With the pandemic, I had not seen my family in six months. I made the decision not to go home for Christmas based on CDC Guidelines and the rising rate of COVID cases during the holidays. With the vaccine rollout, both my parents and grandparents (and myself) were able to receive the vaccine prior to my trip, which made traveling and going home to see them much less stressful!

While I was home we went on a few local "adventures" (as my niece likes to say). We picked our outings with social distancing in mind and had a great time. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with my family and to hug my niece and nephews.

Coffee Shop: Ponder Coffee Company (Mt. Pleasant)

Ponder is one of only a few non-chain coffee shops in my hometown. Every time I visit their coffee always hits the spot. They currently (as of March 2021) offer takeout and outdoor dining, which they built up on the street, complete with fire pits to combat the Michigan winters. I ordered the Rosemary Butterscotch latte.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids)

Meijer Gardens has so much to offer every time of year. We visited the Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition, which runs in March and April, and walked through the tropical greenhouse searching for caterpillars and butterflies.

Brewery: Perrin Brewing Company (Grand Rapids)

Grand Rapids is home to plenty of breweries and Perrin was our choice for local beers and lunch on our way home from Meijer Gardens. A top pick for kid friendly breweries, they offered socially distant indoor and outdoor dining and were able to accommodate our party of 7 between two tables in the same area. Between us, we tried the Grapefruit IPA, Gold ale, Coffee Latte brown ale, Sunny Getaway saison and No Rules 2019, 2020 stout. Their food was also delicious, with the ODB and The Lance burger topping our list.

Midori Sushi and Martini Lounge (Mt. Pleasant)

My top pick for sushi when I'm in my hometown, Midori was offering socially distant indoor dining during my visit. During the summer they also offered outdoor dining. I came here for dinner with my cousins, it is our top pick for meeting up over drinks and dinner when I am in town.