Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Reviews

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a can’t miss place to visit in Grand Rapids. Acres of gardens with some of the best sculpture in America. Multiple trams are available to move help tour or wander at your own leisure. Indoor gardens including a desert scape and a garden of succulents that eat bugs! There is a great children’s garden and cafeteria, so you can plan a fun day.

Our son’s family lives in Grand Rapids, so we often visit Meier Gardens. It’s enjoyable whether we visit during Christmas to see decorated trees from other countries, summer to walk the garden paths and visit the children’s garden where the grandkids can run and climb, or during the butterfly exhibit in the spring. The special exhibits are interesting as well.

I didn't do much research before coming here, mainly came on a whim. Honestly, I was blown away by what I saw. I'm grateful that I didn't skip over the park - there is so much to see. The sculptures were by far the highlight for me. It's not just the horse, there are so many beautiful sculptures from renowned artist (for example: Ai wei wei) that it felt I was going through an art exhibit.

Pictures don't do the park justice. Definitely a must-do if you are in the area. Even worth making a long trip specifically to the park itself if you have to.

Loved seeing Styx and Foreigner here! Truly wonderful!!! The staff, the restroom facilities, all perfect and wonderful!! Wish they offered mixed drinks but other than that, love this place!

My husband and I live a couple hours outside of Grand Rapids and we visited he gardens as an afternoon trip.

I had been before years ago, but my husband had never been.

The sculptures are really interesting and the gardens are nice as well.

It’s very large, definitely enough to do / see to make it worth a day trip!

My favorite thing though is the Japanese Friendship Garden. Beautiful plants and cherry blossom trees. Very serene.

They also have a Zen Garden.

If you’re in the area and have the time to explore I’d definitely recommend!

The different things to see in one place. Worth the admission. Great place to take in beauty and art.

There are so many reasons to visit the Meijer Gardens. Spring flowers, butterflies, Japanese Gardens, concerts and just to take a relaxing walk around the park. You can bring kids to play in their own park or walk over to the wetlands or the distant sculptures to be by yourself. Go on your own or with friends. The Christmas decorations are fantastic. It doesn't matter what time of year, what day of the week or time of the day - there is always something to enjoy here. Even the Café food is great.

I really enjoyed Japanese gardens. I really enjoy Sculpture Gardens. I discovered the Meijer Gardens from a random internet link titled The Five Best Japanese gardens in the United States. I went by myself for a 4-day getaway for rest and relaxation. I flew on a Sunday, had Monday and Tuesday totally open, and flew back on Wednesday. I chose to be there the two full days in case it was raining or some kind of bad weather on day one. I ended up going to the gardens both Monday and Tuesday. They are huge! Gorgeous and well maintained. I ate lunch at the restaurant there, and went back and got takeout food for my dinner back at the hotel for both nights. The food was the best. I did take the tram around the sculptures that were more remote on day two. I am glad I did the guide/tram driver was very informative.

I can't wait to visit in the summer because I know that is when we will get the full experience but we visited the holiday exhibit to see all of the Christmas trees from around the world and a live reindeer. The kids played in the outdoor kids area a little while before getting hot cocoa. My favorite was the tropical greenhouse. A little bit of humidity and palm trees made me happy on a cold day. The age and size of some of the plants is unreal!

This was a very enjoyable attraction, highly recommend to art fans or naturalists. You'll need half a day to see it all, a little longer if you have small children and want to enjoy the children's play area. It is a lot of walking. Since this was our first visit, we took the tram tour. The tour does give you a lot of information about the sculptures that you wouldn't get otherwise and drives past the farthest areas, savings you a little bit of walking. The conservatory was one of the best I've ever been too. Vast selection of exotic plants, many I'd never seen before. The walks through the Japanese garden, shade garden, and wetlands boardwalk were very relaxing. Loved the cute statues in the farm garden.
Nice picnic area outside the entrance.

This place is amazing especially if you like art/sculpture. Spent the better part of a day just to see everything and take pictures. The outdoor area is very large. The winding paths through the gardens and around the ponds were very scenic. Large variety of plants and trees. Allow at least half a day or more to see everything. Highly recommend.

We absolutely loved our visit! We lucked out in having beautiful weather. I cant imagine this place being very fun in the cold or rain as much of it is outside. I love plants and art so I was in heaven. Definitely will visit again!

I put together some footage for my YouTube channel which you can check out on my channel Mary Beth' Midwest Adventures. I also have an entire series on Grand Rapids as well! Hope it helps you decide what to do (or not do!).

Love walking the gardens and just having quiet time alone OR meeting a friend for a walk and talk OR grabbing the grand kids for fun in the Children’s Garden with the Great Lakes as an are to cool off after exploring the biggest tree house!

What a FABULOUS place. I so enjoyed my visit here: beautiful gardens (including the Japanese one) alongside stunning, world-class, interesting, and sometimes very humorous sculpture. The team tour was excellent - full marks to the guide.

Meijer Gardens is a Michigan treasure!! Any time of the year, it's a wonderful place to spend a day...with your honey, your best friend, circle of friends, your kids, or the whole family. You set the pace and pick and choose the paths you want to go on. Love the Sculpture Garden with works by such greats as Rodin, Miro, Ai Wei Wei, and Mark di Suvero. The beauty and serenity of the Japanese Garden invites you to sit and enjoy it all. If you like Marshall Fredericks, don't miss the Children's Garden, whether you have kids or not. Lunch in the Cafe under Lena's Garden, the Persian ceiling by Chihuly, is a treat! And the food is tasty. During this COVID-19 time, your visit is safe as they have instituted one-way entrance and exit routes, mask and social distancing requirements, cashless transactions, hand sanitizer, and safe seating and sanitizing in the cafe. If I lived closer, I would be a member and visit frequently!!

My family and I had an amazing time walking the property and viewing the memorable and creative sculptures on display. Some of the pieces made us think outside our normal thinking and try to see what the artist were thinking while creating these beautiful sculptures.

Visited on a family road trip this weekend. There is a lot of walking. But definitely worth the time. I have heard great things about the gardens but the size on paper does not do it justice. I would like to check back in another season. But the leaves were starting to change on the trees and it was beautiful!

Great place. Peaceful and artistic. Amazing gardens. A must visit if you are in the Grand Rapids area. Handicap friendly friendly.

I would highly recommend the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. A must see if you're traveling to or through Grand Rapids. Plan on 2-3 hours to see everything. As a side note, we dined at Rose's Restaurant on the lake.

I can't comment on the gardens or sculpture, as my husband and I just came for a concert in the amphitheater. Everything up until showtime was annoying, stressful, and confusing. Long lines to get through security, not clear how many lines there were so we got into one and apparently chose wrong as one next to us moved much faster for some reason. We'd read on website about what items not to bring but hadn't realized that pretty much had to have a low folding chair if you wanted to see anything, unless you paid for one of the white plastic chairs which had several areas reserved for them. Though I was glad we didn't have chairs with us as the person in front of us was turned away for not having a tag on hers that apparently she was supposed to have gotten put on it before reaching security though how she would have known that since there were no signs telling anyone that back in the line. By the time we got in, the lawn was almost entirely full, with folks scrambling to fill the odd pockets of open space. We ended up paying extra for white plastic chairs, though the areas for those were filling up fast by the time we realized that would be necessary if we wanted to see the stage. My husband stayed with our chairs while I walked around looking for any better options; by chance I found there was another white chair area on one side that still had good sightlines so we ended up there and did have an okay view (and easy access to the restrooms as a bonus). I don't think we'll be back for a concert, but if we are, we'll be sure to get there extra extra early and bring chairs that fit into their measurements and get them tagged before we reach security.

Loved spending time meandering the pathways through these magnificent gardens. Beautiful plants, trees, flowers and amazing art around every turn. We took the tram ride and we’re not disappointed; can’t wait to come back for a look at another season in these stunning gardens!

There gardens were lovely. Be sure to go through the children's garden even if you don't have children. The American Horse was gigantic. The food in the restaurant was tasty. The gift shop had a nice selection. Admission was $14.50.

Very nice Christmas displays! The different trees that represented different countries and explanations of the holiday traditions was very interesting. We weren’t sure what to expect but we were very pleased. The buildings made from all different nuts, leaves and such were breathtaking! We will go back this summer.

Revisited the Meijer Gardens it was wonderful the flowers spectacular. The sculptures had something for everyone. The costs are very reasonable especially compared to Florida. A great walk if you like or take the tram. The children’s garden was a joy. Good people volunteers were everywhere.

Even though we could not visit the outside gardens, due to severe thunderstorms, we thoroughly enjoyed this attraction. The staff was glad to have the gardens open after being closed because of COVID 19. The cost could have been reduced because the outer area was off limits.

Fantastic place. I'm not the kind of person that would typically enjoy something of this nature but I found it really fascinating. The grounds are spectacular the sculptures amazing. Wear good walking shoes.

Frederik Meijer Gardens can only be called spectacular! WOW! A whole day is recommended here (perhaps two).
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a 158-acre botanical garden, art museum, and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan, opened in 1995. It includes a tropical conservatory, an 8-acre Japanese garden, major works of modern and contemporary sculpture on the grounds and indoors, along with a series of outdoor gardens and nature trails.
Anywhere else the Japanese garden would be a destination by itself. Here it is but a part of this wonderful property.
The restaurant/cafe on this property is also good. We both had the Michigan Cherry Salad and it was great.
Highly recommended.

Visited on a recent trip to Grand Rapids. We were very impressed with the gardens and park. Staff were very friendly and accommodating.

We enjoyed this beautiful park on a cool fall day. The tram ride gave a good overview of the park. We were lucky to miss the rain that day as it started pouring as soon as we got to the car.

We only had about 90 minutes to explore the gardens, but I would have loved much more time. We spent our time on the rooftop garden, the indoor exhibits, and the children’s garden. My 10 year old had a blast in the children’s garden. My husband and I also enjoyed it and actually I didn’t even realize that we were still in the children’s garden after 60 minutes. There’s so much to see and do! We loved how the sculptures are interspersed with the gardens. I would love to return and explore the rest of the grounds.

Our third visit over quite a few years. Gardens and grounds beautifully maintained. So much to see. The new building is very attractive. Be sure to watch the short video on its development. We always enjoy coming here. It is a must attraction.

This is a true gem in not only west Michigan but the Midwest. A fantastic pairing of art and horticulture that is both educational and enjoyable. They have a very nice music venue and awesome live music each summer.

Lots of sculptures and plants to see. An easy walking venue. The Japanese garden is very nice. Spent three hours and could have done more.

Great place for a picnic with beautiful views. It also has very nice small venue concertes during the summer.

I've been to FMG in every season and I'm not sure which is my favorite. Their fall display is always so creative and different. During the Spring, Summer, and Fall months the gardens and sculptures outside make for a beautiful walk even for kids. The Christmas season is a gorgeous display of Christmas trees from around the world. Their Corpse Flower always draws crowds when it's in bloom and the butterflies in the spring are so much fun for kids. A perfect outing for grand parents to take grand kids.

This is fascinating. One could plan many days here and not see it all. The dual presentation of sculpture and horticulture is a must see. One can walk and there is a tram. make sure you sit as close to the front as possible.

A beautiful horticultural experience but with the addition of world class sculptures! And they’re expanding. The beautiful flowers, the peace of the Japanese Gardens, giant horse sculpture, plus classical pieces by Rodin and Degas left me awestruck. The tropical plant exhibits fabulous as well. The tram was a plus for an overview of such a large exhibit and the gift shop is wonderful. I picked out gifts and cards for friends and family back home, very unique items. I wanted to buy a piece of Chihuly glass sculpture for myself but it wasn’t in my budget. So I will enjoy the photo!

Our Diamond Bus Tour stopped for lunch and a tour. Rest rooms and the whole facility was very clean. Our lunch was very reasonably priced with an a large portion. We could have split very easily. Staff was very accommodating to everyone. The gift shop was one of the best I've seen lately. I could have spent the whole afternoon looking at the unusual things from $1 - ....... whatever. OH yes ... the gardens were very beautiful ....I especially liked the Alice in Wonderland themed garden.

We enjoyed the flowers and the meandering walk through the back areas of the gardens the most. It is quiet, serene, and peaceful. Some of the sculptures were quite thought-provoking, and some were too modern for our taste, but many of them we liked. The American Horse is quite a sight to see, and you certainly want to look it over. We also appreciated the special indoor gardens, that have VERY high glass domed ceilings, with large trees and other foliage in them. We enjoyed the Japanese Gardens perhaps most of all, as they were built around a small pond in a delightfully appealing manner. All in all quite a memorable place to visit.

We love to come and walk the gardens in all seasons. It’s paved and you can get a good 2-3 mile walk outside.

The inside has different plants and species that you didn’t know existed! The butterflies are always great as are the Christmas trees from different countries. There is always a feature exhibit and in November it’s “The Womb” which is awesome. Shows stages of a baby from conception through glass and paintings. Also a beautiful and calming space there with over a million dried flowers.

Always something new and exciting at the gardens.

Grand Rapids should be proud to have this park there.We are tourist from Milwaukee and found this to be great-----the glass buildings have beautiful ares of different zones of plants. And the sculpture park has many great sculptures----and a great children's area and a Japanese area that we never got to because there was so much to see. BUT--the greatest is the 24 foot sculpture THE AMERICAN HORSE----make sure you read the 4 plaques on the wall that explain the whole reason behind it.

We were wanting a weekend getaway and randomly chose to drive from Indy area to Grand Rapids MI. When we stumbled on the Meijer’s Gardens our minds were blown with an explosion of beautiful flowers, amazing statues and delicious food.
The Meijer’s family has done an incredible service to the world by working in harmony with God to provide this place of treasures and delights.
There is something for everyone (young & old alike) - both inside and in the incredible outside (weather permitting) gardens and peaceful walks.
We STRONGLY RECOMMEND investing an additional $5/person for the tram ride to get an guided tour of the grounds and the secrets of this haven of rest and celebration of beauty.
Our tour guide “Al” and driver “Tom” are outstanding and made this trip a true TREAT!! 🤩

We definitely will be back to bring friends and family.
Thanks for a great experience worth repeating! 😎

This is a must visit for any age! It is such a large property, and very clean! Great way to spend a few hours! So much to see and do. The children’s area is so cute with a sand box, water area and tree house.

