* Photographs provided by iStockphoto
Welcome to the "City of Art, City of Design!"
Voted #1 as a top ten, 2014 U.S. destination by Lonely Planet, Grand Rapids is just the city to host the 42nd Annual LOEX Conference!
The average temperature in Grand Rapids for May 8-10 is a high of 68°F and a low of 45°F, so be sure to pack accordingly. Also, pack a good pair of walking shoes, as many activities & eateries are withing walking distance of the conference hotels.
A good place to start for lots of information is the Experience Grand Rapids website!
Grand Rapids Great Eats!
Restaurant listings can be found here: http://www.experiencegr.com/restaurants/
Select “downtown” in the browse location drop down menu for a list of places within walking distance.
You will find a wide range of dining options from yummy casual eateries to fine dining restaurants. Happy Eats!
Downtown Funstuff!
All of these great institutes are within a short walking distance of the conference hotel!
Culture, Arts & Entertainment
- Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
- Grand Rapids Art Museum
- Grand Rapids Public Museum
- Kendall College of Art & Design - Be sure to visit the KCAD Annual Student Exhibition happening May 5-10, 2014. The college will literally open it doors for everyone and anyone who wants to come and experience the immense talent of the KCAD student population. Student work will be exhibited on almost every floor of both the 17 Fountain St. NW and Woodbridge N. Ferris Buildings, filling 270,000 square feet of space.
- Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) - the UICA recently merged with KCAD. See more information here.
Shopping
There are lots of unique boutiques and small shops in the downtown area as well as surrounding G.R. You can vist numerous shops along Monroe or the new Grand Rapids Downtown Market. Your go-to-list is here.
Nightlife
The downtown entertainment district is home to an array of hotspots! Including live-music bars, sports bars, brewpubs, comedy clubs, theatres & nightclubs. Check out whats available here.
Grand Rapids was also voted "Beer City, USA!" in 2012 & 2013! Home to numerous award winning craft breweries! For a list of suggested establishments click here.
Attractions Outside Downtown Grand Rapids
Frank Lloyd Wright's Meyer May House
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
A world class major cultural attraction centering around horticulture and sculpture, a visit to Frederick Meijer Gardens is well worth the time and experience! For LOEX attendees admission is discounted to $8.00 with a LOEX badge (regular $12)
Tulip Time Festival - Holland, Michigan - May 3 - 10, 2014
