ATTRACTIONS: Over $200 million has been invested in brand new visitor attractions. On the banks of the Grand River, the Public Museum's Van Andel Museum Center and Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium take visitors to the stars and back into time. The Gerald R. Ford Museum, with artifacts and exhibits about the 38th President, and the Victorian Voight House as well as Frank Lloyd Wright's Meyer May House add perspective to the area's rich history. Natural wonders delight the senses at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, the largest tropical conservatory in Michigan which features the 38 foot Leonardo DiVinci horse and the Blandford Nature Center. Works of stunning beauty fill the galleries of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Children have their own museum downtown, devoted to interactive fun. The John Ball Zoo promises a day of exciting viewing and adventures. Within a half hour drive you will find yourself on the sandy beaches and dunes of the beautiful Lake Michigan where a relaxing day in the sun or a fishing charter trip await you.

SHOPPING: You will find hundreds of shops, dazzling merchandise, and unique shopping center. Rivertown Crossing (Grand Rapids newest and largest mall) located in southwest Grand Rapids, Woodland and Eastbrook malls in southeast Grand Rapids boast major department stores as well as specialty shops. Grand Rapids and surrounding towns offer distinct shopping fun, from quaint Squire Street Square in Rockford to the distinctive boutiques at Gaslight Village Shopping Center and the Amway Grand Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids.

RESTAURANTS: Arrive in Grand Rapids at meal time and you will discover an abundance of culinary surprises. Downtown alone has some 37 restaurants featuring hometown favorites and international cuisine ranging from Spanish Mediterranean to savory offerings from Tuscany. Enjoy a visual feast as light passes through the stained glass windows of a historic mansion setting a romantic mood. Or try a convivial coffee house complete with folk music, or a busy Irish pub. Downtown Grand Rapids now boasts a tastefully restored red brick warehouse district, the B.O.B. (Big Old Building), providing dozens of dining options. Enjoy a seafood paella or a tasty wet burrito. You'll find mouth-watering ribs, fresh whitefish or perch from Lake Michigan, or crab and yellow fin tuna grilled with perfection.

NIGHTLIFE: Yes, there is plenty of that, too. Within the Grand Plaza, listen to blues and big name bands at Rhythm Kitchen Café. Sip and sample at Bistro Bell Vista, which has a martini bar, wine bar, and juice bar. Hit the B.O.B. to play pool, watch a classic flick, hear a comedian, or relax with wine or a micro brew. Then explore the downtown area where you'll find drinks, food, music, and laughter every few steps at Taps Sports Bar, The Deuce, J. Gardellas, the Sierra Room, the Cottage Bar, One Trick Pony, TGI Fridays, Z's and newer dance club, Opus 1894. Within a short driving distance of downtown Grand Rapids, you will find a professional baseball team (farm team of the Detroit Tigers) and outdoor concerts atop Cannonsburg Ski Hill (Three Dog Night Aug. 3).

THE HOTEL: Our hotel, the Amway Grand Plaza, (www.amwaygrand.com), is ranked in the Top 100 Hotels in the World. It has been ranked 82 out of the 100 best urban hotels in the world. It was ranked 12th out of the 25 premier hotels in the U.S. putting the AGP in the same company as the Beverly Wiltshire in Beverly Hills , the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, and many Ritz-Carlton hotels. It features 682 designer-decorated guest rooms and suites, 9 award-winning restaurants and lounges, unique shops and boutiques. Also an indoor pool, whirlpool, weights, treadmills, racquetball, and tennis are all available within the hotel.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The education you receive, the people you meet, the friendships you develop, and the overall experience of attending a NAOSMM Conference are hard to duplicate. Make your plans today to join us in Grand Rapids for 2001 a Science Odyssey, the week of July 28 - August 3. As the saying goes, "there's just no good reason not to."