If I could rate this ten out of ten I would. Holy crap this was the most stunning sculpture garden I've ever been to. I also cannot quite describe the scale. I think the said it's 180 acres? It is genuinely massive, and over three hours we saw maybe a quarter of it. Every inch of the indoor and outdoor establishments is covered with some of the most incredible art. The Chihuly ceiling in the cafe was a particular highlight, as well as the Euphoria room I believe, in the entrance? God just stunning. There's a children's garden, and even though we are all adults we all enjoyed walking the paths and seeing the art. We didn't get to the Japanese tea/zen garden, that's next on our list. Take the tram if you go, it gets you all around for some of the best views. Espaliered Girl I love you. Already actively planning a return trip as soon as humanly possible.

This place is amazing. One can spend hours appreciating both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The sculpture park was so interesting . We were like playing hide and seek with the sculptures. One has to look 360° to look for them. The most impressive of all was the American Horse. It was huge and unbelievably well sculpted.
The Japanese garden was well designed with waterfalls, zen rock garden, and bonsai displays. We enjoyed walking the meandering pathways around the pond. The views change around each corner .
The adults had fun at the children's garden ,too. Playing and watching the toy boats sailing through the great lakes was fun.
Don't forget the large pavilion with tropical plants as well as desert and carnivorous plants.
This place is awesome. The cafeteria's food was good,too and reasonably priced.

Never expected a grocery tycoon to have such a wonderful art and botanical garden display. I was particularly impressed with the tropical plant displays. But the whole building and outside displays are beyond impressive.

This is an outstanding facility in Grand Rapids. It is 150 plus acres of a combination of a sculpture park and arboretum. It is relatively new, founded in 1995. The gardens includes a large conservatory and various outside gardens along with a long wood nature walk. The garden also has a very large sculpture garden with couple hundred sculptures on display. The staff that we dealt with were helpful. Very nice way to spend the day in Grand Rapids. A must see if you are in Grand Rapids.

The most stunning and inspirational sculptures set in glorious gardens. I would certainly visit several times a year if I lived close by, to view the changing seasons in the gardens. Do take the tram tour, well worth the additional $5. Excellent for little kids, and older kids too!

Before our visit in late September, the last time we went to Meijer Gardens & Sculpture was 10 years ago. It was great then and equally enjoyable now.
The gardens are lovely, but the draw for us is the sculpture. Most pieces are large and represent quite a cross section of the 20th Century.
In a chaotic world, it was refreshing to engage with the perspectives of different artists. Because the collection is varied, it’s likely that each visitor will find their favorites.
Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is well worth visiting. There aren’t so many sculpture parks in the world. This one is well curated and exquisitely maintained. We’ll return, much sooner than 10 years from now.

Found this on Trip Advisor - had never heard of this place before. Wow! Amazing gardens would be something to see by themselves, but add in 200 sculptures in a beautiful setting - it's amazing! Really enjoyed all aspects. Took the tram ride through the sculpture park - that's a must do. We visited during Covid - face masks are required inside and out. Restaurant on site for lunch. Everything is clean. Tram seats were wiped down after each rider - felt safe.

This is a very impressive gardens, and sculpture gardens, and children’s play gardens.

The entry hall is brand new and extremely imposing.

The staff is friendly and helpful.

There is plenty of free parking.

We spent a long morning here. It’s very cool with over a hundred sculptures to view across the grounds. There are also several beautiful gardens to view, including a very large Japanese garden and a kids garden area.

Do not miss this one.

We enjoyed our walk around these gardens. All areas of the gardens were well maintained and beautiful. Our favorite was the Japanese Gardens which presented many photo opportunities. The Sculpture Garden had a lot of unique and interesting sculptures. We didn't have any children with us, but the children's garden looked like a lot of fun for kids.

Very cool place! Loved the variety of plants, trees and flowers. Sculptures were nice as well. If you go on a hot day make sure to bring your own water to stay hydrated. Would have liked to have more water drinking options throughout park.

We spent about 5 hours here and enjoyed every moment of it. Be sure and take tram even though it is an extra couple dollars to get the lay of the land. Even though we are senior citizens we found the children area very enjoyable. The oriental garden was the only disappointment as it is very large for the little it has to offer.

Loved the butterfly sanctuary. Great place for all ages. The sculptures were unique. The paths to the sculptures could be laid out better. A lot of backtracking.
I would like to go back in the summer to see the gardens in bloom.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

One of the most beautiful museums /botanical gardens/ Japanese gardens/ sensory gardens/ sound gardens /
Prayerful gardens/sculpture gardens ….
That I have ever been to✨
A true piece of heaven, we could have spent all day. Gratitude to all who are involved in this beautiful garden. Thank you to the Meijer family, the donors, the visionaries, the workers and volunteers . If you are in the area or even if you are not , make the trek and plan for several hours.

Truly a magical spot✨

Absolutely excellent place to visit. Displays were seasonally beautiful. Tram ride well worth a little additional cost to see the sculptures and hear their history. One of our party had a broken foot and the park provided a wheelchair at no cost and everything was accessible! Japanese garden is a must! Free tour was wonderful. If we lived here - membership would be a must!. Don't miss this great park!

Our group had the most wonderful trip to Meijer Sculpture Gardens. Since we were a group of almost 20 we were able to get a private tour and received terrific attention from the staff. Erin Quick was exceptionally helpful and a knowledgeable resource. The gardens, sculptures, and tour exceeded our expectations! It is a wonderful full day for gardeners and art aficionados alike! AA+++!!

Went to Grand Rapids with my husband for a business trip and because of a canceled flight we end up visiting Sunday afternoon the gardens.
It was amazing!! The sculptures, the peaceful walks, all very well kept, clean and with very nice seniors at the front desk.
Even the cold was not enough for stopping us walking this lovely place.
And above all, the exposition/installation of the Womb was the cherry on top.
Keep doing a great job!
Regards from Bogotá, Colombia.

We stopped at the Gardens and Sculpture Park on our way to Saugatuck for a few nights and absolutely loved it! Taking the tram gives you a great overview of the park, but make sure to leave enough time to explore the Japanese Gardens and other hidden areas of the park (not seen by the tram) on your own. A stunning place with interesting art -- highly recommend!!!!

Wonderful botanical gardens and sculpture park. The Japanese garden was my favorite - beautiful huge white hydrangea bushes, red Maple trees surrounding the path around the lake. Didn't have children with us, but other little ones were having fun in the Great Lakes water feature. Stayed for the Tuesday evening concert which was fun sitting on the lawn in the cooler evening weather (it was 90 degrees the day were were visiting). Ate at the cafe and enjoyed the Michigan Cherry Chicken salad.

Not sure I know enough superlatives to adequately describe what an amazing and wonderful place is the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Reciprocal AHS membership, which is greatly appreciated.
We started out taking the $8 per person credit-card only Tram half-hour ride with clear, interesting audio around the park. Highly recommend for learning about sights and getting a feel for the park.
Then we headed to explore the Japanese Garden and, of course, more sculptures including the magnificent Leonardo da Vinci's Horse brought to gigantic life. Note the two smaller versions in the complex that surely give the visually impaired a sense of the statue’s magnificence.
The Children’s Garden is delightful. The 69,000 square foot Welcome Center is a huge room where the Information Desk is located. Gaze around you to appreciate Utopia —the faces created by Jaume Plensa. Then go down the hall to view a 20-minute movie about the making of these sculptures.
Interior to the building are also tropical gardens and even one dedicated to carnivorous plants. Additionally there are special exhibit displays. Currently there is the contemporary faces in all different mediums.
Plan many hours here to appreciate the special sculptures in their garden setting.

Visit to sculpture park with friends from Ferdale Mi. Young kids with us.Had a wonderful day. Kids loved kids area. We enjoyed the different art.

Love the park . Highly recommended to take trams tour . Many sculptures. Buddha head in Japanese garden is cool. It is quite hiding so you have to look in a map to find it.

While the sculpture and the gardens are lovely as any should be with the amount of money that is available to procure the art and manicure the gardens, the park was a trial to navigate. Everyone gets a map, but there are few maps throughout the park that tell you where you are when you are out there wandering. We encountered one 'ask me' volunteer as we left the park. The tram was nice for the small part of the park it traveled, but it leaves you in the middle of the park (maybe) without visual directions. No option for a ride back to the main building. The tram itself is still gasoline powered so don't sit in the second car of the tram. Their little runabouts for the staff are also gasoline powered and leave you in their exhaust as they zip past. Yes, there is construction going on which might make the necessary walking longer than usual, but no accommodations were made for it if that is the case. The cafe is good, very good. Enjoy lunch and leave.

Definitely a must see this place is huge from the carnivorous plants inside to sculpture Park to Chinese garden to children's garden this place has it all The board walk was beautiful walk to saw lots of turtles and cranes on the water everything was beautiful.

This place was amazing!
It is huge so be sure to plan plenty of time, like most of a day.
The cafe was quick nice and they have water bottle fill stations around the park.
This garden gives you all the best things. There are glass houses, sculptures, water features, kids area, farm, formal gardens and wild wooded areas.
The Japanese Garden is outstanding. There is even a tea house that is open on certain days.
The current big feature is the Giant American Horse. It is fully worth the price of admission alone.
This place is certainly a must see.

A huge area to explore the sculptures and gardens. Tons of people were there and social distancing was not being enforced much.

Had a great time as usual visiting. Great variety of sculptures, plants and animal life. Can easily spend hours here making the price worth it. Tickets are appropriately priced for what you get. You can tell this is a true labor of love.

The Gardens are beautiful, even in the fall. There’s plenty to see and it’s easy to spend several hours wandering around. The tram service was closed when we were there, but the gardens are walkable if you’re used to being on your feet. There’s some construction going on, but not so much that it detracts from a visit.

Definitely take the tram tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate. Some interesting pieces in the sculpture collection.

We enjoyed dinner in the large atrium. Would be a great wedding reception venue.

We came for Labor Day weekend. They're in the process of building a new welcome center. The current one seems nice to me. Looking forward to seeing what it will look like when it's done, in a little over a year. The gardens and sculpture park is huge, over 186 acres. There is a children's garden and Japanese garden along with a sculpture park. Our 7 and 4 year olds loved the children's garden, with the tree house. The Japanese garden had a lot of uneven paths that you could take. These 2 gardens require a lot of walking. The sculpture park is massive, suggest spending the money to ride the tram. It's too much walking for young children. You could spend an entire day here. There is also huge green houses with all sorts of plants and animals to see. We had a great time and would recommend this for anyone who loves beautiful scenery.

Mask policy not enforced. Otherwise - really great. When you get away from coastal Michigan - masks become much more of a political issue - and this place doesn't seem to want to bother to enforce it. Sad really - because for some - this is a total deal breaker. It's not easy to travel these days - and destinations like this make for a great one or two day trip. The sculpture and out-door gardens are nothing short of the best I've seen - but indoors - totally different story. Maskless people stare at others making sure you realize their political alignment on the issue - and that just sucks. It really put a damper on the experience. When the pandemic ends - check it out - before then - think twice.

Several area friends described this as a must-see, and they were absolutely correct. The combination of sculpture, both classical and modern, and the natural setting was stunning. We spent almost 3 hours walking the trails, and still didn't see everything. DO bring water -- we weren't sure if it was allowed, so we left ours in the car (our mistake). The indoor exhibits are amazing as well. This place is gorgeous and was a highlight of our 2-week trip to Michigan.

In my top 5 places to bring visitors. There’s quite literally something for everyone, all ages and never disappoints. Very accessible and thoughtfully laid out, you can easy spend an entire day wandering. Don’t ask me to choose a favorite area, they all have allure! Ample parking, clean and handy restrooms and several areas to grab a bite. Grab your kids, grandparents and friends and just go play for the day.

We were fortunate to have a brisk but comfortable winter day to stroll the sculpture park and gardens. A truly outstanding facility. We will definitely plan a return visit when the vegetation is in full bloom.

Wow I am floored. I only wanted to go see the 'big horsie' and I ended up several hours walking in 33 deg windy weather but it was worth it!!! Saw many sculptures, the amphitheater, inside arboratiums and gardens, and yup the 'big horsie'. Beautiful gift shop, roof top garden, there was nothing I did NOT like. Would love to go back with things in bloom but don't let the weather ever stop you from experiencing this wonderful gift to Grand Rapids. AND...they are expanding. Thank you Fred Meijer!!!!!!!

We live in St Louis, home to the BEST botanical garden in the world. However, this garden gives ours a strong run for the money!! It has beautiful displays and wildflowers and other flora, PLUS impressive scupltures as well. Their children's garden is large and very special, especially for smaller children. We took their tram ride and it was nice and informative. DEFINITELY worth a visit!

TERRIBLE place for concerts. Strict rules for size of chairs and size of coolers allowed. We went for sold out Bonnie Raitt show, which was general admission. Long, LONG lines for security. Box office not clearly visible. Seating is on sloped grass and they pack you in like sardines. Staff members dig through trash to separate recycling. But the WORST part? Artists are restricted on how long they can play because of a noise ordinance. Bonnie was only onstage for 1hr 15mins. Rip off.

The childrens area was awful. There was 2 field trips their on the day we went. The children were screaming and not being very nice. Once we got away from all the screams it was nice. I really enjoyed the Japanese gardens. Very chill. We had lunch Family of 5 spend $60. Food was good.

A beautiful park of sculptures, botanicals, gardens, and facilities. Attended a wedding here and can't say enough about the venue. Food was good. Was a wonderful experience.
The park itself has some construction going on but indoor and outdoor sites still open. We enjoyed the tropical room and others and also the sculptures in the park. The waterfall area was beautiful. Staff was wonderful. Must return sometime to take it all in and not be rushed by the time we had.

We came for the last day of the butterflies which was a great experience. We also saw the children’s garden which is a wonderful garden with so much to do and learn. We enjoyed the Japanese garden which over the years is maturing into quite a beautiful place. And we enjoyed some of the sculptures as well. A wonderful time.

Had to get out of the house for a while during the pandemic. This was a great choice. Excellent outdoor gardens & sculpture walk.

I thought we were in for flowers- but sculptures were along the pathway, everywhere. We took the little train to save time- and it getting cold outside.

A special place for all occasions, This wonderful legacy of Meijer has everything a family should enjoy seeing and experiencing at least once in their lifetime which is what my wife and I did this past week. WHAT A JOY.

This is one of the top attractions in the country. The gardens are beautiful; the Japanese Garden, in particular, is large and magnificent. There are many sculptures in the gardens, but they are primarily decorative. The sculpture park is large and truly world class. The Gallery section alone would rival similar sized collections anywhere in the world.

