January is here, which means the holiday cheer has passed and you’re likely counting the days until the cold weather breaks – but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Instead, embrace the cold and all that it brings with a trip to Genesee County.
Flint, Flushing, Fenton and many of the other cities in this county, which is around an hour drive from metro Detroit, offer all kinds of wintertime fun for the entire family – no matter their preferences.
“Flint & Genesee is a great winter destination for both indoor and outdoor recreation,” says Alaina Wiens, the Director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Marketing for the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. “Our county parks are gorgeous this time of year and visitors can enjoy them by hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.”
The 383-acre For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum is also a great spot for outdoor fun during the winter months.
“Families can explore nature through a guided activity then experience the beautiful grounds and scenes around this must-see destination,” Wiens adds.
The preserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife – from white tail deer and chipmunks to wild turkey and hawks – many of which get more active in the winter months, and the arboretum, which houses a collection of more than 150 trees, remains open too.
Of course, outdoor activities aren’t the only fun to be had in Flint this time of year, according to Wiens.
“If staying warm inside is more your thing, we have fantastic museums for families to enjoy,” she says.
Among the must-do indoor attractions is the Flint Institute of Arts, which offers impressive galleries and family programming that aims to introduce kids to the art on display, along with the Flint Children’s Museum, the Sloan Museum at the Courtland Center and the Longway Planetarium – all of which Wiens says are perfect to “keep young kids busy and delighted for a whole weekend.”
And that’s still not all. The area also offers plenty of quaint coffee shops including Foster Coffee Company, Café Rhema, the Flint Crepe Company and others, within walking distance from these attractions, so you can warm up in between stops.
“Winter is such a beautiful and reflective time. Why not spend these quiet moments in serene natural spaces or surrounded by world-class art?” Wiens says. “Maximize the shortened days when you visit by exploring our parks in the morning then heading indoors for more activities and eats.”
“Flint & Genesee is a close and easy destination for many Michigan families (and) we invite them all to spend some time in our parks and come have a cup of coffee with us anytime!”
For more information on winter fun in Flint or Genesee counties – or details on the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Marketing for the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce – visit them online at flintandgenesee.org.
