Humor Travel Life
When asked the question “What is your favorite food?”, I’ll answer “Mexican” probably even before you finish saying the word ‘food’. I love travel and trying new dishes from all cultures and places around the world, but when it comes to what I’ve loved most, it’s definitely Mexican food.
That being said, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes what I deem ‘good’ Mexican food. Having lived in Puerto Vallarta and after visiting Mexico for over 25 years, I've been exposed to some of the best Mexican food one could imagine. Delicious tacos, quesadillas, mole, ceviche, fresh fruit, shrimp - you get the point. It was incredible! Therefore, when I go out for Mexican food now, I’m looking for something authentic. The good news is that people living in or visiting Grand Rapids, Michigan actually have a really great place to go, and let’s face it, when it comes to the best Mexican food in Grand Rapids, go authentic or go home. Tacos el Cuñado is a locally-owned restaurant with several locations around Grand Rapids. The location I like to go to at the corner of Burton and Towner on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. You can order items à la carte or a full plate of food. Tacos run for only $3.49 and honestly, just a couple tacos and you’re full. I ordered one shrimp taco and one fish taco. If you’re going to be authentic, you’ve got to order it with cilantro, though. Trust me, it's worth it. They serve the dishes with pieces of lime as well, so be sure to squeeze some lime juice onto your taco as well. If you haven’t tried that yet, trust me you will love it! It adds some great flavor. Last but not least, you MUST top off your meal by ordering horchata to drink. This is a traditional Mexican drink made out of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. It’s one of my favorites! You can bet I’ll be back at Tacos el Cuñado again. One trip just isn’t enough and I’m so in the mood for some ceviche now... What was once a sleepy downtown is now a thriving Midwest hub. The city of Grand Rapids is filled with new high-rise apartment buildings and exciting businesses. From locally-owned boutiques in Eastown to trendy bars and restaurants Downtown, GR is more alive than ever.
So, what better way to show that off than with the best instagrammable spots in Grand Rapids? These top Grand Rapids photo spots will provide you with stunning backdrops, bold colors, interesting art, and more. Where Can I Take Photos in Grand Rapids? 1. La Grande Vitesse Starting off the list is Grand Rapids’ artistic claim to fame and a long-standing symbol of the city. La Grande Vitesse – or the Calder sculpture – is located Downtown in Calder Plaza. It was created by American artist Alexander Calder, whose iconic red sculptures can be found in museums, galleries, and gardens all over. What makes La Grande Vitesse so Instagram-worthy isn’t just its ties to the city (though that’s certainly a major factor) but also the variety of options you can use for your photo. Of course, there’s the obvious idea to take a photo of the sculpture in its entirety. However, if you want to mix it up for additional shots, you can utilize the beautiful bright red of the sculpture as a colorful backdrop. Simply walk right up against the sculpture and frame your photo so that you only see red in the background and boom: Instagram ready! 2. Corner of Monroe Center and Ottawa This corner in front of Madcap Coffee in Downtown Grand Rapids provides a great city backdrop for your photos thanks to the gorgeous architecture of the buildings and the brick road that runs along Monroe Center. You can opt for either portrait style or a regular background, but my personal recommendation is using this backdrop in portrait mode. For the optimal shot, stand across the street in front of the Grand Rapids Art Museum to get the full backdrop behind you. 3. Ah-Nab-Awen Park Located on Pearl St. in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Ah-Nab-Awen Park is a perfect spot to capture a beautiful view of Grand Rapids. There are plenty of interesting parts in this particular viewpoint that will create a beautiful photo for your Instagram, including the Grand River, Pearl Street Bridge, and city skyscrapers and buildings. Your ideal photo times will be either a sunny day or at night to capture the city lights. 4. Follow Your Heart Mural Murals are wonderful to photograph, and as Grand Rapids grows, so does its access to beautiful artwork. The reason I picked this one in particular is because it also represents a positive, uplifting message with the phrase ‘Follow Your Heart’. This mural can be found at 368 Diamond Ave. SE – an eclectic, growing neighborhood just outside downtown. Created by artist Dave Battjes, this mural is somewhat hidden on a side street, which means you won’t have other folks walking into your shot and you can take more time so that you get the perfect image for your feed. 5. The Blue Bridge The Blue Bridge in Grand Rapids is another iconic downtown location. It's over 100 years old and is great for photos. This bridge extends across the Grand River, and as the name suggests, this bridge is painted a beautiful sky blue, which actually adds to its photogenic qualities. The bridge is especially great for portrait-style shots with the background slightly blurred for added dimension. FAQs About Taking Pictures in Grand Rapids 1. Where can I take engagement photos in Grand Rapids? There are plenty of beautiful engagement photo locations in Grand Rapids, including the places mentioned above: La Grande Vitesse, the Corner of Monroe and Ottawa, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, the Follow Your Heart Mural, and the Blue Bridge. If you plan to take sunset engagement photos, I recommend going to Riverside Park just outside downtown. The views along the river with the greenery are absolutely beautiful at that time of day and can make a romantic backdrop. Learn more: Why Summer in Grand Rapids is the Best 2. What are some indoor photo locations in Grand Rapids, MI? The Public Museum and Art Museum in Grand Rapids can be really great for indoor photo locations. Another gorgeous spot is the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, which boasts an elegant décor. The hotel is open for people to explore, and you'll likely find other visitors capturing photos inside the hotel. 3. Does Grand Rapids have a downtown? Yes, Grand Rapids has a downtown. Since 2010, Downtown Grand Rapids has grown immensely, making it a popular spot to live, hang out, and of course, take great photos. After a lackluster Frankfurt, I was more than ready to finally see Bavaria and a cute small German town. On the train ride to Füssen, the countryside was noticeably prettier the closer we got, with the Bavarian Alps eventually revealing themselves in the distance.
