Hello, I am hoping to come to GR on or around the 2nd July 2009, and stay for a week and meet up with friends! I would like to be there over the 4th July, as I am from England I think this would be a fun time to come. Are there things going on over the 4th?
I was just wondering, where are cheap but good places to stay? Also, is Chicago drivable from GR, as I am considering flying into O%26#39;Hare as from London as it is alot cheaper than connecting onto GR.
Any advice gratefully recived!!
Travelling to Grand Rapids Summer 2009!HertsGal -
Yes, GR is a very easy drive from Chi - 2 1/2 to 3 hrs. Another option if you fly into Chi is to take the Amtrak train. There is one train a day leaving from Union Station (downtown Chicago) coming to downtown GR. For the schedule check out www.amtrak.com.
GR has nice fireworks on the Fourth of July. I like to sit on one of the bridges over the river to watch. Also, Grand Haven - a beach town on Lake Michigan about 45 min. from GR - has really nice fireworks right over the channel. Try to make it out to Grand haven at some point on your trip to experience Lake Michigan.
Go to www.grnow for more information on things to do and hotels.
Have a great trip!
Alissa
Travelling to Grand Rapids Summer 2009!GR si really nice in the summer. Definately try the beaches somewhere near GR....we like South Haven beach and town the best,
I recommend NOT driving from Ohare. You would either be coming by the Tristate or through downtown, and it can be a major pain. avoid the trafficand tae the Amtrack instead.
The drive can%26#39;t be any worse then London. There are numerous events going on that time of the year. Chicago has Taste of Chicago, 2 big music festivals on Lake Michigan Shore. Then summerfest in Milwaukee is a 2.5 hr boat ride on the ferry from Muskegon, that might be something you and your friends would enjoy. All these events are easily available on the internet. www.summerfest.com. Google Rothbury, and Muskegon Summer Celebration. If you got the time an overnight in Milwaukee at summerfest would be high on my list. Otherwise West Michigan lakeshore is something you should definately do.
I%26#39;ve done this drives numerous times... you will be fine! (I%26#39;d say the Chicago Traffic is pretty similar to that if which I experienced while driving in London). It%26#39;s about a 2 1/2 hour trip... try and arrive in Chicago between 10-3:30 or after 7 and you%26#39;ll avoid rush hour. Really, you%26#39;ll take the Dan Ryan (I-94) to the Skyway (80/90) back to I-94 to 196. Not too bad at all.
If it were me... I%26#39;d have my friends rent a house for the week in one of the small towns on the lakeshore... and go exploring. If money is an issue... stay in GR and plan to drive over to the lakeshore (visit Saugutuck, Grand Haven, either the Sleeping Bear Dunes or Silver Lake).
Also... depending on where your friends live... I had four friends fly in last year for Labor Day weekend... one just paid the price to fly into Grand Rapids... but one found REALLy cheap flights into Muskegon via Detroit, one found great prices into Lansing via Chicago, and one found great prices into South Bend via Cincinnatti. Muskegon and Lansing are less than an hour from GR... South Bend is 1 1/2. It was crazy for me because I drove to get everyone but the one in South Bend... but still a blast!
The West Michigan Whitecaps might be in town that weekend if you want to catch a baseball game. Usually the tickets start at five dollars. Sometimes there are fireworks that follow the games in the summer. Check out http://www.grnow.com OR http://www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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