The buildings are beautiful too, and house additional plants. The arid and carnivorous rooms are especially notable. There is also a very large and good cafe on the premises.

If you go-and if you are in the area you really should-wear comfortable shoes and allocate at least 1/2 day. We walked a total of 5 miles on our visit.

This is simply a great place.

Get a family pass if planning on going more than once. It pays for itself by the second time that you use it! We come here often, this time was for a late night (Tuesday nights only). We went to see santa and listen to carolers. It was a great family evening, lots of decoration's and lights too.

Can't wait for butterfly season in a few months!

This park and garden is an unexpected joy. The sculptures are all thought provoking and beautiful. the greenhouses contain spectacular plant species. The kids were having fun playing in the children's garden. We also saw some beautiful, colorful birds flying freely. The only downside was that we were there on a day when an evening concert was scheduled. The band came in around 4 pm and blasted the air with about 1 hour of their set. I guess it was rock and roll. If you have the option, you might want to check the concert schedule and choose a day when you will not be affected by the electronic din.

Visiting Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park is usually a highlight at any time of the year. Their current exhibit should be entitled “Boring Butterflies & Dead Blooms” as the butterflies were common and nothing exceptional. They must lost key members of their horticultural team, because many plants were dying. I’ve never seen the conservatory is such a sad state. and especially during a special exhibit.

The Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse, usually filled with seasonal blooms, was pathetic. The spring blooms were sparse and many were dying. There were no caterpillars (as advertised) on display as in past years.

Finally, it was very disconcerting to see a large presence of security personnel. It was extremely uncomfortable to see them and wonder what types of crimes have occurred in this type of venue to require their presence. We were happy that nothing happened to us during our visit last week.

Saw one of my all time favorite bands, Cake here last night. Wow!!! What a spectacular venue!!! I enjoyed it so much, I will be purchasing a membership to attend more shows in the coming year. Great acoustics, clean facilities, well run. Do take your beach chairs!

The gardens were charming. There were both inside and outside gardens. They had an arrid garden with cacti and other desert plants. They had several original statues by Rodan and others. There was a bird sanctuary. It was great! Outside there was a horse that was just awesome. The Japanese gardens were wonderful. They had a 30's farm that brought you back to another time. And a boardwalk through a marsh. And a garden for the senses and a replica of the Great Lakes where you could float boats from one Lake to another. Truly something for everyone!

The line to get in to see the butterfly exhibit was long but so well worth the wait. It felt magical once you walked into this heaven like area with so many exotic plants, waterfalls and thousands of butterflies.

World class everything…….facilities, staff, food, artwork and sculptures.
Glad we went and tried to see everything….it was warm out there today but we made it.
Free parking. Follow the signs and you will be on your way. You can spend the entire day there.
Open til 5:00 pm. Volunteers are an important part of the operations.
Well done!

Wonderful gardens and very varied and significant sculptures to look at. We could have spent much longer visiting this super garden and sculpture park. We walked the park, enjoyed the wild spaces, and visited the shop. A good restaurant and altogether a wonderful place to visit. Highly recommended. Popular with locals and families who I imagine have a season ticket. The open air amphitheatre looked great too.

The inside and outside gardens are wonderful. Then there is the great art including sculptures and glass. The continue to add and change what they present to us.

I wanted to see the Gardens and did not want to miss the butterflies. The butterflies did not disappoint! However there was no way to socially distance in the conservatory. They said it was at 50% but it was wall to wall people. They had no system. Timed tickets would have made more sense. The rest of the garden was okay. I have been to incredible gardens around the country this was large and March so no flowers. The Japanese tea garden was large and not that interesting. The sculpture garden was okay and then you see the horse! Magnificent! I am sure I will go again in a different season but not anytime soon.

I wasn't sure what to expect here, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is an outstanding place for anyone to visit, including art novices like myself. The layout, the building and landscape architecture, and the customized setting for each sculpture helps you gain an appreciation of the artwork. I strongly recommend taking the tram tour for a better understanding of the sculptures, as well as save your legs from a long walk. Afterwards, you can walk back to your favorite garden area. The Japanese Garden alone is worth an hour to visit and experience. The Children's Garden is very creatively designed. The food at the Cafe was excellent, and includes a beautiful Chihuly exhibit. The staff is friendly and you can tell that the curators are very caring of this facility, and it is well on its way to becoming a world class garden and sculpture park. If in the area, I will definitely visit again.

There is always something new at the gardens. We go often because you can't do it all in a day. We love to walk, but they even have a very reasonable trolly thru part of the gardens. Always, much to see. They keep it clean, I have never seen it any other way. The gift shop is exciting also. A friend of mine sells sculptures in this shop. The horse is amazing, the Christmas tree from different countries is special, all the plants are so photogentically lovely, with water falls included. Very nice. And butterflies in March and April etc.

The artwork from the amazing. From the horse to the sleepwalker you will find something that interests everyone. The kids will love the Venus flytrap and the spider. The place is not overcrowded and is great fun when the butterflies are there. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
My favorite place is the chihuly exhibit. The garden a great place to spend an hour or two.

An excellent tour… Make sure you stop if you’re in the area! I most definitely would recommend that you take the tram tour! The sculptures, the gardens and the history were amazing! Be sure to give yourself at least two hours to see all of the beauty!

We were on a bus tour and didn’t have as much time here as I would have liked. We took a tram tour and got an overview of the gardens. While I didn’t get to tour the Japanese Gardens on my own, what I got to see was beautiful! Also loved the special exhibit called The Womb. All the staff was very friendly.

I wish there were more hours in the day so that I could have seen everything there. I took so many pictures but they just don't do it justice.

We had a wonderful visit. There is a lot of walking if you want to cover the whole garden. We tried to do one big loop, but you have to do some zig zagging to see it all. Really a fantastic place. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The cafeteria is above average in quality and selections.

The Meijer Garderen Wonderful botanical gardens and sculpture park. There was some may thing here that was very pretty things to see.

It is a beautiful garden. We spent the day walking through the gardens. The Japanese gardens were beautiful with its waterfalls. There is a very nice play garden for kids. It's worth taking the tram to get the information about the park and to admire all the sculptors throughout the garden. They have a beautiful gift shop and restaurant reasonable priced.

It was a wonderful experience. We almost spent 5 hours wandering around. We will be back on spring time to check the japanese garden and cherry blossom trees.

Amazing views, plenty of scope for taking photographs. We used the trolly bus service for touring the park. Well worth the extra cost.

Great place for the whole family, something for everyone. Plan to spend lots of time here. The sculptures are wonderful, but take the tram ride so one of the guides can explain the backstories.

We had no idea what a fabulous park this was waiting for us. We were only able to only spend a couple of hours due to time constraints but you could spend all day here. The gardens are beautiful and the sculptures amazing. They have done a great job placing the sculptures out in the natural habitat. They had a children's section which contains water features and playground type equipment and the kids we saw loved it. We had a guided tour of the Japanese garden which we thought was only mediocre and left it after a few minutes. You absolutely have to take the tram ride as the guides are fantastic with their knowledge of the sculptures and it saves you walking a very long distance to see them. One of the best stops we had in our visit to the state of Michigan.

I visited the sculpture gardens on a late October Monday morning, and the weather was perfect for a long outdoor stroll. I chose this destination because it came highly recommended, and while I expected a simple botanical garden, it far exceeded my expectations.

The grounds are beautifully maintained, with miles of outdoor trails and a large indoor section where you could easily spend hours exploring. My favorite features were the many fountains and water displays that added a peaceful atmosphere throughout the gardens.

For lunch, I ate at the onsite café and ordered the brisket mac and cheese. It was decent, though a bit dry and could have used a touch more flavor—perhaps some barbecue sauce would have helped.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I’d definitely make an effort to visit again if I’m back in the area.

Really cool. Wish there was a grand finale but was still a neat date idea. The campfires around were really cool. The beer lights were cool too.

This garden and sculpture park is beautiful. One could easily spend one or two days meandering the many paths. Since we only had a few hours we first took the 45-minute tram which drives you past many of the sculptures in their garden settings. The narrative provides a fine overview. The Japanese Gardens are a must. We had no children with us but the kids in that area sure seemed to be having fun. What a lovely gift the Meijers gave to Grand Rapids and anyone also lucky enough to visit. I wish I could see it in every season.

After attempting to go to a lavender maze up north (which had no lavender) in our way back down we stopped here since neither one of us have been. Even though I would have loved it have had more time to walk around I enjoyed every minute I was there. From the statues to the gardens and everything I between . I am certain we will go back probably for with Christmas time or when the have a concert since their outdoor concert area is beautiful.

The Gardens should be a Michigan bucket list item. The grounds are beautiful, the art is pretty amazing, and the variety is awesome.
Admission is reasonable and there are all kinds of discounts. There is a tram that was sold out when I was there because they've removed half the seating to ensure social distancing (one passed us while we were walking and everyone had a mask on despite being six feet apart from the next people). The grounds are massive so if you hope to see everything, try to get in early and buy a tram ticket for some part of the day.
My assumption was that this was a pretty place with gardens outside. It is but there are also garden layouts inside as well. You will actually learn about ecosystems and different climates/environments while walking through the indoor section. While the tropical section is the prettiest, don't leave until you see the predatory plants featuring a whole patch of venus fly traps.
The outdoor gardens are themed with maybe the most impressive being the Japanese gardens. There is a cool break off section which shows examples of various bonsai trees. These look like real trees that have been shrunk down. I knew what they were but to see a bunch of them in a group, you feel like the giant who has stumbled into an elf's neighborhood. You should also see the Zen garden. Those with Type A personalities that like things to be in lines and grooves will find such comfort here. It is also very pretty with enough paths to give you great views and excellent photo opportunities. I asked a former exchange student of mine from Japan if they looked authentic and she said yes.
The art is impressive as well, none more so than the "American Horse" aka Da Vinci's Horse. This is a 20+ foot tall bronze horse made from renderings drawn by Leonardo. It was apparently a dream to get this put together and the artists involved absolutely nailed it. Not only is it impressive in size but it is in basically a bowl with grassy hills all around it. You can get some great pictures from above as well as below if the crowds treat you right.
Overall, this is a nice way to spend a few hours in West Michigan. Whether you like the gardens, modern art, or a combination of the two, check this site out.

The gardens are excellent. Well kept almost too perfect. The sculptures are of a wide variety and are an impressive collection altogether

We didn’t have much time to visit but the 90 minutes we spent was wonderful and enough to know that we had to return more more exploring.
The indoor gardens were a warm welcome on a winter day and some of the sculptures include a Calder & Chihuly. My membership from Ann Arbor Matthaei botanical gardens was reciprocated here too!

Went out to see the butterflies with my friends and there toddlers and it was a fantastic experience! Would highly recommend!

Wear comfortable shoes, a hat if it’s sunny and pack some water. This is a wonderful place to spend a day!
150 acres in all so everything cannot be seen in one day.
We took the tram for a tour (additional charge) around the park. This really is an overview of the layout. It was quite informative. You will only see a small number of the sculptures on this ride but it helps you understand where certain things are and the distance between others. It definitely gave us some perspective on what we could see on this trip.
It was a very hot day when we were there so only walked for a short time. We definitely want to return on a cooler day!!
There are many benches and shade where you could rest as you spent a slow and refreshing day taking in all the park has to offer.
Gardens, plants are beautiful. Some took our breath away. The size of the sculptures were unbelievable.
Really a great place to explore for friends, couples and boy! The kids there looked like they were having a blast!
Even if you only do the tram tour and walk around minimally, it is still a worthwhile trip!

Came on one of the last days of the butterfly exhibit to show our new daughter in law a piece of Michigan. We all loved the butterflies and the Japanese Gardens, as well as visiting the Horse. Not our first visit (except for daughter in law) but it won't be our last either. A favorite place to spend time with out of town visitors (we are local to the area.)

We probably only got through 1/3 of the garden in 2 hours, and the sculptures and gardens we saw were nice. VERY disappointed the tram was not availbale...it had been rented out to a private party the day we were there, so my husband needed to use his scooter rather than getting a ride to give us a full tour of the garden. Restaurant was a bit overpriced.

This place is spectacular! I’ve been to many botanical gardens and this is one of the best! The sculpture garden has the top artists and the grounds are beautiful. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. The new additions to the buildings are beautiful. If you are a designer you’ll be delighted. The only area that falls completely flat is the gift shop. Why are there no art books on the sculptors? Andy Goldsworthy? Chihuly? Art glass? Hand made jewelry? Right now it feels like a low end souvenir shop.

Beautiful sculpture and horticultural park. Wide variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits. We really enjoyed the Japanese garden exhibit. Didn’t have the time or weather (rainy day) to see everything which could easily require 4 or more hours.

I booked this as part of our spring break 2022 road trip and almost immediately regretted it. What was I thinking? I have 3 teen boys and it’s snowing in Grand Rapids today. BUT my southern boys loved it even tho we’re not prepared to hang in cold weather long.
They shockingly liked the butterfly and greenhouse areas and I thought I’d push my luck and mentioned the sculptures were the main attraction outside. The youngest was immediately onboard- the older two didn’t say anything which in teen boy mom land means proceed. Selfie Rama began in abundance and laughter even rang out as they made it probably 3/4 of the way thru before my youngest and my very southern husband said they just couldn’t take the 34 degree temps and snow any longer.
We returned for the planets in my mind exhibit which they also liked. I know … I need to buy a lottery ticket! Thank you Grand Rapids! I’m forever grateful for your hospitality!
Love,
A boymom trying her best!!!

This park is definitely worth a trip. Absolutely stunning and amazing. I’d suggest to allow an entire day, or two, as there is way too much to see to fit into just a few short hours.

Thoroughly enjoyed our 3 hour visit of this beautiful park. Easily-accessed location, ample parking, picnic space, friendly/helpful staff, and impeccably well-maintained grounds. Recommend the tram tour for first-time visitors and those that cannot walk the entire park. While the gardens were beautiful, the sculpture were the stars of this thoughtfully laid out property. They are currently adding to their exterior space, so construction was on-going, but did not diminish from our experience. Enjoyed the Chrysanthemums & More! exhibit, loved its translation in the Michigan Farm Garden area. Don't miss out on the Frey Boardwalk, especially if you like bird-watching.

Took the afternoon with my wife and close friends from Aurora, IL who have not been to Meijer Gardens, spent a beautiful day walking the grounds and enjoying the beautiful flowers, shrubs, Japanese Gardens. Check out the art inside as well, such a quiet and beautiful spot to take a walk with friends and family.

