Heads up to all you Pokémon Go folks. No seriously. Heads up from your screens. Lansing is teaming with Pokémon, Pokéballs, gyms, Pokéstops and everything that every young Pokémon Go player needs or wants. We’re pretty sure you could spend a few hours [ahem!] a few days capturing, training, and building up your team. Whether you’re on the red, blue or yellow team, Greater Lansing has a big river, tons of parks, monuments and public spaces.
Me? I’m just a happy bystander, thrilled to see so many people out and about throughout the region. A shout out to my generation. You’ve been lamenting for years that kids nowadays just sit in the house playing video games. Well, they’ve gone outside now. Go engage with them and cheer them on. They’re walking all over, seeing things that I’m sure you haven’t visited in years. Have YOU been to the 9/11 memorial in Wentworth Park in downtown Lansing? That park is teaming with Pokémon Trainers day in and day out. The sleepy Meridian Historical Village is a busy hub as well. And it’s happening internationally. How awesome is that?
Here’s my take on catching up with the craze while you’re in Michigan’s capital city. Start in Old Town Lansing then head south on the Lansing River Trail and finally head out to Michigan State University.
While in Downtown Lansing:
Walk down Washington Square and you can find Pokéballs at many of the Michigan Walk of Fame stars embedded in the sidewalks. Make Wentworth Park a destination. It’s across from the Radisson Hotel. This is a great Pokéhangout (is even that a word?) and the perfect meet-up spot.
Hit up the Reutter Park fountain. It’s across from the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Libraries and it’s one of the sweetest fountains in town. When the sun goes down the fountain lights up in a rainbow of colors! Swing by the Inspiration Sculpture just north of the Lansing City Market on the River Trail, too.
While in Old Town Lansing:
Old Town is loaded with Pokéstops. You might want to check out locations like the bridge on Grand River Avenue, Brenke Fish Ladder, Old Town General Store, and Fish Ladder Tattoos.
While at Michigan State University:
I’ve heard that the Spartan Statue, Spartan Stadium, Abrams Planetarium, MSU Dairy Store, The Rock, and Morrill Plaza are great places and with not a lot of students around, this is a great time to visit the campus!
Be on the lookout for these Pokémon while in #lovelansing. The list below is just what coworkers have caught, so I’m sure there are plenty more to go…
Albra, Beedrill, Bellsprout, Caterpie, Cubone, Drowzee, Eevee, Fearow, Gastly, Gyarados, Horsea, Hypno, Jynx, Kakuna, Krabby, Metapod, Nidoran, Oddish, Paras, Pidgey, Pidgotto, Ponyta, Psyduck, Raticate, Rattata, Seel, Shellder, Skyther, Slowpoke, Spearow, Squirtle, Staryu, Tauros, Venomoth, Venonat, Weedle, Wortortle, Zubat.
And for us older folks…here’s a little chuckle for the day.
Q: How do you get a Pikachu to board a bus?
A: You Pokemon.
