Stuff To Do With Kids

[Ice Queen (1)]

When in Detroit a while back with the kids, the looks on their faces and shouts of excitement made me realize something. They have not been exposed to a real city (we live in the boonies). Coming from Los Angeles, it hadn't really occurred to me, I guess, because it's old territory for me. Anyway, I want to bring them down and let them experience the hustle, bustle and was thinking of activities to do. The Science Center looks interesting (anyone been there?), and weather permitting, maybe the zoo? So those of you from the area, help a girl out. What do they need to see, what is good for kids? Could be a weekend stay and/or several day trips spaced out. I have a teenager, 7 year old and a toddler (all girls, and yes, I'm crazy). I could use some suggestions.

[phee]

When in Detroit a while back with the kids, the looks on their faces and shouts of excitement made me realize something. They have not been exposed to a real city (we live in the boonies). Coming from Los Angeles, it hadn't really occurred to me, I guess, because it's old territory for me. Anyway, I want to bring them down and let them experience the hustle, bustle and was thinking of activities to do. The Science Center looks interesting (anyone been there?), and weather permitting, maybe the zoo? So those of you from the area, help a girl out. What do they need to see, what is good for kids? Could be a weekend stay and/or several day trips spaced out. I have a teenager, 7 year old and a toddler (all girls, and yes, I'm crazy). I could use some suggestions.

Good questions....

The science center is awesome... as is the zoo... Depending on the interest of the girls... the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield village are pretty cool....

The worst is being on a tight budget in a Michigan winter...

[Destroit]

Dude...Science Center

or the DIA

Belle Isle (you can fish there! Not sure if you're supposed to but...since it's Detroit we always did it anyway!)

Also, there's a very crazy greenhouse on Belle Isle and there WAS a really awesome aquarium, which happened to be the oldest in the nation, that was shut down because Kwame REALLY REEEEALLY prides himself on being a worthless douche bag. Seriously...he needs to just write that on his resume when he becomes literate.

Fort Wayne (it's in South West. I like it even as an adult, it's off of Jefferson, I'm not sure where I can look it up)

If they let you, take 'em on the elevators at the Ren Cen.

My mom and I used to just drive around the hood and I would take pictures of stuff I liked. Bet you can't cover the whole city in one day (by now I've covered it, but it took me quite awhile). The ghetto is VERY photogenic and gets lonely, so it loves people to visit and admire it.

[Msterbeau]

The younger one's will probably like riding around on the People Mover. I have a bunch of unused tokens if you want a few. DIA, Zoo, Science Center are all good. You might look into the Ann Arbor Hands on Science Center. If your teenager is into art... you might look into a tour of College for Creative Studies, if they offer something like that. It's right behind the DIA. Definitely The Henry Ford Museum. They'll each find different things to interest them. The Village is closed in the winter, though. A great resource for things to do is (oddly enough) Great Stuff to do. http://www.greatstufftodo.com It's got lots of different events and activities categorized. It's all for stuff in Southeast Michigan.

You and your kids can come over to my place and have a snowball battle against me and my daughters if this weather doesn't let up. I have a large backyard.

[kellygrrrrrl]

make a gigantic IGLOO!!! (Well with all this snow and all!)

I made one w/ my brothers a few weekends back (Pix in Myspace) !!!!!!

it was so much fun! I felt 10 years old all over again.....

and I'm sure you would too!

[EnViOuSPoPpEt]

I volunteer at the Zoo, and I would highly recommend it. They have face painting story reading, all kinds of neat stuff depending on the season. Just take a peek at their web page and see what they have going on. They not only have the animals, but they have a great play area too.

There is a hands on science museum both in Detroit and Ann Arbor, both of which are good.

Greenfield Village in Dearborn is also fun with kids. The Henry Ford Museum is also there and has IMAX. The museum is cool for older kids, but might not be the thing for younger ones.

[the eternal]

OK, you've asked for it now.

A year ago, (almost to the day) Brenda moved here.

What follows are my two posts.

They rehash much of what was said BUT, they include pretty pictutres and hyperlinks to their websites so you

can check on events and hours of operation.

[the eternal]

With all the hyperlinking and images, save this page, you never know when it'll come in handy!

