Winter funk has set in and your family is definitely feeling some cabin fever. The good news? You don’t have to travel very far to grab some winter family activities to liven things up.
Flint & Genesee is the place to be when kickstarting the new year. It’s super close to metro Detroit and there’s something for everyone to do. Whether your winter family activities mean a little reconnection with nature or a stroll through an art gallery — or you’re looking for your next getaway destination — Flint & Genesee accommodates all the above and so much more.
Here, we gather some must-experience winter family activities. Read on and plan your own visit to Flint & Genesee soon.
Fun for the whole family
The cold of the winter drives us indoors, so you’ve probably found your family spending a lot of time together. Why not get out of the house and into the garage?
The 2022 Chrome & Ice Winter Car Show is going bigger and better. From Feb. 11-13, experience craftsmanship only seen on the big screen! See cars from classic shows like Batman, Dukes of Hazzard, Smokey and the Bandit, and many more. This event includes more than 50 automotive-specific vendor displays, demonstrations, concessions and live entertainment, too. This is the must-do event of the winter for muscle car and hot rod crazy kids (and adults). Kids under 12 are free!
What would the winter season be without some cordial cooking? Check out youth and family cooking classes with Feast Gourmet Kitchen Shop in Fenton. Feast supplies unique brands, every day kitchen utensils and tools, and global cutlery. Not only is it an abundant place to shop, but Feast also offers public and private cooking classes to sign up for. Connect through cooking and learn how it’s an easy way for your family to experience new cultures — and pick up new skills.
Or you can skip the prep and move directly to the eating part with a visit to Crust in Fenton. Crust is an eatery with a fun breakfast and lunch menu (the kid’s menu has all the faves!), but it’s also a world-class bakery. You’ll be tempted to just get one of everything, but we have whole conversations just about the Saskatoon Prairie Seed bread. And the Chocolate Brioche Donut? Don’t get us started! When you visit, check with Crust staff about any upcoming classes they might have in the works, too.
Arts and entertainment
Flint & Genesee is made up of communities rich in culture. From “classic to modern,” both visitors and locals immerse in these manifestations of creative expression. Visit the Arts & Entertainment tab on the Explore Flint & Genesee website to find and follow your own culture or arts passion.
Here are some of our favorites, too:
Fenton’s Painting with a Twist is a great place to find your “inner artist.” Check their site to learn more about family-friendly events which are best for ages 8 and older.
Your speed and science-loving kids will be thrilled by the hands-on experiences, authentic race gear, and captivating memorabilia at Sloan Museum at Courtland Center’s Hot Wheels: Race to Win! exhibit opening February 5. This behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling world of racing investigates the scientific process for designing super-fast cars.
Discover the many facets of the Flint Cultural Center, including Flint Institute of Arts, Flint Institute of Music and Flint Repertory Theatre, all offering programming to captivate the curious mind and encourage imagination.
For the kids
Boost your kids’ classroom knowledge with some atypical learning experiences. The Longway Planetarium in Flint is part of the Flint Cultural Center and Michigan’s largest planetarium, with 130 seats under a stellar 60-foot dome. Patrick Ross, Longway Planetarium Manager, notes that the campus is very special. “You can come into a workshop, go to a planetarium show, and then enter the museum,” Ross says. There is a spectrum of things to do at the facility.
Planetariums are especially fascinating because they allow us to reconnect with the night sky. “Flint has a lot of light pollution, making the night sky a second thought,” says Ross. “It’s important for our kids to experience such an ancient, yet simple, science.”
In addition to ongoing shows, the facility offers fun science workshops for various age groups. These include 4-year-olds and kindergarten, first through third grades, fourth through sixth grades, and family workshops. The workshops are more regimented, while the Maker Labs are more explorative. Attendees get tasks and challenges, and the path to their end goal is completely up to them.
Katie Bancroft, Curator of Education and Outreach Programs, says that their educators are very passionate. “The interactions we get with the kids inspire us to come to work every day,” says Bancroft. She shares that they began working with the high-school level earlier this winter. Learning while having fun — and showing kids real world experiences — are what make these sessions memorable.
Positivity in the winter
Sunlight can be hard to come by in these winter months, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do! Fresh air and fun winter family activities can even mean doing something you’ve never tried before. If your family loves the snow, know that you can find ice skating, skiing, sledding, tobogganing and a whole lot more in Flint & Genesee.
Even when the snow falls, the fun won’t let up. The For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum offers 383 acres of wildlife to explore at your leisure. Here, you can cross country ski and snowshoe, or you can enjoy a family hike to watch the birds and discover how winter-loving creatures enjoy the winter season.
Start planning today
See what Flint & Genesee has to offer in the new year and throughout the winter season at ExploreFlintandGenesee.org. Follow the “Things To Do” tab to search through the various opportunities that this Michigan destination has to offer.
Content sponsored by Explore Flint & Genesee. Learn more at ExploreFlintandGenesee.org.
