Woodland Mall area, but don’t realize that Kentwood is huge. With its unusual shape, there’s a good chance that you’ve been in Kentwood and didn’t even realize it.
Kentwood Stats
Population:
54,304 (2020 U.S. Census)
School District:
Kentwood Public Schools
Niche School District Rating:
A-
Drive Time / Distance to Downtown GR:
15 minutes / 9 miles
Known for:
» Diverse schools & communities
» Shopping at Woodland & CenterPoint Malls, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods
» Horrocks
» Active Parks & Rec Department
» Activity centers like Sky Zone & Amped Virtual Reality
Kentwood School District Map
Residents of the shaded areas can attend Kentwood Public Schools. *Always confirm school district boundaries directly with the school district before purchasing or moving to a new property.
Life in Caledonia
Why people love living here:
Locals love that they’ve found a modern-day small town.
This tight-knit community has the quiet vibes of yesteryear, coupled with great updates and community hotspots like a brand new trails system, exciting new developments in front of the library that includes an amphitheater and dog park, and a stunning lavender farm.
You should know:
This part of greater Grand Rapids is experiencing a housing boom right now. Once rural areas are quickly becoming subdivisions.
Plus, Caledonia is really into hosting hometown parades and festivals. Celebrate Western Week, Harvest Festival, Memorial Day, Christmas, and 4th of July with neighbors and friends in Caledonia.
Caledonia Stats
Village Population:
1,622 (2020 U.S. Census)
School District:
Caledonia Community Schools. The district covers a 100 square mile area, which includes parts of Kent, Allegan and Barry Counties.
Niche School District Rating:
A-
Drive Time / Distance to Downtown GR:
26 minutes / 21 miles
Known for:
» Rural & suburban atmosphere
» Caledonia Lakeside Park
» Paul Henry Thornapple Trail
Caledonia Community Schools District Map
Residents of the shaded areas can attend Caledonia Schools.
*Always confirm school district boundaries directly with the school district before purchasing or moving to a new property.
Things to Do in Kentwood, Caledonia & Surrounding Areas
From non-stop active adventures to fueling up with the tastiest treats after, there are so many cool places you won’t want to miss in Kentwood and Caledonia.
There’s ponies, play cafes, splash parks, monster themed play areas, AND monster sized cookies.
Come explore these beautiful places and find your new favorite hang-out spot!
Main Event Fun Center is Now Open!
Main Event
3121 28th SE, Kentwood, MI 49512
The Grand Rapids Main Event Fun Center is an all-in-one family destinations.
The Woodland Mall Location is located in the Von Maur wing and is just across the hall from the new LEGO Store.
Entertainment options at this new venue include a bowling alley, billiards, laser tag, video game arcade, a variety of additional activities and games, food and bar service, birthday parties, and more.
Stay in that “Lavender Haze” at Lavender Life Company
Lavender Life Company
464 Stanton Farms Dr, Caledonia MI 49316
Shop, eat yummy baked goods, and relax in lavender paradise at Lavender Life Company!
Not only does this place have a plethora of instagrammable spots, for every purchase of a Xander Bunny they donate one to a child in foster care.
This place is a must visit during their lavender season in early summer, but is worth checking out year round solely for the delicious cookies!
Let’s Get More LEGO® Bricks!
LEGO® Store
Woodland Mall Unit F104, 3195 28th St SE, Kentwood, MI 49512
LEGO® stores are where it’s at if you’re hunting for those hard-to-find sets.
The GR LEGO® Store is no different. It’s got everything you’d expect, like the Build a Mini-figure stations and the Pick & Build Wall—two fan-favorite features at any LEGO® Store.
And in case you’re wondering, this spot is pushing close to 3,000 square feet. That’s a whole lotta bricks to keep you entertained.
Get an Adrenaline Rush at Amped Virtual Reality
Amped Virtual Reality
2923 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
You don’t need to be a video game enthusiast to enjoy your time here.