Füssen was a welcome relief from the chaotic exhaustion of Frankfurt. It’s a small town with quaint architecture. I started my time there by having lunch at a local restaurant called Ludwig’s. The food was okay but kind of pricey, and even though I ordered regular water, it still cost me 5 euros! The town was definitely small and my hostel, Old King’s Hostel, wasn’t a far walk away. Interestingly, the hostel was totally self-service. Generally, this was okay, but in the event you had a question that needed a quick response, you were out of luck. Overall, I did like the hostel, though. It was quiet and clean, and it came with free towels, a locker, and key. Normally, I have to bring my own lock and pay to rent a towel. The only real downside to this hostel is that there was no laundry to use, but thankfully, I was able to use a nearby laundromat to wash my clothes. Another thing I love about Füssen is that there are some hiking trails near the front of town that take you around to where there’s a lake with turquoise-looking water. I recommend you keep following the path to the bridge, which takes you back around into the main town area. As with Frankfurt and Füssen, I would soon discover that every town I visited in Europe on this trip was surrounding a river. Day 2 The second day was my trip to Nuschwanstein Castle. I took a bus from the main station in Füssen. It was 5.60 euros round-trip, and I could pay in cash. The bus dropped me off near the town at the bottom. For those interested in staying closer to the castle, there are some hotels and restaurants here as well. That said, I’d recommend Füssen since it’s still so close. To get to the castle it’s about a 20-25 minute walk uphill. You also have the option to take a car or a carriage ride, but for ethical purposes, I recommend skipping the carriage ride. Another tip is to buy your tickets ahead of time. It can get busy, and the last you want is to waste time waiting in line, especially if they end up being sold out. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and Neuschwanstein has has some of the prettiest views and surrounding scenery I've ever seem. I took the tour inside the castle, which was about 40 minutes and no pictures or videos were allowed. Unfortunately, there was construction going on inside, and to be honest, I thought the outside surrounding views were actually more impressive than inside the castle. On my way to Füssen, a German couple recommended I go to St. Mary's Bridge while I'm at the castle. I’m sure glad I did! If you exit the castle, just hang a left and follow the pathway that wraps around until you get to the bridge. St. Mary’s Bridge is high above a waterfall, and it might be scary if you're afraid of heights. However, if you can stomach it, definitely go! The views are incredible. Plus, it’s free, so in he event you can't get tickets inside the castle, you can still see it from the bridge (and to be honest, this was my favorite part anyway). I then took the buss back to Füssen where I had lunch at Aquila restaurant. It was cozy inside, and the food came out insanely fast. I ordered a Bavarian cheese noodles dish that came with fried onions on top. It was an interesting mix but it somehow worked. I loved my time in my first small town in Germany, and Neuschwanstein is absolutely worth visiting. |
About the author
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer and comedian who has been featured on Amazon, truTV, The New York Times, Matador Network, BUST Magazine, Sleep Advisor, Tiplr, ARTRPRNR Magazine, YourTango, Thought Catalog, GoMad Nomad, Mashable, The Daily Mail UK, the Cannes Film Festival, LaughFest, Women's Lifestyle Magazine, and the Funny Women Festival LA. For more info visit: http://www.jillzwarensteyn.weebly.com Archives
July 2024
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