To the sheerness of my luck went in and it had rained and was very cold ( Yes in May almost June it was 45*) which made it a bummer to get thru all the paths and if that wasn’t enough its under renovation which isn’t all bad because it will have newer exhibits and areas. Its always an experience my favorite spot is the Japanese Garden definitely a must see .

This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen! The sculptures are breathtaking and the children’s garden is just lovely!

This is not just a botanical garden! Sculptures and art fill this must see place in Grand Rapids! A cafe is on site. This is a very accessable place for all ages. A visit in each season is recommended as it's an ever-changing venue. Special events and concerts are often offered. This is a Local Gem!

The gardens are beautifully maintained, with a wide variety of plant life. The sculpture park is also worth seeing with works by renowned artists like Henry Moore and Alexander Calder scattered throughout the grounds.

Lovely gardens and artwork. Loved both the insect and the butterfly artwork. The Japanese Garden is sizable and so interesting. Very unique children’s garden with a sensory are for disabled children. Interesting sculptures on a grand scale. Worth the visit!

For those with transportation challenges and want to take the bus, Meijer Gardens does not have on-campus bus stop. Staff seemed obvious to it.

One of the most delightful places in the whole USA. Along with miles of gardens, lots of annual events (Christmas is especially beautiful), several flower shows (tulips to dahlias are the ones we’ve attended), and amazing sculptures, there’s a very good cafe and excellent gift shop.

My husband & I visited in June 2020 post COVID19. What a gem! We are not a couple that tends to gravitate toward horticulture & art, but this place was fantastic! We really loved it. We spent about 2.5 hours. Highly recommend!

Today went to see the new admissions area as this has received mixed reviews. In the past the grounds have been beautiful, lots of flowering plants. Today almost no flowers (mums have been planted but aren't blooming yet). There are 2 metal tulips, 1 red, 1 yellow near the entrance. They appear to be rusted. Based on this experience,
I was not inspired to spend money to go further. This is not the meijer gardens of the past.

Spend the day here so you can take it all in!!! The Sculpture Park is like nothing else you are likely to see. Some of it is just beyond belief in their sheer size!

This is an amazing venue. We were so glad we visited, but it was a rainy day so we were unable to explore the totality of this wonderful garden and sculpture park. From what we could see by car it looked amazing and we also were able to attend a free indoor exhibit of a Dahlia competition. I wouldn’t have thought that I would be interested in learning more about Dahlias, but so glad we did. It was quite comprehensive, educational, and so beautiful. This is a special place and well worth visiting.

Bring your walking shoes, there is a ton to see and its pretty spread out. If you like nature and or hiking this is a must see.

The staff (volunteers?} was excellent. The tram was a good way for me to see the sculpture without a lot of walking. Like most other visitors, the Japanese garden was my favorite spot. The butterfly room had no butterflies.

We went in April before the majority of flowers are out. We went with two teens - they liked the butterfly garden and the sculpture garden was really great. I highly recommend!

This is a must see in Grand Rapids. It is an artistic delight! Enjoy the different types of gardens and the unique and incredible sculptures. Allow 1/2 day if possible, 2 hours minimum. Recommend purchasing tram tickets to see the majority of the Sculpture Garden (with commentary provided by a capable volunteer), the largest of the multiple gardens and sit in the first car on the left-hand side for the best photo opportunities. Take the time to go through the displays inside and outside. First-rate attraction! Absolutely loved this beautiful place and would go back.

The only drawback to this attraction was we didn't give ourselves enough time to see everything. Make sure to give yourself a couple of hours to truly enjoy. Such a beauty to see and experience

Although there is a lot of construction going on with all the additions once in side you won't notice it.. there are so many areas to go and enjoy... and when you need a break there is the cafe to sit and enjoy a great cuppa tea! Chuhuly on the ceiling brightens even the dreary winter days. Right now its all about the christmas trees from around the world and the trains running through the different greenhouses. A helpful volunteer is usually somewhere close by to answer any questions you may have yet they do not hover!

Had some spare time before conference to come out to the sculpture gardens. While I enjoyed the sculptures, my favorite was the Japanese gardens which were so peaceful. The perennial garden was beautiful and I used my plant ID app throughout the couple of hours I spent here. Wear a hat on a warm summer day is my only advice. Plan to spend the better part of a day here if you walk and want to see all the gardens and sculptures. Definitely worth the trip.

This is a must see in Grand Rapids. Along with beautiful gardens, there is an historic farmhouse for the early 1900's complete with gardens and how they were used for the family. The barn has old farm tools and descriptions of each. The sculpture garden was amazing and easy to view from the paved roads. Accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. The Japanese garden was beautiful and well designed. The tropical conservatory was beautiful as well. We spent about 3 hours here which was just right. A must see when you visit Grand Rapids.

This was a huge park & sculpture garden. It was so beautiful and well-maintained. We enjoyed hours of wandering the grounds. Beautiful!

Celebrating my granddaughters birthday with a stroll thru the indoor gardens. Butterflies are beginning to emerge! Sigh a fun place to visit!

The Gardens and Sculptures will surely be of interest to all that visit this beautiful place.
Something for everyone even children.

Got here first thing in the morning on a Saturday to beat the rush. Glad I did because 90 minutes in kids and families started pouring in. The sculptures were astounding and in the morning mist were peaceful. The farm set up with sculpted animals was ingenious. The Japense garden with its trickling waterfalls were sublimely tranquil. My favorite part. A little over a mile or two of total walkable trail that you could hoof it in a little over an hour.
Must see! #1 spot in town!

Awesome place to visit. So much to see. Japanese garden is worth the price of admission alone. Make the trip, you won't be sorry.

Superb!! First time to visit and was so impressed! So beautiful to walk and see the amazing sculptures and gardens…spotless and super clean! Restrooms super clean!! Highly recommend! Very friendly staff. Saw the cafe but didn’t stop in…very nice gift shop. Gorgeous! A must see!!!

Had a terrible experience, butterflies were forced upon my daughter trapping her in a box. Won’t go back, not a safe place for kids. My daughter has nightmares.

We were traveling and found the Frederick-Meijer (Meyer) Garden and Sculpture Park in our Trip Advisor searches. We loved it here! Mrs. Meijer loved gardens. Mr. Meijer loved sculptures. They bought the land for one of their well-known grocery stores. When they did not gain approval for the store on this land, it eventually became a spot for these gardens and sculptures. The staff and volunteers are pleasant and helpful. You can picnic here but no food or drinks in the inside galleries and shops. You can also leave for lunch and come back if you show your ticket again. That is what we did since it was pretty warm the day we visited. We spent probably about 5 hours here on the grounds. The tram ride is $4 for adults and gives you an overview of the grounds. They run about every half hour. You can do the tram anytime during the day...you stay on it and it is nicely narrated. Then you can walk and see more of the park after your ride. They also have a Kid’s Tram for a ride just for them with their adults. Most days the hours are 9 to 5 and in 2019, the entry fee is $14.50 for adults. Seniors over 65 and kids get discounted rates. Parking is free. The grounds are spread out over 150-plus acres, but the items are spread out. Be sure to see the Conservatory inside and the inside sculpture areas. There is a nice gift shop but it is largely gift type stuff rather than souvenirs. They did have a few great postcards of some of the popular sculptures. There is also a library and cafe in the building. The children’s garden has water play areas. You may need a change of dry clothes! Great place to visit. Highly recommend!!

These gardens and sculptures are amazing. I was there in the fall and can only imagine what a gem it is in the spring and summer. We hit a rainy day and it was still a place of great enjoyment. The tram ride gave us an overview of the facility. After the tram you can go back and investigate the areas and gardens.

Disappointed that the tram wasn’t running the day that we were there(that’s why only a four), we nevertheless were able to see most of the park and it was spectacular. The dried flower installation inside was incredible. Even though late in the season there were plenty of flowers to see.

We are members of Meijer Gardens. We enjoy walking the boardwalk thru the woods. I'm pretty excited about the new formal garden they just opened. It needs to mature a bit, but it's already very nice.

One of the most beautiful gardens+ you could ever visit !! It’s a wow from the car park to the furthest away point, perhaps walking the board walk !! The building is exceptional and the sculptures amazing !! Everything is immaculate!! With 800 volunteers and 200 staff working to make it the amazing place that it is !! If you are in the area then you can’t miss a visit !!

We did not tour the gardens. We went there to hear a concert. The seating is outside on a slope in front of the grand stand. You may bring a chair, but only very low beach chairs are acceptable. So we sat on a blanket. The concession stand is very nice, with good beer and wine choices. The acoustics are wonderful. Well recommended, but be careful not to bring the wrong chair, because parking is quite a ways from the venue.

This place is amazing! Though it was very cold, about a quarter of the perennials had woken up from Winter. That being said, the place was incredible! The garden design and the attention to details made this place beautiful, despite the limited color. I can only imagine what it looks like when everything has come back into bloom! The inside displays were very interesting as well.

Beautiful sculptures the kids had a wonderful time running for exhibit to exhibit. The wonders are many and the atmosphere just perfect.

I spent three hours and loved every minute. I got through the Japanese Garden & Sculpture Park but opted to leave when it started raining. I wish I had been here just a couple of weeks ago before leaves started falling off the trees. It was still beautiful. Be sure to wear comfortable and supportive shoes for walking.

Meijer Gardens is a must-see if visiting Grand Rapids. No matter what the season, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll thru the many paths outdoors as well as the conservatory inside. They always have special exhibits to enjoy and the Children's garden is especially fun during the summer months.

We visited on Good Friday which I get was a holiday but oh my was it crowded, almost over crowded. For starters the line just to purchase tickets was just over an hour long. Then when you got all the way up to the counter in their new building to purchase tickets, they had 3 people selling tickets. Then 2 more supervisor type people just standing there chatting up another employee behind the glass by the computers. It was ridiculous. What blows me away was how a place with this kind of endowment doesn’t sell tickets online?! It makes no sense at all. With lines that long, I can guarantee you people would be willing to pay extra to skip the line.

Then the butterflies... they were telling people the line to see them was over 2 hours long. What was annoying about this was the line snaked through the all the other non butterfly greenhouses. This meant you couldn’t go in there unless you waited all through the line that went down the hallway to even get into them. Again, why a place like this can’t do timed entry tickets to see the butterflies is beyond me. It’s frustrating that it renders all the greenhouses closed as well, especially if someone didn’t have the time to wait 2 hours to see them,

The rest of the garden is nice and well maintained and on par with other similar places we’ve been too. But they need to get this ticketing and butterfly thing under control.

We were driving through Grand Rapids and decided to stop with our four teenage boys. You don’t have to be a garden lover to enjoy it. Lovely grounds with interesting artwork. Our favorites were the Bonsai garden, the farmyard flowers and the Victorian garden. A little something for everyone! Didn’t mind the high prices to keep this Beauty alive.

Went basically for the sculptures. Figured this time of year there wouldn’t be many flowers to rave about. We were right, but we loved the sculptures and the Japanese and Farm section. The only complaint we have is the tram. If you’re not in the front couple rows of the tram, when it stops. You have no idea what the guide is talking about and by the time the tram slowly moves forward without stopping, you miss what you were suppose to look for. Very frustrating! Maybe they could put together an audio tape that you could walk and hit the number on the tape to listen to the description of the sculpture and the person that designed it. This way one could actually see what is being talked about. Just a thought! Anyhow, we did like the sculptures and the two extra areas we went through. I would imagine when the flowers are blooming, you could spend hours and hours here.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area, definitely visit the sculpture gardens. It is a beautiful area with an impressive array of sculpture and surrounding gardens. I would suggest taking the tram ride when you first arrive. It is an additional $5 per person, but it gives you a great overview of the sculpture garden area. That way you can follow the map and walk back to any pieces you would like to see in more detail. The volunteer who narrated the team ride was excellent and had a tremendous knowledge of the various sculpture. After the tram ride, we walked through the beautiful Japanese Garden and the Children's Garden. If you have small children, they will definitely love this area. Plenty to see for adults as well. We took a break and had lunch at the cafe in the main building. Very good lunch with a good selection. Afterwards we walked through the indoor gardens. Very nice array of tropical and desert fauna. With lunch, we spent about 3 1/2 hours there. We would highly recommend the Sculpture Garden!!

This garden is arranged to showcase all types of sculptures. It has a beautiful sculpture garden but sculptures are also found in the Japanese Garden, the Gwen Frostic Shade Garden, the Michigan Farm and the Children’s garden. A trolley tour through the sculpture garden was a great way to see the main sculptures with interesting explanations. The flowers and plants were in full bloom and were beautiful. Many, many chances for photographs. Children’s garden has many activities for kids including fountains, water activities and a tree house. Wonderful way to spend the day.

When you go into the garden purchase your tram tickets, it will take you on a tour of the sculpture and the guide will explain them, if not and you see the sculptures, you may be like me and think what in the world could be going on in a person’s mind to think of such things.. the sculptures are wonderful and the flowers are beautiful. I love this place!

We really enjoyed our stroll through the Meijer Gardens, it is laid out wonderfully with great descriptions of the artwork as well.

We were so impressed and the gardens exceeded our expectations. We are already talking about coming back. The children's garden was stunning.

A beautiful park, with a world-class sculpture collection, plus a greenhouse on par with the best of Chicago's.

Until you visit this place, it will never be clear to you what it is. It is a collection of staggeringly big sculptures set in a horticultural paradise. Add in some theatrical venues for both children and adults and you can begin to visualize what this place is. There is full time staff here, but there are also hundreds of volunteers that make it function by interacting frequently with visitors. You could easily spend 7 or 8 hours here and still not visit every nook and cranny. I would strongly suggest you start by riding the tram. That is $4 per person which is on top of the park admmission which is about $15 for adults. In terms of buying an all day engagement, it is inexpensive - just a tiny fraction of what tickets cost at other all-day pursuits you could go and do. The crowds can be thick on peak days, and the park attracts a rather large array of international visitors, but overall it is easy to move around.

The tram takes around 30 minutes and orients you to the layout of the different parts of the park - which you can then go visit or not visit depending on what interests you have. You can also eat at their restaurant which you will need if you spend 6+ hours on your visit. There also is a very elaborate gift shop where you can spend as much money as you like.

The gardens are beautiful, the multitude of different and exotic plants are awesome, the sculptures are mind boggling and the entertainment venues are very entertaining. When you leave your first inclination will be that you will want to return again.

