Spring Break can be Full of Fun Here at Home

Spring break is just a week away and I'll bet your kids are chomping at the bit to be "released!" Some of you may be going to warmer places, exotic destinations, etc., but many will stay home, and that's not all bad, because there is plenty to do here at home. Here are some cool suggestions.

Visit the Coopersville Farm Museum during Spring Break: Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, from 10am-2pm. They offer a great kids area, as well as interesting exhibits about farming, agriculture, and rural life. Get interactive by learning to make rope or do some corn shelling! Meet the bunnies, sit on a tractor, or create something on the 22’ Duplo table or the bead table! Adult Admission $4, kids $2, ages 3 & under are free.

Here in Grand Rapids, the Frederik Meijer Gardens is still featuring Butterflies Are Blooming with butterflies from tropical regions around the world flying freely in the 5-story tropical conservatory. The 80-degree conservatory is filled with thousands of exotic butterflies from tropical regions around the world. More than 40 different species of butterflies and moths make this an exciting and colorful exhibition. Butterflies Are Blooming runs through April 30th this year.

For those who are flying out of town, it's Passenger Appreciation Days at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, March 31st-April 2nd in the airport for outgoing passengers. Free food, beverages, giveaways, and contests are a part of the fun during the busiest time of year for the airport! They encourage passengers to arrive EXTRA early (two hours before your flight) to participate in the fun!

The Grand Rapids Public Museum has some special Spring Break activities Monday through Saturday from 11am until 3pm and Sunday from 12:30pm until 3pm. Kids can design robot creatures, there will be a bean bag toss, giant chess set and flower ring toss, as well as a Gears, Gears, Gears table. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. during the week of Spring Break, the Museum will have special telescope viewings on the front lawn to see Jupiter in our night sky. Each night is weather permitting. Robot Zoo is also available until 8pm April 4th through 8th!

The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum has a full line-up for Spring Break this year, with daily activities to make sure your kids are having a great time! Enjoy music performances by BenJammin’, join them for Maciek’s Magic Shows, and watch Keven Kammerraad and the Cooperfly Puppet Troup perform. Check out http://www.grcm.org for the complete spring break schedule. Events are free with general admission ($8.50 for ages 1 and up).

How about planning a family getaway or day trip to Holland during Spring Break, and they guarantee you won’t be bored. Holland offers fun for kids of all ages, including nature centers, laser tag, and go karts. You’ll find great programming at the local library and aquatic center as well, and plenty of restaurants and shops downtown to explore.

The Outdoor Discovery Center Nature Preserve in Holland is a 130-acre preserve with almost five miles of trails that are open dawn to dusk. The preserve is free and open to the public, and offers many diverse programs that help foster the concepts of wildlife management, conservation, outdoor education and preservation.

Check their website for the programs offered during your spring break. http://outdoordiscovery.org/. Outdoor Discovery Center is open every day, dawn to dusk, and the Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday: 9am-5pm, Saturday: 10am-4pm, and Sunday: 12pm-4pm.

There you go. That should help you and the family have a fun Spring Break right here at home.