Amway Grand Plaza - Lap of Luxury in Grand Rapids, Michigan
By Valinda Almeida
Smack dab in the middle of bustling Grand Rapids, elegant Amway Grand
Plaza is steps away from fantastic eateries, shops and museums. West
Michigan's largest and most luxurious lodging is often called a destination rather
than just a place to rest a weary body. This sprawling beauty, right next to
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and across the street from Van Andel
Museum Center and Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, boasts nine award-winning
restaurants and lounges, boutiques, a fresh flower and chocolate shop, a
beauty shop, an art gallery, Web TV, Nintendo 64, and a state-of-the art
fitness center. No wonder people are flocking to Michigan's second largest city.
Grand > Rapids is the state's fastest-growing visitor destination.
Accommodations
When the hotel first opened in 1913, its lobby sparkled with one of the
world's largest gold-leaf ceilings, along with other stunning decorative touches.
The building underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and re-opened in
1981 with 682 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. Opulent fixtures of
the original hotel remained and a new modern Glass Tower was constructed.
Guests can choose to stay in the in the historic Pantlind rooms (Pantlind
is the hotel's original name), the new rooms in the 29-story Glass Tower or
the huge Grand Suites. The charming Old World Pantlind rooms are graced with
restored fixtures and period artwork. We opted for a modern Glass Tower
room with high-speed Internet access, 24-hour concierge service and exclusive
card-key access to the Tower Club Lounge. Although the ambiance throughout the
entire hotel is special, you'll feel supremely pampered in this tall glass building
overlooking Grand River.
Upon awaking in the ultra-comfortable bed you can leisurely retrieve the
morning paper outside your door and head to the complimentary breakfast buffet
in the Tower Club Lounge. Although there is plenty of seating available in the club,
we wished to eat in our room. Sensing a struggle juggling cups of
tea, glasses of juice and plates of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit, the
attendant kindly asked if we would like a serving tray. We gratefully
accepted the offer and made it back to the room with no spills.
The spacious and comfortable Tower Club Lounge, with its TV, fireplace,
magazines and board games, is available 24 hours a day to card-carrying
guests. Complimentary hot and cold hors d'oeuvres are served in the late
afternoon, along with reduced-priced cocktails. Throughout the day guests can
walk in and grab sodas and bottled water from the refrigerator.
Dining
Several great options are available within the hotel and nearby. The 1913
Room, harkening back to the time of the hotel's original opening, is
Michigan's first and only AAA Five Diamond restaurant and has received
numerous other awards. Cuisine is classic American with French influence
served in sumptuous Louis XVI surroundings. The Grille at 1913, famed for its
steaks, features a weekday lunch buffet that includes hand-carved roast beef and
poultry. Guests in the mood for games of all sorts may want to hustle to
GP Sports, a high-energy sports bar and restaurant. Scattered about are 40 TV
screens, pool tables and interactive games that visitors can enjoy while
devouring wood-fired pizzas, huge burgers and fried pickle spears. Another
hotel eatery, Bentham's Riverfront Restaurant, offers casual family dining
with a view of Grand River.
Taking the advice of locals we headed to San Chez, a tapas bistro
in the heart of the city's entertainment district. Here we shared a
seemingly endless stream of little Spanish dishes, including a salad of
warm shaved pork loin, goat cheese and pine nuts on layers of organic lettuces.
We washed the tapas down with a few minty mojitos.
After we couldn't possibly consume another morsel we adjourned to the
adjoining joint - a club called Cabaret, opened by the owner of San Chez. While
listening to some wonderfully talented local singers we sipped specialty
coffees and nibbled at assorted sweets. Another fab eatery and entertainment
center within walking distance of Amway Grand Plaza is the eclectic BOB (Big Old
Building). This converted warehouse houses several restaurants and clubs on
four floors. It's fun to meander from space to space, trying an appetizer at one
place, a salad at another, a main course at a third and dessert at yet another
restaurant. Then top it off listening to live jazz, dance music or comedy.
Grand Rapids is a hopping place with new restaurants and cultural and
entertainment spheres opening all the time. Centrally located Amway Grand
Plaza is the perfect spot to enjoy it all.
Amway Grand Plaza is located at 187 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information:
Contact Amway Grand Plaza at 800-253-3590 or www.amwaygrand.com.
Room rates range from $119 to $395 per night. For a special treat request
a room in the Glass Tower.
