When rainy days ruin your outdoor plans, let the kids bounce off the walls…just not yours. Let them paint and make crafts…just not at your house. Here are some of our favorite indoor activities to do with kids in Metro Detroit!
BONUS: For a limited time enjoy 20% off admission at these LittleGuide Detroit favorites when you use these links:
LEGOLAND Discovery Center (Auburn Hills)
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground. Your visit begins with an interactive look at how LEGOs are made and a chance to design your own. Afterwards you can hop aboard a chariot to rescue the princess on the Kingdom Quest ride and later take to the sky on Merlin’s Apprentice Ride. Kids of all ages and interests will have their choice of where to play: The Barnyard Themed Duplo Toddler Area, LEGO Friends Heart Lake City, Build & Test Racing Area, Under The Sea Adventures, and Creative Workshop.
You don’t want to skip the 4D Cinema LEGO short showing or ‘recess’ at the LEGO World playscape. Both will keep your kids happy and entertained while you sit back and relax.
SEA LIFE Aquarium (Auburn Hills)
SEA LIFE Michigan is Michigan’s largest aquarium and will leave your littles in awe as they spot over 250 species including sharks, rays, seahorses and more in 12 interactive exhibits. Experience hands-on learning at the interactive touch pool and see where you will find the aquatic sea life in bodies of water around the world. The underwater ocean tunnel will mesmerize and remind kids of the popular Pixar films Finding Nemo/Dory.
The Henry Ford (Dearborn)
Travel through time and see American innovation from the revolution to the industrial era and beyond. Perfect for history buffs, car lovers and kids of all ages The Henry Ford also features a Giant Screen Experience and special traveling exhibits.
DNR Outdoor Adventure Center (Detroit)
Experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators – walk behind and touch a waterfall, step into a fishing boat and reel in a big fish, hit the trail on a mountain bike or snowmobile, and much more at the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. At the OAC, you’ll learn about how the DNR manages state parks, forests, wildlife and fish as you climb the roots and explore the canopy of a massive the oak tree, hop aboard a real airplane, and see what’s swimming in the aquarium and identify the fish.
Cranbrook Institute of Science (Bloomfield Hills)
Discover the wonder of the natural world and develop a better understanding of the ways in which science impacts our lives each day at Cranbrook Institute of Science. The museum features 16 permanent exhibits and it’s the perfect place to take your dinosaur lovers. Outside of the building you can find multiple life-size dinosaur statues – most notably Steggy the Stegosaurus – and inside you can find a full-sized Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton cast!
Libraries (multiple locations)
You can’t beat a good library – FREE fun for families that’s educational and inspires the imagination. Metro Detroit has lots of wonderful libraries to visit but here are a few top picks to put on your list.
Kids Empire (multiple locations)
Kid’s Empire is like stepping into a kid’s wonderland. The HUGE play structure is vibrant, safe, and begging to be explored. From multi-person bumpy slides, a rolling slide you can ride a sled on, to the steepest slide we’ve ever seen for your speed chasers! Other amenities including a soccer field, a bumper bike racecourse, a disco dance party room, and GIANT Legos to build forts with!
Sloan Museum of Discovery (Flint)
The Sloan Museum of Discovery has something for everyone – a car museum, historical museum, makerspace, a children’s town for younger kids that includes a massive tree house, plus hands-on S.T.E.A.M exhibit area with slides, a massive water table and more.
Michigan Science Center (Detroit)
The Michigan Science Center in Midtown Detroit features over 220+ interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and special themed activities.
Troy Gym (Troy)
Troy Gym is a great place for kids of all ages. Kids ages 2 to 7 will love the Munchkin Ropes Course that includes climbing obstacles, zip lines and more. The high ropes course is 42,000 square feet and has over 40 elements including rappelling station, rock walls and more for kids 8 years and older. With 4 buildings each with their own unique features and amenities your littles are going to love it.
Peppa Pig World of Play (Auburn Hills)
Peppa, George and all her friends have a home in Michigan and the indoor attraction is the perfect place to spend a day. Get ready to have some fun, Peppa Pig World of Play features 14 playscapes that allow kids to step into the show and play like their favorite characters. A few of our favorite areas are:
Ann Arbor Hands on Museum (Ann Arbor)
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum has over 250+ interactive activities for kids. Kids can experiment with simple machines, water, lights and optics. You learn by playing, kids can use their imagination exploring miniaturized worlds of medicine, commerce and community – your littles will love the child-sized fire engine.
