Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2023 ends up being a fantastic year… Hopefully with a few more adventures than 2022 😉
January is one of our favorite months for snowy fun, movie nights in, and checking out local museums. Always make sure the events are ON, as lots can change with weather this time of year.
Have fun planning some family adventures!
31 Things To Do In January 2023 in Southeast Michigan
January 1
Set your family goals for the year! Maybe it’s a new chore chart, or a reading or hiking goal.
{In fact, today is First Day Hikes across America. Perfect day to get out and explore a new trail. And if you need clothing, check out Salvation Army thrift stores in SE Michigan for 50% off clothes!}
January 2
Head to Kensington Metropark to feed the birds. It’s so beautiful in winter. Or, make some homemade bird feeders using an empty toilet paper roll, peanut butter, bird seed and string.
January 3
Going stir crazy? Head to 2|42 in Brighton or Ann Arbor to let kids run around and burn energy. {Check their Facebook page before going for hours.}
January 4
Decorate a door in your house to look like a snowman.
January 5
Create a jar full of dinnertime table discussions to promote family togetherness. These ideas can get you started.
January 6
Gas prices are finally down…Bundle up and head out to geocache as a family. It’s easy to start and FREE to do! Learn how here.
January 7
Enjoy a FREE day at the Flint Institute of Art every Saturday, thanks to Huntington. {January 7, 14, 21, 28}
Visit the Broad Museum in Lansing for FREE family fun.
Head to Home Depot for a FREE kids’ workshop.
January 8
Visit Belle Isle to check out the nature center, playgrounds and the amazing Dossin Great Lakes Museum — all free to visit with a recreation passport.
January 9
Believe it or not, now is the time to think of summer vacations! Make sure to plan where you’d like to stay or camp in Michigan now, or else you’ll be left with little to choose from. {I love this list of campgrounds from GRKids.}
January 10
Celebrate the season and decorate with paper snowflakes! {These ones from 5-Minute Crafts are amazing.}
January 11
Enjoy a movie night together. Here are some ideas to get you started — or create your own movie bucket list for the year as a family.
January 12
Have you visited the revamped Sloan Museum of Discovery in Flint yet? If not, I highly recommend checking out this amazing spot!
January 13
Today is Rubber Ducky Day! Take an extravagant “fun” bath. My kids love face masks, bath bombs, glow toys and glow sticks. It’s the perfect thing to do on a long winter day.
January 14
Visit Grosse Pointe Farms for Winterfest at Pier Park from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. for a petting farm, ice carving demonstrations, ice skating, food trucks, putt putt golf and more. FREE.
January 15
Head to Michaels stores for a MakeBreak to make a decoupage mason jar for FREE from 2-4 p.m. Learn more and see if your store is participating here.
January 16
Happy MLK Day! Find a volunteer opportunity near you, try these inexpensive random acts of kindness, or hit up the library. There are so many amazing books and events highlighting Dr. King’s work and it’s important history for all children to understand why we celebrate this day.
January 17
Head to downtown Rochester to check out the Snowman Stroll featuring artistic snowmen around town. A fun, FREE treasure hunt!
January 18
Make snow ice cream. All you need is snow, milk, sugar and vanilla. It’s actually pretty tasty, and the kids will have fun helping. This is the recipe we follow.
January 19
Head to Ann Arbor to visit an amazing museum…For FREE! We love the Kelsey Museum of Archeology, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural History. All three are absolutely amazing!
January 20-22
Visit Robert C. Valade Park in Detroit throughout the weekend to enjoy Winter Around the World, featuring an international food truck rally and dance performances showcasing a variety of styles and genres by Detroit artists. FREE.
January 21
If you have a little one, head to Detroit for Sesame Street Live at The Fox Theatre! Tickets prices start at $20. These shows are always super cute and a fun excuse to visit The Fox. Show runs 1/20-1/29.
Additionally, The Wharton is showing the Ugly Duckling on this day. Tickets are just $15.
January 22
Go ice skating at a local rink. Riley Park Ice Rink in Farmington has FREE rentals and it’s free to visit too!
January 23
If there is enough snow near you, head to Huron Meadows Metropark for some cross-country skiing.
January 24
Check out your local community pool for open swim hours. This is such a great way to pretend like it’s summer again 😉
January 25
Take a mini road trip to Frankenmuth to check out the ice sculptures at Zehnder’s Snowfest.
January 26
On this day in 1837, Michigan became an official state. Our family loves to celebrate with birthday cake! If you’d like to learn more about our state’s history, we love the Michigan History Center in Lansing, which is FREE every Sunday. Find other cool spots to learn about Michigan’s history at this post.
January 27
No babysitter? No problem! Plan a special date night IN with one of these ideas.
January 28
Visit WKAR-TV in Lansing for PBS Kids Day! Bring your family to the WKAR studios to celebrate with fun activities and games for kids. Meet a PBS KIDS character or two, explore science with Dr. Rob and the Curious Crew, and get Curious about Careers. No registration is required. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. FREE.
January 29
Visit the Howell Nature Center for a Family Snowshoe Treasure Hunt! Like geocaching, families will search for hidden treasure guided by GPS devices, while traversing HNC’s beautiful grounds by snowshoe. Weather dependent. Event continues as a hike if less than 4” of snow. $10/members; $12/non-members.
January 30
If the weather outside is frightful, create an obstacle course in your house for a little exercise. Or, try a card game for exercise for both you and the kids!
January 31
Plan a local adventure of snow tubing at Bowers Farm School in Bloomfield Hills or at Hawk Island Park in Lansing.
What events are you looking forward to this month?
Looking for some extra fun? Make sure to check out this list of snow-friendly fun!
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