The city of Grand Rapids recently announced it will support the Cure Violence program to slow gun violence and thefts in the city. There are not many rapids left, a few sections here and there, but they have been working on a fantastic project to bring it back. The city hopes to launch a crime prevention program by the end of 2020.

My adventure in Grand Rapids was my own, but I extended the trip with a group of friends I met on the paddle and with whom I met for a few days alone for hiking, biking, kayaking and canoeing in the city.

During my time in Grand Rapids, I walked a few times, cycled, saw a wedding, and cycled to and from my hotel on foot or by bike, and used some of the services we offer our guests. We went to Riverside Park to hike, paddle, cycle and boat for a day in the river basin, which is about an hour and a half north of downtown. I was in Grand River State Park, a popular destination for kayaking and canoeing.

I came across cool murals and street art and left marks on every foot of the city I never entered it. The embers were stirring inside of me to want to go where I wanted to go without having to hear it many times in front of my eyes.

The Grand River is located in the heart of the city and there are some beautiful parks and good fishing opportunities. During the spawning season you can even see coho and king salmon climbing ladders up the river. I spent some time watching the fly fishermen bring in some beautiful catfish and came across some of them.

If all this is not enough to tempt you to visit, Grand Rapids, Michigan, has a number of great restaurants, bars, shops and restaurants. You certainly don't have to leave your children at home when you visit them and they value child-friendly activities and provide Olympia-style family entertainment. In fact, Grand Rapids has been named one of the best places in America to start a family, according to the National Association of Family Planning Councils (NAPC).

Grand Rapids hosts an international art competition and festival every September, the Art Prize, which is dedicated to the art of painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography.

Selected art prize pieces will remain permanently on display along the roadside, along with dozens of other significant works of art, including the huge Alexander Calder sculpture, which symbolized the artistic spirit of the city. Several large sculptures are landmarks of the city, including those based on plans by Leonardo da Vinci. Founded in 1854, Grand Rapids Art Museum has a collection of more than 1,000 works of art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures, and other works by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Gertrude Stein, John Singer Sargent, Thomas Edison, Robert Morris, and others.

Of course, we have much more to offer in terms of craft ales, but this version is made with fresh garlic and it's a great place. It is in a beautiful building and the Downtown Market does good, which is good for the city of Grand Rapids as a whole. Sour ale for people who come in, sour ale with a little sour cream and a touch of salt and pepper or sour beer.

Grand Rapids is serious about its sandwiches and has an annual competition called Grandwich, and it's divine. Terra banh mi has been competing and Wolfgang Puck has called it "The Kitchen," and Grand Rapids has been calling it for years.

The group showed off a variety of sandwiches, from the most popular to the least popular, and even a bit of everything in between.

One of the best ways to enjoy the river and see the city is by kayaking or spending the day on the beach. Downtown, there's a wonderful little shop called Grand Rapids Bike Rentals, where you can rent a bike for just $20 a day, including helmet and lock.

Jon, the owner, recently moved from Phoenix to Phoenix after serving in his adopted hometown. I couldn't believe my luck when it turned out Derek was in town to visit his family and prepare for the second round of his trip with a few days in Grand Rapids. It was a very special occasion for Derek and his family and a great opportunity for me.

So after hiking, biking and kayaking I said goodbye to Lauren and Isaac, cleaned up Lauren and went back to Blue Bridge to meet local photographer Abby Fox. It was a lot of fun to work with Abby And if you're looking for a wedding or portrait photographer in the Grand Rapids area, you should visit them.