A Queer Trip to Grand Rapids: Your Two-Day Itinerary for a Wintry Weekend Road Trip

Discover the vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, local businesses and eclectic spaces that make this West Michigan city a surprising Midwestern queer destination

Eastown neighborhood, Grand Rapids. Photo: Sarah Bricker Hunt

Published: December 23, 2024 | Last Updated: December 23, 2024

Heading to Grand Rapids during peak winter may seem ill-advised for some, but quick road trips don’t have to stop after Labor Day weekend. This winter-friendly, queer-angled itinerary includes plenty of cozy spots where you can marvel at the lake-effect snow from inside cafes, shops, entertainment venues and more — each staffed by friendly LGBTQ+ folks eager to share the story of a city this community has transformed over the past several years into a charming, welcoming West Michigan oasis. One that, in 2024, scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, a national system that ranks cities based on their treatment of LGBTQ+ people. So, gird those Midwestern loins with proper winter attire and hit the road. Grand Rapids is waiting for you.

Day One: Community and Culture

Grand Rapids Pride Center

Begin your journey at the Grand Rapids Pride Center (343 Atlas Ave. SE), the heartbeat of local LGBTQ+ community support. This true community space offers resources, support groups and a friendly environment that will immediately set the tone for your weekend. Check their current events calendar in person or online — you might catch a workshop, meeting or community gathering that connects you deeper to local queer life. Don’t miss the Grand Rapids Trans Foundation, housed in the same colorful, cheerful building in the heart of Eastown, Grand Rapids' queer-friendliest neighborhood.

Happy Cat Cafe

Next, head to Happy Cat Cafe (447 Division Ave. S) — because what could be more delightful than enjoying your morning coffee surrounded by adorable felines and the unique volunteers and visitors who love them? This pawsitivite spot, one of my favorites from a recent trip to explore Grand Rapids’ queer friendliness, offers a welcome blend of caffeine and cuddles, with a chill atmosphere that embraces diversity. Sip your latte, pet a cat and soak in the inclusive energy that defines Grand Rapids' queer-friendly spaces.

The 12th House and Spirit Dreams

Grand Rapids offers some truly unique queer-friendly metaphysical spaces. The 12th House (8 Jefferson Ave. SE) and Spirit Dreams (1430 Lake Dr. SE — right next to the Grand Rapids Pride Center) are more than just shops — they're sanctuaries of self-exploration and spiritual connection. Browse crystals, tarot decks and unique gifts that celebrate individual identity and cosmic connection.

Basalt, followed by Cakabakery

Lunch at Basalt in Grand Rapids. Photo: Sarah Bricker Hunt

Queer-owned Basalt (1450 Wealthy St. SE), located in Eastown, is “like a diner, but better,” according to its website, which also notes that “all kinds, except the unkind, are welcome here.” It’s a good description for this comfortable, modern stop that somehow offers dive vibes and hipster elegance at once. Freshly made ingredients make for a fun menu brimming with unique tacos, several thoughtful vegetarian and vegan entries, kitschy cocktails, and a host of starchy sides and mains that will cure your hangover or line your tummy for a fun night out in GR.

After lunch, take a stroll or a quick drive up to The Cakabakery (919 Fulton St. E), a gay-owned bakery featuring fresh, local ingredients crafted into custom desserts and a dizzying array of grab-and-go options that you’re definitely going to have to make some hard choices about. While cake is the unsurprising core menu item here, don’t sleep on the shop’s handcrafted flavored popcorn. I apologize in advance that you’re about to become a caramel corn snob, but we get one life. Don’t waste it on bad caramel corn.

Queer Nightlife

As evening falls, Grand Rapids' queer nightlife beckons. The Apartment Lounge (33 Sheldon Ave. NE), a legendary LGBTQ+ bar, offers a historic backdrop for your night out. With decades of queer history within its walls, it's more than a bar — it's a living museum of community resilience.

For those seeking more high-energy vibes, Rumors Nightclub (69 Division Ave. S) provides a dynamic dance floor and drag performances that celebrate queer creativity and expression. Steel Cat Bar (640 Bridge St. NW) offers another fantastic alternative, with a more intimate setting and a welcoming crowd.

Day Two: Shopping and Self-Care

Sidle up to the juice bar and start your morning with a fresh-pressed fruit creation from gay-owned Good Judy’s (1146 Wealthy St. SE), a bright, healthy space that will help you set positive intentions for the day ahead. You’ll feel refreshed and you’ll be supporting a business committed to sourcing as much product as possible from operations founded by women, persons of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Retail Therapy and Self-Expression

Inside Rebel in Grand Rapids. Photo: Sarah Bricker Hunt

Grand Rapids offers surprisingly diverse shopping experiences that celebrate individuality, including the quirky, aptly named Rebel gift shop (1555 Wealthy St. SE) and its nearby sister store, Sticky Fingers (1503 Lake Dr. SE), a candy store that will have you happily reverting to childhood. Both provide the perfect combination of quirky gifts and sweet treats. Fox Naturals, a few blocks away (619 Wealthy St. SE), features locally crafted skincare, fragrance and beauty products in a warm, soothing space.

It’s worth a quick drive north of downtown to check out the physical location of the online favorite Transfigure Print Co. (2221 Plainfield Ave. NE), widely known for its Protect Trans Kids line of shirts, stickers and buttons. The trans-owned business showcases local queer artists and is brimming with eclectic trans- and queer-supportive products that will help you proudly proclaim your identity and support for the community.

Wellness and Grooming

Why not get a little beauty touch-up while you’re in Grand Rapids? Chatting with a local hair stylist and other clients in a queer-affirming salon is the perfect way to get a real feel for this rapidly changing city, and you’ll get to check something off your to-do list. Both Outlook Barber Shop (1056 Bridge St. NW) and Lilith’s Lair (25 Division Ave. S) offer gender-affirming grooming experiences and support the understanding that a haircut is more than just a service — it’s an act of self-expression and affirmation.

For the Road

Sour flight and handcrafted soda at Speciation Cellars in Grand Rapids. Photo: Sarah Bricker Hunt

Before you pack up the car to head back home with tales of surviving — and thriving — a West Michigan winter, pop into two local establishments I’ve been dreaming about since my last visit for some treats for the folks back home. Consider a longer stop at Chartreuse Sisters (800 Wealthy St. SE), a queer-owned French patisserie and coffee shop offering to-die-for French pastries and barista offerings inspired by the charming sisters’ French-American heritage. No exaggeration, I was raving about a limited-edition financier cake I had there to anyone who would listen, for weeks after my visit.

Just down the street, you’ll find queer-friendly Speciation Cellars (928 Wealthy St. SE), located in a former auto shop that’s over 100 years old in an alley off Wealthy Street. Could this be where Rust Belt grit meets high-brow craft? The accessibly cool brewers offer house-created lagers, pale ales, oak-aged sours, seltzers and handcrafted non-alcoholic sodas and beverages. Pick up an artfully packaged six-pack of sours featuring flavors created with locally foraged berries and herbs.