Welcome to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and thanks for exploring the city with UCPlaces. This self-guided driving tour will take you through the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, across the Grand River, into historic neighborhoods, and out to some of the area’s most scenic spots — finishing at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. For the best experience, we recommend driving a bit slower than usual. Many of the highlights on this tour are best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, so please pay close attention to the navigation cues and follow the route closely. As always, safety comes first — follow traffic laws and road conditions at all times. Along the way, we’ll point out landmarks, parks, architecture, river views, and neighborhood details that help tell the story of Grand Rapids beyond the surface. At times we’ll share stories and context, and at other moments we’ll give you space to simply enjoy the drive. If you stop the tour at any point — whether for food, photos, or a longer visit — the app will easily resume the tour when you’re ready. You can also manually restart from any specific point of interest, so feel free to explore at your own pace. Let’s get started!
