Detroit, the largest U.S. city on the Canadian border, has a vivid cultural landscape that’s great for touring. If you’re looking for fun things to do over the weekend, here’s a list of the top 10 activities for the whole family.
- Detroit Kid City
- Sea Life Michigan Aquarium
- Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
- Detroit International RiverWalk
- Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center
- Detroit Zoo
- Outdoor Adventure Center
- Belle Island State Park
- Michigan Escape Room
- Michigan Science Center
With so many wonderful options to choose from, you won’t be short on entertainment for the weekend. The rest of this article will walk you through these entertainment options to pick the best one for your family.
Detroit Kid City
Built for some good old-fashioned family fun, Detroit Kid City is a great place to be a kid again. Featuring creative projects, interactive exhibits, and an indoor café, Detroit Kid City is a hidden gem of cultural references wrapped up in a kid-friendly environment.
Kids will love playing with the interactive exhibits while adults can appreciate the folksy feel and impressive interior design of the area. Detroit Kid City is also open to birthday parties, so it’s a great place for your child’s special day.
Sea Life Michigan Aquarium
Sea Life is a one-of-a-kind attraction featuring a variety of marine creatures and unique interactive experiences. The 180-degree underwater tunnel lets you come face to face with marine animals, and the aquarium boasts over 200 species in each unique exhibit.
An interactive touchpool adds a hands-on experience to the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium, making it an adventure for the whole family. Live feedings, guided tours, and lots of learning opportunities make the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium an iconic spot to visit.
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
With such a delightfully alliterative name, it’s no surprise that Marvin3m is an incredible journey through mechanical history. Over 5000 square feet of mechanical and coin-operated exhibits makes Marvin3m a truly unique and unforgettable experience.
With their Century of Arcade showcasing over 100 years of arcade history, it’s no wonder that Marvin3m has made appearances in a lot of major newspapers and is a truly bizarre and wonderful touring experience.
Detroit International RiverWalk
The Detroit International RiverWalk spans over three miles, from Rosa Parks BLvd. to the Belle Isle Bridge. Cafés lining the path offer different dining and relaxing experiences along the way, and as you walk along, you’ll see plentiful sights and nature areas.
There’s also splash fountains, splash parks, and carousel rides for kids to enjoy along the way, making the RiverWalk a must-see on your trip to Michigan. There’s no cost for the Riverwalk besides parking (depending on where you park), so it’s a budget-friendly option to enjoy the sights of Detroit.
Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center
Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center takes all of the best experiences of a water park with two waterslides, a 300-gallon dumping bucket, and a lazy river.
Turtle Cove Family Aquatic center also offers swimming lessons if you want to turn the water park into a learning experience as well. With prices of $10 for adults and $8 for kids, the Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center offers a fun way to make a splash.
Detroit Zoo
With penguins, anteaters, sea otters, and monkeys, Detroit Zoo has a massive range of animals to view. Invertebrates, birds, amphibians, reptiles—you name it! With lots of shops, commemorative photos, and dining options nearby, there’s plenty of ways to spend the day at the Detroit Zoo.
Outdoor Adventure Center
The Outdoor Adventure Center is built for anything and everything outdoors. Walk behind and touch a waterfall, shoot targets in archery, and get hands-on with a myriad of exhibits and simulators. Hop into a fishing boat and catch a big one, ride along a mountain trail on a bike, and step onto a real airplane.
With so many exciting adventures, the Outdoor Adventure Center offers a great change of pace for a weekend of fun.
Belle Isle Park
Featuring almost 1000 acres of untouched land, the Belle Isle Park is rich with history and natural beauty. With lots of attractions and memorials along the way, it’s a natural haven for outdoor activities.
The Jewel of Detroit, as it’s known, is truly a hidden gem of the area, and best of all, visiting is completely free. If you walk or bike there, you don’t even have to pay for parking.
Bring along a packed lunch and enjoy a picnic along the trail as you enjoy nature at the Belle Isle Park.
Michigan Escape Room
The Michigan Escape Room is a great bonding experience for families, especially if it’s your first escape room. Work together to solve puzzles, collect clues, and escape the room within 60 minutes.
Regain your memory after a failed government experiment, catch bigfoot, or escape the warehouse before your kidnapper returns. Whatever your style, there’s an adventure waiting for you at Michigan Escape Room.
Michigan Science Center
A science museum unlike any other, the Michigan Science center is all about establishing a creative and dynamic learning environment. Hands-on experiences make science come to life, and guided tours and live demonstrations make the experience unforgettable.
Marvel at the magnitude of the universe in the Space Gallery, spark your inspiration in the Spark!Lab, or make your way through the Fun Factory to explore the world of automation. If you or your family is interested in STEM-supporting institutions, then Michigan Science Center can bring out the scientist in you!
Conclusion
Detroit, Michigan is brimming with educational, fun activities for the whole family. Whether you want to see the mechanical marvels of the world, come face to face with nature, or bond together with an escape room experience, there’s an adventure waiting for you in Detroit.
Cultural experiences paired with plentiful dining options and budget-friendly activities make any weekend in Detroit an opportunity to get together with the whole family and enjoy a night out on the town.
See Also
Things to do in Detroit with Kids
