12 Best Family Vacations in Michigan
Michigan is a beautiful place, with plenty of places to visit that are kid friendly. This post will give ideas on what to do with your kids in Michigan!
- Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is Michigan’s popular tourist destination. It’s home to many historical sites and a great place to visit in the summer.
The island is located on Lake Huron and offers you plenty of things to do while you are there. You can hike forests or along beaches and picnic under trees at historic sites like Fort Wilkins or Fort Michilimackinac (built by French settlers). You can cross over Mackinac Bridge (the second longest bridge in North America) and take tours of lighthouses around the lake shoreline. You can go fishing for trout and perch (a type of freshwater fish) and enjoy dances on Friday nights at various venues around town—you name it!
- Traverse City
Traverse City is a great place to visit for families. There are many family and kid-friendly activities, including:
- The Children’s Museum of SE Michigan (the largest children’s museum in America)
- The Grand Traverse Belle Festival – an annual event that features food, music and more! At the first weekend of August. It’s worth visiting if you can make it!
- Grand Traverse Bay State Park – This park has miles of beaches for exploring, along with many hiking trails for getting some exercise or just taking a stroll through nature at its finest. You can also enjoy kayaking here if that sounds like fun too!
Traverse City also has plenty of restaurants where you can get delicious food while your kids play outside with other kids nearby, enjoying their time together after all those fun activities they did during their stay-at-home
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a national lakeshore on the eastern shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The park is known for its sandstone cliffs, which rise above the lake and create beautiful formations. The ridges are made up of the same sandstone that makes up the dunes on shore, so you can see how they’re formed over time. The park also features two campgrounds with great views of Lake Superior!
- Bay City
If you’re interested in a family vacation around Michigan, Bay City is one of the best choices. This city has many attractions and activities that are kid-friendly, including an amusement park and water parks. But if your kids aren’t old enough to enjoy these things yet, don’t worry: there are plenty of other things they can do while visiting Bay City!
If you want to spend some time at the beach or boardwalk (just down the street), there are certain fun activities to do with your kids here, too—like riding on rides at Fun Land Amusement Park or enjoying ice cream cones at Cold Stone Creamery.
- Holland
Holland is the best place to visit year-round. It’s also one of the most kid-friendly destinations in Michigan, with plenty of activities and attractions that are perfect for families.
- Amusement parks: The Dutch Wonderland amusement park has rides for all ages, including roller coasters like “The Loop” and water slides like “The Wave.” You can also experience the miniature train ride through their village or take a trip on their pirate ship ride!
- Museums: There are plenty of museums in Holland where you can learn about Dutch history or see art collections from around the world (including one dedicated entirely to Disney characters). Some popular ones include:
- Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village – This museum exhibits everything from cars to aeroplanes; it’s free admission, making it an excellent spot for kids who want something educational while away from home!
- Michigan State Capitol Building – Built in 1875 by Henry Fonda himself! It houses artifacts related directly related
- Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is popular for Gerald R. Ford Museum and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, turning it to be an ideal destination for families. The city’s public institutions include the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Children’s Museum of GR, Art Museum of GR and Public Library. These museums have plenty of interactive exhibits that your kids will love!
If you’re looking for something more activity-oriented experience than just exploring inside these buildings, there are also plenty of great options around town! For example:
The Natural History Museum has hands-on activities throughout its exhibits, including an insect zoo where you can touch live bugs (and learn about them)! It also has an aquarium where your family can observe fish swimming right before their eyes! And finally, if those two weren’t enough, they offer guided tours through some other parts like snakes & lizards too, it’s just so much fun!
- Saugatuck
Saugatuck is a great place to visit in the summer, especially if you are interested in the arts and entertainment. It’s also a great place to visit during winter because everything looks beautiful.
Saugatuck is also one of the best places for kids who love nature and animals! There are plenty of parks where you can bring your family pet or enjoy walking around with them on their leash (although this might not be allowed by some city ordinances).
If you want something even more exciting than just taking walks with your dog, then consider coming here for some fun activities like playing mini golf or rock climbing!
- Sleeping Bear Dunes
Sleeping Bear Dunes is an unforgettable place to visit in Michigan. It’s not just a national park but also an international conservation area and one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes. This park offers nature lovers a chance to enjoy their vacation by kayaking on Lake Michigan or hiking through its forests and meadows.
The park is home to numerous animals like deer, raccoons, beavers and more! It also has over 200 miles of hiking trails that will take you all around this scenic area and some fantastic views of Lake Michigan itself! There are many things for kids, including playgrounds where they can play with other kids while parents relax or explore different areas within this beautiful park!
- Battle Creek
Battle Creek is also known as the home of Kellogg’s and is surrounded by many museums. It’s so close to Detroit that it can be considered one of its suburbs. For history and culture lovers, plenty of places exist here to visit in Battle Creek. If you’re looking for something more active, plenty of parks and hiking trails around this city will keep your family busy for days!
- Frankenmuth
Frankenmuth is a small Bavarian town in Michigan that has become famous for its German architecture and food. It’s home to the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Hotel & Conference Center, which offers visitors some of the best accommodations!
The hotel was built in the 1920s by Frederick Klenk; his son John took over after his father passed away, continuing their family tradition of providing quality service at reasonable prices (it’s still open today). The hotel has been featured on various travel shows like “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”. But don’t worry if you’re not into watching culinary programs; there are plenty more attractions nearby where you can spend time with kids without worrying about them getting bored!
- Great Lakes Bay
The Great Lakes Bay Region is home to three of Michigan’s most recognizable cities: Midland, Saginaw and Bay City. Each has a unique history that makes it worth exploring for families looking for a fun destination with lots to see and do.
When the oil boom hit in 1859, thousands of people flocked to this area seeking employment at the nearby refineries or as part of the “oil patch” itself, leading to one of the biggest economic booms in American history, Michigan. History is still alive in museums dedicated solely to telling these stories (like The Old Town Museum) or even an entire mall dedicated exclusively to selling petroleum-based products!
- Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is an excellent place for family vacations. It’s filled with museums, parks and other fun activities for kids of all ages. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon exploring science and technology! The museum has hands-on exhibits that allow visitors to explore topics such as electricity or robotics while learning about them simultaneously.
The Children’s Museum of Washtenaw County also offers many family-friendly activities in addition to their regular programs (like STEM workshops). They have sections explicitly dedicated to children ages 0 – 12, so you can find something perfect for your little ones during your trip!
We hope you found some great ideas for your next Michigan family vacation. Accommodations, activities, and things to do are just a few details that make up an enjoyable vacation experience.