Contact Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau at
800-678-9859 or www.visitgrandrapids.org.
By Valinda Almeida
Smack dab in the middle of bustling Grand Rapids, elegant Amway Grand
Plaza is steps away from fantastic eateries, shops and museums. West
Michigan's largest and most luxurious lodging is often called a destination rather
than just a place to rest a weary body. This sprawling beauty, right next to
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and across the street from Van Andel
Museum Center and Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, boasts nine award-winning
restaurants and lounges, boutiques, a fresh flower and chocolate shop, a
beauty shop, an art gallery, Web TV, Nintendo 64, and a state-of-the art
fitness center. No wonder people are flocking to Michigan's second largest city.
Grand > Rapids is the state's fastest-growing visitor destination.
Accommodations
When the hotel first opened in 1913, its lobby sparkled with one of the
world's largest gold-leaf ceilings, along with other stunning decorative touches.
The building underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and re-opened in
1981 with 682 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. Opulent fixtures of
the original hotel remained and a new modern Glass Tower was constructed.
Guests can choose to stay in the in the historic Pantlind rooms (Pantlind
is the hotel's original name), the new rooms in the 29-story Glass Tower or
the huge Grand Suites. The charming Old World Pantlind rooms are graced with
restored fixtures and period artwork. We opted for a modern Glass Tower
room with high-speed Internet access, 24-hour concierge service and exclusive
card-key access to the Tower Club Lounge. Although the ambiance throughout the
entire hotel is special, you'll feel supremely pampered in this tall glass building
overlooking Grand River.
Upon awaking in the ultra-comfortable bed you can leisurely retrieve the
morning paper outside your door and head to the complimentary breakfast buffet
in the Tower Club Lounge. Although there is plenty of seating available in the club,
we wished to eat in our room. Sensing a struggle juggling cups of
tea, glasses of juice and plates of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit, the
attendant kindly asked if we would like a serving tray. We gratefully
accepted the offer and made it back to the room with no spills.
The spacious and comfortable Tower Club Lounge, with its TV, fireplace,
magazines and board games, is available 24 hours a day to card-carrying
guests. Complimentary hot and cold hors d'oeuvres are served in the late
afternoon, along with reduced-priced cocktails. Throughout the day guests can
walk in and grab sodas and bottled water from the refrigerator.
Dining
Several great options are available within the hotel and nearby. The 1913
Room, harkening back to the time of the hotel's original opening, is
Michigan's first and only AAA Five Diamond restaurant and has received
numerous other awards. Cuisine is classic American with French influence
served in sumptuous Louis XVI surroundings. The Grille at 1913, famed for its
steaks, features a weekday lunch buffet that includes hand-carved roast beef and
poultry. Guests in the mood for games of all sorts may want to hustle to
GP Sports, a high-energy sports bar and restaurant. Scattered about are 40 TV
screens, pool tables and interactive games that visitors can enjoy while
devouring wood-fired pizzas, huge burgers and fried pickle spears. Another
hotel eatery, Bentham's Riverfront Restaurant, offers casual family dining
with a view of Grand River.
Taking the advice of locals we headed to San Chez, a tapas bistro
in the heart of the city's entertainment district. Here we shared a
seemingly endless stream of little Spanish dishes, including a salad of
warm shaved pork loin, goat cheese and pine nuts on layers of organic lettuces.
We washed the tapas down with a few minty mojitos.
After we couldn't possibly consume another morsel we adjourned to the
adjoining joint - a club called Cabaret, opened by the owner of San Chez. While
listening to some wonderfully talented local singers we sipped specialty
coffees and nibbled at assorted sweets. Another fab eatery and entertainment
center within walking distance of Amway Grand Plaza is the eclectic BOB (Big Old
Building). This converted warehouse houses several restaurants and clubs on
four floors. It's fun to meander from space to space, trying an appetizer at one
place, a salad at another, a main course at a third and dessert at yet another
restaurant. Then top it off listening to live jazz, dance music or comedy.
Grand Rapids is a hopping place with new restaurants and cultural and
entertainment spheres opening all the time. Centrally located Amway Grand
Plaza is the perfect spot to enjoy it all.
Amway Grand Plaza is located at 187 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information:
Contact Amway Grand Plaza at 800-253-3590 or www.amwaygrand.com.
Room rates range from $119 to $395 per night. For a special treat request
a room in the Glass Tower.
Contact Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau at
800-678-9859 or www.visitgrandrapids.org.
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM
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