There’s a certain point every year when West Michigan seems to collectively decide it’s time for fall. The coffee shops roll out the pumpkin spice, the leaves begin their slow transformation, and farms and orchards start filling up with hay bales, pumpkins and apple cider.

For the final stop in this year’s Travel Guide series, we’re heading due south from Grand Rapids. Each city offers its own distinct flavor, from Kalamazoo’s youthful, artsy, beer-loving vibe to Battle Creek’s distinct history and Paw Paw’s wine-country charm. 

Downtown Rockford will once again transform into an open-air gallery as the Rogue River Artists Association (RRAA) hosts its annual Art in the Park(ing Lot) on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Get Out is Your Guide to What’s Great in the Great Outdoors. This month, columnist Allison Kay Bannister explores some of the best dog parks and dog-friendly trails around West Michigan.

Our guide to events, goings-on and things to do in Grand Rapids and all around West Michigan for the months of September and October.

While summer begins to wind down, the lakeshore’s lighthouses endure, offering visitors a look at beauty, history, and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. 

Here’s where we put the fun, active stuff you’d go to do with friends and family—places where you get involved and hands-on.

Looking for a good read? Perhaps even coupled with a welcoming space to enjoy it in? Come along as we share some of our favorite local independent options for bookworms and lovers of all things literary.

As much as we celebrate arts and entertainment here, none of it would be possible without the people who make the world go ‘round.

Our guide to events, goings-on and things to do in Grand Rapids and all around West Michigan for the month of August.

• Festivals