LittleGuide Families: Danielle (Grosse Pointe)

Meet Danielle

Kids: Cora (4) and Collette (4 months)

Hometown: Grosse Pointe

My husband Jon and I live in Grosse Pointe Woods and we grew up in the area. Jon owns a laser cutting manufacturing business in Fraser with his brother, Nick. I recently decided to resign from my career in order to stay home with the kids and am doing freelance as a makeup artist. Grosse Pointe is a great place for families. There’s a Tot Lot with play equipment that’s perfect for my girls’ ages. Pier Park is residents only (make a friend in Grosse Pointe!) and has a splash pad and sand beach. And for three days in the summer they close down Kercheval Street for Park After Dark – a street fair with adult and family fun.

GILBERT’S LODGE // ST CLAIR SHORES

This place is casual and laid back, you don’t have to worry if your kids are loud because they fit right in. There is a train that rides along the restaurant ceiling so kids have a blast watching it and pointing it out. The nachos are a favorite appetizer on the menu and most times end up being the entire meal because they are so large. The pizza is great too!

MIKE’S ON THE WATER // ST CLAIR SHORES

It is on the canal of Lake St Clair and filled with nostalgic, divey decor. The outdoor patio is great in the summer and very laid back. They give the kids chalk boards to play with during the meal and there’s a treasure chest for kids to pick a prize if they finish their meal.

KERCHEVAL DANCE // GROSSE POINTE

Kercheval Dance is a great program to start your kids with for ballet, tap, etc. and they have a recital at the end of the year. The classes are 1.5 hours long and they encourage mom to run an errand around town while the kids are in class. There’s a dance party at the end of each class and it’s a big hit.

HUNTS GYMNASTICS ACADEMY // HARRISON TOWNSHIP

This is a great place to introduce young ones to gymnastic basics. They host Parents Night Out and you can drop your kids off and they provide dinner and fun for them while you go out for a date. They also have drop-in hours when kids can run jump and tumble on all the equipment for an hour.

EDSEL & ELEANOR FORD HOUSE // GROSSE POINTE SHORES

We attend Little Goblins Night Out and breakfast with Santa at the Edsel Ford House every year. They are well organized and fun – be sure to pre-order your tickets because they sell out fast!

ST JOAN OF ARC SPRING FESTIVAL // ST CLAIR SHORES

St. Joan of Arc hosts an annual fair in May and it’s a great place to bring the kids, they have a younger kid area for little ones to ride rides, play games and get prizes.

“Always pack a lunch, snacks, blanket in your car. You need to have food wherever you go so that you can distract or soothe a temper tantrum. The rest allows for an impromptu picnic when you’re exploring a city or find a new park.”