Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Ann Arbor - Detroit Metro Area
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. This is 2024'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.
2024's Top 20 ranking + category winners! Scroll down for more about each venue, with links!
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1. Maybury Farm
Maybury Farm's mission is to educate children and families in our surrounding communities about the animals and agriculture that are essential to a traditional Michigan-based working farm, through hands-on experiences that are both engaging and educational. We work to create an awareness and appreciation of the animals and land that provide much of the food, fiber, and other resources that are utilized and consumed and expand knowledge and awareness of agriculture and its vast and vital role in our world.
2. Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals and has 125 acres of expansive, naturalistic habitats designed to meet the animals’ needs. While at the Zoo, children can see penguins waddle through the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, visit polar bears and sea otters swimming through the Arctic Ring of Life, and get face-to-face with wallabies and kangaroos along the Australian Outback Adventure’s winding walking path. Before they leave, guests can complete their trip with a ride on the hand-carved wooden carousel or see a show in the Zoo’s 4D Theater.
3. The Henry Ford - America's Greatest History Attraction
Five distinct attractions at The Henry Ford captivate and inspire more than 1.5 million visitors annually: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford Giant Screen Experience.
4. Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium
Sloan Museum of Discovery in the Flint Cultural Center is a 107,000 square foot hands on science and history museum. It opened to the public in July 2022 with four interactive galleries: Discovery Hall science gallery, Hagerman Street Early Childhood Learning gallery, the History Gallery featuring the history of Genesee County, and The Durant historical vehicle gallery. A fifth gallery, the FUN Gallery, opened in July 2023 featuring the REAL BODIES traveling exhibit. The Longway Planetarium has full-dome and live astronomy shows Tuesday-Sunday.
5. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Offering more than 250 interactive exhibits, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum attracts over 280,000 visitors of all ages annually who discover the wonder of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. In addition to exhibits and public programming, the Museum offers award-winning distance learning and outreach programming to schools, libraries, and community centers statewide and around the world.
6. Michigan Science Center
This Michigan Science Center is Detroit's go-to destination for science and fun. Explore over 220 interactive exhibits, experience live stage shows, transport yourself to other worlds in our full-dome Planetarium, IMAX Dome Theatre, or the Toyota Engineering 4-D Theater, and visit our rotating special exhibit hall. Mi-Sci is one of the top 3 science museums in the country, and we love putting YOU at the Center of Science.
7. University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History inspires curiosity through hands-on learning and keeps visitors informed about ongoing scientific research. Engage with exhibits that explore the natural world, from molecules to dinosaurs, or discover the distant universe in the Planetarium & Dome Theater. Then conduct your own experiments in the two child-friendly Investigate Labs. The museum is free for families and individuals. Enjoy our virtual Museum@Home content and virtual exhibits content at ummnh.org.
8. Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad
Crossroads Village is an authentic Great Lakes town from the turn of the last century, with over 34 historic structures and a thriving community to welcome you. Ride the Huckleberry Railroad, catch a show at the Colwell Opera House or learn about a trade from one of our tradespeople. The Huckleberry Railroad features the newly rebuilt diesel, Engine #12, pulling the train on Thursdays and Fridays. The narrow-gauge railroad’s collection of cars includes 11 original and replica wooden coaches plus a classic red wooden caboose.
9. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Ann Arbor area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of the best places to take kids this year!
10. Motor City Youth Theatre
At Motor City Youth Theatre our goal is to enrich the lives of youth and facilitate their development of life skills such as problem solving, decision-making and team work through theatre arts. Our inclusive programs emphasize team work, respect for differences, and a love for theatre.
12. Three Cedars Farm
Three Cedars Farm in Northville features Hayrides, U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, 7 Acre Corn Maze, Fresh Cider, Hot Donuts, Caramel Apples, Play Area, Petting Farm, and a General Store with old fashioned candy and seasonal items. Reserve a tent or barn for your party, or even a bonfire site. Parking is FREE. No pets please. Open at Christmas as well.