I have visited Frederick Meijer many times over several years. I started going because of the children's garden which is so creative and entertaining. Now that my children are grown, I go back mainly to walk in a beautiful setting. I recently found the Japanese Garden which I didn't even know was there and it is stunning! The rainforest room is so exotic and I love catching sight of the birds flying around. There is always something new to see. The recent art installation of The Womb was breathtaking and peaceful. I've heard great things about their summer concerts and am interested to try that out this year.

Great place. Peaceful and relaxing. Amazing gardens. This is a must visit if you are interested in gardens and botanical gardens.

Plan on spending quite a bit of time here as there is a lot to see. We took the tram tour first, which I would highly recommend. It takes you around the grounds and you can see where you might want to walk back to for the gardens. We walked back to the Japanese garden and the farm garden via the Woodland Garden. Highlight of the trip was that they had a Corpse Flower in bloom, so rare, what a treat to get to see it!

We had no idea what to expect when we visited. The place is HUGE! And try as we did can’t all be seen in a day. The time we did spend there was well spent. They have done a great job honoring and remembering Fred Meijer. The sculptures are AMAZING! If we lived nearby, we’d have a season pass for sure!

This is a very cool group of gardens and sculptures and just a beautiful setting. If you think you will need 2 hours to walk through, plan on spending double that (or more). Each time we thought we were done, there was more to see. We went through the indoor gardens (cacti and tropical) and indoor sculpture area. We also went through the kid's garden (even though we have no kids) and that was just as cool. We walked through the amphitheater and then rounded a corner and saw the most massive horse sculpture (enter from across the kid's garden). It was AWESOME. After strolling through the Japanese garden, some of our group was tired and we managed to see a few of the gigantic sculptures. All in all, we spent just over 2 hours from arrival to leaving and did not see all that there was to see. Unless you are running through and not really looking, plan on at least 2 hours from arrival (some of the time waiting on line for tickets). We did not ride on the tram, but since we did not get to see everything, I kind of regret that. Do not miss this amazing location!

I highly recommend going here. It is a beautiful area of gardens and sculptures. For kids they have lots of activities for them.

There are so many wonderful and positive happenings at FMG for people of all ages. My grandchildren and I have enjoyed going there.
I am however very unhappy with the new million’s of dollars entrance, exit. During our last couple of visits traffic does not flow smoothly. You have people pushing in and exiting is a survival course. On my last visit as I reached the door to leave I was exiting via the door on my right. Incoming traffic was entering the door on their right. All was well until some guy darted to my door as it opened and knocked into to me. No, he did not apologize.
Clearly in this new rude world there needs to be some sort of crowd control. One of the joys of FMG was dealing with an above average group of polite people. That is definitely a thing of the past.
Entering and exiting should not be that difficult. It is also extremely unsafe should they be faced with an emergency evacuation.

If you like gardens or sculpture you will find a good display of both here. This garden does well to integrate the two like few others. Allow plenty of time as there is a lot to see. The plants are set to really accentuate the sculpture pieces.

Stunning place to visit. Sculptures and gardens are so well done and very enjoyable. Staff was polite and organized and they take covid precautions seriously. It was a very nice way to spend a couple hours. The sculpture walk was very cool. Though I will say the very large bright orange sculpture that was going up looks a bit like an eye soar and, in my opinion, ruins that part of the walk. Well, 99 out of 100 is pretty darn good. Great place for families and couples.

An enjoyable place to wander for hours, even the buildings are sculpture.

I highly recommend taking the trolly to get background on the park and some of the more interesting sculptures. Don't worry about picture taking while on the tour, you can easily walk the same path when it's over.

The majority of time spent here will be spent outside, so I would recommend only going on a nice day. I visited in March when it was only 35 degrees outside. I enjoyed my stay, but couldn't really enjoy the sculptures as much since I was trying to see them all quickly before going inside. This would be a terrific place to go on a warm spring day. There isn't much to see inside besides some plants and flowers, and during March and April, the butterfly exhibit.

Lots of rules, the staff were helpful but overly present making sure you know everything you're doing wrong. And there are hardly any signs. We were told you could eat in the park but there was no directions as where to go. We were directed where to go by staff but apparently we didn't sit in the right spot they had directed us, so I had to move our family again. It would have been fine just a bit annoyed there was no signs to know, so we twice got a talking too. We have toddlers, so eating is something that is an essential throughout the day.

Everything in this park takes ages to get to, so if you have little ones and are trying to do as much as you can in less time, you will spend tons of time walking and less time doing :/.

The maps and paths are confusing.

The children's garden was super cute though. And now that we know what to expect, I think it'd be easier the 2nd time because we should be able navigate better. But I'm not sure there will be a second time.

The sculpture is fascinating and the gardens are beautiful. Don’t skip the small indoor gardens. Definitely recommend doing the tram tour to get an overview of the whole place and then wander around on your own. If you go in summer don’t forget the sunscreen!

I heard this was a must-see in Grand Rapids, was not disappointed! Amazing collection of contemporary sculpture (mostly bronzes) in a beautifully landscaped outdoor setting. Several small greenhouses display tropical and desert plants as well. Weather was perfect the day I visited; there is not a lot of shelter/shade around the long looped pathway that hosts most of the sculpture collection so I’m not certain I’d recommend it on a very hot or very rainy day.

They need to go back to some form of cash payment, It was really dissapointing to find out they won't accept our National currency. Such a large establishment knows that electronic payments decrease the actual value of the payment by incurring processing fees. Not to mention not everyone carries or are intrested in having credit/debit cards. It truly is a beautiful place but be aware that Cash is not accepted so be sure to plan a head and get a pre paid credit card if you dont typically use them.

This place is wonderful year round! Love taking our grandchildren for both the indoor and outdoor exhibits. Butterfly exhibit in the spring, summer concerts and strolls, fall colors and winter walks make this a must see! We are members and it’s a great way support this Grand Rapids gem!

Stopped in on a warm March afternoon and had our expectations blown away. In addition to the fantastic gardens and statues there is an indoor butterfly exhibit with hundreds of butterflies flying about the greenhouse. The giant horse statue modeled after da Vinci's is amazing. Truly, you cannot believe the size of it. There are also many other statues, many in the "modern art" category that is not really my cup of tea, that are very interesting. I enjoy coming up with my own names for the mod statues, which I always find very entertaining. :)

Were here prior to an ELO concert, something for everyone. Restaurant is really excellent food and and value!!

Stunning garden was really impressed by the size and beauty of the surroundings

Perfect for people who like a good stroll

Wonderful experience and definitely a must do when in Michigan. So much to see, to do, and the staff is amazing. Really 10/10 experience, you don’t want to miss it!

we are members but anyone can go here.
we love the music in the summer concerts.

even with the construction this is a neat place to visit and just walk around.

Really cool place to wander around and explore. Has a wide variety of different areas to look at and enjoy.

This park is very big and we recommend visiting different parts different day. Once was enough for us as we do not wish to rush through again.

I was worried that there would not be much in bloom in August, but there were plenty of flowers around. Wear comfortable shoes because you can do a lot of walking here. We have taken the tram in the past. It is very reasonable and especially nice for first time visitors. We got in free because we have a Missouri Garden membership. The Children's Garden is awesome! The kids love playing in the water area which is very unique. I like to take the boardwalk to see swans and other wildlife. The Farm area is lovely with several cute statues and a working water pump for kids to try out. The Japanese garden is lovely and worth walking over to. Of course the GIANT horse sculpture is the highlight! Many of the main pathways are paved and easy to walk. You could spend 4 hours here very easily. Don't miss the places to explore inside. We found a beautiful room this year where you can pose in front of large canvas paintings. I think it is designed for kids, but check it out. The gift shop has a nice variety of items for sale. They were still doing some construction when we were there, but the parking will be better when it is complete. The workers and volunteers are all friendly and helpful. You need to see it at different times of the year, because of all the changes you will see. If I lived closer I would be there weekly!

Truly some of the best sculptures in the world, packaged in a wonderful environment. A hidden gem in West Michigan.

I went last night, so I'm reporting back on my experience. Yes, you enter in off of Beltline Ave. just like you would if you were going just for the gardens. There are people directing you to the parking lots. The gates opened at 5:45. We got there about 5:25 (couldn't get there earlier because of work) and were directed into an overflow parking lot. Then we walked back across the main drive towards the amphitheater. Already many hundreds of people lined up. I asked someone where the box office was because I needed to pick up my tickets. Apparently most people were already in physical possession of theirs. I was directed to an area to the right of the gates.

Now here's where panic set in. I presented the e-mail I was supposed to show to pick up my tickets. The woman at the window looked through a box with a few envelopes in it. She then told me they weren't here. I was flabbergasted. I pointed out where on the e-mail it said they would be available at the box office. She then asked if I had bought the tickets through Star Tickets (the normal vendor for tickets here). I said no, I bought them through the Sarah McLachlan tour website. She said to try e-mailing the website. I said what good is that going to do? There's probably no one there answering e-mails on a live basis, and even if there were, all they would probably say is to refer to the e-mail they had sent as confirmation. I can't believe I was the only person who had bought tickets in this manner, but they all looked like they had never heard of such a thing. That woman was not helpful, as she never proposed how she would rectify the situation. I suggested they contact the tour manager and maybe they could work out some passes, but they said they couldn't. I finally talked to someone else in the office and they said they'd look into it, but they didn't some hopeful. I was afraid I was going to miss the show and lose $336, too.

Finally, I talked to the head security guy, Johnny D., and he assured me he'd get me in somehow. He said sometimes people turned in unused tickets and he'd try to scrounge up 3 for me. At last, a ray of hope. But I thought that was risky pinning my hopes on that. I mean this concert was sold out and no one is going to give away a ticket.

After an excruciating wait, someone finally emerged from the office with my tickets in an envelope with my name on it. They said it was in the wrong box. I'm not sure what that means, but seriously, how hard is it to keep all the tickets in the right box? I'm glad they looked and found it though. If I had missed the show even though my tickets were right there, that would've been crazy. While I was going through all that, my fellow concert-goers were getting wrist bands if they were over 21 and going to drink alcohol and also getting our chairs measured and tagged if acceptable.

Anyway, we finally got in. It didn't take long for the crowd to fill the place. We wound up pretty much near the back of the grassy area, but direct center. And it wasn't bad. I think it would've been comparable to middle of the theatre seating in a place like Meadowbrook. I would highly recommend bringing the folding chair. Almost everybody had them. If you're sitting on a blanket, you'll be straining to look over other people. We had perfect weather. I imagine it'd be a mess if it were raining hard.

Food and drink were available, but for a price. The bathroom facilities were clean, but ladies will have to wait. They should probably have twice the number of bathrooms as men. If you're looking for souvenirs, they're sort of hidden. They're not in the main plaza where you'd expect them. You have to go towards the back of one of the bathroom buildings. Also make sure to bring everything you need. There is a no re-entry policy, so you can't go back to your car for something.

I ran back into Johnny D. and he was glad to see I made it in. I don't know if he actually had the power to get me in, but I was grateful for his efforts and thanked him.

Oh yeah, the concert. Sarah promptly started at about 7pm, sang for about 45 minutes, took a 20 minute intermission, then came back for about another hour, including the obligatory encore. She introduced each song with a little talk about what inspired it and joked how most of her songs were depressing. But she is able to take traumatic events (like her divorce, for example) and get a great song out of it. There were 20 songs in all, including fan favorites from her heyday in the 90s like Building a Mystery, Possession, Sweet Surrender, Adia, Fear (man, she can hit those high notes), Hold On, and the sing-along Ice Cream. Rest were mostly off her last 2 albums. Final song, as expected, was Angel. We hurried back to the lot and got out in a reasonable 10-15 minutes. All in all, a perfect night that almost went horribly wrong.

If you are visiting the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, you MUST make a stop at the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park! Its main campus spans 158 acres of beautiful gardens (including a Children's Garden, a Japanese Garden and a Michigan's Farm Garden) as well as a Sculpture Park that needs to be seen and experienced. The area is 3.3-mile loop is an easy walking tour that you can take at your own leisurely pace. Guest guides and maps are free at the Information area when you check in. Tram tours are also available.

The gardens are a gorgeous mixture of flowers and plants, and the sculptures are awe-inspiring! The guide maps provide excellent legends to enhance your individual experience. Over 200 masterworks are included in the sculpture collection, including the statue, "Eve", by Auguste Rodin. An indoor sculpture collection hosts temporary exhibitions. The exhibition "Busted", on Black artistic expression, was on display during our visit. It was an amazing collection!

There is a Welcome Center with knowledgeable volunteers that can answer any questions you may have during your tour. A gift shop and the Balk Cafe are also located in the main building. The Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavillion also provides for a covered, fully accessible outdoor eating area. What an awesome experience for friends, family and even solo travelers! I heartly recommend this destination stop!

Visited the gardens and sculpture park on a Sunday afternoon. So much to see! The tropical conservatory with the butterflies was great. We even had a Japanese whit quail hop out onto the path in front of us. The cacti in the arid garden were plentiful. All the gardens are lovely and educational. Be sure to take the tram ride (there is a fee) so you can see many of the sculptures from a different angle and get the backstory. The guided tram tour has narration and takes about 30 minutes.
The facility is very accommodating for those with mobility issues, Free wheelchairs are available. The staff is incredible. Don’t miss!

Gettin in was interesting due to the construction - but well worth it. We did the outdoor loop by foot - 4 1/2 miles was enough. Covid limited the trolly seating so we did not use it. Wonderful fall decorations.

We went here with grand expectations because Frederik Meijer was the founder. We left disappointed. We like sculptures that we know what they represent. Unfortunately, we could not determine what many of the sculptures represented. Twisted iron or a chuck of metal is not appealing to us. We took the tram ride. That was helpful because the driver explained what we were seeing. The Sculpture Park Guest Guide & Map was not helpful. Directional arrows on the map and trails would have helped. The Japanese Garden was beautiful. The perennial gardens had beautiful flowers but lacked placards with their names, as we have seen at botanical gardens elsewhere.

Excellent botanical garden; plan lots of time; good for strollers and wheelchairs; Great childrens garden area Best feature is the 28 acre Japanese Garden. Where comfortable shoes as you will do a lot of walking. You will get your 10,000 steps. The American Horse was fantastic.

Such a wonderful garden and sculpture park!

I recently stayed overnight in Grand Rapids and decided to go to the Meijer garden and sculpture park the next morning. The place covers so much ground, no pun intended.

