Fun
Domino's Petting Farm The possibilities are endless! Here are a few quick links.
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Ann Arbor Children’s Hands-on Museum
The Museum does a great job of promoting science, math and technology in fun ways. There’s a great area for the 4-and-under crowd. -
Ann Arbor Public Schools Community Education and Recreation
We have one of the finest rec and ed programs in the United States. Families and kids can enjoy everything from one-time arts and crafts seminars to full-time summer day camps. -
Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation
Parks & Rec provides Ann Arbor residents with over 2,000 acres of park land at 147 park sites. Check out their site for information about swimming, golf, ice skating and hockey classes and events, indoor and outdoor pools, and more. -
Chelsea Teddy Bear Company Tours
Families can take a behind-the-scenes look at how a teddy bear is made, as well as learn its history and see some replicas of the earliest Teddy’s ever made. Free. -
Chuck E. Cheese
What would life be like without the big mouse? Don’t answer that, but you know your kids love him. -
Community Gardens
Ann Arbor has 10 community gardens and a multigenerational garden called the Discovery Garden. Many families love to get their kids involved in growing fruits and vegetables at these community sites. An annual plot costs about $50 - $100, depending on the size. Project Grow, which operates the gardens, offers wonderful educational programs about gardening for children and families Detroit Zoo
Younger children love the miniature railroad, while older kids enjoy the Wild Animal Simulator.Dexter Cider Mill
Built in 1886, Dexter Cider Mill is the longest continuously operated cider mill in Michigan. From late August thru mid-November, you can enjoy oak rack pressed cider, fresh doughnuts, and other baked goods, jams, jellies, and their Dexter Cider Mill Apple Cookbook.-
Domino’s Petting Farm
Kids love this 20-acre farm. It has over 100 animals, and pony rides and hayrides on the weekends. -
GoCityKids.com
This online resource links parents to current kid and family-friendly events in the Detroit area. -
Independence Lake
County-run swimming beach, sprinkler park and concession stand 20 minutes north of Ann Arbor. -
Leslie Science Center
Hidden within the City of Ann Arbor is a 50-acre site of fields, prairies, forest and pond that offers environmental education programs for children as young as one. -
Michigan Firehouse Museum, Ypsilanti
Kids of all ages love Michigan’s Best Historical Firehouse. -
Rolling Hills Park and Water Park
This park has something for everyone: giant water slides, wave pools, children's play area, Frisbee golf, sunbathing areas and more. -
Toledo Zoo
In 2004, Child Magazine named Toledo Zoo one of the “Top 10 Zoos for Kids.” The 30-acre facility is charming and easy to navigate, and has several choices for a quick bite to eat. - U-M’s Exhibit Museum of Natural History
The Museum offers a planetarium, along with first-rate exhibits of paleontology, zoology and anthropology. -
U-M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Kelsey exhibits artifacts from ancient Rome and the Near East. - U-M Museum of Art
Contains collections of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present – and a fine Asian art collection. Urban Toddler
This play space for the under-4 set gives parents a great place to take their kids for indoor play.-
Wild Swan Theatre
This professional adult troupe performs family-oriented theater. -
Wiard’s Orchards and Country Fair
Their 10-acre area boasts the 4000-square-foot Apple Blossom Pavilion, Animal Farm, Pony Corral, Music Stage, the Ultimate Haunted Barn, Pizza Shoppe, Grill Shack and Candle Shoppe. Apple picking, Halloween events and a cider mill round out the family fun. -
Wide World Sports Center
The center offers indoor and outdoor soccer and lacrosse programs, as well as a multi-sports kids camp.
Independence Lake 
U-M Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Playgrounds
One of the reasons Ann Arbor is so kid-friendly is that there are so many playgrounds to choose from – ranging from the neighborhood tot lots to mega-playgrounds with multi-level equipment. They’re all fun and contain fairly new, safe equipment. The City of Ann Arbor and surrounding townships are very good about maintaining such public areas.
The following is our subjective selection based on tons of research with squirrelly, squirmy toddlers.
Ann Arbor
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Allmendinger Park
Located on Pauline between Hutchins and Edgewood (West Side)
This park is popular for one amenity in particular: shade! The trees here provide a great sunshield and enable the kids to play on the hottest, sunniest days. Play equipment, water fountain, restrooms. -
Burns Park
Central Ann Arbor on Wells and Baldwin adjacent to Burns Park School.
Play equipment for tots and older kids, five tennis courts, a basketball court, a sledding hill, an ice skating rink and hockey rink in the winter. Water fountain, restrooms. -
Montibellier Park
Located north of Ellsworth Road and just east of Carpenter in Pittsfield Township
The park contains huge play structures for tots and older kids. Tennis courts, sledding area, outdoor grills and more. This is a great place for your toddler to run off steam if you’re between shopping expeditions on the southeast side of town. -
Metroparks
The Metroparks are located along the Huron and Clinton rivers, providing a greenbelt around the Detroit metropolitan area. Closest to Ann Arbor are the Dexter-Huron, Delhi and Hudson-Mills Metroparks. The Metroparks gracefully combine natural beauty with accoutrements such as restrooms, snack facilities, play areas and other amenities of modern life.
Washtenaw County
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County Farm Discovery Garden
Leslie Science Center off Travis Road
This Discovery Garden is a place for children, senior citizens, wheelchair bound gardeners and volunteers of all ages to come together to garden organically. -
County Farm Park Playground and Garden
Washtenaw Avenue and Platt Road
Water, a sand zone, play equipment, a garden and sculptures of bigger-than-life pigs to go with the totally-farm theme. Could a kid ask for anything more?
