FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS & SCULPTURE PARK

This botanical garden is one of Michigan's most popular tourist attractions, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Initiated by famous businessman Frederik Meijer, the garden blends botany and works of art, as he himself has always been a great lover of sculpture and his wife of gardens. Frederik Meijer died in 2011 as one of America's 100 wealthiest men, but his name is still remembered for this magnificent botanical garden. Here you can discover almost 300 works by artists from all over the world (Louise Bourgeois, Jim Dine, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Roxy Paine, Auguste Rodin, George Segal, Richard Serra, Ai Weiwei...). There's also a whole range of horticultural gardens, from the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory to the lovely Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, as well as a recreation of a typical Michigan farm from the 1930s. Allow at least an afternoon, although a day is not excessive for a long and unforgettable visit. Finally, an outdoor amphitheater presents a series of concerts in a superb natural setting during the summer season (see website for programming and ticket purchase). On-site services: guided tours for groups upon reservation, restaurant (soups, salads, sandwiches, mac & cheese, etc.) and gift store (open until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays).