Best Things to Do with Kids This Spring in Southeast Michigan
Midwest winters are rough. Once the cold has finally passed, we welcome spring with wide open arms. There’s so much to look forward to during this season, including spring holidays, nature hikes, and museum visits. And, the most exciting part of spring is that families are ready to escape hibernation and explore southeast Michigan again!
To get the season started, we’ve put together this simple guide to help you plan out your spring activities for 2023. From March to May, there’s enough activities and creative ideas to guarantee you’ll have three months of fun planned before you know it. We’ve featured family guides for Easter, Mother’s Day, Earth Day and other spring holidays. Don’t worry, we also included plenty of indoor options, because April flowers are almost always guaranteed to bring May showers in Michigan!
Take a look below to find our latest suggestions of things to do with your family in metro Detroit and Ann Arbor this spring. Also, be sure to bookmark or come back to this guide regularly because we’ll be adding more exciting spring activity ideas all season long!
Metro Detroit springs to life once warm weather hits. Don’t let sorting through the seemingly endless choices of seasonal activities and events become just another chore on your spring cleaning list.
We’ve made narrowing down your choices a bit easier for you with these kid-approved picks, from outdoorsy nature centers and family hikes to indoor learning and fun at museums and play spaces.
This spring, change up your normal routine and venture to a new playground. These awesome playgrounds have tunnels, slides, rope courses and endless obstacles to climb and explore. Rainy day? We’ve got you covered with great indoor fun centers.
Explore a new neighborhood
With blooming flowers, fresh grass and a bit of sunshine, spring is a great time of year to take in the sights of a new neighborhood. Our family neighborhood guides make exploring new communities a breeze with suggestions on what to do, where to eat and must-see attractions. Check out our latest family guides to Shelby Township, Royal Oak and Wyandotte.
Catch a baseball game
Play ball! The Detroit Tigers 2023 season starts on April 6! For little fans attending their first game at Comerica Park, we’ve compiled this helpful guide full of tips, fun kid-friendly activities and the best concession stand picks for families.
Try an extreme sport
Sure, there’s nothing wrong with spring sports like soccer or track, but why not let loose with these unique sports around metro Detroit and Ann Arbor? Hint: think adrenaline-filled activities like indoor skydiving, playing soccer in giant inflatable bubbles or (kid-safe) ax throwing.
Miniature golf is a classic (and challenging!) activity for all ages. Your family will love checking out outdoor mini golf courses around Ann Arbor and metro Detroit. Rain delay threatening to end your game? Head to one of these indoor golf courses.
Shop at a farmers market
Support local and fill your kitchen with the freshest ingredients when you shop at a farmers market. We have plenty of healthy recipes you can make using your fresh ingredients!
Visit a scenic flower field
Strolling through picturesque fields of flowers is a beautiful way to appreciate the return of blooming greenery. Plus, having your kids pose in front of lavender fields or giant sunflowers is an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity!
The urge to get out of the house can be overwhelming after a long Midwest winter. Avoid burning out on outdoor activities before summer gets here by relaxing with fun at-home activities. From crafty projects to relaxing with a family movie night, we have plenty of suggestions for staying busy at home this spring.
Start a garden
April flowers are sure to bring May showers — so make use of the rain and use it to water your new garden. Start with plants that are easy to grow with kids and watch your garden grow!
Host a family movie night
Cozy movie nights are great any time of year. Our Watch This, Do That series features kid-friendly titles and recommended activities you can do as a family once the credits have rolled to further the fun.
Get crafty
A quiet craft is the perfect activity to keep kiddos relaxed and occupied. These fun spring crafts are the perfect way to spend a little downtime at home.
We’ve compiled a list of science experiments for kids that includes some super colorful, yummy and wild activities. Prepare to blow your little one’s mind with the power of science!
Dig up dinos
Create your own excavation site at home and embark on your very own dino dig. This activity is great for inspiring curiosity and discovery in your kids, as well as helping younger kiddos develop their motor skills.
Sweat it out with a virtual workout
You don’t have to go outside to work up a sweat! Kids will love these virtual and interactive workouts that feature some of their favorite characters and movies. There’s workouts for the whole family, too, including zumba, pilates and full-body routines.
Do some spring cleaning
Don’t roll your eyes at this one! You don’t have to scrub the entire house to give your home a spring refresh. Use these simple strategies to start reorganizing and kick off your spring cleaning.
By the time spring break rolls around, it won’t just be your kids who are ready for a break! Recharge the entire family with a relaxing vacation, or hop in the car and hit the gas on a family road trip. If your clan is more of the stay at home and chill variety, we have some great staycation activities to keep the kids entertained while you take a break.
Take a family vacation
Ready for a family vacay? Travel to one of these spring getaway destinations to soak up the sun. If you’re more of a beach family, we’ve compiled the best places to play, eat and explore in Clearwater, Florida, to help you kick off your spring break vacation.
If you’ll be flying to your final destination, be sure to read our tips for traveling with kids in our family guide to DTW airport.
Can’t get away from work while the kids are on spring break? Send them to spring break camp. Choose a STEM camp for curious kiddos, or enroll your little artists in a creative arts camp. There’s nature camps, sports camps and even more unique opportunities for your child to have the best spring break ever.
Spring officially kicks off on March 20, but there are so many other ways to celebrate. Go green on St. Patrick’s Day, enjoy a bunch of egg hunts for Easter, celebrate the planet on Earth Day and more. We’ve got plenty of ideas for families celebrating these spring holidays with crafts, recipes, events and other activities.
Women’s History Month – March 2023
March is Women’s History Month. Celebrate the strong women in your life and around the world all month long with these local events.
Holi – March 8, 2023
The Festival of Colors is a Hindu holiday that welcomes spring. Our Holi Guide for Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor Families is filled with colorful activities, crafts and events to celebrate the popular holiday.
Don’t miss an opportunity to have a laughter-filled day of pranks and fun with your kiddos! We compiled some funny practical jokes (all in good fun!) to play on your kids this April Fool’s Day.