Amped VR is a hit with date night couples, company parties and birthday kids, even if they’ve never picked up a controller.
Swim with dolphins, travel the world, draw with light, go on a roller coaster, or be inside the MINECRAFT video game. With over 40 experiences to choose from, it’s the perfect place for anyone in your group.
Amped Virtual Reality is suited best for ages 4 – 104.
Ride the Ponies at Legacy Stables
Legacy Stables
8001 Patterson Ave SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
While Legacy Stables & Karin’s Horse Connection offers numerous horse riding opportunities and classes for all experience levels, the KinderPony Program is designed specifically for children ages 2-6.
A KinderPony ride includes 30 minutes of whatever your child would like to do, including riding your pony indoors or outdoors, learning to feed and care for your pony and meeting other animals on the farm.
Picnic at Lakeside Park
Caledonia Lakeside Park
370 N Lake St SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
Pack up a picnic lunch and head to Caledonia Lakeside Park!
After lunch, the kids can enjoy the playground, run the bases at the baseball diamond and explore the surrounding wooded areas on the trail.
And when they’re done, you can take the path from Lakeside to downtown Caledonia and get a treat at Brink’s Ice Cream Express!
Out of This World Ice Cream at Underground Cookie Club
Underground Cookie Club
5422 Division Ave S, Kentwood, MI 49548
This image speaks for itself.
And for those wondering, yes, they have GF, vegan and dairy free options!
Tube Down the Thornapple River
Hop in at the 84th Street Dam in Caledonia and float your way down the river!
This part of the Thornapple River offers calm, shallow waters and beautiful scenery along the 3.1 mile stretch to where you can exit at 68th Street.
Play With the Monsters at Woodland Mall
Woodland Mall
3195 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Located near the food courts, kids can explore a bi-level structure with slides and climb on multiple colorful monster friends.
There’s so much to do, it’s hard to believe that it’s FREE!
Go for an Adventure on the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail
Paul Henry Thornapple Trail
E Main St SE & Mill St SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
Following along a former railroad corridor and in close proximity to the Thornapple River, the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail is a multi-use recreational trail.
Put the little ones in a stroller and take a walk, go rollerblading with your tweens, or bring the whole family for a bike ride.
Shop the Most Unique Grocery Store in GR
Horrocks Market
4455 Breton Rd SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
This is a grocer like no other. In addition to their huge array of fresh goods, they make gourmet popcorn, offer items like loose leaf tea, and are a popular spot to catch lunch with a friend.
Horrocks is constantly introducing new items and exciting areas of the store. They have a huge greenhouse and garden center. You can buy clothes and home goods here. Their candy department is off the hook. You can find all the local beer and wine.
This is the place to take an out of town friend and wow them with how GR does food.
Play Disc Golf or Just Run the Playgrounds at Jaycee Park
Jaycee Park
1088 Gentian Dr SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
Jaycee Park is known for its 18-hole disc golf course, but families with smaller kids also dig the three playgrounds on the property.
It’s also home to the Play in the Park program, where kids can drop in for exciting activities, games and a snack most weekdays in the summer.
Ride Bikes on the M-6 Bike Trail
Fred Meijer M-6 Bike Trail
1035 68th St SE, Dutton, MI 49316
The Fred Meijer M-6 Trail was built along the course of the M-6 highway and connects Grandville, Wyoming, Cutlerville, Dutton and Kentwood to the Kent Trails and Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail.
So whether you’re looking for a short ride with the little ones or a full-day excursion with the older ones, you can do it here!
Cool off at a Splash Pad
Pinewood Park, 2000 Wolfboro Dr SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
Veteran’s Memorial Park, 355 48th St., Kentwood, MI 49548
Splash Pads are always a fun summer option for kids of all ages. If you’re in the Kentwood area, check out the splash pads at Veteran’s Park or Pinewood Park. And once the kids have cooled down there, they can head to the playground!
