Michigan
This Michigan sculpture park and garden is the best in the country. Where you should visit
Using a chainsaw to turn hurricane debris into beautiful art
Sam Knowles, of DeLeon Springs, uses his chainsaw to convert hurricane debris into beautiful three-dimensional art and sculptures. In his 30-year artistry he has created thousands of pieces of chainsaw art.
- The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids has been named the Best Sculpture Park in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row.
- The park features more than 200 sculptures across its 158 acres, including a five-floor, 15,000-square-foot tropical conservatory.
- Nominees for the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are selected by a panel of industry experts and then voted on by the public.
The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was named the Best Sculpture Park in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the third consecutive year.
“Winning this award for the third year in a row is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the unwavering passion of our volunteers, members, guests, donors and staff,” said Charles Burke, president & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, in a news release.
“This award underscores the importance of the gift of Meijer Gardens from Fred and Lena Meijer and our commitment to providing a world-class experience for 30 years that seamlessly blends art, culture and nature. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and look forward to inspiring our guests for years to come.”
What are the Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park?
Home to the largest tropical conservatory in Michigan, the 158-acre main campus in Grand Rapids hosts a multitude of outdoor gardens and a five-floor, 15,000-square-foot tropical conservatory.
The permanent sculpture collection features more than 200 pieces, many of which are displayed in the sculpture park. The museum also features rotating exhibits.
How can I visit the gardens and sculpture park?
The site is open seven days a week, except for Mondays in January, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Eve and Day.
It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Tickets for children 3 to 13 are $11, adults up to 64 are $22, seniors are $17, students with ID are $16. The venue does not accept cash.
What are the top 10 Best Sculpture Parks?
The top 10 destinations include:
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids)
- Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park (Wilson, North Carolina)
- Brookgreen Gardens (Murrells Inlet, South Carolina)
- Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park (Hamilton, Ohio)
- Grounds For Sculpture (Hamilton, New Jersey)
- Laumeier Sculpture Park (St. Louis, Missouri)
- San Juan Islands Sculpture Park (Friday Harbor, Washington)
- Griffis Sculpture Park (East Otto, New York)
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Storm King Art Center (New Windsor, New York)
Who does the rankings?
The USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlights the very best travel, food, drink and lifestyle.
The panel includes industry experts who nominate their favorite attractions across a range of categories. Editors then vet the nominations and set a final list of nominees to be presented to the voting public.