You may have noticed, if you looked around much in the past month or so, that Grand Rapidians are very serious about spooky season. I saw lots of Halloween decorations out as early as mid-September and a couple of already-shriveled jack-o-lanterns by the first of October, as testament to the eagerness and anticipation around this holiday.
When it comes to taking part in any eerie activities, the lines form around the block. That was the case for the “Heritage Hill Hauntings Tour”, as well as the “Fulton Street Graveyard Tour.” They all sold out in short order! I was lucky enough to get in on one of the haunted walks this year, and attended the graveyard tour the year before. 10/10, both of them.
I don’t want to spend a lot of time talking about things you can’t do (not still this year, anyway), except to note that the popularity of these events led me to seek out Caroline Cook, who runs Grand Rapids Running Tours and is the host of the above mentioned, as well as many more. Caroline is a dynamic and knowledgeable storyteller who easily gets crowds of people to follow her around while she talks engagingly about history, architecture, art, landmarks, and people in the community. Fun Fact: Although initially started as running tours, with Caroline being an avid runner, these now make up only about 5% of her offerings. Today, the bulk of what she does are walking and step-on bus tours, as well as on-site presentations.
Like me, Caroline feels strongly about getting people outside, especially in the colder months when many of us want to wrap up in a blanket and watch the world pass by from our living room picture windows. In an effort to encourage more winter recreation, she thought up The Chilly Challenge, which is now part of World of Winter, sponsored by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI). With different themes and routes every year, this free initiative runs for seven consecutive weeks in all weather conditions, and, at the end, those who have attended every one are rewarded with a $25 gift card to a downtown Grand Rapids business.
It’s a good incentive to stay active in winter, and it’s also a great opportunity to learn some interesting tidbits about the city that make for great small talk with people you’ve just met or are spending two hours in the car with. Or both, if you’re me. For 2025, The Chilly Challenge is happening Thursdays at noon, January 9–February 20. Learn more at facebook.com/downtowngrinc.
World of Winter continues through February when Black History Month is also in full swing, followed by Women’s History Month in March. Caroline’s tours during this time include “African American History on the Grand” for the former, and “Lady Legends,” “Rad American Women A–Z,” and “Women’s Way Murals” for the latter. All are sure to be fascinating!
Warm weather tours to look forward to are available through her Joint Recreation Department Series, in collaboration with the Parks & Rec Departments in GR, East GR, Caledonia, Rockford, and Wyoming. You can register for those on their respective websites, as they’re added.
And, I’ll tell you a secret: As of this writing, there’s a Heritage Hill Victorian Christmas Walking Tour with openings on December 18 (whereas the December 16 event posted on Facebook is—you guessed it—sold out). This one is through East GR Parks & Rec and you don’t have to be a resident to get a ticket. You should probably hop on it, though.
But, back to events on the horizon, after winter is, once again, a distant memory. One I have on my calendar that I’m hoping will return is “History of the Grand River - Guided Kayaking Adventure.” That’s through GR Parks & Rec, so watch for it as summer comes around. I know I will be.
There are tons of ways to make sure you’re in the loop with everything Caroline does. You can follow her at facebook.com/grrunningtours, or keep your eye on the events tabs for the Heritage Hill Association, DGRI, and any of the Parks & Rec pages mentioned earlier.
To learn more about her story and all the different tours she offers, go to grandrapidsrunningtours.com.
