Here's How I Spent 4 Days in Grand Rapids as a Blind Traveler
When I found out I was going to Grand Rapids to experience their accessibility, I was excited. I saw museums on the itinerary and honestly, I wasn't that excited about that part. Museums have not historically been my thing. Growing up blind, I was always the kid standing there staring into space while everyone else walked around looking at things I couldn't see or touch. It was never really for me.
But I was excited about everything else. The food. The cocktail making class. The activities. I went in with one slightly skeptical thought about museums and left thinking about coming back for another visit.
Here's the thing: I enjoyed it! Even the museums. I wish we had museums like this where I'm from.
So here is how my trip went as a blind traveler. Feel free to copy my itinerary!
Getting to Grand Rapids
The travel day was almost suspiciously smooth. I kept telling my friend Katie, "I'm thinking it, but I'm not going to say it out loud." And what I was thinking was: this is all going way too well.
We got to the airport, checked our luggage, no issues. Got to the gate right as they were pre-boarding. No delays. Landed in Grand Rapids and the ride to the city was short, which I really appreciated because I get carsick, and a long drive after a flight is never the move.
Grand Rapids Airport was also easy. Small airports are a huge bonus for a blind girl. Everyone was kind and helpful. The only thing I'd flag for anyone with a disability: there wasn't a dedicated accessibility line at the airport, which made navigating through the regular line a bit confusing. I asked multiple times where the disability line was and they just kept telling me to stay in the regular queue. I don't know if that was a miscommunication or if it actually doesn't exist, but that's the one thing I'd love to see improved.
Everything else was great.
The Accessible Hotel
We stayed at the Amway Grand Plaza, and when I say this hotel was massive, I mean it was massive. Katie and I walked around and she was giving me the play-by-play of everything, and at one point she could barely put into words what she was seeing. There was a fountain area that apparently was just stunning. And there were like dozens of stores and things inside the hotel. If I got locked in there for two years, I think I'd be totally fine!
We stayed on the 19th floor and one of my favorite little details was the elevator. One of the elevators faces the city, and it goes from being completely clear, where you can see everything outside, to dark as you go into the building. I can see changes in light, so I was going from light to dark and I was like okay, we're almost at our room. That was a nice touch for me.
The room itself was a corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. At night, being able to see all the lights of the city was incredible. Also, as a content creator, the lighting was amazing (just saying!)
The bathroom was simple and clean, which I love. No overcomplicated shower situation. You just pulled it up and moved it for temperature. Easy. There was a handle in the shower too, which I appreciated because I can get disoriented and my balance isn't always great. The one thing I would tweak is counter space. I need to dump all my stuff out to find things by feel, and two sinks takes up a lot of real estate. But that's really not a real complaint.
The beds were incredibly comfortable. As a professional athlete, I used this trip as a reset, and the sleep quality was exceptional. The air conditioning was perfect. It was so quiet. I woke up every morning actually feeling rested, which doesn't always happen for me often on trips.
Day 1: The Museum That Changed My Mind
After we got settled in, we walked to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. It was maybe a five to seven minute walk from the hotel, located across this beautiful bridge where you could hear the river flowing below. I loved that so much.
I want to be real with you. I went into this with low expectations. Museums have not been kind to me in the past. But within about five minutes of being there, I completely forgot I ever had doubts.
We were paired with a guide who took us through the entire museum and he knew that I was visually impaired, so he took us to the specific areas I could actually appreciate. That made all the difference. If you're going and you have a visual impairment, I cannot stress enough: ask for a guide. Ask specifically. It changes the whole experience.
The museum has this area called Old Town that recreated what Grand Rapids looked like in a past era. There was even a pharmacy with a real old-fashioned pharmacist feel to it. But the thing that got me the most was how many sensory things there were. There were rocks you could touch and actually know what they were, not just someone describing them to you. There were smells. There were textures.
The audio floor guide also announced each floor by voice in the elevator, which was something Katie pointed out that I really loved. Little things like that make such a big difference.
Then that night we went to San Chez A Tapas for dinner. I was skeptical at first because nothing on the menu was something I'd ever eaten before, and I'm a little bit of a creature of habit with food. But I decided to go for it. We started with a few small plates. There was this garlic spread with really amazing bread, and then these stuffed peppers that were creamy and savory in the best possible way. I kept looking at Katie like, what is happening right now, this is so good.
We were both craving cheesecake at the end, and they had sold out, so we found a little place nearby and got cheesecake and brought it back to the room. A perfect first night.
Day 2: A Retro Boat, Lake Michigan, Perfume, Swing Dancing, and Cocktails
This was the day where I kept thinking, is this real life?
We got picked up early and drove out to Saugatuck, which is about 40 minutes from Grand Rapids. We went out on this retro boat called the Vivien, and it was one of those beautiful Michigan days with the perfect breeze off the water and music playing and I just felt so free out there.
Then we went to Lake Michigan. And I have to tell you, I was told before we went that it technically shouldn't be called a lake. You cannot see the end of it on any side. It's basically an ocean! We got in and it was so refreshing, especially because it was hot out.
When we got back to Grand Rapids, we went to Aroma Labs for a perfume making class, and I have to say, this might have been one of my favorite things we did. I'm very much a beauty person, so this was already going to be fun for me. But I didn't expect it to be so cool.
There were probably 50 to 70 different oils you could smell. You just pick the ones you like, narrow it down, and build your scent. I had this vision of something sweet, beachy, and summery. The woman working there was incredible. She kept being like, girl, you have to try this one, this will make it so good. I ended up making one and she made one for me that was also in the right direction, and they both came out amazing.
One thing I did not expect: I went completely nose blind. I was like, I am literally double blind right now. They had coffee beans for this exact reason, which I thought was hilarious and also genius. I ended up getting a sugar scrub and a roll-on perfume because I couldn't choose. I used both of them so quickly after the trip because they were perfect. I actually had a tropical vacation the week after Grand Rapids and I wore that perfume the entire time.
After Aroma Labs, we went to Rosa Parks Circle for swing dancing with the Swing Dancing Society. This was absolutely out of my comfort zone. I am not a coordinated person. There is very little rhythm in me. But before we started, I went up to the instructor and I let him know I was visually impaired and asked him to keep that in mind. He was so descriptive throughout the whole lesson, describing every move and every step, and I genuinely don't know if he's always that way or if he was being extra helpful because of me, but either way, I appreciated it so much.
I barely actually swing danced. I was mostly just jumping around and hoping for the best. But here's the thing: nobody cared. There were hundreds of people there and everyone was just having fun.
We went straight from swing dancing to The Knickerbocker at New Holland Brewing for a cocktail making class and some food. The vibe was so fun. The people there just wanted us to have a good time. I always feel a little self-conscious about being blind in situations where I might spill things or make a mess, and they were just completely relaxed and encouraging about everything.
We did a little girl dinner that night with a few appetizers. There was one appetizer that I genuinely cannot stop thinking about. It was this hot honey pizza roll situation and I want it on my deathbed. It was so good. I'd go back to Grand Rapids just for that.
Day 3: The Gardens, The Market, Kayaking, and SILVA
I went into Frederik Meijer Gardens expecting a garden. What I found was a magical wonderland.
When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was how earthy and fresh it smelled, and how open it felt. The first main room had these enormous sculpture faces on the walls, like 20 or 30 feet tall. Obviously I couldn't see them. But here's what made this place different from anywhere else I've ever been: they had bronze replicas of the sculptures, the size of my hand, that I could hold and feel. So while everyone else was looking up at this massive face, I was holding the same face in my palm and actually understanding what it was. A lot of accessibility focus goes toward wheelchair users, and visual impairments get overlooked so often. So this was super cool.
There was also a section with these massive blown glass sculptures. I didn't fully understand the scale from descriptions alone, but when I got to touch one, the glass was almost an inch thick. And the equipment they use to make these things is insane. I said to Katie, this isn't art, this is a full athletic event. You have to be a professional athlete to blow glass at this level. I was impressed.
Then we went through the different garden environments and this is where I had my favorite moment of the whole gardens experience. We went into the desert, and I could tell. The heat, the dry air, that kind of warm sandy smell you get on your skin after a day at the beach. Then we went into the rainforest, and I could tell immediately. The humidity, the different smell, more musty and alive. I told Katie I could walk into any of these gardens blindfolded and tell her exactly where we were just from the sensory experience.
After the gardens we went to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market for lunch. When you read about a market online, you kind of assume it's going to be modest. This was not modest. This place had everything. You could eat a different thing every day for weeks and not repeat yourself. There was a fresh fish market, a butcher, all these different food stalls, a coffee shop, and this incredible section of sodas I'd never heard of, all in these beautiful glass bottles. There were probably hundreds of them.
