Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Ann Arbor - Detroit Metro Area

The Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area's most popular places to take kids in 2026

Each summer, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. This is 2026's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Ann Arbor & Detroit Metro Area. (Click here for the full list of nominees.)

Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! After you check out the list, make sure to find great things to do on our packed daily calendar, sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter, and visit our Everything That's Free page for lots more ideas. We have birthday party venues, indoor play centers, classes, summer camps, resources for special needs, seasonal lists, and lots more! Click here for the original list of nominees.

2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids

Ann Arbor / Detroit

 

Top 20 Ranking

Category Winners

1. Maybury Farm (Northville Community Foundation) 2. University of Michigan Museum of Natural History 3. "My local library" 4. Detroit Zoo 5. Detroit Institute Of Arts 6. Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum 7. The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium 8. The Henry Ford - America's Greatest History Attraction 9. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum 10. Michigan Science Center 11. Parmenter's Northville Cider Mill 12. Cranbrook Institute of Science 13. Detroit Tigers 14. Spicer Orchards 15. Broadway in Detroit - The Fisher Theatre 16. Bronner's Christmas Wonderland 17. Leslie Science and Nature Center 18. Penn Theatre 19. Zap Zone 20. Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill (Blake Farms)

Arts Educator: Professional Youth Theater of Michigan LLC Sports Educator: Champion Gymnastics Ann Arbor STEM Educator: The Future Inventors Academy

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