Ada

Ada is a town in West Michigan, east of Grand Rapids. It is best known – and most visited – as the world headquarters of "multi-level marketing" giant Amway.

Get in

Ada is located on Michigan state highway M-21, roughly 10 miles east of Grand Rapids. Driving is the only practical way to reach the town; there is neither bus service nor an airport.

Get around

As Ada is a small town, there is no public transportation. The downtown area is easily navigable by bike or walking.

See

• Center for Free Enterprise. Amway headquarters, a shrine of sorts to the principle of "freedom" and to company founders Rich DeVos and Jay VanAndel. 
• 1 Ada Covered Bridge. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Ada Covered Bridge crosses the Thornapple River. It's been closed to vehicular traffic for many years; the bridge has burned to the ground several times but has been rebuilt after each fire.  

Do

• Take a walk down to Ada Park and discover miles of trails.
• Pick up some donuts from Sprinkles
• Buy some Starbucks next to the Ada Fresh Market
• Walk though the Ada that has been getting updated since 2016
• Walk though Legacy Park then walk down to the Schoolhouse and get some nice ice cream

Buy

• 1 Grand Rapids Bicycle Co. (Ada Bike Shop), 597 Ada Drive, ☏ +1-616-682-2453. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. Bicycle sales and service (updated Mar 2017)
• 2 Heather Lane Pottery, 7270 Thornapple River Dr SE, ☏ +1-616-682-0730. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Hand-crafted pottery and gifts 

Eat

• 1 Zeytin Turkish Restaurant, 400 Ada Drive SE, ☏ +1 616 682-2222. Daily 11AM-10PM. Bills itself as Michigan's only Turkish restaurant. $13-21. (updated Mar 2017)
• 2 Schnitz Ada Grill, 597 Ada Drive SE (Above the Ada Bike Shop), ☏ +1-616-682-4660. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, closed Sunday. Deli and sandwiches by day, casual dining by night. $8-20. 
• 3 Vitale's Ada, 400 Ada Drive SE, ☏ +1-616-676-5400. Pizza and Italian food in a sports bar setting. $8-17. 

Drink

• Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, 452 Ada Dr SE. Microbrewery with a rotating roster of craft beers to take home or drink on the spot. (updated Mar 2021)