It was about 70° that day and perfect for walking around and looking at all of the different flowers, trees, plants. I took a tram ride for $6, which was a great idea because the garden is so large, you cannot complete that much on foot in a few hours without getting tired!

I’m also a member of the Chicago Botanic Garden so my admission was free due to the reciprocal relationship between the gardens. Otherwise, the entry fees are not that expensive and parking is free.

I had a great time exploring and learning about sculpture artists.

We really enjoyed our visit. There is a large Japanese garden that is absolutely beautiful. There are a number of large sculptures spread through property and a number of large man-made waterfalls. There is a large children's play area that was quite popular. We will definitely go back.

This is a must see for anyone visiting Grand Rapids and W Michigan. Even area residents make this a frequent venue to visit. Lots of gardens special shows plus world renowned sculptures, including massive DaVinci horse. Japanese garden is new addition - outstanding.

What a wonderful surprise. Be ready to walk the large park like gardens. Everything was well manicured and planned perfectly to highly the sculptures both small and colossal.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park use their over 150 acre canvas to create a masterpiece that melds stunning sculpture works and lush gardens both natural like the Kettle Pond to the perfectly manicured Zen Garden. I recommend taking the tram tour, it is about 45 mins, they have extremely knowledgeable, volunteer guides that take you on a riding tour of the beautiful Sculpture Park. On display are dozens of works by international artists, many are vast in scale and only a beautiful outdoor space could do them justice. Our favorites were the Neuron, the lithic Grand Rapids Arch and of course the regal American Horse.

Our young son loved the Children"s Garden with many interactive areas Like the Great Lakes water play, climbing the Treehouse Village, excavating in the Rock Quarry and you can check out the Farm House & Barn with live animals.

There is numerous indoor greenhouse, pavilions as well that house a huge variety of different fauna in a natural setting like the Tropical Conservatory, the Arid Garden with a vast array of cacti and other succulents, and the very popular Carnivorous Plant House!

The highlight for us was inspiring Japanese Garden, that seemingly whisks you away to another part of the world. It is painstakingly landscaped and took 3 years to create, every stone and plant meticulously placed. The grounds are so peaceful with a winding path that leads you through ponds, cultural artwork, waterfalls, and gazebos, a picturesque view at every turn.

Another great attraction on site is the Amphitheater which is home to many concerts and events throughout the season with an impressive line up, looking forward to seeing next year's schedule. The grounds and building are very clean, free parking, the gift shot is extensive, friendly staff and the food Cafe was very good. The F M Gardens are a definite must see with so many things to appreciate and experience we will definitely be back!

The beautiful gardens are compartmentalized, with meadow, woodland, thicket, grove, and Japanese style. There is also a Children’s Pavilion.

Everything is highly accessible for walkers, chairs, and strollers.

Did I forget the sculptures? Degas, Rodin, and Ai Weiwei are among the many artists, as a walk through the gardens leads to the sculptures.

Lunch was easy and simple in the cafe. And, while dining, look up! Chihuly glass ornaments the ceiling.

This is a real treat.

My 19 year old son is studying media art and technology. Specifically he needs to develop photography skills. This place is world class. So many opportunities to make fantastic images. Cafe is lovely. Japenese and farm gardens add further variety to the sculpture park. The attached photo of one of the artificial waterfalls is by me, his are stunning and really striking. We enjoyed the indoor hot house gardens.
The volunteers added a link to the community and were absolutely delightful.

I loved all the flowers and the space , also the offer to hVe a family subscription at a decent price and it includes the shows and concerts in the evening.
Nice area for kids to play around in out side. Also an inner one for smaller kids was great.

Beautiful grounds and sculptures to see. Lots of walking, be prepared.. Takes a few hours at least. Would definitely recommend on a nice day.

This is a great area to see flowers and plants of all types. There were many unique sculptures too. It seemed to be a great place to bring kids - to the Children's Garden. There were many kid friendly things to do. I would highly recommend the trolley. It was $4.00 and lasted 45 minutes with lots of great info.

We came here in early fall so I would bet this place is even nicer in the spring. However, the place had plenty to see with all of the sculptures and the Japanese garden was a definite favorite. The children’s garden was very cute with lots of things for kids to interact with. You could definitely spend quite a few hours here. I would recommend good walking shoes because there is a lot of ground to cover.

What a lovely place, plenty of parking of course we went midweek. The grounds were clean beautiful and well thought out. The tea garden was amazing and the sculptures were, hard to describe impressive and thought provoking

I was under the impression that this was a marvelous garden blooming with splendor along with sculptures. It was a disappointment. They had mums lining the walkways but no splendid garden areas. I recognize that it is Fall, but they could do so much more. If you are looking to view a wonderful garden, don’t waste your time walking around the 158 acres with sculptures every 1/4 mile. This is NOT a botanical garden. Tour was extra and stopped at 10 or so sculptures. This is NOT ONE OF THE NATION’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL GARDENS. This was not worth the price of admission.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

This week April 13 we visited Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. It was not our first time. I think it was our 4th time coming here.

Today, we came to see the Cherry Blossom Tree! Yes, we did. Every since they started announcing about the trees, I've been patiently watching their website/fb/X page for info. We always visit the Japanese garden since it opened years ago, but the Cherry Blossom Trees were a special treat to enjoy.

Beautiful. Coming here at the exact time that the trees were fully bloom was magical. My wife and kids loved it. Check out the crazy pictures. It was weird because we were fully dressed for pictures and as people were seeing us dressed made them wonder what was going on at the garden. Some people knew and some people did not. It was pretty crowded at the exact location of the trees. Be ready.

FYI, we are known for chasing Cherry Blossom Trees or Sakura. How? We once drove to D.C. to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Trees, but learned we came late. That was a bummer.

Really glad these trees are available here. Closer drive!

Highly Recommended

So much beauty to see.- the Japanese Grardens, both classic and imaginative pieces in the Sculpture Garden, and fun children areas. If you prefer to not walk, their is a tram for $4 that will take you on a tour of all of the areas. We also enjoyed the indoor Tropical and Desert Gardens. The cafeteria is open and offers good food at a reasonable price. Currently they are under construction-but it does not seem to interfere with enjoying the experiencce.

World class outdoor and indoor gardens. Sculpture park is spectacular. The day we were there the weather was amazing but they have a tram with side windows for wet days.

This is a nice place to visit for a day - parking is generally pretty easy (unless it is a really busy day) and the park is usually clean and calm. We had a membership here when my kids were a little younger and loved to just stop by and walk around the park.

Beautiful sculpture and Gardens. Took the trolly for an overview - very worth it. Loved the Japanese Gardens- very tranquil.
Only one wish- would loves to know the names of many of the outdoor plantings. No tags or signs.
Worth stopping. If we lived closer we’d have a membership for sure !

I read the reviews that said you can’t see everything in one day and laughed. I was wrong! There is just so much to see that you can’t absorb it all in a day. My wife & I are members at Longwood Gardens and go there each season of the year. Frederik Meijer Gardens is only a few years old, not even finished and it outshines Longwood in many ways. We signed up as we entered for the Japanese Garden tour which was great and then took the tram ride to see the sculptures which was also outstanding. That ride was narrated by a very knowledgeable former college professor who really knew what we were looking at and knew how to explain it. Looking forward to seeing what we missed and what was not finished someday.

Had a wonderful time. So much to see. We ran out of time and plan on returning in the spring 2020. My granddaughter qaa so impressed with the sculptures. She cannot wait to return Also.

This is a large park, but not too large to be overwhelming. My husband and I went here last week & had a wonderful time albeit our late arrival to the park at 3:30. We mostly wandered through the sculptures and the nature boardwalk. I really liked the layout and the beautiful flowers everywhere. Next time we will explore the greenhouse areas.

I was in sensory overload and just couldn't take in another pretty sight. We rode the tram and walked the park until my tootsies hurt and never saw it all. Plant lovers and artists could spend a full day here discovering the beauties of this park. Sculptures by famous artists are displayed around the park and I can't begin to tell you everything we saw. This park doesn't get over 4000 4/1/2 stars for no reason. Go to their website to see what they have to offer. Tips: Due to COVID restrictions are in place and of course you have to wear a mask when inside. The tram ride costs $4 and is a must do. You will have a 45 minute tour through the sculpture gardens while a guide tells you about the artists. The tram runs every 30 minutes. If you wait to the last minute to get a ride chances are you won't get one. This is a very popular attraction, there are limited number of seats, and there is not a drop on drop off option. The cafeteria has limited service but they are doing a good job of sanitizing and making everything clean as a whistle. The bathrooms were spotless. There is a nice gift shop with an assortment of items for adults and children. Free wheelchair use is provided. I saw many families with children, but I highly recommend strollers. There is a special children's garden complete with squirting fountains the kids can play in so take a towel if you are interested. Picnic areas are available for the budget conscious. Oh, don't for get your camera and take plenty of batteries!

We visited as a large group with 3 generations ranging in age from 2 to 88 and all enjoyed it. The tram ride is definitely worth the price. Good commentary and overview. If I lived here I could definitely see myself returning to just sit and contemplate. The peaceful mostly relates to the fact that the group Styx were doing sound checks, etc. getting ready for their evening concert at the amphitheater.

While recently visiting Grand Rapids Michigan we visited the Frederik Meijer Gardens and we amazed at the vast expanse of gardens and sculptures...a peaceful oasis in a large city. We were also impressed with the Children's area, a perfect place for young families. Definitely worth visiting!

We enjoyed the indoor exhibits. There was an amazing installation with a million dried flowers and rooms decorated with seasonal displays and desert and tropical rooms as well. The Japanese and children’s outdoor gardens were lovely. We were looking forward to a tram ride to see all the sculptures. I paid for two tickets for the last tram at 3:30. The agent told me he couldn’t print the receipt but eventually got one and told me to be back by 3:15. My watch said 2:15, so we strolled a bit and then waited on a bench at the tram center. One arrived and the people got off and we attempted to get on. We were told that was the last ride that had just ended. After a bit of back and forth, I realized my watch was on Chicago time. I was confused as to why the agent sold me the ticket and told me to come back, when in fact, the last tram was about to arrive. I asked if I could get a refund. What I got was a nasty lecture about how I was not accountable for my actions in a tone of an angry grade school teacher. I wouldn’t speak to anyone in this manner. The man acted as if I had stolen from him even though I was out the $8 for the tickets and he had provided no service for the fee. This is quite ironic, because on the way out, I was so shaken by his dressing down that I reported it at the front desk. They apologized and offered to refund the fee, except it turns out my receipt showed the tickets were comped. I assured them I had paid $8 in cash. It turns out someone at the ticket window is running a bit of a scam, taking cash and handing out a comp receipt. That probably works well unless someone asks for a refund and is holding the bogus ticket. It’s a real disgrace because this is a nice place to visit and this gives it a bad rep. I would visit again but never buy the tram ticket in advance!

There is always something here to see and do. Butterflies exhibit is one of our favorite. The gardens are beautiful and the walkways are great. They have outside concerts in the summer. They have a children's garden and children do seem to really enjoy it.

It was very sereen walking the paths and seeing beautiful sculptures among gorgeous plantlife through out the grounds. It was raining during our visit, but we couldn't resist checking out everything. The Gardens reminded me of how much I enjoyed secret gardens as a child. I can't wait to return on a sunny day.

Allow at least a half day to see the Meijer Gardens. You can walk around the Japanese Garden--perhaps one mile or a little more, and then take a guided tour on the small train through the sculpture park. Allow time for lunch inside after you stroll through the gallery and look at the seasonal gardens inside the building as well. Be patient though, the facility is undergoing a huge construction project, and you may have a ten minute walk from your car to get to the main entrance. It is well worth your time though. Enjoy.

We visited here on October 15 and sadly missed the peak leaf season by about four days! It costs $20 to get in to the Gardens, which is well worth it, however, I was lucky enough as a member of Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami, Florida to get in for free on a reciprocity deal so if you are a member of another garden in the United States, check to see if your membership can get you in for free. Unfortunately, we did not have time to see the sculpture garden, but spent most of our time in the outstanding Japanese garden, which was beautiful. We also had a quick stop for a snack at the cafeteria, as well as a quick stop in the gift shop. I would not recommend taking young children into the gift shop, since it is full of very expensive Chihuly glass costing thousands of dollars! The Chihuly ceiling in the cafeteria and the chandelier were a pleasant surprise as I was not expecting them and love his work! The gardens are well laid out and well sign posted. Children’s garden lovely too and pumpkins and fall decorations everywhere were just beautiful. Coming from Miami, Florida, we do not get to see things like that too often! So it was a nice treat. Highly recommended with easy and plentiful free parking.

I love coming here. There is always something new and exciting to look at. They are currently remodeling and I can't wait to see what it will look like! This place is always clean and in tip top shape! Great place during any season to talk a walk indoors or out.

We enjoyed our visit so much the first time we visited Meijer Gardens a couple of years ago that we made it a point to visit again when we were traveling nearby. I think that says all I need to say … it is so nice here that you want to come again. Great price for all you see. Well worth a visit!

Would like more signs telling me about the plants. There were some signs, would like to see many more signs. Would also like to see an approximate distance from point to point. Wanted to check out a couple of places, but we were getting tired, and there was mo easy way to tell if that part of the Garden was a block away or 5 blocks away. Map did not give distances either.
Also, I am concerned the Gardens are helping the spread on NON native plants in West MI. The roof top garden was very nice, but there were lots of bees, nice to see the bees, but are they helping to spread non native plants outside of the Garden? Would like to see more focus on MI plants for the outside plants.

Facilities were nice, restrooms clean.

The gardens are always changing so visit often. Grand Rapids is so lucky to have this wonderful place in their backyard. I've been many times and there's always something new to see. I highly recommend a trip with the kids.

A very unique blend of indoor and outdoor experiences. Gardens/environments, sculptures, "museum", concert venue, trails, cafe and events. Easy to spend hours at the gardens.

I arrived at the garden and took the tram tour first. The tram tour gives you an overview of the gardens and sculptures. If you want to experience the entire park and take good pictures you should get one on their maps and do a self-guided tour. There is something to see for adults and children. There are displays indoors and outdoors. If you are a nature lover, be sure to tour the Japanese garden. If and when you get hungry you may have something to eat in the cafe.

