101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around the Ann Arbor-Detroit Area
Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Ann Arbor-Detroit. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Explore Gardens 
Get Wild on a Hike 
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Bird Hill Nature Area |
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Nichols Arboretum Trails |
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Rogue Park |
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Dequindre Cut |
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Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park |
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Paint Creek Trail |
Time Travel Today 
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Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Complex |
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Birmingham Historical Museum and Park |
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Mill Race Village |
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Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad |
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Historic Charlton Park |
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Troy Historic Village |
Make Life a Beach 
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Stony Creek Metropark |
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Lake St. Clair Metropark |
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Independence Lake Park |
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Belle Isle Park |
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Oval Beach |
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Saugatuck Dunes State Park |
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West Side County Park |
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Douglas Beach |
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Laketown Beach |
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Pier Cove Beach |
Splash into Some Water Fun 
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Rolling Hills Park |
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Romulus Athletic Center |
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Mack Indoor Pool |
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The Wayne County Family Aquatics Center |
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Red Oaks Waterpark |
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Zehnders Splash Village |
Spend the Day at a Museum 
Explore These Cities 
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Douglas, MI |
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Franklin Village,MI |
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Frankenmuth, MI |
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Grand Rapids, MI |
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Kalamazoo,MI |
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Toledo, OH |
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Flint, MI |
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Saginaw, MI |
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Cleveland, OH |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 
Grow Some Fun at the Farm 
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Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill |
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Robin Hills Farm |
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Bower's School Farm |
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Maybury Farm |
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Calder Dairy & Farm |
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Farmer Charley's Kackleberry Farm |
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Wellington Farm Park |
Play Ball! 
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Detroit Tigers |
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Detroit Red Wings |
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Detroit Lions |
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Come Play Detroit |
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N Zone Sports of Greater Detroit |
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Detroit City FC |
Whoop It Up At A Festival or Fair
Connect with Nature 
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Farmington Hills Nature Center |
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Lake St. Clair Nature Center |
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Leslie Science and Nature Center |
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Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve |
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Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park |
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Saugatuck Dune Rides |
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Dow Gardens |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks 
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Michigan's Adventure & Wildwater Adventure |
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Cedar Point |
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Red Oaks Water Park |
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C.J. Barrymore's |
Talk to the Animals 
Take A Spin on a Carousel 
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Detroit Zoo |
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Grand Rapids Public Museum |
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Silver Beach Carousel |
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Binder Park Zoo |
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Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Complex |
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Crossroads Village |
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Children's Zoo at Celebration Square |
Get Active Indoors 
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Planet Rock Climbing Gym |
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Novi Ice Arena |
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Top Flight Trampoline Park |
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Air Time Trampoline Park |
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Launch Trampoline Park |
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Whirlyball Novi |
Challenge Yourself 
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Frankenmuth Adventure Park |
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Argo Canoe and Kayak Livery |
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Detroit Institute of Art |
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Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra |
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Royal Oak Golf Center |
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Putterz Family Entertainment Center |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from Ann Arbor. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away