The city of Grand Rapids has a growing population of about 203,000, while the greater metropolitan area, including the city, has about 1.2 million residents. Those numbers are growing and for good reason – Grand Rapids is a terrific place in which to live, work, and raise a family. It is Michigan’s second-largest city and has a diverse population with a median age of 32.3 years. I am Mike, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com guide to Grand Rapids and all that it has to offer, most of which is discussed below.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Grand Rapids

Terrific Schools that Prepare Students for College and Careers

Those who are raising families or intend to start a family in Grand Rapids will not have to worry about the quality of education provided. Grand Rapids and the many communities in its greater metropolitan area are home to many of the state’s finest public and private schools. Forest Hills Public Schools, East Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Byron Center Public Schools are excellent examples of the many great schools in which local children are educated. Each provides students with an excellent education and prepares them for eventual entry into college or the workforce.

Beyond grade school, Grand Rapids is home to several high-quality colleges and universities. Grand Rapids Community College is located in the heart of the city and offers vocational training for specialized fields that pay well but do not require a four-year degree. Such vocational programs include careers in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, internet technology, and many others. Many students also complete two-year associate-degree studies and transfer to four-year schools to earn bachelor’s degrees.

Other colleges and universities in and near Grand Rapids include Grand Valley State University, Davenport University, Calvin University, Aquinas College, and the Kendal College of Art and Design. Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, Ferris State University, and Baker College also have satellite campuses located in and near Grand Rapids. With so many great options, it’s possible to go from preschool through college without leaving Grand Rapids and find employment at one of the area’s many fine job providers.

Many Safe Neighborhoods and a Great Healthcare System

Like all big cities, Grand Rapids does experience criminal activity, but local police keep violent crime and theft under relative control. Most neighborhoods are friendly, and there are many parks located within them that support outdoor activities. Those who enjoy walking, hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities will find many great opportunities in Grand Rapids.

The city also is home to a terrific healthcare system that is centered in the Medical Mile area in downtown Grand Rapids. The Medical Mile is a specially designated area founded by the Van Andel Institute in 1996 and supports clinical, research, and medical training. The prestigious campus has drawn many major healthcare providers and medical research institutions, along with medical professionals from around the globe.

The Corewell Health System operates Blodgett Hospital, Butterworth Hospital, and other excellent medical care providers throughout the city. The Corewell Health System ranks among the best medical care systems in Michigan. It also provides cutting-edge medical healthcare using the latest developments produced by the Medical Mile researchers and others. Further south is the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, which ensures quality healthcare is close to wherever you might be in Grand Rapids.

Enjoy Craft Beers and Foodie Fun

Grand Rapids is at the forefront of Michigan’s booming craft beer industry, and there are more than 25 brewpubs in and near Grand Rapids that serve some of the best suds that you enjoy with your buds. Among my favorites is the Kusterer Brauhaus on Bridge Street, which features German-style brews and makes one of the best hefeweizen beers outside of Germany. Vivant Brewery & Spirits on Cherry Street and Brass Ring Brewing on Eastern Avenue are two other local favorites.

Grand Rapids also is home to many great restaurants that serve a variety of dishes. Steakhouses, regional cuisine, fine dining, and a variety of international culinary delights make the city one of the best in Michigan for food lovers to sample great flavors from around the globe and enjoy terrific meals. One of my favorites is the Testa Rossa Italian Ristorante on Wealthy Street. Whenever I am in the mood for great Italian cooking, this is where I go. Their meatballs are fantastic and make any pasta dish taste great.

Fishing and Aquatic Activities Abound

Michigan is a great state for fishing, and the Grand River flows through the heart of Grand Rapids. The city is just 30 miles from Lake Michigan, which ensures plenty of great fishing for those who take advantage of the annual salmon and steelhead runs every spring and fall. The 6th Street Dam is especially productive when the salmon and steelhead are running, and the legendary Rogue River is just a 20-minute drive to the north, which ensures outstanding fishing opportunities are close by during optimal fishing conditions.

Even if you don’t enjoy fishing, the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan are just 30 miles west of the city, and Grand Haven is an especially popular destination for beachgoers. Many local lakes, streams, creeks, and rivers also support kayaking, canoeing, floating, boating, and other fun aquatic activities. When wintertime arrives, and the ice is thick and safe, ice fishing is another favorite pastime that can render quality catches. Bluegill, crappie, and perch are my favorites to catch through the ice, and they taste great.

