Public library with weekly story times, craft programs, summer reading challenges, STEM activities, and special guest presenters. July includes a county-wide free kids event series. Open to everyone.

Free natural history museum on the FSU campus with 180+ wildlife specimens including birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish. Good for rainy days, school groups, and families looking for a quiet educational stop.

Craft pizzas, oven-toasted subs, pool tables, and an arcade in a casual setting. Dine-in, carry-out, and DoorDash delivery are available. Located about a mile south of FSU on Northland Drive. Closed Mondays.

Indoor playland free with purchase in a climate-controlled dining space. A practical stop for toddlers who need a place to move around while parents take a break.

Family-owned rink with rental skates, DJ music sessions, pizza, and concessions. Beginners can use skating aids, and weekend afternoons are set up for family sessions.

Open seven days a week, noon to midnight (9 PM Sundays). Features multiple lanes, arcade games, and a full food menu. Youth and adult leagues run throughout the year.

Outdoor public pool open each summer with swimming lessons for all ages, family swim, and lap swim. An affordable seasonal option for families, especially during the heat of summer.

Public skate Sundays 2–4 PM, plus Bulldogs games and learn-to-skate programs. Good for families who want a colder-weather outing or a beginner skating experience.

A large free park with a new ADA-accessible inclusive playground, splash pad, kayak and canoe launch, pickleball courts, basketball court, and tennis courts. Open year-round and popular with families.

A new skate park opened July 2025 at Swede Hill Park with ramps, rails, and stairs for all skill levels. Free and open daily during daylight hours for skateboarders, scooters, and BMX riders.

Downtown nonprofit arts center with a gallery, gift shop, pottery studio, and dance studio. They offer after-school programs, kids workshops, and summer art camps.

The community library for Remus and Wheatland Township. Story times, reading programs, and community events throughout the year. Check Facebook for current hours and what's coming up — they stay active with updates.

Classic small-town bowling alley right in the heart of Remus. Known for its friendly atmosphere, good food, and family open bowling on Saturday nights. Open evenings throughout the week. Great casual option without driving to Big Rapids. Fall leagues available — call to sign up before the season starts.

The central community park in Remus — softball diamonds, playground, basketball courts, walking paths, exercise equipment, and a large pavilion. Well-maintained and free year-round. Pavilion available to reserve for birthday parties and events.

Public library serving Mecosta, Canadian Lakes, and Stanwood. Story times, summer reading, and kids programs. Staff are great at knowing what's happening locally — a solid resource if you're trying to find out what's going on in this part of the county.

A cozy indoor play space in downtown Stanwood created by local parents for young kids. Open play Monday through Saturday, plus art classes, music classes, book clubs, and birthday parties. Built for toddlers through early elementary. Parents stay and connect too — it's designed for community as much as play. One of the best things to happen in this part of the county in years.

A spectacular Mecosta County park on the Muskegon River and Hardy Pond near Stanwood. Sandy swimming beach, 240 campsites, playground, craft barn activities, fishing pier, and direct access to the 47-mile Dragon Trail — one of the Midwest's top mountain biking routes. A full summer destination. Day passes available for non-campers.

86-acre county park near Mecosta with one of the best sandy swimming beaches in the county. Also has a historic one-room schoolhouse that runs summer educational programs for kids — a cool combo of beach fun and hands-on history. Campground on-site. Vehicle permit required for entry.

The public library for the Morley area. Story times, reading programs, and community events. Check Facebook for current hours and programming. A good local resource for families who don't want to make the drive to Big Rapids for library services.

Housed in the former Morley Consolidated School building (built 1923), this nonprofit is a social and recreation hub for the village. Community events, youth programming, pickleball, pancake breakfasts, and enrichment activities for all ages. Available to rent for parties and gatherings — rooms up to 99 people. A genuine community anchor that bridges generations.

A nicely updated village park with a new playset (2022), a community geodome (2023, grant-funded), new horseshoe pits (2024), and restored indoor bathrooms in the pavilion. Small, well-maintained, and constantly being improved. Good for a quick outdoor outing in Morley.

Public library serving Barryton and Fork Township. Story times, summer reading, and community events. A solid local resource for families in the northern part of the county who don't want to make the trek to Big Rapids for library services.

Annual family festival held the first weekend of June in downtown Barryton — alcohol-free and fully family-focused. Friday has a talent show, pony rides, and a petting zoo. Saturday brings the parade at 11 AM, car and bike show, kids games, free-throw shootout, vendor and craft show, and live entertainment. Sunday wraps with community activities. One of the most genuinely kid-friendly festivals in the county.

Community summer celebration in August in downtown Barryton. Local vendors, food, entertainment, and family activities. A good chance to explore Barryton before summer ends. Check the Mecosta County Visitors Bureau calendar for dates and details for the current year.

380-acre Christian camp and family campground on two lakes on 17 Mile Road in Rodney. Day passes available ($3/person or $12/vehicle) — you don't have to be a camper to visit. Activities include 50+ horses for trail rides, a 40-ft climbing tower, zip line, high ropes course, aqua park on the lake, archery, riflery (age 5+), petting farm, pony rides, tractor wagon rides, giant slip-n-slide, disc golf, skate park, canoes, and nature trails. Weekly family programming June–August. Summer youth camps for kids ages 7–17.

A 162-acre working farm on Wilson Road in Rodney — one of the best fall destinations in the whole county and honestly pretty underrated. Operating since 2003. Features an 8-acre corn maze with three levels of difficulty (so both the little kids and the adults who think they won't get lost can be humbled), a u-pick pumpkin patch, and horse-drawn wagon rides. Admission is just $3 and kids under 5 are free. Open Saturdays noon–5:30 PM in September and October, other days by appointment. Friday and Saturday nights in October the maze goes HAUNTED — a great option for older kids. Also available for private group bookings: scouts, church groups, birthday parties, family outings — with picnic area, pavilion, fieldstone grill, and bonfire pit. Winter sleigh rides offered on Saturdays January–March.

A Mecosta County park in Paris with organized river tubing and kayaking on the Muskegon River with a shuttle service. $10/person all-in for the 2–3 hour float to the Green Township launch, or $15 for a 6–7 hour adventure to Hersey. Bring-your-own rates are cheaper. Reservations available through the park office. Kids under 3 not permitted in watercraft; under 18 must be with an adult. Also has camping and fishing on-site. Originally Michigan's second fish hatchery (1881) — a cool bit of local history.

The best single online resource for what's happening across the whole county. Their events calendar is updated regularly and covers festivals, concerts, free family activities, sports, and library events from every corner of Mecosta County. Bookmark it. Their welcome center in downtown Big Rapids is also great if you want brochures and local info in person.

Year-round youth development with clubs all over the county covering animals, crafts, cooking, STEM, photography, leadership, and public speaking. Projects culminate at the Mecosta County Free Fair every July. One of the best ways for rural kids to build real skills, make friends, and develop confidence. Contact MSU Extension to find a club near you.

Seven waterfront county parks spread across the county — all on lakes or rivers with swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking. Vehicle permits required at most parks; daily, weekly, and seasonal passes available. Online reservations for camping and cabins at mecostacountyparks.com. Parks include Brower Park, School Section Lake Veterans Park, Paris Park, Merrill-Gorrel Park, Haymarsh Lake, Tubbs Lake, and Davis Bridge Day-Use Park.

A 92-mile paved rail-trail running through Mecosta County — ranked in the Top 100 Rail-to-Trails in the country. Great for family biking, walking, and rollerblading at any distance. Connects to the Dragon Trail (47 miles of natural-surface mountain biking) near Stanwood. Multiple trailheads throughout the county for easy access.