14 Things to Do in Michigan With Kids

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Your next trip starts in Pure Michigan.

Bring the entire family to this Great Lakes state with the longest freshwater coastline.

Michigan borders Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior.

This upper Midwest land borders Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio.

Lakes separate it from Minnesota, Illinois, and the Canadian province of Ontario.

This mitten-shaped state consists of two peninsulas separated by the Straits of Mackinac and connected by the Mackinac Bridge.

Things to Do in Michigan With Kids

Head to Michigan to take part in these 14 things to do in Michigan with kids.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore offers miles of sandy beach to explore along the lake, and a dune climb in a gigantic sand pile called Sleeping Bear Dunes.

On the shoreline, visit the island lighthouse and the US Life-Saving Service station, where your children will learn the history of water rescue techniques.

Make your way to the Dune Climb, where you and your family can climb to the top for incredible scenic views before enjoying a fun-filled run back down.

Bring along shoes if you plan on venturing through the sandy paths overlooking the water.

Enjoy campsites nearby and hikes.

Mackinac Island

Take a ferry from St. Ignace or Mackinaw City across Lake Huron to a place that feels like you stepped back in time.

No cars are allowed on the island, only bicycles and horses.

Once you arrive, plan on taking a horse-drawn tour that stops at the Fort on the highest point.

Grab some Mackinac Island fudge before you head back to the mainland.

Bring your bikes, or rent some wheels for an 8-mile ride around the island.

Stop in for a look at the Grand Hotel, where they filmed the movie Somewhere in Time.

The opulent hotel features a 660-foot covered porch and has a swimming pool where Esther Williams swam.

Nelis’ Dutch Village

On the southeast side of the state, spend part of your day in Dutch Village.

Nelis’ Dutch Village offers a small village with a bit of an amusement park.

The Nelis family came from the Netherlands in 1910, bought some land, and eventually started selling tulip bulbs and souvenirs before Dutch Village was born.

Now families stroll through a self-guided tour of a replica of a Dutch Village.

Learn how to Klompen dance in wooden shoes.

Watch how tulips are grown and sample cheese.

Slide down a giant wooden shoe.

Interact with animals at the petting farm.

Jump on a mini zip line, or ride in a Dutch chair swing, a 1924 Hershell-Spillman carousel, or a self-propelled petal pumper train.

Henry Ford Museum

Head to the largest city in Michigan for a day trip to the Ford Museum.

Walk through the impressive inside museum of American Innovation.

Learn how Henry Ford developed the automobile assembly line.

Step up into the bus where Rosa Parks took a stand by sitting down.

Explore locomotives and automobiles and an old-time diner.

Hop on a tram to visit Greenfeld Village while you’re there, and take a ride in a Model-T.

Walk through villages set in the timeframe of inventors like Thomas Edison.

Visit the workshop where the Wright brothers learned about flight.

Walk through four working farms.

Saugatuck Dune Rides

Sit back, let your tour guide do the driving, and take a dune buggy ride tour.

Visit southwest Michigan for a ride through the dunes.

Enjoy fun, exciting entertainment on this 40-minute ride.

During the dune ride, you will learn about one of Michigan’s treasures and the lost town of Singapore, see wildlife, and enjoy sandy local vegetation.

Be prepared for the ride to get bumpy.

You may want to wear clothing that provides sun coverage.

Go online to get tickets and sign the waiver form for the entire family before arriving.

Explore the Upper Penninsula

Don’t forget the Upper Peninsula or UP, is also part of Michigan.

Visit this less commercialized area to kick back and enjoy nature.

There’s plenty to do up north with kids.

Visit one of the 40 lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Hike to see one of the more than 300 waterfalls with drops ranging from about 5 feet to more than 48 feet.

Hike through mountains, walk along the shoreline of Lake Superior, explore a shipwreck museum, or visit one of the many national or state parks located in the UP.

Mackinac Bridge

To get to the Upper Peninsula, take the kids across the large expansion suspension bridge that connects Upper and Lower Michigan.

