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Attractions for Kids
Overview
 Never thought about a family vacation in Detroit? Well think
again! Detroit has fantastic attractions for kids that both educate
and entertain. Below we've listed some
of the best attractions in the area.
You will find that the destinations are a bit spread out -- some in
the city, some in the suburbs. So we
recommend combining a visit to each of with them with another activity to
make it a full day. In the destination
descriptions below, we suggest additional activities to consider. Beware…
Your kids may not want to leave these awesome attractions!
Belle Isle: Nature Zoo, Conservatory, & Great Lakes Museum
Bridge off of Jefferson Avenue at East Grand Boulevard, Detroit
Full Tour Page
Belle Isle is
a 982-acre island and park in the Detroit River managed by the Detroit Department
of Parks and Recreation. The island
has been subjected to significant budget cuts recently, resulting in the
closing of America's oldest public aquarium (opened in
1904). Nevertheless, Belle Isle still
has many excellent attractions to offer, including the Belle Isle Nature Zoo
(operated by the Detroit Zoological Institute),
the Anna Scripps Whicomb Conservatory, and the Dossin
Great Lakes Museum to name a few.
Consider packing a lunch and enjoy great views of Detroit and Windsor
(Canada) while you relax on Belle Isle's half-mile beach (the
only beach in the City). Belle Isle
has something for kids of all ages!
Cranbrook Art Museum & Institute of Science
39221 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills
Website
Cranbrook is an internationally acclaimed
center of education, art, and science.
The campus is comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary
Art Museum, House & Gardens, natural history museum, Institute of Science, and Pre-K
through 12 independent college preparatory schools. The Art Museum houses the work of world-renowned architects
and sculptors and the Insitute of Science features eleven permanent
galleries, a state-of-the-art planetarium and observatory, and an outdoor
science garden with nature trails. The
institution was founded in 1904 by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen
Booth and was named a National Historic Monument in 1989. A perfect blend of culture, education, and
entertainment for the entire family!
Although there is more than enough to occupy an entire day, we
recommend a visit to Birmingham if you would like to combine Cranbrook with another activity (see the
Experience Detroit Specialty
& Boutique Shopping Tour page for more information).
Detroit Science Center
5020 John R, Detroit
Website
 In the early 1970s, Detroit banker and philanthropist Dexter Ferry believed Detroit's youth lacked the same learning opportunities available
in other major cities and led efforts to establish a major science center in
the City. Construction on the original
science center began in 1976 and a major renovation and expansion was
completed in 2001. Today's Detroit Science Center encompasses over 110,000 square feet and offers Michigan's only IMAX Dome Theatre, a state-of-the-art digital
planetarium, and multiple exhibit laboratories and learning
environments. Given its location in
the heart of Detroit's Cultural
Center, consider combining your visit to the Science Center with a trip to the nearby Detroit Institute of Arts,
Detroit Library, or Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (see
the Experience Detroit Museums page
for more information).
Detroit Zoo
8450 West Ten Mile Road, Royal Oak
Website
 With kids, a zoo is always a sure
bet. Add to it the outstanding attractions and exhibits the
Detroit Zoo has to offer, and your kids are sure to be completely
fascinated. See animals in
free-ranging natural habitats, amphibians from around the world, the
country's first zoo-based virtual reality simulator, and the world's largest polar
bear exhibit. In addition to educating
and entertaining families for generations, the Detroit Zoo has a history of
responsibility. The Zoo began this
philosophy many years ago as one of the first in the world with cageless
exhibits and most recently as the first U.S. zoo to give up its elephants on
ethical grounds due to the harsh Michigan winters. Despite its location in the suburb of Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo
is actually an agency of the City of Detroit and draws thousands of visitors
from the entire Southeastern Michigan region. Consider a
stop in Ferndale or Royal Oak before or after your visit to the
zoo (see the Experience Detroit Specialty
& Boutique Shopping Tour for more information).
Henry Ford Museum
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
Website
 The Henry Ford Museum, along with the other attractions on the campus of The
Henry Ford, provides an unparalleled chronicle of American life and of the
people and ideas that changed lives through innovation. The museum houses an array of exhibits
showcasing the results of American genius at work. In addition to one of the finest automotive
history collections in the country,
exhibits include the world's most accurate replica of the Wright
brothers' Flyer, the only remaining prototype of the Dymaxion house, and John
F. Kennedy's fateful Dallas limousine.
Time permitting, visit Greenfield Village, the Benson Ford Library, IMAX theater, and the
Automotive Hall of Fame (all are located adjacent to the museum). See the Experience Detroit Automotive Heritage Tours
page for more information. A must-see
for anyone visiting Detroit and a tremendous experience for all ages!
 Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills
Website
Your kids will grin
ear-to-ear when they walk through the doors of this incredible museum. Marvin's houses hundreds of vintage magic, neon, antiques, posters, airplanes, robots,
animation, and unusual coin operated games. The coin operated games are all
operational and range from the oldest gypsy fortune telling machine of the
early 1900's to the latest video games.
The place is so cool that even hip-hop star Eminem has dropped in for
some fun!
More Information
The list above is just the
tip of the iceberg when it comes to attractions for kids in metro Detroit. Click on the
links below for additional attractions, tours, and retail shops in the area.
Automotive Heritage Tours
Belle
Isle
Detroit Children's Museum
Doll Hospital
and Toy Soldier Shop
Jeepers
Museums
Olde World Canterbury Village
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