Last month I was able to spend a nice loooong weekend in Grand Rapids, MI tasting my way through all the amazing food and drink they have to offer thanks to Experience Grand Rapids and my new adorable blog buddy Liz from The Lemon Bowl who was our tour guide for our food blogger press weekend!
Before our weekend started, I arrived just a touch early to enjoy a little alone time in our fancy schmancy rooms at the beautiful and historic Amway Grand Historic Hotel. This hotel has the perfect amount of historic beauty in it’s grandiose ball rooms and sweeping staircases (perfect for weddings!!!) but also has newly renovated side with beautifully up to date hotel rooms that include super comfy beds and all the pillows a girl could ask for.
First stop on our tour of Grand Rapids included a visit to the International Wine, Beer and Food Festival where we tried our hand at tasting a over 1500 wines, beers, ciders, and spirits. That’s right, challenge accepted. Okay, okay. I will admit that it was an impossible feat but it sure was fun trying! 
Next stop was a late night tour of Founder’s Brewery. I have been on a lot of brewery tours in my life and man was this place clean and shiny!!!
Just look at all those cans of beer…I can see why this place was named of the 19 American Breweries You Need To See In Person by Thrillist. They make A LOT of beer and you can find it all over the US and Internationally…people loooove their Founder’s!
We were up and at ’em early the next morning so we started our day off right with breakfast at San Chez. Not only is this a tapas restaurant with a delicious breakfast menu but they also have an amazing smoothie menu too! One of each, please!
Lunch was had at The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck which was conveniently located right inside the Grand Amway Hotel!!! We feasted on fabulously large salads and crazy delicious pizza. And how cool is this little tidbit of information for ya, this is only one of two global faire restaurants by Wolfgang Puck in the word…the other one is located in Dubai! 
Our afternoon was filled with all things pasta at The Local Epicurean and it was so much fun! (that’s my girl, Stephanie from Experience GR, isn’t she a doll!)
Can you believe I’ve never actually made pasta by myself before? I mean, I’ve made the filling or rolled out the dough but I’ve never done the whole recipe from start to finish! I couldn’t believe how easy it was, you just need and egg and some flour and BAM! Pasta is born!!! I want a pasta making machine so badly now! Let me PastaAllTheThings!!!!
Our day ended with dinner at Grove which won a 2015 OpenTable award for Top 100 Best Restaurants for Foodies in America as well as was the #1 Rated Restaurant in the State of Michigan by Business Insider. The food was on point! But man, may I take just a moment to talk about this Butterscotch Pudding…it was serious business folks. Thick and creamy and perfectly sweet. I kinda want to marry it. If you go to Grove definitely order it and proceed to eat every last bite without abandon.
We spent our last day in Grand Rapids exploring the Downtown Market. You guys. I could have stayed here all day. It’s like the coolest indoor farmer’s market you’ve ever seen. There are 24 vendors some of which include a butcher, specialty spices, a bread maker, fresh squeezed juices, a coffee shop, and of course the place that had me at hello, Sweetie-licious bakery! Don’t you want to try one of everything? I almost did!
My time in Grand Rapids was most excellent and I had a blast with Megan from Take A Megabite, Jocelyn from Grandbaby Cakes, Monique from Ambitious Kitchen, and of course Liz, from The Lemon Bowl! If you ever find yourself in the area, please visit these places, you will not be sorry! With so many amazing restaurants and breweries to eat and drink your way through, Grand Rapids is definitely a foodie’s dream come true!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Love,
Maggie
Hooray for GR!!! I live about 30 min west in Grand Haven and went to college in GR. So fun to see it get such an awesome blog post on such a great blog! 🙂
It is such a fun city!! I loved all the amazing restaurants, nightlife, and shopping! It would be a great city to go to college in and also to raise a family…win/win!!!
Yay!! I am so happy to see my hometown featured here!! Grand Rapids is truly a great city!!! ?
It truly is, Keri!! I had so much fun visiting!!!
So happy you enjoyed a piece of my “little corner of the world”! Come back soon! There’s so much you more to discover!
I definitely will! It is a beautiful city with so much to offer!!!
Thank you so much for enjoying the cutest little pie shop in the whole wide world! It means a great deal to all of us at Sweetie-licious that your experience was lovely!
Please come again, and let me know you are coming so we can give you a tour of what we do!
Love this blog!
Xoxoxlinda
Owner, Sweetie-licious Bakery
Hi Linda!
I definitely will stop back when I am in Grand Rapids! I loved everything about your pie shop and I would love a tour!!!
xo,
Maggie