Hellllloooo Grand Rapids! It’s my hometown, the best there ever was! Well, six months out of the year that is (that’s what we Grandrapidians like to call a winter joke. You’re going to have to get used to those).

Anyway, I have been so excited to write this eat and run guide to Grand Rapids because essentially, that’s all I do here!

However, I’ve learned that writing about your hometown is easier said than done. It’s easy to write about a place as an outsider, but how can you write about a place that has become a part of you? Fortunately, this task has helped me pull this marvelous city out of the blurred routine of my everyday life. I felt like a freshman in college again, feeling lost (literally and figuratively… I’m terrible with directions) in the wonder of the Grandest of Rapids.

Grand Rapids has come a long way over the years. Nowadays, people actually want to live here and visit voluntarily! The city has also grown to love its foodie and runner population. Trail systems have been put into place and expanded and restaurants and breweries seem to pop up overnight. It is not an unusual occurrence for a Saturday to find the streets of downtown closed for a road race and running groups crowded around restaurant tables for a post-run meal. Grand Rapids is home to the 5/3 River Bank 25K Run, the Grand Rapids Marathon, and Beer City USA.

Grand Rapids is home to the 5/3 River Bank 25K Run, the Grand Rapids Marathon, and Beer City USA. The city is small without lacking character. It’s the best of city running: enough to see so you’re never bored but not much traffic standing in your way. The city is so cool, I sometimes willingly run up and down the giant Fountain St hill just to see the river and cross the moderately-iconic blue bridge.

You could easily spend a weekend exploring the city. I’ve also met people who have spent a lifetime here and have no regrets.

** Quick Note: I’ve also included a few East Grand Rapids perks in here. Even though they are our Eagleton to our Pawnee (Their motto is literally,”A better place to live”), the city has a few highlights worth mentioning.

Where to Run

Kent Trails: Every Grand Rapids runner/biker knows the Kent Trails. Heavily shaded with little to no hills or traffic, you’ll see a lot of training groups out there weekend mornings. An out and back on this trail can easily make up a long run (15 miles of trails total). It isn’t plowed in the winter, but enough fanatics head out there anyway so the snow is usually packed. These trails are best to try out if you have to do some serious solo contemplation on life. Or if not, grab a running buddy. With little distractions, it’s the perfect place to get lost in one of those classic deep running conversations.

Side note: Jackson and I were running on this trail a few years ago when I blurted out that I  was tired of all this dating nonsense and I just wanted to get married already. A month later, we were engaged.

Millenium Park: Paved, wooded loops around lakes. Peaceful and a great place to get in some uninterrupted miles. Also, I was demolished by a pack of young children during a Millenium Park race last year. Not my best moment.

Riverside Park: Here’s my suggestion about Riverside Park: incorporate it into any downtown Grand Rapids run. Run across the blue bridge and head down Monroe Ave until you reach Riverside. That way, you’ll get to run along the river, see downtown, and get some extra miles in. This route is a great balance of city and park running.

Eastown(!): My neighborhood! It’s charming and wonderful. Run past the shops on Lake and down all the neighborhood streets. ALL of them. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to move there immediately.

Heritage Hill: As the name suggests, it’s pretty hilly. But the houses are super cool and a great way to pass the time during an easy run.

Reeds Lake Trail: A classic! The 4 mile (plus a little extra) trail loops around Reeds Lake. It’s got hills, giant houses, turtles, and ducks. What more could you want? I suggest running the loop in the early morning. You’ll get some great views and all the wimps that crowd the trail after work are still sleeping (totally kidding, but it is less crowded).

Calvin College Loop: This loop is a little over a mile (with some backwoods trails you can add in). You have to run through charming East Grand Rapids neighborhoods to get to the campus, which could be worse. The campus is usually quiet and a great place to go to add on a few extra miles. Also, there’s usually a random dining hall open where you can snag a drink from a water fountain.

Where to Eat

Harmony: My all-time favorite. I have nothing but good memories at Harmony. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed and the pizza is what dreams are made of. I don’t like restaurants where I feel like there’s a lot of pressure. At Harmony, the wait staff is laid back and never openly judge me for eating a salad followed by an entire pizza. I belong in places such as these. Also, I’ve heard their beer is good too.

