It can happen any time of day—during any activity. That punch to the gut, choking back the tears, as your…
LittleGuide Families: Bekah (Detroit)

Meet Bekah
Kids: Isaac (5)
Hometown: Detroit
My husband, Jason, and I met in law school in New Orleans, and we moved to Ann Arbor after graduation. After living there for a few years, Jason got a job in Detroit and we decided to make the move in 2008. We lived in the Leland Lofts building for four years and made some of our best friends. We also fell in love with Lafayette Park, and didn’t want to leave. Two days before Isaac was born, we moved down the street to our townhouse in the Mies Van der Rohe Co-ops. We’ve enjoyed experiencing the city’s growth along with our family’s over the last few years. Lafayette Park has been an especially great place to raise an active kid because there is so much to do right within walking distance—Tigers games, Eastern Market, the Dequindre Cut and Riverfront, and Downtown. We love hosting visitors and talking about Detroit and its virtues with anyone who will listen.
BATCH BREWING // CORKTOWN
Jason and I are giant beer nerds. One of our hobbies is travelling around the state (and the country) checking new breweries off our list. So when Batch opened we were excited for the beer, but even more excited that they were vocal about being family friendly right from the start. The long tables are great for big groups of friends, plus they have high chairs and a changing table. Parking is easy in the lot outside. Isaac loves the soft pretzels, and I love the beer slushies. There are actually a large number of great family-friendly restaurants in town. A few of our other favorites are Green Dot Stables (the sliders are the perfect size for kids), Jolly Pumpkin, and Honest John’s.
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUNDS // LAFAYETTE PARK
One of the best things about our Lafayette Park neighborhood is the tight knit community. The actual playgrounds in the co-ops aren’t anything special, but gathering there is one of our favorite family activities because of the people we see. On Friday evenings, a lot of the local families get together for pizza and conversation after a long week. It’s great for the kids to run wild with each other, and even better for the exhausted grownups to catch up over a few drinks. Some weeks it feels like our own little Utopia in the middle of the city.
MT ELLIOTT SPLASH PAD // RIVERFRONT
All of the Detroit Riverfront attractions are awesome for kids (the carousel at Rivard Plaza, the fountain in front of the RenCen, the long stretch of space to run and ride on the Dequindre Cut, and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center to name a few), but the splash pad is probably our favorite. During the summer months the water comes on at 10am and stays on all day. There are waterfalls, spouts, cannon water-shooters, and things to climb all over. We love to run there together (our B.O.B. stroller actually still gets use!), but there’s also a parking lot right next door. It’s the perfect spot for a birthday party or other kids’ gathering because there are shaded tables and it’s 100% free.
DETROIT CITY FOOTBALL CLUB // HAMTRAMCK
Our family is obsessed with all things DCFC, and have fully adopted the team. We have season tickets and get to every match during the season. The Northern Guard Supporters (aka superfans) are loud (and not what you’d traditionally call family friendly) but if you’re willing to bend the language rules a little and jump into the fray it’s a blast. We like to park at the Fowling Warehouse and march over to the matches while chanting slightly censored versions of the cheers. You can sit with the NGS, or on the other side of the stadium where the language is slightly less colorful. During the matches, there are food trucks to suit every kid’s taste. The energy on the field and in the stands is incredible.
I’ve run the full and half marathon several times, starting way back before Isaac was born. Even on the years I’m not participating in one of the events, Marathon Sunday is a fun day for our family. We often have friends running, so we’ll post up on Lafayette with coffee and snacks. We also sometimes run over to Indian Village and cheer the runners on from our friends’ homes there. Isaac loves giving high fives and getting the chance to be loud and crazy. Running the course is a beautiful way to see the city, from the Ambassador Bridge at sunrise to the windy miles on Belle Isle to the historic neighborhoods.
“Retaining your personal identity and your identity as a couple is not impossible after you’re a parent; it just takes effort. I’ve been a runner for years, so I ran with Isaac as soon as I could. We loved going to Tiger’s games, so that became a family event. We love live music and brewery visits and going to brunch, so when Isaac was born he became a part of that too. I think a lot of times new parents assume that good parenting must involve constantly doing specifically “kid friendly” things like going to children’s museums or play places. That stuff is definitely a big part of it, but it doesn’t have to be everything. You can be a good parent and still be yourself!”
SHARE THIS:

Bekah Page-Gourley
Bekah Page-Gourley is an attorney and contributing writer for LittleGuide Detroit. She lives with her husband, Jason, and son Isaac, in Lafayette Park, Detroit. They love experiencing the city’s growth, hosting visitors and talking about Detroit’s virtues with anyone who will listen. Bekah and her family love going to Detroit City Football Club and Tigers games, Eastern Market, the Riverfront, and Downtown.
MORE ARTICLES
Dining with Kids: Detroit Edition
Dining with kids is a lot of work and we want to make it (a little) easier. Here’s our list…
75 Kid-Friendly Activities in Detroit
Check Out the Art @ The Belt: Check out some world famous street art as you walk through this newly…
Local Highlight: Honey, a Space for Moms
Honey in Ferndale is a sweet place for moms with littles. Brooke Miller was inspired to create a community…
Leading Language Classes in Metro Detroit
Hola, Bonjour, مرحبا, 你好 - the world is waiting for your little. Show your child the world with a new language. Teach…
TOP PLACES TO GET A DOSE OF CULTURE
Elevate your day and learn something new at one of our local museums. From art and science to local industry,…
METRO DETROIT’S TOP MUSIC CLASSES FOR KIDS
Whether you have a baby Mozart or a Drumline Dreamer, music helps kids express their feelings and let out energy.…
Local Highlight: DETROIT PARENT COLLECTIVE
Detroit Parent Collective founder, Krista Mcclure, dropped out of high school and became a mom when she was still a…
TOP GYMNASTICS CLASSES FROM TOTS TO TEAMS
For the kids that bounce off the walls, jump off couches and everything becomes a tumbling mat – gymnastics just…
OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SEE ANIMALS
You read about bear hunts, sing about Old McDonald and watch Finding Nemo more times than you can count. Now…
Theatre Classes For Your Rising Star
When every platform is a stage and every stage is an opportunity to perform, it’s time to find a platform…
TOP DANCE STUDIOS THROUGHOUT METRO DETROIT
From ballet to hip hop, acrobatics and pom-pon, there’s a class for every kid who dances through the halls and…
Top Spots to Shop Local for Kids
We know...Amazon makes everything so easy, but sometimes searching ‘toys’ can be a bit overwhelming. So as you approach birthdays,…
BEST LOCAL BREWERIES FOR BEER-LOVING PARENTS
When you had kids, you stopped liking beer, right? Yeah, me neither. Fortunately, Detroit has some great family-friendly breweries and…
Top Family Friendly Museums in Detroit
There’s always something fun to do with the family. Don’t miss out on these special exhibits, events and activities at…
Guide to Winter in Detroit
Downtown Detroit is a real-life Wonderland these days and you don't want to miss it! For exact hours and…
METRO DETROIT SANTA FINDER: EVENT GUIDE
Sure, we all want the Instagramable photo with Santa and the kids, but if you’re looking for a little more…
Top Things to Do With Kids in Taylor
Head Downriver and plan a day in Taylor from farm animals to family games and special festivals, there's lots to…
Top Things to Do With Kids in Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights offers hundreds of relaxing fun and rewarding family activities and immensely popular annual special events. Things To…
LittleGuide Families – My’Kael (Detroit)
Meet My’Kael Kids: Josiah (8 months) Hometown: Detroit I am a Program Manager focusing on the Internship Program at…
TOP THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN CHICAGO
Lauren is the founder of celebrity fashion website BigBlondeHair.com and lives in Riverside with her husband and kids Mark (age…
25 REASONS TO GET A BABYSITTER IN DECEMBER
It’s not always easy to plan a date night or even find a babysitter, but every month our sister site After…
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON NOEL NIGHT
Bundle up and explore the city on Noel Night, Saturday, December 2nd from 5pm to 10pm. Over 100 institutions in…
TOP HOLIDAY SHOWS TO SEE THIS SEASON
One of our fondest memories as kids is getting dressed up and heading to a holiday show. Create that same…