Grand Rapids, Michigan

I had the pleasure of exploring Grand Rapids in late August of 2018 with a friend who was attending Grand Valley State University. We toured the open meadowed 1,300-acre Allendale campus and got to stroll along scenic wooded ravines. I especially enjoyed the Cook Carillon Tower, a beautiful 10-story-tall clock-tower located in the center of the campus. Little Mac was also beautiful, a 230-foot-long bridge that spans a 70-foot-deep ravine connecting the north and south sections of the campus. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend visiting the campus in the fall. These two characteristics are especially picturesque when surrounded by scarlet trees with the grounds blanketed in leaves of amber.

Indulgence

Fruition Açai & Juice Bar:

While exploring Eastown Grand Rapids, we stopped at Fruitition Açai & Juice Bar pictured above. We were greeted with a fun and inviting atmosphere with extremely friendly staff who guided me towards the “Fruition” acai bowl. With creamy peanut butter, crunchy granola, bits of kiwi, finished with a drizzle of honey and a few sprinkles of coconut, this sweet treat did not disappoint!

Macatawa Golf Club:

In Holland, Michigan, we enjoyed a gorgeous view of an 18-hole golf course while dining at the RedRock Grille inside Macatawa Golf Club. Surprisingly, no one was sitting outside and we had the view entirely to ourselves. We enjoyed our summer-themed citrus cocktails before racing to Kirk Park for sunset.

Wolfgangs Restaurant:

Located in Eastown Grand Rapids, we enjoyed breakfast at Wolfgangs - home to the world’s best grilled cinnamon roll. With a decadent sweet orange sauce, the homemade frosting made for the best cinnamon roll I have ever had. This family-style restaurant was opened in 1977 named “Just Breakfast” at the time. It was the first of its kind to serve just breakfast all day in Grand Rapids.

Kirk Park

West Olive, Michigan

Located on Lakeshore Drive just south of Grand Haven is Kirk Park. I still have the exact image of when I laid eyes on this beach for the first time. The waves were strong and the beach was steep. With a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan, this park boasts 68 acres of sandy beach, high bluffs and wooded dunes.

We visited this beach a total of three times. During our first visit, we explored the wooded hiking trails and scenic dune overlook. During the second visit, we chose a perfect spot to watch the sunset and I got to fly my drone. We witnessed an incredible sight of impossibly pink skies complemented by a sherbert orange that only got better with each passing minute, creating Lake Michigan’s unique take on Northern Lights. The final visit was on my way home to Chicago where I got in the water and swam in a lake of firey orange and luscious pink pigments.

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Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes touching Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Its name is derived from the Ojibwa Indian word “mishigami”, meaning large lake. The best time to visit the sandy Lake Michigan beaches is in the summer, keeping in mind that June is the rainiest month for Michigan. I highly recommend visiting Torch Lake on the 4th of July. This swimming spot has the clearest water in all of Michigan. It’s one giant party with hundreds of boats meeting up at the sand bar.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Lake Michigan’s sand is made largely from quartz dumped by Canada glaciers. Long after the ice departed, wind swept the sand grains together to form dunes four-stories high. It has been said that these dunes are irreplaceable because the glaciers and other forces that triggered their development will likely never return.