Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a 158-acre botanical garden, art museum, and outdoor sculpture park. Leonardo da Vinci's plans to sculpt a 24-foot bronze horse were never realized until an American sculptor created two models based on da Vincis drawings, one of which graces the Frederik Meijer Gardens.

In 1482, an equestrian monument was commissioned of Leonardo da Vinci by Duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro. It was intended to be the largest equestrian statue in the world. Seventy tons of bronze were collected by Ludovico for casting the statue, which approached 26 ft in height.

In a 20 December 1493 note by Leonardo, he stated his readiness to begin the casting process, but in November 1494, Ludovico gave the bronze to his father-in-law Ercole d'Este to be used to forge cannons to defend the city from invasion by Charles VIII. Leonardo's rival Michelangelo encountered him at some point in Florence, and insulted him by implying that he was unable to perform the casting.

Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 9AM–5PM

Sunday: 11AM–5PM

Adults (14 – 64): $14.50

Seniors (65 and older): $11

Students (with student ID): $11

Museums for All: $2

Children (5–13): $7

Children (3–4): $4

Children (2 and younger): FREE

A beautiful oasis on the edge of downtown Holland, Windmill Island Gardens features an original working Dutch windmill named "De Zwaan" (the Swan) brought over from the Netherlands in 1964. It was the last windmill allowed to be transported from the Netherlands. Reaching 125 feet from the ground to the top of the blades, the windmill towers over 36 acres of gardens, dikes, canals, and picnic areas. Currently, self-guided tours of the windmill are available during open hours.

Features

- The 'Four Columns' Street organ: a gift from the City of Amsterdam to the City of Holland

- Antique Dutch Carousel featuring hand-carved and painted wooden horses

- Dozens of varieties of annuals and perennials in bloom throughout the season.

- Little Netherlands Village Display

- The Posthouse Visitor Center is an exact replica of a 14th-century wayside Inn.

Hours:

Monday - Sunday: 9:30AM–6PM

(Last tickets sold at 5 pm)

Adults: $10

Kids (3-15 years old): $5

A visit to Nelis' Dutch Village is like a step back into the Netherlands of over 100 years ago on a day when a festival came to town. Watch old Dutch craft demonstrations and the klompen dancers (and join in on the fun with our Dutch dance lessons.) Taste 22 kinds of Dutch cheeses, enjoy beautiful Dutch architecture, and listen to the joyful sounds of the Golden Angel street organ.

Admission includes unlimited rides on the Ferris wheel, carousel, and Dutch chair swing ride. Enjoy unique shopping for Dutch gifts and souvenirs, tasty food in the Dutch cafe and pub, fresh-made fudge, and yummy ice cream.

Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 10AM–5PM

Sunday: Closed

Adults: $14

Kids (3-15 years old): $12

One of Michigan’s most popular beaches! Walk the Black River Boardwalk that lines the channel from Lake Macatawa to Lake Michigan, sit and watch the boats come and go, cast a line and fish, or take a walk out on the pier for a picture with the iconic "Big Red" lighthouse and a perfect sunset.

Mt. Pisgah, the towering dune east of the Holland State Park is accessible via a boardwalk and stair system. With its apex 157 feet above Lake Michigan, the boardwalk culminates with breathtaking views of Lake Macatawa, marinas, Lake Michigan and Big Red.

Mount Pisgah can be accessed off Ottawa Beach Road near Third Avenue in Park Township. Public parking is available at an Ottawa County parking lot near Black Lake Avenue and Ottawa Beach Road.

Look for the signage that says "Black Lake Boardwalk East," which will be on your left as you travel west on Ottawa Beach Rd. Park there and walk 800 feet east and cross the road for the trailhead.

With the construction of Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Sixth Street Dam the migratory population of salmon, steelhead, and even carp were suddenly unable to undertake their yearly upstream journey. The concrete fish ladder at Fish Ladder Park was created to give the swimmers a leg up, and provide visitors with a chance to see the leaping fish in action.

President Nixon was technologically inept and had problems with recorders of all kinds, including simple devices with just two buttons: play or pause. Aides were baffled as the president constantly taped over his own recordings, prematurely stopped recording, or failed to activate the recorders at all.

Finally, a system was designed that used a transistor he wore to voice activate recording devices. If he was physically in the Oval and there was chatter, the idiot-proof system would record everything. Of course, this ended up producing the comprehensive tape archive that also included conversations that Nixon very much wanted to keep off the record. In the end, the White House tapes were subpoenaed by investigators, and Nixon was forced to resign as a result.

Upon assuming office, President Ford had the taping system thrown away, and none of his successors have seen the wisdom in replacing it. One of Nixon’s tape recorders can now be seen on display at the Ford Presidential Museum in Michigan. You can also listen to the Nixon Tapes online at the Nixon Library website.

Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 10AM–5PM

Sunday: 12–5PM

(last ticketed entry is 4:00 PM)

Adults (Ages 19 - 61): $8

Military (With Valid ID): $8

Senior (Ages 62 and Over): $8

College Student (With Valid ID): $7

Youth (Ages 6 - 18): $0

Child (Ages 5 and Under): $0