Urban Air (Multiple locations)
If your kids are always testing the limits and looking for adventure, head to the new Urban Air. The indoor amusement center offers action packed activities including ropes course, trampolines, warrior courses, drop zones and more!
Jummps Adventure Park
Jummps Adventure Park has a 10,00 sq ft inflatable bounce house where kids can run, climb, slide and more! Lighting rotates every hour for ‘lit ‘daytime’ and glow-in-the-dark experiences. Little kids can also enjoy their own dedicated bounce house space with tunnels, slides and climbers. Weekday bounce rates are only $15 per jumper.
T&B Play
T & B Play is the most creative space that features ball and bead pits, giant slides, tube slide, trampolines, glow in the dark tunnels and more! The structure is spacious enough for adults to fit through with relative comfort – always a bonus! The children’s tiny town area has a play store AND a dress-up shop with clothes to wear. If you want to play games they have basketball and an interactive screen game in the ballpit that kids and parents will enjoy.
Yoyo’s Fun Center (Clinton Township)
Yoyo’s Fun Center has it ALL! Massive ball pits, multiple slides of all kinds (including drop slides!), a ninja course, trampolines, LED hallways, cool tube features and many unique play features for kids of all ages. Big kids can run around freely in the main play area, while young kids can play in the dedicated section that has nearly identical play features.
Kidcadia Play Café (Dearborn)
Kidcadia is the perfect indoor oasis for kids and parents. The beautifully design 10,000 sq ft venue is welcoming to all. With a dedicated toddler space, the littlest ones can join in the fun while older kids can climb up the treehouse and in to the massive playset. Kids and adults can get creative in the coloring quarters. Slide down one of the many slides or jump on their trampoline!
Dinoland (Madison Heights)
The new Dinoland location features a 5000 sq ft playscape with multiple levels to climb through, a ninja course, zip-lines, wave slides, and a dedicated toddler play area. The dinosaur themed play cafe has pre-historic figures featured in multiple ways, including features to ride on and animatronic ones to watch!
Stemville (Detroit & Northville)
Stemville is a colorful, engaging play place for kids and serene, relaxing space for parents. Getting out of the house with kids is stressful; therefore the calming instrumental version of popular hits and a coffee bar is a reward onto itself. Lego blocks, robots, magnet tiles and more, there are plenty of activities to keep toddlers and bigger kids busy – including a monthly STEM Patch activity. New locations in Howell and downtown Detroit are coming soon.
Bounce it Up (Livonia)
Bounce It Up Livonia has it all – a massive indoor play structure and a half dozen inflatables that will keep your kids entertained for hours! The fun center features a Ginormous Tri-Level Playground with slides, trampolines and obstacle courses AND multiple inflatable play structures to jump on and race through.
242 Community Church (Ann Arbor)
242 Church in Ann Arbor has an amazing open to the public playscape, cafe, and open turf area! The climbing area has three slides for different levels of climbers. Test their strength and see if they can make it to the top! There is also a toddler area with two slides, a tunnel, and a hill. All covered in soft turf perfect for crawlers. In the center, is a sunk in area perfect for babies. Bring a few toys from home and watch them explore the new space.
Fascination Factory (Birmingham)
Fascination Factory is the cure for boredom. Switch up your daily playtime routine and introduce your littles to a curated S.T.E.A.M toy collection that has everything they need to create their own world while you sit back and relax. Designed with littles in mind, the space is open and airy. Let the kids explore while you sit back and relax with friends.
UofM Museum of Natural History (Ann Arbor)
The Museum of Natural History at the University of Michigan is a museum must. The recently renovated museum offers three stories of breath-taking exhibits featuring life-size dinosaur fossils, natural life and a planetarium. All of the exhibits have hands-on components featuring textures or touch-screens, making it a fun experience for kids and a less stressful experience for parents. Admission is FREE!
Nature Centers (Multiple locations)
Escape technology and explore the great outdoors – indoors – at a nature center! Learn about local wildlife, sit in on story time or attend a special event. Check out this list of FREE nature centers in metro Detroit.
Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit)
Rich in history and culture and FREE to tri-county residents – the Detroit Institute of Arts is the perfect place to spend time with kids. Explore the galleries, find inspiration AND create your own art. Drawing in the Galleries and Drop-In Workshops are regularly offered at the museum.
