Kent and Ottawa Counties 05/16

We decided that we'd get up early, eat breakfast
and then head out to downtown Grand Rapids to the Heritage Hill historical district and do some of the miles there.

Heritage Hill is just a few blocks from downtown and has an amazing array of homes of all different kinds of architectural styles from the mid 1800's Greek Revival to the 1900's Prairie style. Some of the houses are huge and were built by lumber barons and furniture company owners but then there are smaller frame homes. The district was in danger of being decimated by urban renewal and so a preservation group was founded in 1969 and now we have this beautiful area to enjoy and walk in.

It was a beautiful day and there were so many wonderful houses to exclaim at and ooh and aah. We were done with that part of the walk with 3.3 miles done and we headed back to the motel to clean up and check out. I found a nice trail called Plaster Creek Trail that starts at Kenosha Park near where our hotel was on 28th St. It was a pretty, well maintained trail and I finished up with 1.7 miles and voila! Kent County was done!!!!





We then headed up the road to Grand Haven in Ottawa County and checked into the Holiday Inn. From the hotel there is a trail that goes in to Grand Haven to the lakeshore and there is a trail that goes over to Spring Lake. We thought we were heading to Grand Haven but had taken the other one. We weren't too disappointed since the trail was very pleasant and wound past the marina and then paralleled the main street. Lots of people were out walking their dogs enjoying the day and I got to pet a sweet old golden retriever.

Sweaty and exhausted, we made it back to the motel with the whole 5 miles done for Ottawa County and headed out to what seems to be the old standby restaurant: Panera's. Then back to watch the baseball game and take it easy after a very full day!!!