Things to do in Ann Arbor with your kids

There are so many wonder things to do in Ann Arbor. It is such a wonderful and unique place to take the family for an amazing adventure! There are lots of activities for families or even a parents night out on the town. There are hidden gems all over the city waiting for you to jump in and have fun!

I’ve literally seen everything in the surrounding areas where I live with my kids. We always travel to the next larger cities to see what type of fun activities we can do with the kids. 

The first up on  my list when we go to visit Ann Arbor is the Hands on Museum!

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

The Hands on museum offers interactive learning for children of all ages to discover the wonder of technology, science, art, play and so much more! The museum offers a private area for smaller tots and a larger and more educational options for older children. It is great for the entire family to go out and spend the day there! Even the adults have a blast too! It’s okay parents, jump in on the fun!!

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

Come hang out in 22,000 square feet of Anthropology, Geology, Evolution and wildlife displays. Great for the entire family, the museum also has a planetarium and a butterfly garden to visit! This is another great option for the entire family to find something they would like to explore! The planetarium has always been one of my all time favorites as a child, I bet your kids will love it!! 

Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum

This is an amazing area that is operated by the University of Michigan. It features botanical display gardens, natural hiking trails and numerous research habitats. They also house the largest university operated display greenhouse in the United States designed by architect Alden Dow. Take a visit in the warmer months to this beautiful area where it is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset! 

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Leslie Science & Nature Center

This natural space boasts nature trails, birds and raptor enclosures, a critter house and more! The family of Dr. Eugene and Emily Leslie donated their home and wanted it to be used to help educate children! Take a day to hit the trails and explore nature with the family. They do ask for $3 donations to help provide for their amazing center! This is a must see!

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Zingermans Roadhouse

After a long day of exploring Ann Arbor, what better way to end the day with a bite to eat at the famous Zingermans Roadhouse! They are popular for serving huge portions of your all time favorite American food! They use local ingredients all from Washtenaw County and fresh produce from nearby farms to craft their crowd favorites! 

The Petting Farm

The Petting Farm is located on 3001 Earhart Road and features typical animals like cats, ducks, goats, chickens, rabbits, sheep, llamas etc. This is a fun and educational experience where kids can learn and interact first hand with the animals around them! Who doesn’t love a petting farm!? 

The Creature Conservancy

Are you noticing a theme here? There is no reason why you cannot get outdoors with your family and find a safe way to get out all that energy even with COVID still very present! The creature conservancy is an animal rescue dedicated to education and involving the community to learn about a wide array of animals! Check out some of their outreach programs if you live nearby or plan a day visit to see what type of exotic animals they house there! 

The Huron River Water Trail

This trail covers 104 miles and over 2 million people visit it yearly! The water trail offers paddling zones ranging from calm waters to rapids. You can launch in the river at different points including the Argo Nature Area and Livery or the Gallup Park and Livery. You can even get your river rentals right at Gallup park. 

Gallup Park

This is one of Ann Arbor’s most popular park areas. This park is 69 acres and is located along the Huron River and Geddes Pond. This park has two amazing playgrounds, walkways, picnic areas, and grills all throughout the park! Take a bike ride on the 3 miles of asphalt trails or kick a ball around in their open field! Even bring your canoe to hop ion the Huron River Water Trail! Don’t have one? Don’t worry! You can rent them right at the park!! You’re guaranteed to have hours of outdoor fun that’s safe and free!! 

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There you have it!

There is so much more to do in the Ann Arbor area that you may have not of known about. These activities will surely get you out of your house and off your couch and becoming one with nature, all while exposing your children to the world around them and educating them on some truly amazing things! Get outside and play!! 

You can also check out a blog by Redfin where I was featured for things to do in Ann Arbor.

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