13. The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium
The Toledo Zoo© is more than just a great value. With a world of animals, from mammoth elephants to tiny toads, it's a trip around the world - from the Arctic to Africa - all in one great day!
14. Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill
Home to an 800-acre farm, Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill offers fun for everyone in every season. As the first u-pick orchard in Michigan, we pride ourselves on offering the freshest produce. Our farm lets you handpick a variety of fruits and vegetables like strawberries, pumpkins, and of course apples! In the summer, bring the kids to our Barnyard Funland, featuring a tricycle track and petting farm. For adults, our Sunflower and Lavender Festivals are spectacular events hosted in our orchard. In the fall, our Cider Mill is known for its hot cider and delicious cinnamon sugar donuts.
15. LEGOLAND Discovery Center
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Michigan is the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground where families with children aged 3 to 10 can enjoy a world of creativity, color and building fun! See Detroit-area landmarks made from millions of LEGO bricks in MINILAND® and enjoy 2 LEGO themed rides: Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice. Watch your favorite LEGO characters come to life in the 4D Cinema, get hands-on with the thousands of LEGO bricks in the build and play areas, then take a class from an expert builder in the Creative Workshop! Please note that adults must be accompanied by a child in order to enter.
16. Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the American League Central division.
17. Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland
Celebrate the joy of CHRISTmas 361 days a year at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the World’s Largest Christmas Store, located just 86 miles northwest of Detroit in Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Guests of all ages enjoy Bronner’s fantasyland featuring shimmering lights, sparkling ornaments and whimsical figures – a worldwide selection of over 50,000 trims and gifts!
Approximately 100,000 twinkling lights illuminate Bronner’s half-mile long Christmas Lane every evening. Admission is free to both the store and Bronner’s Silent Night Memorial Chapel, a replica of the original in Austria on the site where “Silent Night” was first sung in 1818. Light refreshments are available in-store at Season’s Eatings snack area.
18. Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is 720 combined acres of gardens, trails, woods, and prairie. The Gardens are located at 1800 N. Dixboro Road. The Arboretum is located at 1610 Washington Heights. MBGNA is owned by the University of Michigan. Its mission is to promote environmental enjoyment, stewardship, and sustainability through education, research, and interaction with the natural world. Free admission to Matthaei and Nichols. Both properties open daily.
19. Detroit Institute of Arts
An art museum in Detroit with free admission to residents who live in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. The museum houses a collection of over 60,000 works of art and offers a number of programs for families including classes and Family Sundays.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Little Bands Music School
In the Little Bands School, we know that the euphoric feeling of playing music together is exciting, fun and healthy. From the very first day all the way through advanced levels, this is what we are all about. The more you understand music, the more fun it is to play. All our students learn to sing and to play 4 instruments - piano, guitar, bass, and drums. They understand everything that goes into the music they are playing, and learn to interact with each other and to compose.
Top Sports Educator: Goldfish Swim School - Ann Arbor
Goldfish Swim School – Ann Arbor is a state-of-the art swimming facility dedicated to teaching children as early as 4 months how to swim. Goldfish is much more than a swim school: It prides itself on offering each parent and child a Golden Experience. In a class size of no more than 4 children to 1 swim instructor, children master the skills they need to be safe and confident in the water. Beginning as early as 4 months, children progress through a series of perpetual swimming lessons, graduating to higher levels of difficulty as swimming skills are mastered. Goldfish also offers special events like birthday parties, family swim, accelerated Jump Start Clinics and our Recreational Swim Team, catered to swimmers who have completed the Goldfish Pro Level.
Top STEM Educator: Michigan Science Center
This Michigan Science Center is Detroit's go-to destination for science and fun. Explore over 220 interactive exhibits, experience live stage shows, transport yourself to other worlds in our full-dome Planetarium, IMAX Dome Theatre, or the Toyota Engineering 4-D Theater, and visit our rotating special exhibit hall. Mi-Sci is one of the top 3 science museums in the country, and we love putting YOU at the Center of Science.
