Summer is in full swing and if you’re like me, than you’re already running out of ideas to entertain the kids for the rest of Summer break and it’s only the end of July! Once they’ve been on a vacation, hit the movies, went to the beach, went on a hike, read a chapter book, experienced a summer camp and even spent a couple days at home bored (because they say boredom is good), what’s left? We have more than another full month of Summer vacation left and I too am starting to get a little more creative with fun ideas just like you.
The one thing about Michigan is our great state has quite a few fun places to visit during the Summer. We have a beautiful mitten state so why not make sure the kids see it all? Below are my favorite Michigan destinations for not just the kiddos but for the whole family to enjoy!
10 Kid Friendly Michigan Places to Visit This Summer
Stoney Creek Metropark
- Address: 4300 main Park Road, Shelby Township MI 48316
- Phone (586) 781-4242
- Park hours 6am – 10pm, Nature Center 10am – 5pm
- Vehicle yearly pass $35, Daily pass $10 per vehicle
Visit one of the nicest parks in Michigan that have an “up north” feeling without leaving the suburbs. The park extends across both Oakland and Macomb counties with 4,461 acres. Guests are welcome to spend an afternoon boating, in-line skating, biking, jogging, golfing, kayaking, swimming or hiking. The 500-acre Stony Creek Lake always has a beautiful sunset and the swimming area is equipped with lifeguards for your safety. Fishing is also a favorite at the park by many. In the winter, guests can walk, cross-country ski, snowshoe or fat tire mountain bike across marked trails. Selected areas are chosen for snowboarding, sledding and toboggan hills. This Metropark also features a nature center that kids absolutely enjoy, a disc-golf course, 18-hole regulation golf course, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, soccer field, volleyball and basketball courts. Picnic areas with reservable tables and grills are located throughout the park.
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Michigan Adventure
- Address: 1198 W Riley-Thompson Rd., Muskegon, Mi 49445
- Park Hours – 11am – 9pm, Waterpark Hours 12pm – 7pm
- General Admission $34
The entire family will enjoy this trip! There’s close to 250 acres of fun at Michigan’s Adventure and WildWater Adventure to be had by all. Two amazing parks with one price gives thrill seekers and water park lovers a full day of excitement. There’s something here for every age including roller coasters, water rides, a water park, a lazy river and carnival games. This park is great because one ticket will get you into the amusement park AND the water park. Families definitely get their money’s worth here! Have little ones? Like real little ones? Thats okay, they can enjoy the park too with their small carnival like motorized cars, toddler helicopters and visits from Snoopy himself.
Belle Isle
- Address: 300 River Place Dr., Detroit, MI 48207
- Hours of Operation:
- Belle Isle Park, Open Daily, 5am – 10pm
- Belle Isle Aquarium, Fri. – Sun., 10am – 4pm
- Belle Isle Nature Zoo, Open Daily, 10am – 5pm
- Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Wed. – Sun., 10am – 5pm
- Belle Isle Giant Slide. Wed. – Sun., 12pm – 8pm, until Labor Day.
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Wed. – Sun., 10am – 4pm
- James Scott Memorial Fountain, Running Daily, 12pm – 10pm, until September 18th
- Admission: All attractions are free with park admission
- The Recreation Passport – $11 for Michigan vehicles, $5 for Michigan motorcycles. A Recreation Passport is NOT required for visitors accessing the park by foot, bike, or public transit.
Belle Isle Park is a 982-acre island park located in Detroit with historic, environmental, and cultural resources that have been beloved for generations. The park is home to the Belle Isle Aquarium, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, and more!
Detroit Zoo
- Address: 8450 W 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, Mi 48067
- Phone: 248.541.5717
- Hours of Operation: 9am – 5pm April – September 4th, Sept 5th – 30th 10am – 5pm, Oct – Dec 10am – 4pm
- Admission: Adults age 15-61= $14, Children 2-14 = $10, Seniors 62+ $10, Active Military $10, Under 2 FREE
The Detroit Zoo has 125 acres of naturalistic habitats for more than 2,000 animals from camel, to anteaters, peacocks to gorillas and zebras to kangaroo, the zoo entails many wonderful animals and award-winning attractions such as the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Great Apes of Harambee and Arctic Ring of Life. The Zoo’s newest attraction is the spectacular Polk Penguin Conservation Center, the largest facility for penguins in the world. A playground for the little ones is always available and the train ride is fun too! Lunch can be purchased or packed, it’s up to you!