Hike Prairie Wolf Park
Prairie Wolf Park
8555 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Caledonia, MI 48316
This small (1.4 mile) simple trail is a hit with families.
Paths are a mixture of paved and natural, and if you’re quiet, there are plenty of wildlife sightings.
Jump at Sky Zone
SkyZone
3636 28th St SE, Kentwood, MI 49512
Sky Zone trampoline park recently went through a huge transformation.
Ready to discover a NEW thrilling experience that your family can enjoy year round? Get ready to burn off energy in one of GR’s best indoor fun centers.
With newly added super-sized slides, obstacle courses, and special events, SkyZone is so much more than trampolines.
Roller Skate at GR Skate & Event Center
GR Skate & Event Center
14 52nd St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49598
On Wristband Wednesdays, you can purchase your own colorful wristband for $10 and skate for two hours with unlimited pizza and pop.
Or check out their other great deals for open skate throughout the week. Kids Skate FREE every Friday 6 PM – 9 PM!
Walk the Trails at Lepard Nature Preserve
Lepard Nature Preserve
6030 76th St. SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
With its convenient location and trails that are shorter in length and easy to walk, Lepard Nature Preserve is the perfect place to bring the kids to enjoy the outdoors!
There are even signs along the way to help point out and explain what nature you will observe.
Ice Skate at Kentwood Ice Arena
Kentwood Ice Arena
East Kentwood High School, 6230 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
Take a spin around the ice! Check out the Open Skate Times on the calendar at Kentwood Ice Arena.
$5 to skate and only $2 skate rental!
Spend the Day at Creekside Park
Creekside Park
1035 68th St SE, Dutton, MI 49316
Head over to Creekside Park and enjoy the two playgrounds, take a hike on the walking trails or play horseshoes.
Plus hop over to the picnic area for lunch or grab some friends for a game of softball.
Splash Around at Kentwood Aquatics Center
Kentwood Public Schools Aquatics Center
6230 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Take advantage of Open Swim at Kentwood Public Schools Aquatics Center.
Check out their calendar for swim lessons too!
Treat Yourself to Sweet Rewards Ice Cream
Sweet Rewards Ice Cream
6969 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Whether you’re craving ice cream or a hot dog and fries, be sure to check out Sweet Rewards Ice Cream.
Walk up or drive thru, but make sure you don’t miss out!
Chill While the Kiddos Play at Coffee Clubhouse
Coffee Clubhouse
3858 52nd St. SE, Kentwood, MI 49512
Do you ever find yourself reheating that same cup of coffee because you are constantly getting snack requests and pulled in all directions?
You deserve a trip to Coffee Clubhouse!
Order a delicious coffee or tasty treat and let those kiddos run free and make new friends.
Settle in for a Story at the Library
KDL Caledonia Twp, 6260 92nd St SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
KDL Gaines Twp, 421 68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
KDL Kentwood, 4950 Breton Rd SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
There are story times galore at the Caledonia Township, Gaines Township and Kentwood Branches of Kent District Library.
Babytime, Toddler Time, Preschool Storytime, Family Storytime… so many books, so many times!
Bike, Scooter or Skate Caledonia’s Paved Trail System & Community Green
Caledonia Community Green
9309 Dobber Wenger, Caledonia, MI 49316
Caledonia has an amazing trails system, connecting many popular community spots, including the Caledonia’s KDL branch library, Lakeside Park, Paul Henry Trail and downtown Caledonia (which includes Brink’s Ice Cream Express).
Locals are super excited about the Community Green in front of the library. This space includes pickle ball courts, an amphitheater, dog park and picnic areas, and splash pad.
Stomp and Run Around at Stomping Grounds Play Cafe
Stomping Grounds
9028 N Rodger Ct SE Suite E, Caledonia, MI 49316
Stomping Grounds isn’t just a regular play cafe…it’s a cool play cafe!
This beautiful play indoor space is Montessori and Waldorf inspired to help encourage those growing imaginations.
Make sure to grab yourself a coffee to keep up with those kiddos, too!
