One of the many reasons why I love Mt. Pleasant is how family-friendly it is. I graduated from Central Michigan University 8 months pregnant and ready to establish our family home in town.
My boys, Eli and Ben, are currently 8 and 6 and it seems like there are always fun and exciting things to do together. Most of these activities are free or of very low cost, so they are perfect to enjoy no matter how much time you have to spend in the area. Of course, the warmer weather often makes some of these a little bit easier to accommodate; however, if you are a brave soul like us, the cold weather isn’t enough to stop us… at least not for a quick photo shoot!
The Mt. Pleasant Park and Trail System
On warmer weekends, you can often find our family at one of our local parks. The trails between Island Park and Chipp-a-waters Park are amazing and perfect for a gentle stroll or bike ride.
Since we are just starting to warm up here in Mt. Pleasant, I didn’t have very many recent pictures of our adventures, so we braved the cold for a quick selfie on top of one of the bridges over at Millpond Park. Such a beautifully hidden spot in our community!
The Chippewa River District Library
Another great place to visit, especially on a more dreary weather day, is our local library. Whether you attend one of their many special events or attend a story time, the library is a pretty happening place.
We’ve been going here since before the boys could read and have always enjoyed finding a cozy place to sit and enjoy a book together. For the not-ready-to-read-yet kiddos, the puzzles and train tables are pretty entertaining too!
Coming up in just a couple of weeks is perhaps one of my favorite events at the library – Free Comic Book Day! Its May 2nd and always a good time! We’ve gone the past two years and our boys love meeting a few of their favorite Star Wars characters, participating in the various activities throughout the library, and, of course, getting a free comic book! And yes, I’m a huge sucker for super heroes and like to think I’m pretty well-informed on all things super hero related. As a mom of two boys, I sort of have to be, right?
Downtown Drugs Soda Shoppe
Before opening our own store downtown, I have to admit that I didn’t realize the great gem across the street that is the Downtown Drug Soda Shoppe. Now it is one of our go to stops in downtown Mt. Pleasant – especially during the summer!
At the Downtown Drugs Soda Shoppe, kids and adults alike can take a step back in time and enjoy some ice cream at the old-fashioned counter. Our boys love getting to visit on days when they hang out with me at thePlate Boutique or during a summer concert series night.
Mt. Pleasant is a great place to raise a family or to plan a family trip to. On your next trip or venture out, I hope you’ll check out these spots too!
Kati Mora, MS, RD has been a Mt. Pleasant resident for the past 13 years. Kati currently owns and operates thePlate Boutique, a kitchen store with locations here in downtown Mt. Pleasant and Grand Rapids, MI. Kati is also a registered dietitian who has worked with national brands and individuals from across the country in order to promote healthy, realistic eating approaches. Her website, AroundthePlate.org, is a nationally recognized source of high quality nutrition information. Kati is also the mom of two amazing little boys, Eli and Ben, and when she is running her business, you can often find her playing video games with her kids.
