The Stadium District - Lansing, MI Area Guide

Lansing was a small rural town when the state wanted to move the capital out of Detroit in 1847, away from British Canada. Because they could not agree on a larger city, they decided on Lansing. The city slowly grew, increasing in size when the railroad came through. In 1897, Oldsmobile set up shop in downtown Lansing, and the city became an important automobile manufacturing city.

Learn more about this history at the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum. The museum holds thousands of collectibles and 52 cars, including the first Oldsmobile, built in 1897.

Or bring the kids to Impression 5, and let them explore science and their five senses. This family-friendly museum wants to make science fun and interesting for kids. The 25,000-sq-ft museum features more than 150 activities and exhibits for kids to interact with, including electromagnetics, engineering and even a section for younger kids.

Located in the heart of the neighborhood, Soup Spoon Café serves a wide assortment of upscale homestyle food. With items such as smoked salmon Benedict, omelettes and breakfast sliders, this restaurant remains a local favorite for breakfast. But the café also serves soups, including a soup flight, small plates and sandwiches for lunch, and entrées of fish, steak, duck, pork and lamb, as well as small items for dinner.

A few blocks north sits Pablo’s Old Town, a locally owned authentic Mexican restaurant. Locals love the tacos, chalupas and tostadas, and with 11 choices of meat, no meal ever has to be the same, and you can stop in all throughout the day, because Pablo’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you haven’t heard, Michigan has become the state for craft beer, and Midtown Brewing Company features some of the best of them produced here. This locally owned brewery serves its own handcrafted drinks, as well as other Michigan craft brews. And with a menu featuring items such as stuffed mushrooms, beef and arugula salad, fish tacos and lobster grilled cheese sandwiches, the brewery has also become known for its unique bar food made from local ingredients. Open until midnight, 2 am on weekends, Midtown also has live music, trivia and open mic nights.

The downtown area sits between I-496, I-127 and M-43. Because the area is crossed by so many main roads, residents have easy access to the greater Lansing region, as well as direct routes to Grand Rapids, Detroit and northern Michigan.

The Capital Area Transportation Authority has been named the number one transit system in North America, and with a wide assortment of options, it’s easy to see why. CATA features the typical fixed-route bus service serving downtown Lansing, the greater Lansing area, and service to Michigan State University. The buses run every 15 minutes, and with over 20 routes, getting on and connecting to other lines is an easy task. A regular one-way fare costs $1.25.

CATA also runs a curb-to-curb service, where residents can call ahead for pick-up at a specific location, and this option costs the same as it does for the fixed-route service. In addition, it offers a curbside pick up for disabled customers.

Several cab companies run in the area, including DD’s Downtown Taxi and Spartan Cab. Uber also runs in the area, and a ride from the Capitol building to the campus of MSU starts at $12.

The downtown area has one road that features a bike lane along the shoulder and some bike-friendly roads. The best option for cyclists might be to spend time on the paved, 13-mile Lansing River Trail. Although this is a somewhat walkable city, residents will find a car remains necessary for most tasks. The city has several parking garages all around the Capitol building.

The scenic views of the Grand River draw people to Adado Riverfront Park. This 28-acre festival park has wide-open green spaces, with the 13-mile Lansing River Trail cutting through the park. Residents enjoy fishing and boating on the river, and pet owners often walk their leashed dogs here.

South of the neighborhood, Hawk Island County Park remains a family favorite. Open year-round, kids have the most fun in the summer when the splash pad and beach are open. This 100-acre park features rowboat rental and allows fishing on the lake, in addition to the playground and picnic areas. A $3 vehicle fee is required to get into the park.

Next door to Hawk Island sits the 15-acre off-leash Soldan Dog Park. The park has trails, a pond, an open field and pet and human drinking fountains. Residents need an electronic pass to access the park, which can be obtained with proof of rabies vaccine and a dog license, along with $30 for a yearly pass.

Lansing hosts many festivals throughout the year including the Maple Syrup Festival, the independent film festival Capital City Film Festival in the spring, the East Lansing Art Festival and, in June, a 3-day festival celebrating Juneteenth.

The cost of living in the downtown Stadium District of Lansing runs 4 percent lower than the state average and 14 percent lower than the national average. A domestic beer costs you just over $2.50, and gas cost is 12 percent lower than the national average cost and 4 percent lower than the state average cost. The average price to rent a one-bedroom apartment is $615.

The large shopping center can be found west on M-43 at the Lansing Mall. This spot contains many of the national box stores such as Barnes and Noble, T.J. Maxx, Macy's and Best Buy. For locally owned shops, stay in the neighborhood and stop by Polka Dots Bead-a-Full shop. This craft store sells not only beads and jewelry but also other gift items and features ladies' nights out and kids' birthday parties. Known for its extensive selection of beads, customers love the alternative to the big-box craft stores so close to downtown. Another favorite of locals, Summit Comics and Games sells comic books and graphic novels by large and small companies. And if you're looking for unique board and card games, such as Munchkin, Settlers of Catan or Pathfinder Adventure, stop by Summit. The store also hosts several board-game days throughout the year. If you're looking for an indie bookstore, check out Everybody Reads. This store, located right in the downtown area, hosts author signings and other literary events for the downtown area in addition to focusing on helping underserved communities, children, minorities and the LGBTQ community. There are many grocery stores in the area including the Better Health Store and Kroger in the immediate area, and near the mall you find Aldi, Meijer and Wal-Mart. Once a month during late summer, a farmer's market opens at the state capitol where residents can find locally grown and produced food and artisanal products. For a market open every season, head a few blocks south to the Allen Street Farmer's Market. This market stays open year-round on Wednesdays, indoors in the winter, and features a rotation of local farms.