I travel a lot and often visit botanical gardens as an easy way to spend time outside while killing time before a flight. This one is hands down the best I have ever been to anywhere in the US. It is HUGE and they're expanding! It's staggering in it's scope and different environments. The sculpture garden is beautiful and has nooks and crannies to visit. The children's garden is great even for adults. The Japanese Garden is beautiful. We only had 1.5h and could easily have spent hours more. We didn't even go into any of the indoor/conservatory exhibits unfortunately. I would go back in a heart beat. If you live local, I can see why you'd do an annual pass--you would never be done exploring between the size/diversity/seasonal changes.

What a beautiful place combining sculpture (of all kinds, especially contemporary works) in a setting of trees, meadows, flowers, shrubs, and lawns. There are great places to sit and reflect, photo opportunities, and pleasant easy walks -- especially on a sunny and comfortable day. There is some road noise at the west side of the gardens from the nearby highway. We did not go into the children's portion of the garden and only minimally visited the Japanese garden. There markers for each sculpture and many of the plantings were helpful educational tools. Looking forward to another visit (this one was 12 years after our last visit to Grand Rapids).

I hadn’t been to the Gardens in a few years. We appreciated the tram for a guided tour of the sculpture in the gardens. We enjoyed lunch onsite. Our biggest surprise was the caliber of the inside art exhibits. We were there during a Bonsai show which added another interesting experience. We spent a few hours, but we didn’t get to see everything. We will return.

The Frederik Meijer Garden is a sculpture garden as well as a botanical garden. There are interesting sculptures hidden away and in plain sight every where you look. The children's garden is a fun place for them to explore and have hands on experiences

We didn’t give ourselves enough time and had to hurry thru the gardens. I just need to come again. Wish the tram had been working( stops at 3:30). That would have helped tremendously. Enjoyed all the sculptures. The Horse is huge!!! Beautiful place.

Went for the butterfly exhibit and was blown away by the size of the place, the amount of construction under way and the promise of what is to come. Beautiful

Frederick & Lena Meijer created a beautiful garden to showcase Frederick's love of sculpture and Lena's love of plants. We thought we'd be here for maybe 2 hours and ended up staying 3 hours. Some of the sculptures are a little weird, but interesting. The pathways are easy to navigate and it is an easy walk. There is a huge variety of plants and trees and the walkway around the Japanese Garden is very pleasant. If you have the time to visit, do it. Of course, don't forget to walk under the "Da Vinci Horse". It is an interesting sight.

Went for the butterfly exhibit.
I needed a mobility scooter and was told that they only have one! So bring your own if you have one.
The butterflies were beautiful but it was very crowded and a lot of kids jumping around and running in the garden to try to catch them.
There is a tram that will take you around to look at the sculptures. Cost was $8.00 per person.
They did have a food area but we didn’t eat there.

Such a beautiful and unexpected experience! We spent several hours just roaming around the gardens and took the tram to see all the sculptures. There is an additional cost of the tram ($6 I think?) but you got to get some information about the stuff you were seeing which was nice. It could have been easily walked but we enjoyed the overview and I would recommend it.

Also, they had a string quartet there the afternoon we went which was an unexpected bonus. Free concert!

There was also a short movie about the making and installation of the amazing sculpture as you enter the building. Very interesting to see that. Runs on a loop so enter at any time.

We didn't eat in the cafe but we throughly enjoyed the huge variety of plants, the amazing sculpture collection and the overall ambiance of the facility.

The gardens were recommended by our hotel receptionist as the number one place to visit in Grand Rapids. We went late in the afternoon and didn't really have enough time to do the gardens justice. We took the mini-train tour and the tour guide was excellent, giving detailed information about all the statues that were placed in the gardens. There are millions of dollars of sculptures produced by many different international sculptors, which have been placed in garden settings that highlight their beauty. The gardens themselves are beautifully designed and deserved more than the few hours we would devote to them. A definite must visit when in Grand Rapids.

The tram guide was good but the tram not. The vechicle is rattling and loud deisel. Why? Should be EV and quiet. This is not 30 years ago. Jim

This is a beautiful and peaceful place to explore with a wide variety of plants and exhibits. The Japanese Garden was especially serene and well-maintained, offering lovely views. I wished the exhibits were more interactive, like being able to rake designs in the Zen Garden instead of just observing. Despite having a children’s area, the park overall isn’t very kid friendly. My little ones would have quickly grown tired of all the walking and limited hands on experiences. It’s a great visit for adults who enjoy art and nature.

I have enjoyed a number of gardens and outdoor sculpture gardens, like Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia, Grounds for Sculpture near Princeton NJ, Storm King in the Hudson Valley and Denver Botanic Gardens. All wonderful. Meijer Gardens outshines them all. A notable collection of sculptures in a beautiful garden setting.

We spent nearly the whole day and saw most of the park, but could have easily have returned the next day. Start with the trolley ride for another four bucks a person, which provides a 45 minute tour of the grounds. You get a tour of the Sculpture Garden with great commentary by the volunteer on board and an overview of the rest of the park. It’s helpful because it helps clarify your priorities, which could be an overwhelming task without the tour.

We started with the Japanese gardens, our highlight of the day, also visited the farm, the indoor tropical spaces and a brief spin through the Children’s garden at the end. We also walked the boardwalk through the natural beauty
of the wetlands. About a one mile round trip from the entrance.

If you’re ever anywhere near Grand Rapids, Meijer Gardens is a MUST SEE.

Amazingly diverse gardens- ranging from wetlands to Japanese gardens. It is huge and well worth more than one visit!

Went to go see the christmas tree exhibit. While the christmas trees were beautifully decorated, It was not what I thought it would be like. There was not as many trees as it seemed in the photos they had online. This made it a short visit.

They did have a tree art exhibit also and it was very interesting. I do recommend that if you can check it out. Also, the train exhibit with the multiple handmade buildings was interesting. One of the signs said that the intricate buildings had taken over 200 hours to complete. The buildings were amazing.

Took the two grandchildren for a second visit. This time we visited the farm garden and the Japanese garden. We also looked at the sculptures inside along with the indoor gardens. I’m amazed how captivating an almost 6 year old and 11 year old can be with this place. It was my wedding anniversary and I told everyone I had the most flowers ever! An awesome experience!!

Be prepared to walk! We walked a large portion of the gardens, viewed the greenhouse areas, and also visited the indoor art exhibit. There is definitely something for everyone. If you like to take photos this is a great place.

Our favorite outdoor area was the Japanese gardens. It was very peaceful and we got some great photos in the little gazebo. Our favorite sculptures were the giant horse (or course) and the wind powered chimes in the children’s garden. If they sold a miniature version of those I would buy them!

We spent about 3 hours in total. We did not take the tram, but I don’t think that is necessary if you are able to do the walking. I would recommend for others visiting the area, but make sure you go when the weather is nice!

The Meijer Gardens in NE Grand Rapids is a must see stop if visiting the city - they have something for everyone to see including world class exhibitions.
Recently I took my 99 year old Grandmother for a tour and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.
They had handicap access from parking to the lunch area.
We saw incredible exhibits on the sculpture tour which offered a tram tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and the driver went slow enough for everyone to see all the exhibits.
We toured the gardens area by ourselves and although some of the trees were not in bloom there was enough to keep our eyes amazed.
It was a world class experience and I would not change a thing outside of adding more sculptures to view.
I’ve been to multiple grass garden music events this summer season and had a wonderful experience at three of them.
The staff is helpful and supportive and the gardens are some of the best I have ever seen.
They are investing in the property and can’t wait to see the new exhibits when they are complete.
Prices are resonance and if you time your visit right you can visit for a steal !

My mother passed away in 2010 at the age of 94. She was an avid gardener and the first to have a membership introducing me to this magnificent facility. She met Fred and Lena on a bus trip to Mackinac Island. Fred had just recieved the plans and ok to obtain the da Vinci horse. He was so excited showing her the plans and talking about this outstanding acquisition. A few years later Mom was in the gift shop at the gardens when Fred came in. He came over to her and struck up a conversation remembering her from the trip they shared. She was shocked he remembered her, but it is that humble caring, sharing and love for people by Fred and Lena that is so evident in Meijer Gardens. It is a beautiful inspiration for young and old, master gardeners and those who don't dig in the dirt but appreciate natures beauty. In the years since, my husband and I have maintained a yearly membership to Meijer Gardens. There is something there for all to enjoy. We live about 40 miles away in Muskegon and visit numerous times throughout the year. It has become a tradition for my husband and myself, plus our daughter and 9 year old grandson to visit the butterfly exhibit. Such a spectacular display and beautiful way to welcome spring. Our grandson is thrilled when one lands on him. We always have to visit the children's garden with its sensory garden, sandbox to play archiologist and dig in for buried treasures, the log cabin to step back in time, the fantastic tree house and a water exhibit featuring the great lakes for kids to splash in and race boats. Beautiful flowers and trees are everywhere to delight the senses. The Japanese Gardens are absolutely magnificent from the authentic tea house to the bonsai exhibit. You are transported to a state of peace and tranquility. There is a replica of the farm where Lena grew up and a sculpture garden that will take your breath away in its grandeur, This is where you will find Fred's pride and joy, the magnificent da Vinci horse. You will be in awe experiencing its majesty. Inside they always have rotating exhibits, classes to enhance your knowledge of horticulture, a lovely café and a gift shop to round out your visit.

Every area of the facility is thoughtfully and beautifully laid out. During the Christmas holiday they have a festival of trees decorated in the traditions of various countries. Everywhere is beautifully decorated for the season and kids of all ages enjoy the train running above and the lovely vignettes all made from natures bounty. It is also great fun to take a horse drawn ride through the park. During the summer months they offer a wonderful outdoor concert series.

Plan on staying for a few hours as there is lots to see and enjoy. Dress appropriately for the outdoors and toss in suntan lotion. Especially wear comfortable walking shoes as there are miles of grounds to explore. For a slightly extra fee, they offer a tram with guides who provide narration and information about various aspects of the park. I would recommend this ride to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the sculptures and park. Sadly, you are not allowed to get on and off the tram. In my experience, everything from the grounds to the restrooms are clean and pristine.

If I had one negative to share it would be the lack of handicap friendly and senior citizen considerations. This year they are undergoing major renovations and expansion. Parking is not close to the enterance and there are no shuttles. They do have wheelchairs located in the parking lot, but those are not always the answer. It is a considerable walk and a shuttle would be nice not only for seniors and handicapped but for families with young children, as well. Once inside the gardens you find the same issue. You must walk everywhere. You cannot go through one area to get to another on the opposite side, you must go completely around the perimeter of each. There are no openings to take shortcuts nor are the openings in close proximity to another. To go from the Japanese garden to the main building you must walk around the entire children's garden. There are considerable seniors who love gardening and who would like to enjoy the splendor of this fabulous facility but their needs are not being adaquately met. My husband has back issues and can only walk a short distance before he has to stop. He does not need a wheelchair, but, can not make it through the entire facility and often ends up waiting for us back at the main building. I feel so bad for him because he misses so much, especially participating in the memories and delight of sharing with our grandson. He did not join us this year due to this issue. If he could simply get on and off the tram at the different areas, it would be tremendous. We would even be willing to spend extra for a tram that would offer such a convenience. I'm sure others would also appreciate this consideration in meeting their needs.

Over all, I would highly recommend Meijer Gardens. It is a magnificent place filled with glorious sites that are good for the soul and senses. You won't regret a visit to this special place.

We went after Christmas to see the Christmas Trees. We also went after dark, it was fun! Need to go back in the daylight and when it is warmer. Many things to see!

We didn’t think we would have time to squeeze this in on our short trip but were able to stop for 90 minutes. The brief time we were there was breathtaking! I wish we would have taken the tram ride to see the rest but ran out of time!

Loved the Butterfly House. We even learned a few things. Took the tram around the Sculpture Park which was so interesting. Even though we could have walked the guide gave us so much information about each sculpture I wouldn’t want to miss. Didn’t have time to do much more but will definitely be back to do more exploring

From Butterflies to summer concerts Meijer Gardens offers variety engagement for all ages. Train tours through the sculpture gardens, the kids play area in the children’s gardens and member only family night activities skate the perimeter of family friendly venues. Summer concert series bring in national and international acclaimed performing artist. Tuesday nights feature a diversity of performance styles from local artists.

This has something for everyone who likes plants and outdoor art sculptures. The gigantic bronze horse statue inspired by DaVinci was my favorite, along with the plants that eat bugs and the enormous Japanese Garden. My only criticism was no transportation ran at the Park the day we visited, so we were exhausted and covered in sweat in September after Labor Day. Therefore, they charge too much if you don't get transportation with you Park Fees in my opinion.

The gardens are beautiful, very pristine. The sculpture park was very nice, not a lot of sculptures as compared to other sculpture parks but very enjoyable on our trolley tour. Indoor gardens, Japanese gardens outside, all very impressive. Volunteer staff, library, gift shop and the café and food was all top notch.

My husband and I recently traveled from PA to spend a week in Michigan. Being a garden lover (especially Asian gardens), I had to visit here. We visited the day after Labor Day, a day with very light attendance, which allowed us to get a very close parking spot (and being a Tuesday, it was open late). The construction going on at the entrance was a bit of a distraction, but we knew the grounds would be lovely beyond that. Once in the visitor’s center, the three separate lines (first to pay admission, then to have our tickets checked, and then finally to get a map—each stop just a few yards from each other) seemed unnecessary. We took the narrated, 45-minute-long tram ride first thing; it was enjoyable and saved much walking to see the sculptures. Their conservatory and Children’s Garden were nice, but our favorite area the huge Japanese garden. It featured a large pond ringed with pathways, boulders, waterfalls, decks, etc.—very picturesque. It wasn’t truly authentic in its design or plantings but still very pleasant. They had some bonsai trees on display, including one pear tree that actually produced fruit (see photo).

The grounds here are sprawling, and my feet gave out before we got to all the far corners. We have visited many large, outstanding gardens across the country, and this one had less color and fewer actual show garden display areas than others we have toured; we have even seen much larger conservatories. We were glad to see the many sculptures here, but most really weren’t our taste and certainly weren’t worth walking way out to see, in our view; so, thank goodness for the tram. We had lunch in their café (with an odd menu that day); we did enjoy the Chihuly glass on the cafe ceiling. All in all, we spent four hours here, including lunch. We had free admission as AHS members.

This is an incredible place to spend time walking among the themed sculpture gardens. They have beautiful flowers and enjoyable wildlife throughout the park.

We were excited to visit this beautiful garden of sculptures. We visited it during construction and Covid-19. So understandably their would be limitations. However only having a few options for a motorized guided tour and the expense we passed.

