Grand Rapids Business Trip

Having a few hours in Grand Rapids on a weekday afternoon, I decided to walk around some parks in the snow. It was somewhat cold--about 25 degrees--but sunny and nice enough to get out and about.

I also went downtown to see what was there and was pleased to see that it is clean, with new construction for entertainment and sports and plenty of places to grab a bite.

Quick Tips:

If flying in for business, look at the hotels on 28th Street. Most of the major chains are near there, with styles ranging from Red Roof Inns to Hiltons and Marriotts. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is small and very convenient, and I was able to leave the airport in my rental car less than 15 minutes after the plane touched down.

Best Way To Get Around:

Grand Rapids and the suburbs around it appear to be growing. The airport is in the southeast corner of the metroplex, and you'll need to rent a car to travel around the area.

I found the hotel to be a bit of an "industrial" Hilton--not very fancy, but pleasant. My room was larger than normal, and when my free high-speed Internet connection didn't work, they quickly and efficiently moved me to a new room.

Room service was fair but not great. The bed was quite comfortable, and the room was very clean. The indoor pool is large enough to swim some laps, and the restaurant is nice. (See Spinnakers in this journal.)

Counter service was exceptional, and any questions or requests I had were seen to promptly.

Judson's serves what are probably the best steaks in Grand Rapids. Part of The B.O.B. (see other article), Judson's great food is complemented by an elegant atmosphere and a well-known art collection.

I had the Delmonico Ribeye with asparagus and garlic-roasted whipped potatoes. Almost cliched for a steakhouse, but I found that they do well what they sell often. The steak was as good as any I've had at the finest steakhouses in Dallas.

The menu can be found on their website at www.thebob.com.

The B.O.B. is located in downtown Grand Rapids. The 70,000-square-foot, four-story 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 age inspired the name The B.O.B.--an acronym for Big Old Building. The B.O.B. houses several restaurants, a cigar lounge, a microbrewery, banquet rooms, a comedy club, a dance club, a billiards hall, live jazz, and a wine cellar.

It is a real treasure one would expect to find in a city the size of Atlanta or Miami. Grand Rapids is fortunate to have a quality establishment like The B.O.B.

Dining and entertainment options include:

Lower Level - The Monkey Bar
First Floor - Judson's Steak House, Gill's Fish House, and Crush
Second Floor - Bobarino's, They Skyy Deck
Third Floor - Top of the Bob (Banquets)

www.thebob.com

A nice restaurant with good food. Billed as the hottest night spot in Grand Rapids, it seemed to be all business travelers when I was there.

I had some nice local fish with rice and vegetables, and while they were good, it was definitely a hotel restaurant.

Collins Park surrounds the lake in the center of East Grand Rapids, Michigan. East Grand Rapids is a nice, affluent neighborhood and boyhood home of President Gerald Ford.

When I visited in January, there were several local residents walking and running along the lake and quite a few fishermen on the lake, with their lines through the ice. Being from the south, I had never seen ice fishing and must admit that I have yet to understand the attraction of sitting on the ice in sub-freezing weather, trying to catch a fish.

There are playgrounds for kids and a small sailing club.

Remington Park, Waterfront Park, Hodenpyl Woods, and Bonnell Park also border the lake. Ramona Shopping Center is across the street from the park for a place to warm up or grab a bite.

I went to Johnson Park in the mid-afternoon after a fresh snowfall and walked into the unmarked snow along the river. I walked about an hour, down and back, watching the ducks come up off the water as I got too close to them.

Going back to the car, I found that some kids had arrived and were sledding on the hills in the eastern part of the park.

There's plenty of parking. No admission charges. It's just a neat place to spend an afternoon.