Hop Cat: Although now more of a Michigan thing than a Grand Rapids thing, Hop Cat is still a great go-to option. If you like beer, that’s good because they have a ton of it. Also, the fries. I’m sure whatever the magic ingredient is pure evil because nothing wholesome can taste that good. I justify my second order of fries with the fact that I didn’t get any beer. In my mind, it totally works. If for some reason you want an actual mean, I certainly recommend the turkey burger.

Downtown Market: This is a great place to go if you have a whole group of people who are too polite to make decisions. The Downtown Market is essentially an upscale food court. You have options for the carnivore (Slow’s BBQ), the vegan (Rak Thai), the person who only ever eats ice cream (Love’s Ice cream)… But the best of the best belongs to Fish Lads. I’ve had the lobster roll and the fish and chips. Both absolutely fantastic. And on Fridays: Bottomless fish and chips. Yessss.

Electric Cheetah: Back in the day when I was a freshman terrified of venturing out in the big city, I would do hours of research before committing to a restaurant. I don’t know if I was scared of getting mugged or murdered or hopelessly lost, but a restaurant had to be AMAZING for me to risk leaving the safety of my honors college dorm room. Just a quick note: I’m not quite as petrified of literally everything now.

Anyway, Electric Cheetah was the place I was willing to risk my life for. The dishes are creative without sacrificing on comfort. The specials are always enticing, but I tend to stick to my nap-inducing “choose three.” Half of the Jive Turkey Salad, Half of the club tickle sandwich, and a whole mess of sweet potato and russet fries. Make sure to ask for half sweet potato fries and half russet. I mean, you already made it clear by choosing three menu items that you aren’t capable to make a decision, why have to decide on fries.

San Chez: I always casually suggest we go here when my parents are in town (and paying). This place is all about tapas, so the bill can add up. But I 100% think the food is worth my parents’ money. Plus, it’s so fun when plates of food keep coming and coming like a magical loop of tastiness. This is a great place to go on a date with a fellow runner (or another human) who loves food as much as you. Since there are so many dishes, you’ll have so many conversation topics!

The Pita House: This place is literally steps from my house, but I only boldly ventured through their doors a few months ago. Trying new things is usually not worth the effort, you know? However, The Pita House was. It’s like a Subway but not depressing and the meat isn’t made out of cardboard. You can choose what you put on your falafel sandwich and while you wait you have time to justify ordering both greek fries AND hummus and pita chips as respectable sides.

Cherry Deli: Sandwich shops are beautiful things. They are buildings containing nothing but the best food on earth. Cherry Deli has more options than the teenagers working behind the counter could ever memorize. All their sandwiches are named after Grand Rapids streets, which is just adorable. The service can be a little slow, but the paper-wrapped sandwiches are so worth it.

What to Race

Bridge Run: So many bridges! The bridge run is advertised as a 10-mile race, but it’s actually about 9.5 (and the race directors know it, which is just hilarious). The course is a breath of fresh air to the usual Grand Rapids racing routes. It’s well-organized, a fun distance, and if you’re a fan of bridges… Well, this race just might be perfect for you.

Fifth Third River Bank Run: The River Bank Run is Grand Rapids biggest race by far. We actually have international runners attend! And a 25K? That’s crazy! It’s a weird distance, those last couple miles after you reach the half marathon mark just feel wrong. But it’s a great step for those anxious about an upcoming marathon. If 15.5 miles doesn’t feel all that different than 13.1, how different could a marathon REALLY feel? There is a great energy to this race, though. Lots of spectators and the finish feels like one belonging to a big city marathon.

Grand Rapids Marathon: I have run the Grand Rapids Marathon twice. Both times were because of convenience. Let me just say, there are better Michigan marathons out there. Nothing really stands out about Grand Rapids. The course is flat but not all that interesting, especially for locals. It also doesn’t allow for many spectators when you need them the most. The creative pacing groups are a big plus and the volunteers are wonderful. However, the race is overpriced, especially the half marathon. I promised myself I wouldn’t go into a rant about the money behind this marathon, so I’ll stop here. I suggest running this marathon if you’re looking for a standard PR-friendly race. If you want even MORE information, check out my review of the GR Marathon here.

Gazelle Girl Half Marathon: The race that earns an eye roll from all misogynists out there! This women-only marathon is run on the purest form of female empowerment. I have yet to run it myself (my schedule never quite allows it), but I have seen the behind the scenes work that goes into this race. Lots of love and lots of woman power. It’s practically guaranteed you’ll have an awesome time during this race, especially if you drag along your female running friends.