I have problems walking and was looking forward to seeing the gardens on the tram. It was a hike to get from the parking lot to tram. Close to .5 mile walk. Upon buying tickets ($29 for 2 ppl), we asked about the tram and the ticket lady made it sound like it was right around the corner. She didn’t say anything about it being sold out. Once we got there we were told it was full. Greenhouses are not my thing so the minimal things we were able to see were beautifully maintained. Our entire encounter was an hour where over 1/2 of it was to get to ticket booths. I spoke to a manager and she was incredibly unhelpful. It was clearly our problem they were not accommodating. I’d hate to be a true handicapped person. Incredibly disappointing and I no longer will shop at my local Meijer store as I was just robbed of $29.

Gorgeous grounds and interesting sculptures and art displays throughout the property. Plan to spend a whole day here! The onsite restaurant is also very good, moderately priced, and has Chihuly glass displayed throughout.

We've visited sculpture gardens before but never one with such emphasis on the 'gardens'. The sculpture was outstanding with global artistic representation - love the Henry Moore's - but time after time we found ourselves commenting on the placement, the presentation and the beauty of the surrounding trees, shrubs or flowers.

We spent nearly 3 hours, walked 2 miles and didn't see it all. Interestingly, there is major construction going on and one very large piece was being installed & painted (or re-painted - we couldn't tell). A return trip will provide new area and sculptures; if we were local we'd certainly become members.

There is also a children's area, featuring 'lakes and locks' for kids to float small boats through. Something for all ages, I'd say.

We're staying in South Haven, an hour away, and found the park basically by accident. All I can say is we're glad we did and you should visit if you're anywhere nearby.

The sculptures are great, but the landscaping and the trails offer such a peaceful and beautiful place to get away. Going when the butterflies are being released is an experience unlike anything else. It feels like you are transported to a rainforest and the butterflies land on you and others, especially if you wear bright colors.

My wife and I visited the Gardens for the Enlighten Holiday Light Show. The light show was fantasitic and well worth the cost. I would also like to thank Meijer Gardens for providing we a free scooter so that I could easily travel the one mile light show circuit. Their entire staff was very helpful and professional,

We had a great time here. We didn't know about it before our visit and a local recommended it when we were at another site. I'm glad that we made time for it. The gardens are beautiful and the sculptures are outstanding. I highly recommend the tram tour of the sculpture garden. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of great information.

I frequently come here for business networking meetings. Cafe offers a variety of healthy and unique dishes all with a peaceful ambiance to enjoy networking with others. You definitely should eat outside by the water if weather is nice.

My husband and I went for a show , outdoor , very nice. The next day we decided to walk the park. Wow, gorgeous! We walked for hours. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water. Plenty of benches throughout the park. The art was amazing, interesting. This really was a treat.

A great way to spend a day with friends, family, or by ones self. Plenty of things to see. There is a vehicle to transport you around to the different venues for an additional charge. Plan on a day trip to see everything. It's a long day for small children..

Meijer Gardens is a beautiful place to visit year-round. Lots of outdoor space, lit beautifully at night. Dress warm in the winter! We love it and go at least a couple times a year. Also a great place to take photos!

We arrived early on a late summer day and the perfect weather and light enhanced the beautiful gardens and sculpture . They have recently reopened and are using practical precautions in light of the pandemic. We signed up of a tour of the Japanese garden and were delighted by our guide and the fact it was just the two of us on the tour.
We have toured sculpture gardens around the world and the Meijer gardens ranks at the top of our lists. The tram tour with a guide has limited seating for social separation and is a great way to see much of the sculpture and receive some insight from the guide. Buy your ticket early and reserve your seat.
You can easily make a day out of your visit and the on sight restaurant has a nice selection of food and drinks. It has a very nice outdoor section next to a water feature.

The meijer gardens have been undergoing construction, and when they are finished it will be fine. But don't bother with the tram tour. It was the worst part of my entire visit: on an 83deg temperature day (Sept 17, 2021), with not really any social distancing in the tram (they don't block off any rows) so you're sitting very close to each stranger in front and behind of you, you have the option of sitting

a) in the first row , in front of the guide speaker (really hope the person is covid-free as they're speaking on you unmasked),
b) in the first car, where you can hear the guide during the tour, but you are with the tram engine so you are vibrating so much your eyes are shaking in your sockets, or
c) in the second car, where you breathe the exhaust fumes and cannot hear the speaker or see the sculpture as by the time your line of sight appears, you've missed it.

The last row of the first car is a terrible place to sit: it should be roped off entirely. This row of seats got extremely hot (sun from 83deg weather + the engine heat), so sitting here is like being fried on your end. The 45 tour minutes were torture, if you can envision yourself as egg being shaken on a fryer, and you are breathing the engine exhaust coming out the side of the tram car right under you because the tram engine is at the back of the tram car 1.
So combined with being fried on the seats, the sun beats down on you if the tram is turning at any angle around curves on the ride, and being shaken so hard your teeth are rattling, consider that there are no stops on the 45 minute tour so you can get off to look at the statues or clear your lungs. Between all this and concentrating on listening the guide, it's really a lot of attention juggling, and if you have good legs you should definitely just save the 4$ and walk, because you'll be able to see more and go faster.

I am trying to contact the Gardens management to inform them that the last row of tram car 1 is a hazard.

It's a pity because the park volunteers work hard to make a good guide narrative, but passengers in both tram cars (front and back) end up with complaints for different reasons. The ones in the back car can't hear the guide or see the sights and breathe exhaust. The ones in the front car are dying of heat. I wanted the tour to end ASAP and spent the last 44 minutes (of the 45 minute tour) tracking our progress in the park and counting down when it would end so we could get to relief!

Solutions that I offer to solving these problems:
a) eventually upgrade to electric trams that are quiet and don't vibrate so much
b) change out their tram motors (probably too old and overdue maintenance for the amount of shaking),
c) change the tour so that it is a "hop on hop off" style. Give people who purchase the tram tickets a bracelet. They can get off whenever they want and then if it is going by and stopping elsewhere in the park, let them get on when they are exhausted and lost in the back paths of the sculpture garden. You can even increase the ticket price, and people will say it is a better value to have a way to get rescued from the back end of the property (not just the sculpture garden) to catch a ride back to the visitor center!

BTW the riders on the tram are coughing and you're so close that you're breathing their exhalation and hoping it was not Covid, but that they are coughing from the exhaust smells.

About the gardens this visit: I wasn't thrilled about the chrysanthemums display (sept flower arrangements) this year. Mums and apples in arrangements, just for colors in the garden, are not my idea of impressive garden arrangement.

Try better, Meijer Gardens.

Everytime we come here we find or see something new. Even though you may see lines to enter the garden it is never crowded. There is something for kids of all ages to keep busy and enjoy themselves. Also a peaceful and serene place for parents too!

Tip: if you are visiting for the first time with people who are not great walkers or if you have limited time take the TRAM tour and ot will give you a sample of everything in the park. It will also give you an idea of where you might want to start your walking tour afterwards

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Absolutely loved this place. The tram ride is also enjoyable if you get tired and want to rest for a bit. I would recommend this place to anyone.

This was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. We enjoyed wandering around admiring the sculptures and beautiful gardens. I especially enjoyed the Japanese garden and the rooftop sculptures.

My girlfriend and I went on a weekday in late April to see the butterflies and it was pretty amazing. The smaller rooms of the Conservatory had caterpillars in it that you could look for and the main area had the butterflies about. We both are into photography, but she does quite a bit of macro and I am more wide angle. She was loving every minute of it. We both had butterflies land on us, so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Outside, we spent most of our time in the Japanese Garden area. She had not been in that area and I thought it was the nicest place to walk around a bit away from the hundreds of kids that were on field trips.

Overall, excellent day out and about with our cameras, just taking the day in.

We drove to the Gardens from our hotel and parked in the large parking lot. After getting our tickets we walked through the greenhouse which was filled with all kinds of cactus and tropical plants. Then we walked to the tram station and took the guided sculpture garden tour. Most of the huge sculptures were abstract modern art but interesting. After that we walked around the Japanese garden which contained lots of Bonzai plants, other Japanese plants and a teahouse. We were going to walk into The Children's Garden but decided to skip it due to the 90 degree temperature. The whole park and gardens are well designed and it is a good place to spend the day and have lunch in the cafe.

My wife and I visited FMGSP for the first time on Sept 30. Oh, my. We were blown away by the size, beauty, diversity, sculptures - just everything is top-notch. We began our tour indoors in the dessert garden and proceeded through several other indoor displays. Once outside, we walked through every garden area. It was all amazing, especially the Japanese Garden.

If you come to Grand Rapids, DO NOT MISS this amazing place. Garden and art lovers will be glad that you made the time to visit.

We try to stop nearly every time we are in town. This was the first time in the winter, it was pretty mild for January, 39 degrees and no snow, so we were able to walk around the sculpture garden pretty comfortably. It is interesting to see the sculptures with the dormant garden setting, some are enhanced and some are a little different. It made us want to come back in the springtime when the flowers are in bloom.

We were in town for the weekend for a wedding. That morning at breakfast, a waitress recommended that we check out the sculpture garden. To be honest, it didn't sound sound like much to me, but my partner wanted to go so off we headed!

Just driving in to the parking lot you pass some amazing pieces. I began to realize that we were headed to something special. Once inside the visitor center everywhere you look there's really unique art and sculptures on the inside! The person at the sales desk was super helpful explaining how to visit the garden. There is a tram that you can take that drives you on a loop through the garden to give you an overall view (you pay a small fee for the tram.) You can then go back to certain areas if you want to explore further. That sounded like a great idea to us, so we headed out towards the tram stop. But to get there, you pass by amazing indoor nature exhibits. They have plants grouped together such as arid plants, Victorian plants, tropical plants, etc. We spent our first hour just going through the indoor exhibit and we saw so many fabulous plants! When we finally got outside, it was only a short walk to the tram.

The tram is a great experience - as it drives you around it slows down for pictures at certain pieces, and the driver gives you a lot of background information as to what you were seeing, the artist, who commissioned it, etc. Even more fun is that the botanical plants around each piece are specifically planted to enhance the sculpture itself. I love that they put creeping thyme around the sculpture of a spider!

We spent several hours on foot exploring the Japanese gardens, and had we had more time would've spent more hours exploring the rest of the gardens. We already know that we want to make a trip back to Grand Rapids to spend more time here. I would rank this as a must see when in the area. I'm so jealous that I don't live nearer!

Went out for some social distancing culture. Sculpture park was amazing. Not busy and everyone was respectful of space. Cafe was open and you felt safe eating there. Staff very friendly throughout the visit

I only go when the 'Butterflies are Blooming' exhibit is featured. Other than this, it's really not worth the money. Visited in early March 2020 for this and it was just okay. Lots of issues with where to park and once inside, construction issues made it a bit of a real headache. Long lines unless you are a VIP member, because they simply don't have an organized system to move crowds through. (Chicago attractions have figured this out, folks.) Nothing unique in the gift shop. If I were from out of town, it would really be a disappointment. (Similar to a reaction that I overheard from an out of town guest visiting Rosa Parks Circle... "so, this is IT?!? A slab of concrete and a small stage?")

I so wish they would bring back the Dale Chihuly exhibit!
This I would pay for and get the VIP membership to visit often.
Getting more permanent works from him would be a great payoff for the area.

Some of the things that have been purchased in past years really make me question the taste and leadership of Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Beautiful gardens and art - the size of some of the sculptures are mind-boggling. Be prepared to walk! The lady at the admissions desk said it was about three miles if you did the whole loop, but after following all the side paths, backtracking and walking inside - my walking app had us at about 8 miles. A tram runs several times a day, but they do sell out. After walking the park we were going to take the last tram of the day just for the fun of it. We got there about a half an hour before, but it was sold out. The cafe is nice and has lots of options. My only regret is that it was a dreary day when we visited. I can just imagine how even more beautiful it is in the sunshine!

Even if you’re not a gardener this place still has much to offer. First, the outside. Beautiful landscaped areas and outdoor art. Casually stroll or hike through priceless pieces of art. All areas afford wonderful views. The grounds are immaculate and wheel chair accessible. The indoor gardens are delightful. Desert, Victorian, tropical.. there’s artwork inside. Chihuly glass, hanging sculptures, a visual feast. Hungry?? The cafe has very tasty and delicious foods. Not the usual fare. Prices and portions were good. I’ll be back for sure. Thanks to the Meijer Family . Don’t miss this

Years ago, I use to visit this place 2-3 times biweekly just to clear my head. My favorite part of the garden was the butterfly attraction. I loved watching and hearing the birds.

Prices were reasonable but unfortunately they do not give a discount for veterans, only active duty. Did not have to rent a wheel chair for they were easily available. Very friendly and easy to use a wheel chair all over the park. Took the tram and learned a lot about the sculptures and you see the whole park. Went to the Japanese Gardens after the tram and it had easy paths for the wheel chair allowing my father to enjoy it. Need to go if in the area.

After missing the butterflies last year it made this year even more special! We took 2 Girl Scouts and a Cub Scout and did the Scouting adventure. Each Scout received an activity packet and take home project. Long lines but it was to be expected.

A beautiful park. You can wander around for a couple of hours and enjoy the sculptures and plantings. There is a film to watch and a place to get something to eat.

Huge botanical and sculpture garden. Beautiful inside and outside. Walking trails.. They decorate for the seasons. Gift shop and good selections in the cafeteria. The Japanese garden is amazing even on a cold October day. Rooftop garden. Tram with very interesting commentary. The volunteers are fantastic taking you around the site. They are open year round.

This was my first time here and I am not a garden guy, but this place was awesome. Remarkable how not a leaf seemed to be out of place, and I could see where all the seasons would be stunning in their own way!

Absolutely a wonderful experience. My son (4) and I went one afternoon and could have easily spent the whole day there. The tram tour was great and very informational. We also did a story time, there are so many activities for children. Some tips would be to bring a change of clothes for the water play area and water shoes/sandals. Also, the tram tour sells fast so get your tickets before you start to walk around.

A great experience. Really enjoyed the gardens and the sculptures. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. Plan on being there at least a couple of hours and wear comfortable shoes.

Fantastic gardens and cool sculptures throughout! There are indoor rooms with some special collections and we were able to see the bud on the corpse flower (before it bloomed). Fabulous! I would imagine there is beauty no matter what time of year you go. We were there for about 4 hours and you could spend more or less time if you want.