101 Family Day Trips for the Ann Arbor-Detroit Area
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 Nashville. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Get Wild on a Hike 
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Bird Hill Nature Area |
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Nichols Arboretum Trails |
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Planet Walk at Impression 5 |
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Time Travel Today 
Make Life a Beach 
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Stony Creek Metropark |
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Lake St. Clair Metropark |
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Saugatuck-Douglas Area Beaches |
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Independence Lake Park |
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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Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Waterpark |
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Zehnders Splash Village |
Spend the Day at a Museum 
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Michigan Science Center |
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Impression 5 Science Center |
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Air Zoo |
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Kalamazoo Valley Museum |
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Flint Children's Museum |
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American Museum of Magic |
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Motown Museum |
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Flint Intstitute of Arts |
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 |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 
Grow Some Fun at the Farm 
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Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill |
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Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill |
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Robin Hills Farm |
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Farmer Charley's Kackleberry Farm |
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Klackle Orchards and Family Fun |
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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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Royal Oak Golf Center |
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Putterz |
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Advantage Sports |
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 Adventure |
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Cedar Point |
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Red Oaks Water Park |
Talk to the Animals 
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Detroit Zoo |
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Toledo Zoo and Aquarium |
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Potter Park Zoo |
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Petting Farm at Domino's Farm |
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Maybury Riding Stable |
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Moo-ville |
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The Creature Convervancy |
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Sasha Farm |
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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AirTime Trampoline and Game Center |
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C.J. Barrymore's |
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Chelsea Tree House |
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Whirlyball Novi |
Challenge Yourself 
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Sky Ropes Farmington |
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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 |
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