1/ Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Special exhibitions: British artist Rebecca Louise Law uses dried and fresh plant material to create immersive, site-specific installations that explore the relationship between humanity and nature. Her exhibit, “Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb,” will be on display through March 1. Also, through Oct. 27, “Chrysanthemums and More!” Through Jan. 5, Sculpture Exhibition. Special events: Oct. 5-6, Fall Bonsai Show. Oct. 19, Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Teahouse. Oct. 20, Inside the Japanese Teahouse. Oct. 20, Mum Day. Permanent attractions: Modern and contemporary 30-acre sculpture collection, Japanese garden, tropical conservatory, children’s garden, nature trails and boardwalk, café, gift shop. Open daily. $14.50 adults, $11 seniors and students, $7 kids 5-13, $4 kids 3-4. 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, 957-1580, meijergardens.org.
2/ Blandford Nature Center: Special events: Blandford’s annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 12 includes seasonal activities such as scarecrow making, horse-drawn wagon rides, and cider and doughnuts. The festival runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $8, $5 members, kids 2 and under free. Also, Oct. 1-4, Hunter’s Safety. Oct. 5, Fall Wild Edibles. Oct. 19, Blacksmith Apprentice and Pioneer Cabin Open House. Oct. 25, OWLween. Oct. 26, Kombucha Workshop and Whitetail Workshop. Permanent attractions: 143 acres of trails, heritage buildings, farm. Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center open Mon.-Sat. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. $3. 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, 735-6240, blandfordnaturecenter.org.
3/ Grand Rapids Art Museum: Special exhibitions: Oct. 12-Jan. 12, “David Wiesner & The Art of Wordless Storytelling” includes more than 70 original watercolors from the artist’s most famous books. Through Feb. 2, “Billy Mayer: The Shape of Things.” Drop-in Studio: 1-4 p.m. every Sat. Closed Mon. $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $6 kids 6-17, kids 5 and under free; free admission 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue. and 5-9 p.m. Thu. 101 Monroe Center NW, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.
Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park: Eighty-acre park with giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, alligators, kangaroos, lemurs, prairie dogs, ostriches and antelopes. Plus, safari rides and opportunities to feed animals. Special events: Oct. 19-20, Park Before Dark. Open daily through Oct. 21. $14 age 12 and up, $12 seniors, $10 kids 3-11, kids under 2 free. 8313 Pratt Lake Ave. SE, Alto, 868-6711, boulderridgewap.com.
Coopersville & Marne Railway: Restored 1920s-era railway with Famous Pumpkin Train every Sat. and Sun. through Oct. 27 (see website for times). $20 adults, $19 seniors, $18 kids 2-12. 311 Danforth St., Coopersville, 997-7000, coopersvilleandmarne.org.
Coopersville Farm Museum: Museum honoring farming and rural life. Special events: Oct. 1 and 15, Jam Night. Oct. 5, Family Day. Oct. 26, Kids, Crafts & Critters, plus Community Costume Party/Trick or Treat. Permanent attractions: Tractors and other farming equipment; also Eclipse windmill. Open Tue., Thu., Sat. $4 adults, $2 kids 4-12, kids 3 and under free. 375 Main St., Coopersville, 997-8555, coopersvillefarmmuseum.org.
DeGraaf Nature Center: Eighteen-acre preserve with Interpretive Center, indoor pond, animals, SkyWatch. Knee-High Naturalist classes for kids 3-5. Center open Tue.-Sat. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. Free. 600 Graafschap Road, Holland, 355-1057, degraaf.org.
Deer Tracks Junction: One hundred-acre farm with elk, whitetail deer, Tibetan yaks and reindeer; evening wildlife safari tours; hands-on farm with goats, pigs, donkeys, rabbits, yaks, parakeets; bottle-feeding stations; play area; and ice cream shop. Open daily. General admission: $10, kids 2 and under free; safari tours and bottle feedings extra. 7850 14 Mile Road, Cedar Springs, 863-3337, deertracksjunction.com.
Downtown Market: Open daily with culinary-related products at more than 20 local businesses and restaurants, plus cooking classes (see Lectures and Workshops) and private rentals. Special events: Sept. 10, Culinary Medicine for the Sports Enthusiast. Sept. 19, 3rd Thursdays. Sept. 27, Made in MI Pop-Up Marketplace: Night Market. See Antiques on Ionia in Special Events. 435 Ionia Ave. SW, 805-5308, downtownmarketgr.com.
Felt Mansion & Gardens: Summer home of millionaire inventor Dorr E. Felt features 1920s architecture. Through Sept. 2, self-guided tours 1-5 p.m. Sun.-Wed. $15 adults, $12 seniors (free on Mon.) and students, kids 12 and under free. 6597 138th St., Holland, 335-3050, feltmansion.org.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum: Special exhibitions: Through Nov. 3, “Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.” Sept. 23-Nov. 3, “3D Expression.” Permanent exhibitions: Highlights from Mr. and Mrs. Ford’s lives, plus featured online exhibits. Also, DeVos Learning Center. Open daily. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $6 college students, $4 ages 6-18, kids 5 and under free. 303 Pearl St. NW, 254-0400, fordlibrarymuseum.gov.
Grand Rapids Art Museum: Special exhibitions: Through Sept. 1, “Maya Lin: Flow.” Through Sept. 8, “Melanie Daniel: Only Four Degrees.” Through Feb. 2, “Billy Mayer: The Shape of Things.” Special events: See Live Artfully Dinner in Special Events and Creativity Uncorked in Lectures & Workshops. Drop-in Studio: 1-4 p.m. every Sat. Closed Mon. $10 adults, $8 seniors/students, $6 kids 6-17, kids 5 and under free; free admission 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue. and 5-9 p.m. Thu. 101 Monroe Center NW, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: Hands-on permanent and traveling exhibits for kids 2-10. Special exhibit: Through Jan. 20, “Amazing Dinosaurs.” Permanent activities: Think Tank, Kidstruction Zone, Little GR, Bubbles!, Wee Discover, musical instruments and more. Toddler Time 10 a.m.-noon Tue. Family Night 5-8 p.m. Thu. ($1.75). Closed Mon. $9, $8 seniors, kids under 1 free. 11 Sheldon Ave. NE, 235-4726, grcm.org.
Grand Rapids Public Museum: Special exhibitions: Through Sept. 8, “TOYS!” Through Oct. 13, “Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963.” Permanent exhibitions: Streets of Old Grand Rapids; Newcomers: The People of This Place; West Michigan Habitats; Grand Fish, Grand River; and Be Curious. Also, restored 1928 Spillman carousel. Special events: Saturday Curiosity Labs. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 kids 3-17. 272 Pearl St. NW, 929-1700, grpm.org.
Holland Museum: Special events: Sept. 9, Free Admission Monday. Permanent exhibitions: Local history and Dutch galleries with artwork from the Netherlands from the 1600s-1900s. Also, Spark!Lab. Open Wed.-Sun. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 students, kids 5 and under free. 31 W. 10th St., 796-3329, hol landmuseum.org. Also, Cappon House: 228 W. Ninth St.; Settlers House: 190 W. Ninth St.; The Armory: 16 W. Ninth St.
Meyer May House: Restored Frank Lloyd Wright 1909 prairie-style house includes original furnishings. Open for guided tours 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tue. and Thu.; 1-4 p.m. Sun. (last tour one hour before close). Free. 450 Madison Ave. SE, 246-4821, meyermayhouse.steelcase.com.
Muskegon Museum of Art: Special exhibitions: Through Sept. 1, “Lights, Camera, Rock ‘n Roll: The Music Photography of Paul Jendrasiak” and “Guitar with Wings: The Photography of Laurence Juber.” Through Sept. 8, “Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists.” Sept. 5-Nov. 13, 91st Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition. Sept. 12-Jan. 5, “Undying Traditions: Memento Mori.” Sept. 19-Dec. 15, “The Land: The Art of Bill Hosterman and Ed Wong-Ligda.” Closed Mon. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 college students, kids 16 and under free. 296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon, (231) 720-2570, muskegonartmuseum.org.
Nelis’ Dutch Village: Dutch theme park with rides, petting zoo, wooden shoe carving, Delftware-making demonstrations, costumed employees, shops and restaurants. Special events: Sept. 7-8, Oma and Opa Weekend and Diaper Drive. Sept. 14, Superhero Training Camp. Sept. 21, Grant Me Hope Fundraiser. Sept. 28, First Responders – Hometown Heroes. Open daily. $13 adults, $12 seniors, $11 kids 3-15. 12350 James St., Holland, 396-1475, dutchvillage.com.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium: Shows use Digistar production and surround sound. This month: “SpacePark360: Infinity,” “Secrets of the Sun,” “Subatomic,” “Under Scorching Skies,” “The Little Star that Could,” and “Dark Side: The Light Show.” $5, $4 with admission to the museum, members free. Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW, 456-3977, grpm.org/planetarium.
TreeRunner Adventure Park: Self-guided high-wire forest adventure includes ziplines, Tarzan swings, rope bridges and swinging logs, plus Junior Park for kids 4-7. Training included with admission. Special events: Sept. 13, Sports Themed Glow Night. Open Fri.-Sun. $39 adults, $35 kids 7-13, $20 kids 4-7. 2121 Celebration Drive NE, 226-3993, treerunnergrandrapids.com.
Veen Observatory: Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association hosts various events. Special events: Sept. 7 and 21, Public Night from 8:30-11 p.m. All events subject to weather; call 897-7065 for updates. $3 adults, $2 kids 5-17 and under, kids under 5 free. 3308 Kissing Rock Ave. SE, Lowell. graaa.org.
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