(I tried to link every attraction to its homepage. I truly hope this is of use to someone)

This will be a double post to allow all the images

KensingtonMetro Park

is great for picnicking, walking, the petting zoo,

but what I'm amazed no one mentioned is the fricken

Detroit Zoo is in your backyard.

That's me above cooling off with a swim.

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Also, an annual membership at the Henry Ford is somewhat reasonable, considering, you get unlimited admission at the Museum (which is way cool)

(I believe this is the car JFK got shot in)

(NO COMMENT)

AND

Greenfield Village.

GV is like Epcot for America. You see alll types of animals, ride around a Model T car and get to walk inside over 100 houses of significance imported from around the country.

(like where Edison perfected the lightbulb)

With seven historic districts, it's pretty good exercise walking around that big place, too.

I love that place. I put it up with the National Mall in DC as one of the best places in the country to "feel" history.

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[the eternal]

Then, there's the MUSEUM DISTRICT,

with the

African American Museum,

the Science Center

,

the Detroit Library

,

and many others. The museum district and it's zillion cultural centers is right next to Wayne State.

My favorite one there is the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The exhibits there at to die for.

-(this one is by Mary Cassatt-the only renown US impressionist)

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Oh, and your local movie theatre on Main

ALWAYS has some good independent flicks.

Did I tell you I'm a bit of a cultural snob

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FOOD ( I like restaurantdb.net, because you get the address for every restaurant and often a link to their web page, menu, and user reviews)

Bastone Restaurant

(in RO) has great microbrews and a good mix of food and kids eat free on Sunday!

Pronto's

a hip casual rest with all those salads with the interesting combinations, good sandwiches and stuff.

Beaches

Since I KNOW youre going to want to drive to the coast to visit Onyx, here's two places to go.

Oval Beach in Saugatuck

Saugatuck is such an awesome town. Every store is an art gallery, and the people are very friendly. It's kinda like cape cod, but more down to earth.

Oval Beach is maybe the nicest beach in MI. Sprawling, not too crowded and pristine sand, not rocks.

There's a nearby state park full of sand dunes that you can rent a dune buggy and ride across

Silver Beach in St Joseph

Voted one of top 10 family beaches in USA.

Probably because of the playgrounds on the beach and the dramatically reduced gay clientele compared to Oval Beach. Great beach!

The city is nice too, and was named most romantic in MI by a Free Press writer due to its sunsets, restaurants, and nature. (I still like Saugatuck better, but that's me)

With all the hyperlinking and images, save this page, you never know when it'll come in handy!

[xbittergracex]

I worked downtown at the RenCen for about 4 years....

I took my nephew down there last winter to see Santa (it was free at the RenCen) and took him along the Riverwalk (which is cool, but WAY cooler in the summertime with the fountains shooting out of the ground). We hit the foodcourt in the basement to grab some food. We hit the people mover, which we all know isn't that cool....but the kids think its freaking awesome. I took him over to Campus Marcius park and took him Ice Skating.

Of course the science center, dia, and other attractions are cool....these things were either really cheap or free. Just my input.

Plus...at the Detroit Historical Museum....there is a really cool set-up there that shows Detroit how it used to look. I think its in the basement or something....but that was MY favorite museum when I was a kid...but I was always a big history buff.

When you take them...let us know what you did and if they liked it. I for one would like to know

Good luck...I for one always liked when my parents took me ANYWHERE new and spent the day with me. A lot of parents just don't do that anymore...so regardless of what you do they'll probably love it.

[Msterbeau]

Also... I'm trying to work things out to take my kids to the Sterling Inn over their Easter break. They have an indoor waterpark!!

[Rayne]

Also... I'm trying to work things out to take my kids to the Sterling Inn over their Easter break. They have an indoor waterpark!!

There's a Holiday Inn in Dundee that does too.

And if you want to drive the extra -- Castaway Bay and Kilahari Bay (Both in Sandusky) are both worth it.

[Msterbeau]

There's a Holiday Inn in Dundee that does too.

And if you want to drive the extra -- Castaway Bay and Kilahari Bay (Both in Sandusky) are both worth it.

The girls did that with my ex and a couple friends two weeks ago...

[TomCat]

OK, you've asked for it now.

A year ago, (almost to the day) Brenda moved here.

What follows are my two posts.

They rehash much of what was said BUT, they include pretty pictutres and hyperlinks to their websites so you

can check on events and hours of operation.

Brenda lives here now? Really? LOL, J/K

Yeah, The Museums, Science Center, Belle Isle in winter (because it is MUCH safet than when it's warmer out!) see the migrant ducks and feed the fallow deer on the island.

All of the Metro Parks, and indoor gun ranges are sweet in the winter. Well, maybe for me, but not so much for the kids. LOL

[Ice Queen (1)]

Wow! Lots of great ideas! You guys rock! Thanks for the info, and all the time that must have taken you, Eternal. I never even gave a thought about where to eat, thanks for the restaurant tips too. I definitely have lots of things I want to do throughout the year. We will have lots of trips. Who knows, maybe my house will sell this year, and we can move closer, and it will be easier to enjoy these things more often.

Oh, yes, the people mover is an absolute must. Little ones think it is so cool

Snowball fights sound fun. I feel bad because I haven't played out in the snow with the kids this winter. Every time we get a good snow I am working, and then I am so sick of driving in it, and shoveling it, I don't want to go outside for fun.

My teenager is definitely on the artistic side. She is a very good sketcher and dabbling now in photography. I will definitely have her look at the college's site and see if she wants to check it out sometime.

I was thinking of doing the indoor waterpark thing, it would be a nice vacation from winter.

I will definitely be hitting DIA, but without the kids, I want to be able to enjoy it.

I have some time off work coming up the 13th to the 23rd! yay! Kids got a 4 day weekend Easter weekend too while I am off. We will be hitting the Science Center definitely that weekend or the weekend before. Better check the weather reports to see if the zoo is a possibility.

Belle Isle, the metro park, and the beaches are all on the to do list! My teenager might enjoy Greenfield Village and Henry Ford since she enjoys history, but not sure about the other two.

Sometimes just driving around and soaking in the scenery is fun. Of course, we go through plenty of ghetto in Saginaw and Flint, but when we went through some of Detroit ghetto, they still were fascinated (not sure that's the right word). There eyes open wide and jaws drop when we drive through Detroit with all the lights, tall buildings, the bridge, stadium. I enjoy their amazement.

Thanks everyone! And keep them coming! There seem to be plenty of parents on the board, maybe others can use the info too!

[Destroit]

Also... I'm trying to work things out to take my kids to the Sterling Inn over their Easter break. They have an indoor waterpark!!

Dude...Sterling Inn is not only within like three miles of my house but I went there when I was 17 going on 8 (for the record I am now 22 going on 15, if anyone was wondering how that works) and it was AWESOME.

There's a big sexy hot tub, a big sexy slide, a big sexy lazy river, a big sexy pool, annnnnd a big sexy water-fountain type deal that you can run around in and pretend you're a mermaid.

Damnit...I wish I was still 17 going on 8 'cause I would so stay there. I should loot somebody's kids just so I can go again...

[TomCat]

Dude...Sterling Inn is not only within like three miles of my house but I went there when I was 17 going on 8 (for the record I am now 22 going on 15, if anyone was wondering how that works) and it was AWESOME.

There's a big sexy hot tub, a big sexy slide, a big sexy lazy river, a big sexy pool, annnnnd a big sexy water-fountain type deal that you can run around in and pretend you're a mermaid.

Damnit...I wish I was still 17 going on 8 'cause I would so stay there. I should loot somebody's kids just so I can go again...

Don't Tease!!

Brenda and I just may bribe you to take ours, one of these days!

[Destroit]

Don't Tease!!

Brenda and I just may bribe you to take ours, one of these days!

They would have SO much fun. Then you guys could "bribe" me to take them to Chuck E. Cheese, too. Not that I'd want to go 'cause I'm a "grown-up" apparantly, just, you know, I do anything for childrens.

[TomCat]

I'll have my people call your people.

[sass_in_the_pants]

Sometimes just driving around and soaking in the scenery is fun. Of course, we go through plenty of ghetto in Saginaw and Flint, but when we went through some of Detroit ghetto, they still were fascinated (not sure that's the right word). There eyes open wide and jaws drop when we drive through Detroit with all the lights, tall buildings, the bridge, stadium. I enjoy their amazement.

Thanks everyone! And keep them coming! There seem to be plenty of parents on the board, maybe others can use the info too!

Saginaw.

I LOVE to tell people about Grandma Shirley who won't come to Detroit because she says it's too violent. Mind you, Detroit and it's surrounding suburbs are all 'Detroit'. Bloomfield is Detroit. Grosse Pointe is Detroit. It's all Detroit. And I tell people this and say 'Are you ready for the punchline?' and they say 'yes' and I say 'She lives in SAGINAW!' Bwahaha! Seriously, you can't live in Saginaw and be afraid of Detroit. That's just nonsense.

On the subject of the kiddos...there's the ice rink downtown, too. Won't be open for much longer though!! Get over there! And all of these places people mentioned are good, but you should try to go when there's a special event, like when the DIA has their first fridays things. They have special activities for the kiddos.

People gave really good suggestions and somebody in another thread told me about MUD DAY at (I think) Wyane County parks. How sweet is that!!

[Destroit]

Saginaw CREEPED ME OUT. Not because it was a big ghetto...it was like a big rustic old farm ghetto in NOWHERE land. Like God just came down and said "The Lord places in this pristine spot of land a hood!" and it was so. Just...snuck up on me coming back from up north. I really don't mind the ghetto as you all obviously know, I'm very comfortable in it really but, it's weird when the ghetto sneaks up on your ass like that in a very seemingly unlikely setting. Just not right.

[Ice Queen (1)]

The ice skating rink downtown......can you rent skates there? Sadly we have none. That's where you drive around that circle thingy right by Hard Rock, right? I saw it getting set up in fall ( I think) and completely forgot about it until you guys mentioned it

indoor gun ranges, I have been wanting to do that for a while. I haven't shot a handgun in many years. I would have to rent on though. One of these days, I will look into that. My oldest and I get to shoot a shotgun once a year at a family event, we shoot skeet at a nearby conservation club.

Good point about visiting the Isle before it warms up too much. Maybe we will do that this month

DIA has special events for kids? Cool. For some reason, I missed that when checking out the site. I will keep a look out for that after I get to go without them and really enjoy it.

I have offered to let people borrow my children before. I use playing with them as an excuse to use the playground equipment myself, or just plain be goofy. Ya, I'm gonna have fun with the hands on stuff at the museums. Fun, fun!

Ya, it's hilarious that people think "oh my god, you're going to Detroit. Be careful" I'm kinda, "and it's more dangerous then Saginaw, how? Or Flint? It's just bigger that's all. Oh, and do you recall, I'm from L.A. where I lived in a very dangerous neighborhood and went to seedy clubs in the middle of the night wearing hardly anything" I haven't forgotten my city smarts.

[jadnifer]

Everybody had some really good ideas.

My personal favorites are:

The Detroit Science Center

Greenfield Village

The Henry Ford Museum

DIA

[sass_in_the_pants]

Yes the rink downtown rents skates. And there's the new rivewalk. They have a carousel!!

There's also a place in Orion, it's expensive, but super fun...it's an indoor bocce court! How cool is that!

And, not sure how you feel about travelling with them, but if you keep an eye out for specials you can sometimes get RT train tickets to Chicago for like $20. Trains are fun. Chicago's fun. That's all sorts of fun!

The metroparks that someone suggested is also really fun. There are also places to take the kids fishing where they stock the ponds with fish, so the kdis don't sit there for hours and not catch anything. My hsuband went all the time when he was little and he LOVED it!

[Ice Queen (1)]

Yes the rink downtown rents skates. And there's the new rivewalk. They have a carousel!!

There's also a place in Orion, it's expensive, but super fun...it's an indoor bocce court! How cool is that!

And, not sure how you feel about travelling with them, but if you keep an eye out for specials you can sometimes get RT train tickets to Chicago for like $20. Trains are fun. Chicago's fun. That's all sorts of fun!

The metroparks that someone suggested is also really fun. There are also places to take the kids fishing where they stock the ponds with fish, so the kdis don't sit there for hours and not catch anything. My hsuband went all the time when he was little and he LOVED it!

Cool, thanks. A day of ice skating, tram rides, and soaking up the city sounds just about right.

I was talking to a friend of mine about the things I wanted to do in Detroit. She says we should go to Chicago, she thinks the museums are better. But, I still want to go to the ones in Detroit too. Sounds like she knows where everything is. I'll let her know about the trains, that sounds like fun. And no driving!