Having 3 kids means paying 3 admissions {or 5 if you count my husband and I} anywhere we go. Visiting every cool place surrounding us just isn’t financially possible for us, so I have to carefully think through which ones we can budget for. Therefore things that are FREE are always appealing!
With a reader demand for more options for kids {and adults} of all ages, I decided to break up this big list by age group. This is just a guideline, and of course teens can do toddler things and vice-versa 😉 This covers the Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing areas. Chime in with what I’m forgetting!
Have fun planning some fun this summer with this list of 60+ FREE things to do in Southeast Michigan.
TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS:
- Visit the Detroit Riverfront and play in the water fountains outside the RenCen or at Mt. Elliott Park.
- Visit a local train station and watch the trains go by. Pack a picnic to pass the time.
- Visit Calder Dairy & Farm in Carleton and watch the cows milked at 4 p.m. daily.
- Visit the farms at MSU in East Lansing to see farm animals.
- Check out a FREE family friendly music concert.
- Splash around and walk the nature trail at Heritage Park in Farmington Hills.
- Check your local library for summer programming {ours has some great events!}.
- Go to the 4H Children’s Gardens at MSU in East Lansing. Tons of free programming for little ones!
The MSU Children’s Gardens in East Lansing are perfect for toddler and preschooler exploration.
- Enjoy splashing around at the spray areas at Flodin Park or Heritage Park in Canton.
- Visit a local farmers market and check for free live music and kid crafts.
- Check out at Raptor Feeding at Leslie Science and Nature Center in Ann Arbor, free the second Saturday of the month from 3-4 p.m.
- Take a short hike and play on farm-themed structures at County Farm Park in Ann Arbor.
- Explore a new neighborhood playground.
- Check out the Belle Isle Nature Center + the many playgrounds around the island {free park entry with the Michigan Activity Pass or the Michigan Recreation Passport}.
- Check out a free story time/activities at Barnes & Noble.
- Walk through Wild Wonders Wildlife Park and explore the tree house at the Howell Nature Center {free with the Michigan Activity Pass}.
There are tons of beautiful places and animals to see at the Howell Nature Center.
- Burn some energy at the indoor structure and soccer field inside 2|42 in Brighton.
- Get wet post-shopping at the jet fountains at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township.
- Visit the Fountain at City Square in Warren for some free water fun.
- Play, have a picnic and visit farm animals at Hess-Hathaway Park in Waterford.
- Visit the cows at Cook’s Farm Dairy in Ortonville.
- Explore the grounds of the For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum in Flint.
- Check out the magical gardens at the Gaffield Children’s Garden in Ann Arbor.
- Keep an eye on the Flint Children’s Museum’s Facebook page for free days once/month.
ELEMENTARY AGE:
- Attend a kid’s building workshop at Home Depot {held once/month on Saturdays}.
- Visit the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit on the last Thursday of the month for free admission from 6-8 p.m.
- Look for cool rocks, fish, and climb in the creek at Mill Creek Park in Dexter.
- Go bowling! Kids 12 and under can bowl for FREE with the Kids Bowl Free program.
- Strap on some roller-skates with the Kids Skate Free program for ages 4 and up.
- Schedule a visit to the Morley Candy Factory for a free tour.
- Hunt for fairy doors in Ann Arbor or in Northville.
- Go to a Family Day at the Broad Art Museum in East Lansing on the first Saturday of the month.
- Hike around the Harris Nature Center in Okemos.
- Visit the Belle Isle Aquarium {free park entry with Michigan Activity Pass or the Michigan Recreation Passport}.
The beautiful tile inside the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit.
- Earn FREE books with this summer reading program at Barnes & Noble.
- Visit a local airport and watch airplanes take off or look for a local airshow that’s free.
- Visit Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills on the first Friday of the month after 5 p.m.
- Visit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit on the second Sunday of the month.
- Tour the Jiffy Mix Plant in Chelsea.
- Visit the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville {free adult and child with a Michigan Activity Pass}.
- Have a picnic at Milliken State Park in Detroit under the lighthouse.
- Check out the Old Streets of Detroit, Glancy trains and more at the amazing Detroit Historical Museum.
- Learn about life “back in the day” at the Meridian Historical Village in Okemos {open on Saturdays}.
- Take a hike and explore at the Fenner Nature Center in Lansing.
- Take a dinosaur tour at the Museum of Natural History at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on a weekend.
TWEENS & UP:
- Explore flora and fauna at Matthew Botanical Gardens and the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor.
- Check your local parks and rec department for free movie nights that begin at dusk.
- Many cider mills open back up in summer. Visit and walk the grounds without the crowd!
- Check out the Young Eagles program to fly a plane for FREE with a certified instructor.
- Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts for FREE if you are a resident of Macomb, Oakland or Wayne counties.
- Take the GM Renaissance Center tour in Detroit. Free tours are Monday-Friday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
- Check out the Heidelberg Project in Detroit for a unique art experience.
- Visit the Flint Institute of Arts on a Saturday for FREE admission.
- Walk or bike the Lansing River Trail.
The Lansing River Trail runs along the Grand River and is a beautiful place to spend some time walking or biking.
- Check out the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills {free admission for 4 with a Michigan Activity Pass; children 12 and under are always free}.
- Load up your bike and take a ride on the Dequindre Cut in Detroit.
- Walk through the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit {free park entry with Michigan Activity Pass or the Michigan Recreation Passport}.
- Check out a local park for disc golfing {you can play with regular frisbees if needed!}.
- Take a Detroit tour with the Detroit Experience Factory {many of the tours are free}.
- Visit 35 of the best Detroit street art pieces.
- Tour the state capitol in Lansing.
- Visit the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills {free for 2 people with the Michigan Activity Pass}.
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Check out the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit in Detroit.
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Go geocaching {basically a treasure hunt using GPS}.
- Walk the gardens at Michigan mansions Meadowbrook and Cranbrook.
The gardens surrounding Meadow Brook Hall are stunning and perfect to walk around on a beautiful day.
ANY AGE:
- Visit one of our beautiful state parks for FREE with the Michigan Activity Pass or a Michigan Recreation Passport.
- Go to one of the area’s MANY free festivals
- Take a day trip to one of Michigan’s beautiful beaches. Many have free entrance with a Michigan Activity Pass or the Michigan Recreation Passport
What are your favorite freebies around the region? I’d love to add to this list!
Pin this image for future reference:
Wow! This is pretty amazing! Will share this at our page !
Thanks so much, Ron! 🙂
Thanks for this awesome resource! Our summer is just about completely scheduled now! 🙂
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