Plenty of Professional and Amateur Sports

No matter the time of year, there are plenty of professional and amateur sporting events going on in Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Griffins is a great example and my favorite professional sports attraction in the city. The Griffins compete in the American Hockey League, and the team is the Detroit Red Wings’ top farm team. Many up-and-coming hockey professionals prove they are ready for the National Hockey League while competing for the Griffins, and so do many established stars while they are rehabilitating from injuries.

If you love minor league baseball, the West Michigan Whitecaps play ball in the Grand Rapids area and is the High-A team for the Detroit Tigers. The Whitecaps play at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park, which recently underwent an impressive renovation and is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids when traveling north along US-131. The ballpark holds about 10,000, and the games are very fun to attend.

Other sports teams that call the greater Grand Rapids area home include the National Basketball Association’s G-League Grand Rapids Gold and the Grand Rapids Rise professional volleyball team. The Gold is affiliated with the Denver Nuggets, while the Rise compete in the Pro Volleyball Federation’s women’s volleyball competitions. The Gold, Griffins, and Rise call Van Andel Arena home, and it’s a terrific facility for hosting sports, entertainment, and other events.

Grand Rapids Community College Raiders also has many teams competing in amateur sports as part of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. Its teams compete in men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer. The college also fields women’s volleyball and softball and men’s baseball teams.

Fantastic Music Venues for Live Entertainment

Those who enjoy live music, off-Broadway productions, and other live events have many options from which to choose in and near Grand Rapids. I have enjoyed many great shows at Van Andel Arena, which has terrific acoustics and regularly hosts major touring bands and others. The Acrisure Amphitheater is another wonderful venue that is ideal on a warm summer night and is located downtown. I also enjoy attending shows at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, which hosts the Grand Rapids Symphony and national and international touring acts each year from May through September at its outdoor amphitheater. Grand Rapids also has many smaller venues that draw impressive acts throughout the year.

Wonderful Museums that Support Art, History, and Much More

Grand Rapids has many museums that support art, culture, science, and history and affirm the city’s truly great nature. On most any given day, locals can visit the Grand Rapids Museum and the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, which are situated next to each other and along the west bank of the Grand River. Both are very affordable and provide unique experiences that create lasting memories.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is situated due north of the Grand Rapids Museum and the planetarium. It includes interactive exhibits that help people learn more about the nation’s 38th president and his life. Many do not know it, but he was an outstanding athlete and a key member of the University of Michigan’s football team while in college. He also replaced former Pres. Richard Nixon after Nixon resigned from office amid the Watergate scandal in 1974. The presidential museum offers an insider’s view of the seminal events of the mid-1970s.

On the east side of the Grand River are several other great museums with particular themes. The Grand Rapids Art Museum is situated just south of downtown and features artworks by 19th- and 20th-century artists. A couple of blocks southeast of the art museum is the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, which offers interactive exhibits and workshops for kids of all ages. Just south of there is the Grand Rapids African American Museum, which offers oral histories and folk-art exhibits.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and John Ball Zoo Ensure Fun for All Ages

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is one of my favorite spots in Grand Rapids. It contains a very impressive number of indoor and outdoor sculptures that are placed among the many outstanding flora and fauna that inhabit the park. Professional gardeners ensure the colorful and fragrant plants are in excellent health and always look great, and the sculptures include those by some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin. One of my favorites is the 24-foot American Horse sculpture by Nina Akamu, and there are many others that hold my interest.

The John Ball Zoo also is a fun place to take the whole family and learn more about wildlife conservation and the Earth’s ecosystems. I love how the zoo is laid out in sections that are dedicated to different parts of the world, including an African, rainforest, the Americas, and other regional exhibits. My favorite spot, though, is the penguin exhibit that is located in the Entry Valley area and contains a colony of Magellanic penguins. There’s just something about the dapper flightless waterfowl that grabs my attention, especially when there’s an entire colony of them.

The zoo also has pygmy hippos, big cats, bears, and a terrific aquarium. There’s an abundance of land and aquatic animals at the zoo, which also conducts fun and educational youth programs. It also hosts unique special events, like the annual Grand Rapids Lantern Festival, which makes the zoo especially colorful at night. The zoo is open from late March to late November, and the animals are treated well to ensure they do not want for anything.

Choose Your Favorite Recreational Activities

You now know much of what makes Grand Rapids a truly grand city in western Michigan and need only to choose which activities appeal to you the most to ensure a great time while visiting or living there. Grand Rapids undergoes continual improvement and is getting better all the time. The city’s quality of life, neighborhoods, and housing options also are continually improving.