People + Places

With only about half a year of warmer outdoor weather, we Grand Rapidians have to take advantage of every nice day and soak up the sunny rays. What better way to enjoy Pure Michigan summer than kayaking down the Grand River or peddling along your favorite bike trail?

A West Michigan beach topped USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Poll.

Soon, more than 1,600 participants will bike through West Michigan for the sixth annual MSU Gran Fondo.

Two hundred children will receive free bike helmets from the Grand Rapids Griffins during two events being held this month.

Chances are your summer calendar is filling up fast. But just in case, we wanted to give you a list of fun activities you can enjoy this summer in and around Grand Rapids. Enjoy our suggestions and share some of your own in the comments.

Dozens of vendors will “pop-up” on Saturday in the Alger Heights neighborhood for the kick off of the second annual Eastern & Alger Pop Up Market.

High atop a sand dune at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, looking out over Lake Michigan and the park’s campground beach, a memorial bench beckons campers, hikers and beachgoers to sit and take it all in.

Having your period sucks. Period. Running to Walgreens once a month to get tampons or pads for Aunt Flo is annoying enough, but for many, it’s also a financial burden. Local 501(c)(3) nonprofit Be a Rose aims to help women break barriers, not the bank, when it comes to accessing feminine hygiene products.

Grand Rapids Bike Park could get a much-needed makeover if a recently launched crowdfunding campaign reaches its $50,000 goal.

It’s summer, which means finding ways to get the kids out of the house before they drive you crazy (is it September yet?!) A productive way to keep them busy and engaged during their summer vacation is camp.

“You want to be careful about having that last beer,” Dave Petroelje, owner and chief beer officer at City Built Brewing (CBB) said with a laugh, when asked for tips for those biking the upcoming Built So Fly event.

Dogs love summer as much as their humans do and they’re ready to socialize after a long winter indoors.

The old adage, “write what you know” served Eric Scott Johnson and Eric Machiela well. The pair recently completed Camp Manna, a coming of age film that takes place at an Evangelical Christian summer camp.

With our city racking up accolades like "Best Town for Mountain Biking," it’s no surprise that Grand Rapids has plenty of bike shops where you can find your next bike -- or ride in for a seasonal tune-up.

Veterans Memorial Park reopens on Wednesday following the city of Grand Rapids’ annual Memorial Day Parade.

Aberdeen Park is the latest in a series of Grand Rapids parks to reopen following renovations.

Jordan Fisher first dreamed of opening a flower shop several years ago, but he was unable to find the right location and his career ended up taking him and his wife, Faten Fisher, to Seattle for two years.

“No one expected my life to be as normal as it is,” said Rockford athlete, Johnny Agar. While Agar simply views his life as normal, most would view it as extraordinary and inspiring.

You can now see a Top 25 ArtPrize finalist when visiting the Kent County Courthouse.

D.B. Cooper is the infamous skyjacker who boarded a Boeing 727 in Portland, Oregon, that was heading to Sea-Tac in Seattle, Washington, on Thanksgiving Eve, 1971. He demanded a $200,000 ransom before jumping out of the plane at 10,000 feet.