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Fun Things to Do with Kids in Metro Detroit
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items Discover the best family-friendly things to do in Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor. This list features our favorite kid-approved activities, from hands-on museums and science centers to local parks, aquariums, and zoos. You’ll also find fun indoor play sp...
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Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Indoor Activities
Outdoor Activities
Two Detroit treasures, side by side, and both FREE to visit! The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is over 100 years old and full of tropical plants, orchids, ferns, and cactus. Kids can even grab a scavenger hunt sheet to stay engaged while explori...
Belle Isle Aquarium & Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory🌿🐠
So many things to see and do on Belle Isle! There is a conservatory, the oldest aquarium in the United States, a nature center and shipwreck museum. There are also picnic areas, trails and the best view of the Detroit skyline.
Lots to do and see!
Belle Isle Park
So many vendors you won’t know where to start.
Eastern Market
We love the loop around the lake. It’s quick for kids and there are a lot of birds and wildlife to see.
Kensington Metropark
Accessible playground with many activities to choose from!
Rotary Park
I'll never turn down a trip to the Detroit Zoo. It's a park-like zoo where the animals get to roam in large enclosures.
Detroit Zoo
This is Michigan, of course there are beaches. Check out this list of best beaches in Metro Detroit.
Best Beaches In Metro Detroit
Beauty gardens to walk around and take photos.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
Well maintained gardens with water features, sculptues and statues mixed in. Very fun to walk around and discover different sections.
Cranbrook House and Gardens
Easy trail out to the lake. It's beautiful in the fall. There is also a boulder garden that kids love to climb and explore.
Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve
Restaurants
Best gluten-free bun I've ever had. I had to confirm with the waiter it was in fact gluten free. The burger was also great.
Our kids got the pizza off the kids menu and loved it!
Our kids got the pizza off the kids menu and loved it!
Union Assembly | Detroit, MI
Flavorful authentic Mediterranean dishes. I've never been disappointed in a meal I've had from here. My favorite is the Homous Chicken and don't skip the side salad! The house dressing is the best.
Sheesh Mediteranean Cuisine
Delicious tacos. All you need to know. :-)
Calixto Mexican Grill - Your Neighborhood Mexican Restaurant
Pegasus has set the standard for the unforgettable Greek dining experience. It offers traditional Greek cuisine in a fun, casual atmosphere. From its huge open kitchen to the generous portions and charismatic wait staff, Pegasus is the perfect settin...
Pegasus Tavernas - Food of the Gods
The best and original Detroit-style pizza. There are locations around Metro Detroit. The gluten-free pizza is my absolute favorite that I've had from any restaurant. My favorite topping combo is the Super 6 Mile.
Buddy's Pizza
Indoor Activities
A hidden gem on Belle Isle that’s perfect for families! The Belle Isle Nature Center lets kids get up close to Michigan wildlife and learn about the habitats right in our backyard. Inside, you’ll find frogs, turtles, snakes, salamanders, and even an ...
Belle Isle Nature Center
The DIA's collection is among the top six in the United States, with more than 65,000 works.
Our kids request to go to the museum regularly. They love to wander from room to room and play the eye spy game in each one.
Admission is free for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County residents.
Our kids request to go to the museum regularly. They love to wander from room to room and play the eye spy game in each one.
Admission is free for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County residents.
Detroit Institute of Arts Museum
Lots to explore in the Outdoor Adventure Center. Kids can climb into an airplane, ride a snowmobile and race down bike trails.
DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
The U-M Museum of Natural History inspires curiosity with exhibits that explore the natural world from molecules to dinosaurs, a planetarium to discover the Universe, science demonstrations, and U-M scientists discussing their research.
Dinosaur lovers will be delighted by the exhibits including hands on fossil replicas.
Dinosaur lovers will be delighted by the exhibits including hands on fossil replicas.
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History | U-M LSA University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
A field trip favorited turned family destination. The hands on museum has many engaging exhibits for kids (and parents) to enjoy.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum