The weather’s warm, school’s out for the summer, and your kids are home and bored. If you don’t feel like being an entertainment director all summer, look no further! Our team put together a list of Metro Detroit summer activities from A to Z that are sure to keep you busy all summer long.
We wanted to make this as fun and easy for you as possible, so you’ll find all of our Metro Detroit summer activities in the list below. You can choose one activity per day, a few per week, or choose a letter out of a hat to decide!
Whatever you choose to do, remember to have FUN and share with us on social media! We can’t wait to see all the fun things you do this summer!
Metro Detroit Summer Activities from A to Z: Summer Bucket List
A: Aquarium at Belle Isle | Detroit
Check out the aquarium at Belle Isle. It’s been open since 1904 and is FULL of history. And, it was recently renovated! Snap a selfie with your favorite fish while you’re there!
Bonus: Check out the Ann Arbor Art Fair taking place July 18th through the 20th. Stop by Zingerman’s on your way home for a sweet treat!
B: Booth Park | Birmingham
Located in Birmingham, Booth Park is home to a playscape and turf hill. Bring a blanket and picnic lunch to enjoy after playing. Or, stop in to the Dairy Mat for a cold mid-day dessert.
Bonus: Bauervic Woods Park will have you second guessing whether you are really in Southfield. It has a wonderful playground but the wooded nature trail is what really sells this park. The last time we were there, we saw deer and many other animals!
C: Cook’s Farm Dairy | Ortonville
I first visited Cook’s two years ago with my daughters and they LOVED it. Plan to pet the baby cows and then enjoy some of their delicious ice cream under the covered pavilion (or on a blanket on the grass, if it’s not too sunny out!).
Bonus: Stop in to Cooking with Que and pickup a tasty meal for lunch or dinner.
D: Detroit Abloom | Detroit
A wellness garden, cut flower farm, and native plants–plan to spend most of your day surrounded by beautiful nature. Plan to check out the butterfly nursery, too!
Bonus: Stop in to Detroit vs. Everybody in Eastern Market to pick up some new shirts for the whole family, then walk the Dequindre Cut and pose for some family photos in your new outfits.
E: Eminem’s pop-up: Mom’s Spaghetti | Detroit
Bring your appetite and get in line for dinner!
Bonus: Stop by Eastern Market’s Saturday Market first for some beautiful fresh flowers, then go grab dinner.
F: Funland at Blake’s | Armada
Funland just opened up again for the season last month. Make sure to go on the goat walk, and then play in the giant tire sandbox!
Bonus: Spend a rainy day at Fascination Factory in Birmingham. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday for tons of fun, with a focus on educating, entertaining, and enriching!
G: Greenfield Village | Dearborn
Check out the glassblowing in the glass shop, and then take the time to enjoy a walk on the grounds.
Bonus: Stock up on sweets from Good Cakes and Bakes!
H: Hines Park Trail | Connecting Dearborn + Northville
If you’re planning for a full day of fun, plan to walk or bike the trail before/after visiting Greenfield Village.
Bonus: After playing at the new Tattan Park in Westland, cool down at the H2O Zone Spray Park.
I: Innovation Hills | Rochester Hills
This is a relatively new park. It definitely gets busy, so plan to get there early. Bring cardboard so your kids can slide down the turf hills in style! And bring a lunch to enjoy under the shelter. And, maybe some extra clothes if your kids decide to play in the water feature!
Bonus: Stop in to Ima Noodles for a bite to eat!
J: Joe Louis Monument | Detroit
Drive downtown for the perfect photo ops–including the iconic arm and fist. Make sure to read the tribute to Joe Louis that is inscribed on the arm.
K: Kensington Metropark | Milford
Start at the beach, then head to the splash pad. When everyone is too tired and way too hot, find a shady spot and enjoy a picnic lunch or afternoon snack.
Bonus: Take a public kayak tour along the Detroit River and take in the beautiful scenery with Detroit River Sports.
L: Lily Pad Springs | West Bloomfield
The largest splash pad in Michigan! Lily Pad Springs is ADA and universally accessible. They have 3 sessions to choose from each day, and twilight sessions on Tuesdays through August 30th. And, their sensory-friendly sessions are on Mondays at 11:00 a.m. through August 19th.
Bonus: Play on the playgrounds then head over to the baseball-themed Lamarand Splash Pad in Taylor.
M: Music on the Lake | St. Clair Shores
Enjoy your Wednesday nights with music on the lake and eat dinner from a variety of food trucks as you listen to the tunes from some local bands.
Bonus: Marshbank Music takes place in July, so plan for a fun family evening enjoying some great music.
Bonus #2: Maybury Farm in Northville has so many fun options–shop for some Michigan-made items in the General Store and then check out the chickens and goats!
N: Nature Center Hop | Various Locations
Pick a rainy day, put on some rain boots, and make your way to as many nature centers as you can. Some have outdoor walking trails, and others let you get up close and personal with the animals.
Bonus: Fuel your nature center hop with a fresh coffee from The Narrow Way Cafe!
O: Outdoor Adventure Center | Detroit
Start at the Fire Circle, then head to the Overnight Lodging exhibit. Walk along the Pine Forest and Trails and end at the Underwater Michigan exhibit!
Bonus: Enjoy riverfront dining at Octopus’ Beer Garden in Mt. Clemens.
P: Paddleboarding at Stoney Creek Metropark | Shelby Township
Stop by Eastwood Beach for some paddleboarding and water fun!
Bonus: Beat the heat at the Palmer Park Waterpark.
Q: Qahwah House | Dearborn
Stop in for the best spiced Yemeni Adani tea and purchase some coffee beans to take home.
R: Romeo Lavender Farm | Romeo
Lavender, sunflowers, wildflowers . . . need I say more?! Bring your scissors and have each person in your family cut some lavender to take home. Make sure your phone is fully charged to snap some informal family pics while you’re there! (Closed on Mondays)
Bonus: Red Oaks Waterpark has attractions for every summer . . . from a wave pool and a triple flume slide, to the new Splashtown for the younger swimmers.
S: Spirit of Detroit Statue | Detroit
After stopping by the Joe Louis monument, make this your second stop for another family photo op!
Bonus: Stop in to Supino Pizzeria for a bite to eat after taking photos. Grab some pizza by the slice and walk around town while you eat.
Bonus #2: Make a rainy day reservation for play at Stemville in Northville. Or, head to the movies for AMC Sensory Friendly Films (on the second and fourth Saturday and Wednesday of each month).
T: Tiger’s Game | Detroit
Let your kids ride the ferris wheel and the carousel, then enjoy fresh squeezed lemonade from the Big Cat Food Court. Oh, and watch the baseball game!
Bonus: Head over to Troy Gym on a rainy day!
U: Urban Air Adventure Park | Various Locations
This will be perfect for a rainy day. Have your kids start on a ropes course, then head to the tubes playground. Last but not least, check out the warrior course.
Bonus: Head underwater, literally, and take the Detroit-Windsor tunnel over to Canada for the day.
V: Valade Park | Detroit
Bring some food to grill on the community grills, and then give the kids some time to play on the playscapes. Make sure to check out Bob’s Barge and The Shed Bar for refreshments!
W: Woodward Avenue
Hop in the car, roll the windows down, and cruise Woodward on a Friday or Saturday night after dinner. Stop at Custard and Company and get some ice cream, or go to the zoo before your Woodward cruise.
Bonus: Cool down at Webber Splash Pad at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield.
X: X-Golf | Various Locations
Spend an afternoon playing golf without going to the golf course. Stay for a bite to eat after!
Y: Yates Cider Mill | Rochester Hills
Honestly, Yates could take up multiple days this summer. There are so many fun things to do! Walk the trails, then stop and see the farm animals. Grab some ice cream and walk near the river. Stop in to the bake shop, and then make time for some pony rides. But every time you go–get donuts and cider!
Bonus: Grab dinner from Yum Village in Detroit!
Z: Z Lot Rooftop | Detroit
The final stop for photo ops in the city–the Z Lot rooftop! Dress in coordinating outfits (or don’t!) and smile for some fun, festive pictures with our beautiful city in the background.
Bonus: Spend the morning at the Zoo before the day heats up.
It’s fun to explore in summer, but make sure you’re prepared! Read over our Mom’s Guide to Ticks so you know just what to do if you see one.
This post was originally written by Whitney Cornelli and was updated by Lauren Dalton in 2024.
