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Michigan is a wonderful state! It’s a great place to live and visit. Being a kid living in Michigan is great because there are so many places to explore! All four seasons of the year can be experienced to the max which gives kids many different experiences that will last a lifetime. As a mother of 3 and having lived in Michigan my whole life, I will be providing you with many ideas of places to visit with kids. These things in Michigan are either well known or more off the beaten path. Start making plans to visit them yourself and make lasting memories with your family.

Fredrik Meijer Gardens | Grand Rapids

Fredrik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is a great place for the whole family! There are many things to see, do, and experience while there. The gift shop offers many unique gifts for kids and adults. There’s a café to sit and have lunch or bring a snack for your kids and just sit and enjoy the beautiful garden views. There are special events throughout the year like their Christmas tree display event which shows different trees decorated to reflect different places around the world. Another event, every spring, is located in the tropical room where they release several hundred butterflies. They are flying all around and sometimes land on your head or shoulder. It’ a wonderful experience! Kids of all ages really enjoy this event and learn many things about butterflies. You can then go through to the other garden rooms. The outdoor kids area is straight out from the main building which has lots to explore. They have special garden areas for them where they can learn a lot about plants and animals. Paths lead to different areas like a playground, huts, sculptures, and more. If you feel up for a nice walk, there is a boardwalk that follows a nearby lake or stroll through the Japanese Garden. Sit and enjoy the peacefulness, beauty, and nature. Continue further down the path to visit the farm and learn about farm animals and farming tools. Kids can use a real pump to pump water! Keep an eye out for other amazing sculptures like the American Horse which is 24 feet tall! Be sure to share your pictures and experiences with all your friends and family. It will be one to remember! Get updated information at their website: https://www.meijergardens.org/

Pickerel Lake, Rockford

Pickerel Lake is off the beaten path, but known to many locals. It’s a great lake to walk or run around because there is a nice path that goes around the lake. The boardwalk is very long and allows for several opportunities for fishing. No matter your fishing experience, you’ll have a great time and enjoy this beautiful lake. It’s great for kids to fish, because the boardwalk is above the lake so there is easy access and lots of room to improve their fishing technique. There is some wildlife including a few swans and other native birds and their nests. The walk along the lake is peaceful and relaxing. You could use a stroller that is more rugged and able to handle a dirt path. Bikes are not allowed. There are few benches along the way, so bring a snack and coffee and enjoy the view while you rest. You’ll definitely enjoy some time at Pickerel Lake and make lasting memories that will make you want to return again and again.

Grand Haven

Grand Haven and nearby Spring Lake has a lot to offer any visitor. First of all, highway 31 has lots of restaurants and stores to check out. This is the highway that takes you from north or south to Grand Haven. Fricano’s Pizza Tavern is just one of the many great places to make a dinner stop. If you follow Washington Ave, you’ll go right through downtown Grand Haven. There are many small shops and places to eat. Follow S Harbor Drive to visit Lake Michigan and the famous pier. Grand Haven State Park is there to explore and camp. Spending some time in the water or on the beach is a great idea. If you want to walk the pier and need to park a shorter distance, there is a small parking lot called the Grand Haven State Park Channel Parking Lot. Parking is along the road, if you can find a spot, otherwise you have to pay or have a park pass to park in the state park. Of course Grand Haven is great for those with a boat! Go out and enjoy the waves, views, and beautiful sunsets. The pier and the channel are perfect places for trying to get a bite. If you’re looking for a quieter place to fish and enjoy the pier and beach, there is another spot worth visiting which is on the other side of the channel and north of Grand Haven. The park is called The North Shore Fisherman’s Lot. My family and I have gone there many times when we want to avoid the crowds of people in Grand Haven during the summer months. The whole family will love a trip to Grand Haven so start planning your adventure!

Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo, New Era

There is so much to see and experience at this farm and zoo. Kids of all ages and their family are guaranteed a great time here. The map of the farm shows all the different experiences they have to offer. It made sense for us to start near the entrance where we parked, and work our way around the main path. We started our adventure with the pirate ship that kids can climb on. There are several climbing opportunities for kids throughout the farm which they will love! We then made our way to the corn maze. My 8-year-old and 3-year old had no problem running through it and making it back out! Next was an open farm building where there are games like skee ball, baseball throw, and bean bag toss. They also have a burlap slide which was pretty neat. On the weekends they have apple and pumpkin cannons where you shoot apples and pumpkins at things in their field. Let your kids go free and play on the spider web climb or in a sand pit. Pedal carts and jumping pillows are one of the best attractions. The animal section of the farm was very fun and so exciting to see the unique animals. They have 25 or more kinds of animals to see outdoors and indoors. The bird house has parakeets and you can feed the parakeets by holding a stick with their favorite food. Getting hungry? The farm offers food for lunch or dinner and offer a variety of treats from the gift shop. This was an amazing family outing and great for all ages. You won’t be disappointed!! Find out more details on their website at https://www.visitlewisfarms.com/

Long Lake Trail, Middleville

I have a great “Off-The-Beaten-Path” adventure for you. My family and I decided to go trail exploring at the Yankee Spring Recreation Area near Middleville, Michigan. We had been there before but in other parts of the park. I had read up on a trail called Long Lake Trail and searched on Google for maps and directions. Well, it was harder to find once we were in the area. The trail entrance is very small and hard to see the sign. The trails are somewhat marked and they have maps available at the entrance to the park. We drove up the dirt road to Graves Hill Overlook and then started with the red trail marked E. That brought us directly to Devil’s Soup Bowl. The trail follows the ridge line of the bowl and you can look way down into the bowl. Hard to see much down in there during the summer since there are lots of trees. The trails are rugged but easily walk-able. There are different trails to follow, so be sure you know which one you’re on and the direction your heading. One could get lost if you’re not paying attention. Most of the trails seem to lead you back to a road, so you’ll be able to figure out where you are or ask for help. There is also a mountain biking trail which would be fun to try. We had a great time as a family hiking there and we hope to go back again soon. The kids thought it was super fun to not know where we were going! It was fun for them to be exploring. I highly recommend you make a point to stop there and have your own adventure.

These 4 places to go with kids are just a few of the many places to visit in Michigan. My goal is to provide you with the most information I can. I hope you will visit this blog, or follow my posts, often to see what’s new to plan your next adventure!

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