Michigan has so many great offerings for kids! We are very fortunate that my in-laws and extended family live in the Detroit metro area, so we’ve done quite a bit of exploring over the years. This post focuses on museums, playgrounds, towns, libraries and other adventures we’ve taken that are kid friendly. Since Instagram eliminated the IG guides, I figured it was time to add everything to my website (links will take you to the relevant TeamTravelsBaby IG post for more info and lots of pictures). We have explored quite a bit of the state including Mackinac Island, the UP (upper peninsula), Traverse City, etc. but I’ll save those for another post.
I’ve alphabetized cities we’ve visited and what I’ve personally experienced and enjoyed with my daughter. And as we love free and low cost fun, the places highlighted are kid friendly and family friendly affordable fun within a reasonable distance of metro Detroit. You’ll be able to tell that we love visiting libraries as they are free indoor spaces, usually with toys and often have great free programming too, even without a library card! At the end of this post, I added a couple of additional places within 2 hours if you’re looking to expand your search.
Ann Arbor
This makes for such an amazing day! In Maryland, we belong to the Maryland Science Center and there is a covered museum in Ann Arbor that we can access for FREE because they are included in the ASTC Passport Program. We always buy in November when it’s around $80-90 for an annual family membership. Plus you can enjoy walking around the University of Michigan campus here and see the huge squirrels!
- Ann Arbor Hands on Children’s Museum (ASTC Passport, in 2024 this was $16 per person, but free to access via reciprocity with our Maryland Science Center membership)
- University of Michigan Natural History Museum (ASTC Passport, donation based)
Birmingham
This is a fancy town! It has some really nice stores, bakeries, coffee, a farmers market in the warmer months and is very walkable.
- Booth Park (a wooden castle playground)
Brighton
This is such a cute walkable town to visit! It’s pretty, has a coffee shop, a bookstore and an incredible wooden playground. This is one of my personal favorites.
- 2/42 Kids Community (free indoor play space within a church, check hours before going and pack socks)
- Downtown Brighton
- Imagination Station (playground)
Clarkston
You can blink and drive through this town, but we found it was worth a stop to enjoy the park and candy store. It’s also where an indoor play area is that often has costumed characters.
- Downtown Clarkston
- Fairytale Fun Place (indoor play area that often has costumed characters; check hours, programming and bring socks; I find their newsletter to be helpful)
Commerce
- Commerce Township Community Library and Park
- Ralph C Richardson Park
- Robert Long Nature Park (no playground, but fun outdoor space)
- Scarlet’s Playground (huge accessible playground)
Farmington/Farmington Hills
Howell
Exceeded my expectations. We initially came only for the nature center but ended up walking the town and liked the playground and unique stores.
- Downtown Howell (playground within walking distance)
- Howell Nature Center (there’s a small cost to visit and make sure to check the hours)
Milford
A walkable city to visit with ice cream, a coffee shop and playground. We’ve come for their car show before which was a fun event to walk around.
Northville
If you can’t tell by now, I love walkable towns! This one is really cute, especially in the fall! There’s a library, an incredible indoor play space that’s a great way to observe which toys interest your child, tons of restaurants, coffee shops, a kids consignment store, etc.
- Stemville (check to see if you need to reserve a time block in advance and wear socks; there’s a coffee shop inside)
Novi
- Ella Mae Power Park (very close to the library)
- Lakeshore Park
- Novi Public Library (there’s a coffee shop inside)
- Twelve Oaks Mall (play area)
Waterford
- Hess Hathaway Park (not open daily, check hours and you can see animals plus a farm themed playground)
White Lake
- White Lake Township Library (visit Rugrat Resale Consignment not too far away for good deals)
Wolverine Lake
We have driven many times from Maryland to Michigan as well as flown into DTW (Detroit) airport. It’s a huge Delta hub with a separate terminal for them. Our most recent trip was only $88 roundtrip on Frontier from BWI to DTW. We look forward to continuing to explore new places and return to our favorites!
If you would like to expand your search, here are places within two hours or so of where we visit.
- Flint Children’s Museum (ASTC Passport, in 2024 this was $8 per person)
- Downtown Grand Rapids
- Public Museum in Grand Rapids (ASTC Passport, in 2024 this was $12 per adult and $5 per child; this museum exceeded my expectations and my daughter loved the carousel)
- Downtown Market in Grand Rapids
- Downtown Holland (visit during tulip season if you can)
- Lansing (stop at the creamery on Michigan State University’s campus called the Dairy Store)
And while I will make an effort to add new places to this post and on TeamTravelsBaby Instagram when we visit, here are IG accounts I follow in Michigan for ideas: Michigan Mom of One and LittleGuide Detroit.
Thanks for checking out my post! Feel free to add ideas in the comments! And make sure you’re subscribed for our newsletter!
About the Author
Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their newsletter and follow along on Instagram!
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