I got an amazing iced coffee, a Greek bowl, a really cool soda, some baked goods, and a few gifts to bring home like olive oil, pickles, and things like that. I was obsessed with this place. We don't have anything like it where I'm from.
That afternoon we went kayaking at Millennium Park, and I should tell you: I was using the paddles wrong the entire time. I figured it out eventually. We had an amazing time anyway!
That night was SILVA, and this was the one I was most curious about going in. Everything I read about it seemed very visual. Interactive dinner, magicians, performers. I was genuinely wondering how they were going to make this work for me. They did an amazing job.
One of the magicians brought over things that were glowing with lights so I could actually see them. I got to spin a plate on my finger, which to this day I still don't understand how that works, but it happened and I am forever changed. The magician was guessing what number was under the dice we were rolling, perfectly, every single time, with our hands covering it. I don't know how. I don't want to know how. But I loved it!
And then the bathrooms. Each bathroom at SILVA is themed differently, which sounds like a visual thing, but they also have different music in each one. I walked into one and it was full punk rock energy. Another one was Britney Spears. It was pretty unique.
Day 4: Move United and the Best Steak I've Ever Had
We went to Calvin University for the Move United Hartford Nationals swim meet, and I did a podcast with them first, talking about adaptive sports and the Paralympics. It fills me up in a way that's hard to describe.
Then we went and watched the competition and I got to meet so many incredible young athletes. These are the next generation of Paralympians. We got to show each other our gold medals, and I met a little girl who is also visually impaired and 11 years old. I am still in contact with her mom weeks later, helping her through her swimming journey. I am so grateful for that connection. She inspired me as much as I hope I inspired her.
That evening we went to MDRD for our farewell dinner. This place was beautiful. I asked the bartender to surprise me with the most fun and unique cocktail on the menu. I still have no idea what was in it, but it was delicious.
For dinner I had a steak, and I need to tell you something as someone from New York. We are known for food. I did not come to Grand Rapids expecting the best steak of my life. That is what I got. It was magnificent. Seasoned perfectly, cooked perfectly.
I also want to mention the server. I was there with Katie, but that doesn't mean I wanted Katie to read me the entire menu. I asked the server if she could help, and she asked me what I typically like and helped me find something that suited me. She did it so naturally, without making it weird or awkward. That's exactly how it should go.
What Grand Rapids Actually Felt Like
I want to say something about the city itself, separate from the activities.
Grand Rapids is not a huge city, which I really appreciate. As someone with a visual impairment, a smaller city is easier to navigate. I felt like if I spent a few weeks there, I could learn it. I could have the city down. That's not something I can say about New York or most big cities where the overwhelm never really goes away.
The sidewalks were also good, no major pothole situations. I've rolled an ankle more than once because a cane or sighted guide misses a pothole. That wasn't an issue in Grand Rapids.
But the thing I keep coming back to, the thing that I felt throughout the entire trip, was how normal it all felt. People weren't walking on eggshells around me. Nobody was treating me like a problem to be solved or an inspiration to be photographed. People were just kind. If I spilled something, the waiter told me not to apologize. If I needed help, someone helped. If I was figuring something out, nobody stared.
What I'd Tell You Before You Go
If you're visually impaired and going to Grand Rapids, here's what I would tell you:
At the Public Museum and Frederik Meijer Gardens, ask for a guide. Specifically. Don't just show up and hope there's accessibility. Ask, and tell them what you need. The staff at both places are genuinely great, but having someone who knows what you can appreciate makes the whole experience different.
Do the food tours, or at least prioritize the food. The Downtown Market, San Chez, SILVA, MDRD. The food in Grand Rapids blew me away and I was not expecting that.
And if you're debating whether to go at all because you're not sure it'll work for you: go. I didn't find a single thing I couldn't do. Not one. The city walked the walk. And for a blind girl from New York who has spent her whole life problem-solving around accessibility gaps, it means a lot.
I'm already planning my next trip back. Next time, I'm bringing my guide dog Cheer!
Grand Rapids is verified for accessibility. Plan your visit with trusted information.
Find hotels, things to do, places to eat, and more with detailed accessibility info
Explore Grand RapidsRelated guides
Ethan Godard
Ethan Godard
Ethan Godard
Comments ()