GUEST POST
Guest columnist Rohit Agerwal takes us on a drive off the beaten path to Michigan’s Kent County. Rohit is an architect by trade and his interest in unique architectural stylings has taken him around the world. He also shares his insights about tourism in India through his blog at Trans India Travels.

 

7 Interesting Things to Do In Kent County

Located in the heart of Michigan, Kent County is home to several rivers, lakes, and its hiking and biking trails. The Grand River flows though Kent County from the East and empties into Lake Michigan located in Grand Haven. Being surrounded by large bodies of water and perennial rivers Kent County is known to be a haven for the boating enthusiasts and its waters are also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna species that make it an attraction for the nature lovers as well. Despite of these activities, visitors remember Kent County being essentially ‘Rural’ and ‘Unspoilt’. Most people visit Kent County for its enchanting lakes, river, marine life, birds and the soothing rural surroundings. If you want to visit Kent County, here are a few things that you must try.

• Feel The Adrenaline at Dover International Speedway
  

• Photo by Ted Van Pelt, CC BY 2.0

 

If you love NASCAR or motor sporting events in general, then Dover international speedway is the place you should be at. It was opened in 1969 and has been used for NASCAR, USAC, Verizon IndyCar Series and several other national and international motor sporting events. The speedway has a capacity of 135,000 seats and 1 mile long. The speedway featured an asphalt surface till 1994 when it was replaced by a concrete surface. In the Speedway you can also find a 14 meter statue of “Mile the Monster” who is the official mascot of the Dover International Speedway.

• First State Heritage Park

 

Known as the ‘Park without Boundaries’ the First Heritage Park is and open world park which links various historic sites and cultural sites and is also the seat of the Michigan state government. The various sites were declared as a heritage park in 2004 due to its collection of various historical buildings built in a striking Victorian Style architecture. Notable buildings include the Old State House, Delaware Legislative Hall, John Bell House, Delaware Public Archives, Johnson Victrola Museum, Biggs Museum of American Art and the Governor House etc.

• Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

 

Photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service, CC BY 2.0

Spread around an area of 15,978 acre, the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 as a refuge for the migratory birds and a large population of the waterfowl with several other wildlife species. The terrain in Bombay Hook National Park mostly consists of swamps and mudflats which are fed by the waters of a tidal salt marsh and several tidal rivers that traverse the area. Additional an area of around 1,100 acres is also used to grow crops to provide food to the migratory birds.

• Johnson Victrola Museum
  
  

 

Photo by GB fan, CC BY-SA 3.0

The museum is dedicated to Eldrich Reeves Johnson who established the Victor Talking Machine company in 1901. Built inside the First State Heritage Park the museum contains several objects and memorabilia that depict the life and times of the great inventor and also the history of development of the sound industry. Phonographs, trademarks, recordings and paintings are also displayed as well in the galleries of this Victorian themed museum.

• Old State House
  

• Photo by Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Built during the 18^th century, the Old State House is a state capitol building built in marvelous Georgian style architecture. Situated at the area called the Green in the First State Heritage Park, the building is known for its striking architecture which involves traditional Georgian brickwork. It is characterized by a signature fanlight right over the center door with a Palladian window placed right above it. The State House functioned as the seat of the State government till 1932 and as the Kent County Court House.

• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

 

Named as one of the top ’30 Must-See Museums’ in the world and the second largest tourist attraction in the state of Michigan, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is located in the Grand Rapids region of Kent County. It combines a botanical garden and a sculpture park and is spread around a massive area of 132-acre. The park was opened to public in 1995 and houses several attractions such as a tropical conservatory, indoor themed gardens, outdoor parks, Japanese garden, boardwalks, nature trails, sculptures, audio-visual theater, a library, a gift shop and a café.

• Grand Rapids Public Museum
  

• Photo by Duane Weller, CC BY 2.0

 

The museum is also known as the Public Museum of Grand Rapids and is one of the oldest history museums in the US. Located on a pavilion by the Grand River, the museum also includes a gift shop and a café and the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. The architecture of the building was changed to a more modern one replacing the old art deco one in 1994. The museum also operates the Victorian Voigt House which shows the various objects and articles from the Victorian era.

While Kent County doesn’t really add up to be a global tourist destination, its quaint atmosphere and picturesque surroundings make it a sought after vacation spot. Make sure you visit the above places to experience the best of Kent County’s history, nature and culture.