If you’re looking for things to do in Central Michigan, I have the perfect place! Last month, Daniel and I took a last-minute trip to the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although the gardens had previously popped up on my radar, my dad ultimately recommended that we check them out because he had enjoyed a visit there with my grandmother.
As it turns out, my grandparents were friends and neighbors to the Meijers many years ago before their grocery stores really took off. Because of that, my grandmother always loved to visit the Meijer Gardens and had taken my dad with her once or twice.
So, with that last-minute change of plans, Daniel and I headed to the Frederik Meijer Gardens…and were completely blown away.
The gardens were about 100 acres larger than I thought they would be (158 in total), and the blend of art and landscaping was beautiful beyond words. It is evident that thousands of hours go into these gardens every year, and the sculpture collections are comprised of a vast array of styles and interests. I could probably write a small book on what we saw and experienced at the FMG, but I’ll keep it short. Here are 7 beautiful reasons you’ll fall in love with the Frederik Meijer Gardens.
1. The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory
Since you can’t be instantly transported to the tropics, the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory is a fantastic alternative. This giant glass-encased room houses thousands of plants in every shape, size, and color. Trees with leaves bigger than a person reach toward the ceiling while tiny purple flowers the size of a fingernail line bright green vines. Tropical birds dart through the treetops, and a small but beautiful waterfall cascades down to a pond below.
If it sounds like a slice of paradise, that’s because it is. The sheer range of plants in this room is astounding, and you’ll be spinning in circles to see everything.
One of my favorite things was that many of the plants looked “oil-slicked.” On certain plants, the petals and leaves shimmered in almost metallic fashions, creating these fascinating shimmers along the leaves.
2. The Greenhouses
In the same building as the Conservatory lies a set of 4 fascinating greenhouses built around different themes.
In the Holton Arid Garden, you’ll find a wide variety of desert plants, from cacti to succulents. They come in all shapes and sizes, from short and fat to tall and skinny, prickly to fuzzy, and intimidating to cute. (I mean it. Check out this adorable succulent.)
My next-favorite section was the Carnivorous Plant House. It’s filled with plenty of fascinating plants like the Venus Fly Trap and the jug-shaped Tropical Pitcher Plant. This room is tiny, but it is packed full of cool plants and fun facts.
The final two greenhouses are the Holton Victorian Garden parlor (a room dedicated to displaying Victorian styles of planting in fountains and terrariums) and The Jarecki Seasonal Display. The Jarecki Display was a large room filled with tropical plants similar to the Conservatory. However, these seemed to be more artistically planted than the wild tropics of the Conservatory and far less dense.
All in all, you definitely don’t want to miss any of the greenhouses at the Frederik Meijer Gardens!
3. The Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden
Calling the Japanese Garden one garden is really an understatement. It is huge! It’s the most extensive garden in the park by far, and it has so many side trails that you can explore. You’ll find zen gardens, bonsai trees, waterfalls, bridges, pagodas, private benches, and little ponds all in this one garden that’s bigger than many public parks. If you can only do one thing for the day, this is where I’d recommend you go.
The main path meanders around the giant pond or small lake in the middle, while many side paths lead to little secret gardens or beautiful sculptures. In one corner, a spiraling trail climbs a hill overlooking the lake and provides a stunning view of the gardens. This area takes a couple hours to fully enjoy because there is beauty everywhere you turn.
Its peacefulness and beauty definitely made it one of my favorite stops in all of the Frederick Meijer Gardens.
4. The Sculpture Park
In full disclosure, I don’t really appreciate many sculptures. You might not, either. But the cool thing about the Frederik Meijer Gardens is that you don’t have to be an art aficionado to enjoy the Sculpture Park.
If you read up on the Meijers, you’ll quickly learn that every piece of art they collected was for the public’s enjoyment. They purposely chose a wide variety of pieces to reach a similarly diverse audience. So, no matter what speaks to your soul, you’ll probably find a few good examples at the Sculpture Park.
The Sculpture Park branches off into several themed gardens and groves along the trail that display varieties of sculptures, from Grecian-style busts to metal behemoths that seem to kiss the heavens. This is all nestled within a lovely array of trees, flowers, and small ponds.
5. The Double Waterfalls
Now, I know I’ve already mentioned a couple waterfalls in this post, but The Double Waterfall in the Sculpture Park is gorgeous enough to deserve its own section. Two sparkling cascades of water slide gracefully around curved rock formations to a gently rippling pond filled with ornamental fish and lily pads. The falls are lined with flowers and brightly colored bushes, as is the perimeter of the pond.
But under the water, those ornamental fish dash around in a riot of gold, orange, blue-gray, white, pink, and black. They were one of my favorite things in the entire park! I was fascinated with how huge they were and how they roiled around in these masses near the pond’s edge in search of food. We spent a good ten minutes at the waterfall, just taking everything in and trying to capture the fish on camera (with little success, sadly). If you have the time, do not miss this enchanting little oasis!
6. The American Horse
No trip to the Frederik Meijer Gardens is complete without taking some time to admire The American Horse, a colossal sculpture in the center of the DeVos Van Andel Piazza.
The sculpture has a fascinating history because it actually originated as one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s designs. Along the side, you can view a couple smaller versions of the horse that were all carved from the same model. But they really fade in comparison to the 24-foot stallion prancing through the Piazza.
7. The Children’s Garden
If you like things that can be defined as “whimsical,” then you’ll love the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden.
The Children’s Garden has learning centers, story-themed shrubs and sculptures, forts, and a story-time tree. If you have children, they will be entertained for hours! But even adults can enjoy the quirky setting.
One garden is dedicated entirely to the 5 senses, and silly sculptures shaped like noses and eyes, etc. mark each section.
In another area, a large water splash zone where kids can sail toy boats reveals a map of the Great Lakes from up above.
You can take a trek through woodlands and look for wildlife or explore a little patch of the marshes as well.
Two of my favorite features were a wolf pack made from recycled metal and an Alice in Wonderland tea party formed by shrubs and plants wearing hats and clothes.
Tips for Visiting the Frederik Meijer Gardens
If you do decide to visit, I have a few tips to make your trip more enjoyable (based on my mistakes):
1. Wear comfortable walking shoes:
The park is 158 acres and growing! Don’t forget this!
2. Bring Water:
We went on a 95-degree day and left our water in the car…and regretted it! Water fountains are scarce around the park, so be sure to bring your own water, even on a cool day.
3. Reserve plenty of time to explore:
You can easily spend 6 to 8 hours here, so plan to make a day of it or be sure to choose which areas you want to visit most and prioritize them.
4. Bring a snack or eat at the restaurant:
All that walking will make you hungry. If you remember to bring a snack, you’ll be glad you did. But if not, try the restaurant in the main building! The food was surprisingly tasty, and the restaurant has such a charismatic setting.
Closing Thoughts on Frederick Meijer Gardens
And there you have it. 7 beautiful reasons you’ll love the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan! It truly is a fantastic place to visit, and the fee is very fair at $14.50 a person. I was admittedly a little skeptical at first, but I got my money’s worth just exploring the greenhouses!
I hope you stop by the Frederick Meijer Gardens if you have a chance! And as always, feel free to comment below or ask any questions! If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and sign up to get the weekly post delivered straight to your inbox! And don’t forget to sign up for the weekly newsletter to stay up to date on the latest adventures and travel tips!
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