Comerica Park
- Address: 2100 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
- Schedule: Click here for the Detroit Tigers monthly schedule
Who doesn’t love a good baseball game? And, if you’re from Michigan, then for sure you’re a Tigers fan right? Comerica Park is a $300 million project that took place on October 29, 1997. The classic design offers great seating for all ages and offers amusement and entertainment features that are unique to Comerica Park. Concessions, food court, a ferris wheel, a carousel and five premium seating areas are placed right in the heart of Detroit. The stadium also offers gated entrances and access for special needs customers. Kids are welcome to try out their baseball skills at the batting cages, or speed pitch. And, they can even run the bases after Sunday home games throughout the season, as long as its not raining.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Address: N8391 Sand Point Rd., Munising, MI 49862
- Hours of Operation: Open year round, 24 hours a day, click here for hours to the Grand Au Sable Visitor Center and the Hiawatha National Forest Interagency Visitor Center
- Admission: FREE
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located along the south shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. It’s well known for the beautiful multicolored Pictured Rocks cliffs. This is a perfect Michigan location for family fun portraits and picturesque scenes that will take your breath away. Pictured Rocks is an excellent location given guests the opportunity to enjoy miles of beaches and hike close to 100 miles of trails.
In the spring, a new world appears along trails carpeted with the soft beauty of wildflowers. Summer gives way to warm basking days. Blinking lights of orange, red, and yellow signal the wonder of change in autumn. In the winter, the raw windy beauty of snow frequents the days though periodically the snow blazes forth with sunlight.
The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
- Address: 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mi 48124
- Admission: Museum & Village Combo; $38 per person, Individual location tickets ages 3-11 $20.25, ages 12+ $27, ages 2 and under FREE, Seniors 62+ $24.50.
- Events: Click here for a list of special events
Museum:
A magnificent display of past innovations fuel the imagination of all ages at The Henry Ford Museum. Guests are welcome to step inside the bus that made Rosa Parks famous, enjoy the large display explaining the Wright brothers’ achievements, and view furniture designs and inventions within the past decades.
Village:
Families can stretch their legs and walk 80 acres of resourcefulness and ingenuity. The Village is where 300 years of American perseverance of lifestyle, hobbies and ways of life are displayed. Kids and adults alike can enjoy stepping into the lab where Thomas Edison had his lightbulb moment, watch an old fashioned baseball game and view homes from back in the day. Guests can also take a ride in a real Model T or a walk through four working farms watching the farmers and animals work their fields.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Address: 9922 Front St., Empire, Mi
- Admission: FREE Donations are always accepted. Click here to show your support.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes along Lake Michigan has been a “must see” destination for years. This place has naturally elevated dunes where visitors can enjoy hiking, lakes, and Manitou island bird watching. The Dunes are as old as continental ice sheets and as young as the 1970 Establishment Act. This is the act that set aside the Lakeshore for preservation of the natural resources and for public use. The perched dunes above Lake Michigan overlook the Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs that are about 400 feet above Lake Michigan.
Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City
- Address: 3575 N US Highway 31 S, Traverse City, Mi
- Phone: Reservations 866.478.9653, Resort Direct 231.941.3600
Great Wolf Lodge, Traverse City is a water park getaway for the entire family. The hotel entails an 84-degree indoor water park that allows thousands of square feet of family friendly fun. The indoor property includes three main water slides, zero-depth entry playgrounds, a multi-story, splash-loaded interactive tree house, hot tubs and a cafe with snacks and drinks for all. The Lodge also has a mini spa for girls, an indoor arcade and an indoor bowling ally. It has a gift shop, a swim shop, an ice cream parlor and two in-house restaurants for hungry kids and families. Want more? Ask about Great Wolf Lodge, Magic Quest! Magic Quest is an interactive game incorporated into two floors of the hotel and allows children to explore an enchanted kingdom and strive to become a Master Magi with their very own magic wand. Players purchase a magic wand from the Magic Quest gift shop and obtain guidance from the “Book of Wisdom”. The game allows the kids to run throughout the selected floors gaining magic powers by befriending animated pixies on the walls, following animated clues within the decor and battling a dragon on the big screen at the end of their session.
The outside portion is fun for everyone too and a place where mom can relax poolside while the kids have fun with Dad in the pool and mini splash park. The outdoor property entails an outdoor pool, a mini splash park, cabanas and an outdoor bar for ages 21 and over.
Mackinac Island
- Address: Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau 7274 Main Street Mackinac Island, MI 49757
- Phone: 906-847-3783, toll free 800-454-5227
Looking for a fun historic place to visit for the weekend? Whether you’re looking to create romantic memories or memorable times with the kids, Mackinac Island should be on your “must visit” list. The island is where the automobile is never driven and one must get around by bike, walking or horse and carriage. The family owned businesses and Revolutionary era Fort give an excellent feel to the “at home” environment including tours, fudge stores, bike riding and site seeing for all to enjoy. It’s an excellent destination for learning and relaxation in a non-rushed environment.
