20 kid-friendly places within a five hour drive from Detroit

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Jun 24, 2022 at 4:48 pm

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and school's almost out for summer, which means the kids are going to be around the house a little bit more and will want to have some fun.

Michigan is fortunate enough to be near some pretty cool cities with a lot of things to do for the entire family (even if a couple of the cities are in Ohio).

We've gathered a list of kid-friendly places that will make for a great mini-road trip with the family.

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American Girl Place Chicago

835 Michigan Ave., Chicago; 877-247-5223;americangirl.com/pages/retail-chicago

American Girl makes dolls that push the boundaries of your child’s imagination. They offer a variety of options, including the option to customize a doll with earrings, hearing aids, and more so your child has a smaller representation of themselves. At American Girl Place in Chicago, get your doll’s hairstyle refreshed at the Doll Hair Salon or print a custom outfit for your doll.

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African Safari Wildlife Park

267 S. Lightner Road, Port Clinton, OH; 419-732-3606;africansafariwildlifepark.com

This wildlife park takes visitors on a safari adventure right from the comfort of their own vehicle. The African Safari Wildlife Park is not only a walk-thru park, it’s drive-thru as well. Park visitors can see and feed animals, like giraffes and llamas, up close and personal.

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Cedar Point

1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, OH; 419-627-2350;chicagochildrensmuseum.org

It’s not a Michigan summer without a group trip to Cedar Point. The Ohio amusement park has fun for children of all ages, and even offers discounted tickets for Michiganders.

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Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

7370 Baker Street, Pittsburgh; 412-665-3640;pittsburghzoo.org

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium offers a great learning and entertainment experience. The zoo offers workshop classes and special events.

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Chicago Children’s Museum

700 East Grand Avenue, Suite 127, Chicago; 312-527-1000;chicagochildrensmuseum.org

The Chicago Children’s Museum is a hands-on children’s museum located right on Navy Pier. Children can dig for fossils, brave the treehouse trails, and much more at this museum. We suggest hitting the Navy Pier for a little extra fun after your trip.

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Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark

1 Boyne Mountain Rd, Boyne Falls; 866-976-6972;avalanchebay.com

Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark, Avalanche Bay has rides, pools, and water activities for everyone.

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Grand Rapids Public Museum

272 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids; 616-929-1700;grpm.org

The Grand Rapids Public Museum has a lot of family friendly exhibits, ranging from dinosaurs to Old Grand Rapids and one on the Anishinabek tribe.

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Kalahari Resort

7000 Kalahari Dr., Sandusky, OH; 419-433-7200;kalahariresorts.com/ohio

Cool off at Kalahari Resorts. While its most known for its twisting water slides and pools, the resort also has an arcade, outdoor adventure park, and a spa.

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Kings Island

6300 Kings Island Dr., Mason, OH; 513-754-5700;visitkingsisland.com

This Ohio amusement park is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. Not to be in the shadows of the more popular Ohio theme park, Kings Island has a wide selection of thrill rides for everyone.

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TILT at 360 Chicago

875 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago; 360chicago.com

Enjoy a 360 degree view of Downtown Chicago from the 94th Floor of Hancock Tower. If your kid is really brave, they can lean out of the window and view the streets of Chicago from above at TILT.

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Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

1000 E. Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids; 616-957-1580; meijergardens.org

Meijer Garden is the perfect place to spend a day watching the kids run around, with an indoor botanical garden and massive sculpture gardens.

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Michigan’s Adventure

4750 Whitehall Rd., Muskegon; 231-766-3377; miadventure.com

For those who never stopped being kids, Michigan’s Adventure is a great place to enjoy the state's largest theme and water park.

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Richard Petty Driving Experience

12626 US-12, Brooklyn; 517-592-6666; drivepetty.com

If you’ve ever driven on the Lodge, you know Detroiters love fast cars. Well at the Michigan International Speedway, you can test your driving skills on a NASCAR official track without the fear of the state police. For your little ones who don’t have a license, they can enjoy a ride around the track (they just have to be at least five feet tall and 100 pounds).

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National Aviary

700 Arch St., Pittsburgh, PA; 412-323-7235;aviary.org

The National Aviary is the largest aviary in the United States. With over 500 species of birds, visitors have an immersive experience with the winged animals.

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Niagara Falls State Park

24 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY; 716-278-1794;niagarafallsstatepark.com

It’s almost a rite of passage for Michiganders to visit Niagara Falls at least once in their lifetime. Enjoy a view of the falls from the Niagara Falls Observation Tower or get an up close look cruising the Maid of the Midst.

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Great Wolf Lodge - Traverse City

3575 N. U.S. 31 S., Traverse City; 866-478-9653;greatwolf.com

This park provides year-round water fun for the whole family. There’s tubing, water slides, hot tubs, and even cabanas you can rent during your stay.

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Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park

1710 US-31 North, Traverse City; 231-938-9599;piratescove.net

From bumper boats and arcade games to mini-golf and go-kart racing, Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park has a little bit of fun for everyone.

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Great Lakes Science Center

601 Erieside Ave, Cleveland, OH; 216-694-2000;greatscience.com

This interactive museum has a lot of science exhibits including The Science of Rock N’ Roll which explores how technology shaped the genre.

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Soaring Eagle Waterpark

5665 E. Pickard Rd., Mount Pleasant; 989-817-4800; soaringeaglewaterpark.com

This waterpark is the perfect place to add a stop on a vacation. Attached to a RV park, hotel, and casino, Soaring Eagle water park has endless opportunities for the kids, and the kids at heart.

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