Exploring the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan with Children

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On a recent trip throughout a large part of Michigan, we stopped in the city of Grand Rapids for a couple of days. A highlight of our visit was definitely the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

sign outide the at Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI

The 158 acre property opened in 1995, founded by Frederik Meijer, son of Meijer supermarket founder Hendrik Meijer, and his wife, Lena. Frederik and Lena both loved sculpture and flowers and combined their passion to expand the property, which now includes 16 separate (5 indoor and 11 outdoor) gardens and over 200 sculptures on display. The gardens and sculpture park host a variety of rotating and seasonal exhibits (Enlighten is especially popular) and there are plenty of opportunities to engage children in the appreciation of art and nature. The Frederik Meijer Gardens are absolutely a must see when in Grand Rapids (or anywhere in Michigan!)

posing in one of the gardens at at Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI

Travel Tips:

  • The gardens and sculpture park are typically open from 9am-5pm Monday through Saturday and from 11am-5pm on Sunday; there are frequent “late nights” during the summer season. Check here for up to date information on admission hours and fees. 
  • There is plenty of free parking in front of the main entrance. See a good map of parking lots here. 
  • We recommend strollers for the toddler crew and adding the tram (an additional cost) to any ticket. The tram makes four stops throughout the gardens and runs all day. An automated recording shares history of the gardens and important background information about sculptures, plants, and flowers.
  • The entire complex is handicap accessible; read more about accessibility here.  Restrooms are located in the Visitor Center and in most buildings throughout the complex.
  • Dining options on site include The Balk Cafe with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options and a beautiful, bright dining room;  Mary’s Ice Cream Parlor in the Children’s Garden offers sweet treats and drinks. Menus and more information here. 
  • The DeVos-Keeler Gift Shop, located in the Visitor Center, showcases a curated collection of garden related housewares, gifts, jewelry, and apparel. There is also adorable kids’ apparel and gifts. 
  • The Gardens and Sculpture Park offer a wide variety of special programs and events. See the daily calendar here and the schedule for the very popular Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert series, held in the amphitheater, here.
  • Plan on at least half a day to fully explore all of the indoor and outdoor exhibits and gardens. We spent over three hours exploring the property and wished we had more time. See good maps of indoor exhibits and outdoor gardens here. 

Eight Spots Kids Will Especially Enjoy:

  1. Lena Meijer’s Children’s Garden: THEE spot for children! There are unique play structures, a five sense Boardwalk, storytelling hut, over 20 sculptures, and a massive Treehouse Village! The enclosed garden (great for corralling the toddler crew) also has plenty of shaded areas for picnicking and resting and restrooms and water refill stations. The Children’s Garden also hosts a variety of programs about nature and art throughout the year. Download the Exploration Guide here. 
  2. Michigan’s Farm Garden: The 3/4th scale of Lena Meijer’s childhood farm includes tons of activities kids will love: “planting” vegetables, color weaving in the 1910 restored barn, guessing the names of two dozen farm tools, and pumping water from the tower. There are also daily activities, and a lush lawn and covered front porch to sit and relax. Download the Exploration Guide here. 

Michigan Farm Garden at the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI

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  1. The DeVos Japanese Garden: The eight acre garden includes several water features and waterfalls, in addition to the pond, children will enjoy. There are 36 varieties of plants, gazebos, teahouses, several viewing decks and even an arched bridge to explore. During spring through fall of 2026, the Garden also showcases several Chihuly glass sculptures.
  2. Frostic Woodland Shade Garden: A cool, calming space for a walk through several native plants with the chance to peek into the wetlands from the Frey Boardwalk (which leads to the Children’s Garden). Download the Exploration Guides here and here. 
  3. Conservatories (inside the Visitor Center): Note the temperature changes as you navigate through the Avid Garden, Seasonal Garden, Victorian Garden Parlor, and Tropical Conservatory to see a variety of tropical and desert plants, cacti and succulents, birds and butterflies. The conservatories (some of which are five stories tall with glass surround) include plants and flowers from five continents. The conservatories are especially festive during the holiday season.  Download the Exploration Guide here.
  1. Sculpture Park: With younger children, definitely take the tram to best see many of the sculptures without having to walk through all 30 acres; everyone can rest their feet and also learn about each sculpture throughout the narrated ride. There are over 50 sculptures on display; some of the more popular sculptures include the 24 foot bronze American Horse, Eve, Grand Rapids Arch, Juggler, Male/Female.
  2. The Amphitheater: A beautiful open space with several terraced sections for seating (both permanent seats and lawn areas for blankets and lawn chairs), the amphitheater has a large stage and sound system for their robust programs. The amphitheater is surrounded by trees and seasonal plantings. Families will especially enjoy the Tuesday Evening Music Club– see the calendar here.
  3. Two permanent Chihuly pieces in the gardens’s collection: Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier (in the Grand Atrium) and Lena’s Garden (in the Cafe)

Amphitheater at the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI

Note: When we visited in July 2026, the CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens was the featured special exhibit, including the indoor exhibit Chihuly: Radiant Forms (additional ticket required) and the outdoor exhibit (included with admission) throughout the gardens. The exhibit runs through the end of October 2026.

The indoor exhibit, Radiant Forms, features several of Chihuly’s works that “reveal the many natural and cultural sources that inspire his luminous art”. There are drawings from the 1980s, a Venetian series from his work as a Fulbright Fellow in Italy in 1968, the Persian Wall, a basket collection, Cylinders, Mille Fiori (the centerpiece of the exhibition) and a “Fax Room” wallpapered with hundreds of faxes of his drawings and sketches (the archives have over 5,700 fax sheets!).  See the exhibit map here. 

The outdoor exhibit, Chihuly: Across Meijer Gardens, features a dozen larger scale works of art across 158 acres of the gardens. Some of our most favorite glass sculptures were displayed throughout the Japanese Gardens, especially the Walla Wallas (2014), Float Boat (2017), and Fiori Boats (2014).  See the exhibit map here.

Chihuly exhibit at Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI

Disclosure: We were given a media pass to explore the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. All opinions expressed are my own.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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