|
Travel by Car
|
|
Written by The MM Team
|
There are a number of parking ramps
Typical fees are:
Metered Street Parking
Event Parking
|
|
Travel by Air
|
|
Written by Alyson Kieda
|
|
Formerly known as Kent County Airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport was renamed after the late President Ford, a long-time supporter of the airport. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, the airport is located at the intersection of 44th Street and Patterson Avenue. Highways surrounding it are I-96 on the east, M-6 on the south, M-37 on the west, and M-11 on the north.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the largest regional commercial service airport serving the West Michigan area, connecting to major airports such as Detroit Metro, Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Las Vegas, and Memphis.
The airport is served by nine passenger airlines with nearly 120 daily scheduled nonstop flights to and from 18 major market destinations. Its passenger terminal building features two concourses and 12 gates.
According to the airport's website, about 5,500 travelers pass through Gerald R. Ford International Airport each day. Nearly two million passengers traveled through the airport in 2008.
Last year, the airport had more than 97,500 landings and takeoffs, an average of over 267 a day. It's the 90th busiest commercial airport in the nation and the second busiest airport in Michigan. The airport also includes three cargo airlines. About 261,000 pounds of air cargo pass through Gerald R. Ford International Airport each day, which equals more than 130 tons per day!
©Medical Mile LLC
www.medicalmile.com |
|
Travel by Air
|
|
Written by The MM Team
|
Aviation started in the Grand Rapids area more than 90 years ago. On September 10, 1911 a Wright brother's biplane took off from a Comstock Park fair. Eight years later Kent County broke ground on its first airport.
The new Administration building (pictured at the top of the page), completed in the fall of 1939, boasted the very latest heating, lighting, plumbing and all modern conveniences. The building's 24-inch-thick, steel-reinforced concrete walls were built to be "bomb proof."
In 1974 when Gerald R. Ford and his wife Betty flew into the Grand Rapids airport after he had become President of the United States. To commemorate our native born president, the airport was renamed the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in honor of him.
|
|
Travel by Air
|
|
Written by The MM Team
|
The Grand Rapids area is serviced by many major carriers including
- Delta
- American Eagle
- United
- Continental
- Northwest
- Allegiant Air
- Air Canada
Click READ MORE to see the carriers information and their daily departures.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Discover hotels within walking and short driving distance of the heart of the Medical Mile, and near all of downtown Grand Rapids' major attractions.
Price guide:
$ - Very Low
$$ - Average
$$$ - Above Average
$$$$ - Expensive
Compiled by Adam Forrest
Renucci Hospitality House
Distance: 5 min. walk
Price: $
This non-profit hospitality house is directly adjacent to Spectrum Health and serves those who have family in treatment at Spectrum Health facilities and the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
Read More
Hope Lodge - Peter M. Wege Guest House
Distance: 15 min. walk, 5 min. drive
Price: $
The Hope Lodge is located in downtown Grand Rapids' Heartside neighborhood, just minutes from the area's top medical facilities and cancer treatment centers.
For more information, call (616)551-4000
Amway Grand Plaza
Distance: 15 min. walk, 5 min. drive
Price: $$$$
The plaza’s excellent restaurants include the gold-standard Cygnus 27 and 1913 Room. Somehow even the Starbucks here seems out of the ordinary.
Read More
JW Marriott Hotel
Distance: 15 min. walk, 5 min. drive
Price: $$$$
If it’s luxury you’re looking for, the new JW Marriott Hotel has it. Pool, spa, 24-hour fitness facility, dining, drink lounge.
Read More
Courtyard by Marriott, Grand Rapids Downtown
Distance: 15 min. walk, 5 min. drive
Price: $$-$$$
The elder of the two downtown Marriotts is in Crowne Plaza, which is attached by skywalk to the Van Andel Arena and Amway Grand Plaza. Indoor pool and fitness facility, outdoor sports deck.
Read More
Days Inn
Distance: 20 min. walk, 6 min. drive
Price: $$ - $$$
Very close to Gerald R. Ford Museum and Public Museum of Grand Rapids. Complimentary parking. Shuttle available from April through October, $15 one way / $25 round trip.
Read More
Radisson
Distance: 8 min. drive
Price: $$ - $$$
Outside comfortable walking distance from downtown, but easy bus access. Includes indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center and sauna.
Read More
©Medical Mile LLC
www.medicalmile.com
|
|
Dining
|
The B.O.B. (an acronym for Big Old Building) is located in downtown Grand Rapids. The 70,000-square-foot, four-story, red brick building was constructed in 1903 as Judson's grocery warehouse. It stood vacant for decades before The Gilmore Collection began its transformation, saving it from demolition.
Its casual appeal, large size and historic charm  have given The B.O.B. landmark / destination status in downtown Grand Rapids.
Ambitious, expansive, and versatile, The B.O.B. offers a uniquely personal experience for every guest who walks through the door.
Hours of Operation:
Mon - Fri: 11:30am - Close
Sat: 2pm - Close
Sun: 5pm - Close
Building Director: Kim Lemmen
Look for even more historic growth to The B.O.B. in the coming years as The Gilmore Collection will expand into the surround parking lot to create Bobville, offering guests an unprecedented amount of new choices, including a new theatre and several new boutique shops providing unique services from specialty foods to yoga instruction. Keep coming back for more information on Bobville...
What's inside The B.O.B...
Judson's Steakhouse
Gill's Blue Crab Lounge
Monkey Bar Resto Lounge
Eve Lounge
Crush Nightclub
Bobarino's
Dr. Grin's Comedy Club
B.O.B.'s Brewery
Gilmore Collection Catering
From: The Bob Website
MORE GREAT DOWNTOWN EATERIES |
|
Shopping
|
|
The easiest to use guide to downtown shops we have found is here:
DOWNTOWN Grand Rapids SHOPS |
|
Shopping
|
Area Malls
|
Shopping Experience
The following table lists all malls (enclosed and outdoor) that are more than 500,000 SqFt in size and are within 40 miles of
Grand Rapids, MI area. The malls are ranked based on our proprietary mall scores for shopping experience. The score is a measure of the overall shopping experience one might have at that mall, as oppose to the experience at any one particular shop. There are a huge number of factors that make up this mathematically determined score. In general though, the score favors malls oriented towards clothing and fashion and have strong high-profile anchor tenants. Qualities that can cause a mall's score to be lower are centers that are not 'walking friendly' or have an inordinate number of service businesses (e.g. financial institutions).
Please note, the stores that are shown below are only a sample of the stores found at that center, to get a complete list of shops you should contact the mall directly (be aware shops are constanly opening and closing, so we can not guarantee a shop's existance at any point in time).
Maximum score 4  's
* Outlet or factory mall
|
|
|
Live Entertainment
|
|
Written by The MM Team
|
Here are a list and links to some of the entertainment establishments.
|
|
Live Entertainment
|
|
Written by Adam Forrest
|
|
Grand Rapids has been home to vibrant theater since the first years of the 20th century. Did you know that in 1905 Groucho Marx sang in a vaudeville theater just outside the city limits?
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Sporting Events
|
|
Written by The MM Team
|
|
Grand Rapids hosts a number of professional sports. |
|
|
Destination Medical Mile
Located on the banks of the Grand River, Grand Rapids is rated among the top cities in the U.S., and combines sophisticated charm with midwestern friendliness. Known for being safe and clean, Grand Rapids is a “walking” city.
Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids
