Several of the most exciting and interesting attractions in the Greater Grand Rapids area are undoubtedly at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Located at 1000 East Beltline on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, this hidden gem is the sort of botanical garden that you'd expect to find in a major metropolis.
The indoor gardens are impressive; parts of the tropical conservancy stand over five stories tall. There are arid gardens nearby, nestled neatly next to a room full of carnivorous plants and a tea garden. The tropical greenhouse is where, late every winter, the butterflies “bloom,” and the nation's largest temporary butterfly exhibit enchants people of all ages. The halls are themselves a work of art; look closely at the support beams and tiles while walking inside, as attention was paid to every detail in the construction of this facility. Not only are parts of the interior adorned with glass art by Dale Chihuly, the inside of the main building also boasts a library, gift shop, cafe, and several rooms with varying exhibits and educational information about the art and flowers being shown at the Gardens.
Just beyond the glass walls of the conservancy, there's a manicured lawn and sprawling play area known as the Children's Gardens, where the little ones can run off some steam after patiently walking and not touching anything while inside the building. There are water tables in the shape of the Great Lakes, a massive tree house, and plenty of other enchanting features to keep kids of all ages occupied. Beyond that, walking trails offer a beautiful view of second-growth forest and wetlands before bringing visitors to a farmhouse, complete with an activity barn and garden. This year, just beyond the farm, a new exhibit based on Japanese Gardens has opened. There is an exhibit of Japanese artifacts and art inside the main building to complement the opening of these new gardens.
There is art outside, as well. There is the famous replica of Da Vinci's horse on display, as well as the newest major exterior exhibit, Ai Weiwei's Iron Tree. The individual pieces of the tree were cast in China and based on real trees, resulting in an end piece that is realistic and surreal at the same time. A host of other statues, that run the gamut from kid-friendly to abstract are scattered across the carefully landscaped terrain.
While the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park are famous for hosting a summer concert series in their amphitheater that has drawn acts including The Beach Boys and Melissa Etheridge, they are also regularly hosts to horticultural shows, such as bonsai tree exhibits and bloom and flower competitions. These competitions encourage the local community to explore horticulture as a hobby. The Gardens are a unique feature of Grand Rapids that unquestionably enrich the lives of many throughout the community and are certainly worth a visit.