The bridge was once the longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning 7400 feet.

There is a toll to cross the bridge.

To get a view and educational experience from under the bridge, catch one of the special, longer, early morning ferry rides to Mackinac Island that make stops under the bridge.

If you want an opportunity to walk the bridge, plan a Labor Day visit when the bridge opens for pedestrians.

Pictured Rock National Seashore

Visit Pictured Rocks National Seashore to see towering multicolored sandstone cliffs, beaches along the shoreline, spectacular waterfalls, and impressive dunes.

Hike, canoe, kayak, or watch birds with the family.

Pictured Rocks shoreline was the first of the nation’s four national lakeshores established in 1966.

Have a campout with the whole family in one of the 22 campgrounds.

Visit in the fall to take in all of the beautiful colors.

Wintertime offers opportunities to ice climb, ice fish, cross-country ski, or go snowshoeing.

In the summertime, enjoy a commercial boat tour.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Explore the state park’s 50,000 acres along the Tahquamenon River with several spectacular waterfalls.

The falls consist of the upper falls with a 50-foot drop and the lower falls.

The lower falls offer five lesser falls.

If you are traveling with small children or to avoid any risk of hiking in heights, don’t worry.

Observe several waterfalls and wildlife from the Ronald A. Olson Island Bridge.

Or, rent a rowboat to head to the small island where you will see five falls surrounding the island.

Also, visit the shipwreck museum near Tahquamenon Falls at the Whitefish Point Light Station.

Soo Locks

Since you’re close to Canada, why not explore the Soo Locks?

This wonder of engineering and human ingenuity is known as the Linchpin of the Great Lakes as they connect Lakes Superior and Huron.

Watch a variety of sized vessels come through the locks in Sault Ste.

Marie, Michigan. Enjoy several displays and interactive exhibits.

Explore the historic 1899 United States Weather Bureau Building that houses the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.

Frankenmuth

Known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, the town comes alive during the holidays.

Book a hotel room in the center of holiday cheer.

See dancing lights, a singing Christmas tree, a beautiful ice rink, and Bavarian architecture adorned with garland.

Take a Christmas trolly and enjoy the jolly festivities.

However, Christmas is not the only time your entire family will enjoy this town.

Everyone celebrates Christmas year-round in Frankenmuth.

Any time of year, visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland store, where you and your children will feel like you stepped into the North Pole.

Lighthouses in Michigan

Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state.

Plan a trip that encompasses a visit to all of the lighthouses in Michigan.

If you don’t have time to visit all 129 lighthouses on the Michigan shores, plan your route to include a visit to as many as you can fit into your trip.

Not all of them give tours.

Some charge a fee to tour.

Some even offer a bed and breakfast for you to stay.

Most have some form of museum.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Let your children get interactive and explore in a hands-on museum.

Inspire your child’s curiosity in the preschool gallery or exhibits for older children.

Allow your little one to discover the all-new STEAM park gallery, where science and technology combine with fun inspiration.

Learn about bones in the All About You gallery.

As part of your visit to finish your explorations, venture out to the Leslie Science and Nature Center for more learning fun.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Head over to Auburn Hills, northwest of Detroit for some hands-on building playtime fun for the whole family.

Step inside to an ultimate indoor playground of building toys.

Not only will your kids enjoy building with their favorite plastic toy bricks, but you’ll enjoy an entire experience LEGO-themed adventure.

Interact with your children together.

Enjoy two LEGO rides, a 4D cinema, and MINILAND featuring several Detroit-area landmarks built from well-known LEGO bricks.

Take part in the creative workshop where you learn from an expert builder.

Coloring Pages

Going to Michigan with the kids?

Get our Free Michigan Coloring Pages for Download (Printable PDF)

Michigan Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Michigan Safety Review

Safety Index:

80

• OVERALL RISK: LOW
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
• MUGGING RISK: LOW
• TERRORISM RISK: LOW
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW