If you’ve got kids and are or will be in the Metro Detroit area, this post is for you. One of my favorite things to do is explore all that Metro Detroit has to offer with my son. Because of that, we’ve been able to check out some pretty great spots around Metro Detroit that kids absolutely love. If you live in the Metro Detroit area, we’ve learned that having an annual pass is well worth it for each of these places. Listed below, you’ll find our favorite things to do together around Metro Detroit. You’ll also find some tips and tricks to make your day go as smooth as possible. Bonus: Most of these can be done any time of the year.
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER…
1: The Detroit Zoo
We absolutely love the Detroit Zoo. For the past 2 years, my sister-in-laws have purchased our kids an annual pass for their birthdays. They use that pass more than any toy they’ve ever had. When the weather is nice, we are here several days a week. Even if the weather is a little hot or a little on the chilly side, there are a lot of indoor exhibits to duck into for a break.
One of my favorite things about going to the zoo is that it’s great for a wide range of ages. Most of the time, it’s just my toddler and I but when we have my step kids or nephew with us the ages range from three to 11 and everyone has a great time. You can get an annual pass to the Detroit Zoo here.
*Zoo tip-I prefer to take our own food in. I pack some chicken nuggets inside of a thermos, along with some fruit and water and we’re good to go. There is food there and honestly the best pretzels (just past the river otters, before the camels) I’ve ever had. The problem is that it’s a big zoo so to hope to be near food when my son is hungry is usually not ideal. Also, certain places are only open certain days. If you’re there on a day when there are limited food options, the wait could be significant. This way, we can eat on the go and grab snacks as we come across them. Seriously, get the pretzels.
2: Peppa Pig World of Play
This one and the next two are all inside Great Lakes Crossing. For the past new years we’ve asked family members to give annual passes to these locations instead of physical gifts so on rainy, hot, or snowy days…we spend hours going back and forth between them.
Peppa Pig is my favorite for letting my little guy run around and get a lot of energy out. There are slides, a playscape, tricycles, muddy puddles, Peppas house, a school bus and more. I will say that this is more geared towards a younger crowd. We started going when my son was two. He loved it but there were some things that he couldn’t navigate by himself yet. Now that he’s three, he’s a pro and I can definitely see him still enjoying it at 4 but after that…I’m not so sure. They also sell some food there but it’s pretty limited. If I can get him to stop playing long enough, my son usually enjoys the dinosaur chicken nuggets.
One of the best parts about Peppa Pig World of Play is that I don’t need a separate ticket for myself. We have he annual pass in his name and it covers him and an adult. Other places require a ticket for each person ages three and up. You can get your Peppa tickets here.
3: Sea Life Aquarium
We love the aquarium but you can move through it pretty quickly. If you think you’ll go more than two times in a year, get the annual pass. For the record, I don’t get any compensation from any of these places and in no way benefit from the sale of tickets. Just a mom trying to help other parents out. Here you’ll see sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, tons of fish, and there’s a touch pool where you can touch starfish and sea anemones. Find tickets for Sea Life Aquarium here.
4: Legoland Discovery Center
My son really started to get into Legoland just after he turned two and his love for this place has continued to grow. There is a small area for toddlers but Legoland, in my opinion, is better suited for kids three or four and up. There’s a large playscape but for really little ones, it can be hard to navigate unless mom or dad wants to crawl through there with them.
There is a 4D movie, an area to build cars, a lego friends area, and two rides. One ride goes up into the air and you bike pedal around in a circle. The other ride, Kingdom Quest, is one where you sit in a cart on a track and are given “blasters” to blast skeletons, trolls, bats and spiders in order to save the princess. It’s a little spooky but my three year old loves it. Find Legoland Discovery tickets here.
5: Ann Arbor Hands on Museum
This is our first year having this annual pass but so far it’s a winner. There is so much to do here for a variety of ages. There is even a room just for toddlers so they won’t get trampled on by bigger kids. This is the kind of place where I like to go right away in the morning, spend a few hours and then get lunch in downtown Ann Arbor OR pack some food in a thermos for my little guy to snack on there. Either way, give yourself plenty of time to be there because there is a lot to see and do.
My least favorite thing about the Hands on Museum is the parking. If you go on a nice day, no big deal. But if you go when it’s cold or raining, you might be walking in some less than desirable conditions for a minute. Find tickets to the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum here.
Whether you’re a local looking to get out and explore Metro Detroit with your kids or just visiting for a bit, I hope you find something you and your family will enjoy.
