My sister and her husband recently celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary with a trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan. They graciously invited some family and friends to join them for part of the stay.
On our way to our hotel there, we stopped for dinner at Bimbo’s Pizza. Opened in 1959, Bimbo’s is now run by third-generation owners. They have a pizza counter where you can watch pizzas being made. It was a delicious way to start our trip. About halfway through our meal, I remembered eating at a Bimbo’s location in Ann Arbor years ago while attending a University of Michigan football game.
Once in Grand Rapids we checked into Hyatt Place in downtown Grand Rapids but didn’t spend much time there the first day. It was a short walk to Van Andel Arena, where we were attending an Old Dominion concert. Also home to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena seats 13,184 for concerts and is the fourth-largest arena in Michigan. It had great sightlines and clear sound.
The opening acts were Priscilla Block, Adam Doleac and Kylie Morgan. The three played solid sets, keeping the good vibes going as we waited for Old Dominion to take the stage.
Formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2007, Old Dominion is a country music band. They are multitime winners of Country Music Association Awards’ Group of the Year, among other awards and accolades. While I am not a huge country music fan, I thoroughly enjoyed Old Dominion. They are a super-tight band, partially due to their familiarity with each other as longtime friends. I would gladly see them perform again.
I had a great night of sleep on the comfortable bed. Early the next morning, I took advantage of the workout facility at Hyatt Place, followed by a refreshing shower featuring excellent heat and water pressure. We all met for breakfast on site before we left the celebrating couple to enjoy the rest of their stay.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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