I scream, you scream, we all scream for screen-free outdoor fun! Get your kids out to explore the great outdoors with these free activities sure to have them asking to take their next adventure soon.
Walk, Jog, Bike, Rollerblade, Scooter, or whatever your way through Detroit’s unique Dequindre Cut!
Go challenge yourself to a game of Disc Golf in Hines Park!
Explore the Children’s Gardens at Matthaei Botanical Gardens! They have a hands-on garden, hedge maze, dirt and sand boxes, bridges and paths, and of course beautiful flowers!
Go visit the baby animals and learn about farm life at Maybury Farm in Northville! A small donation is suggested for your admission.
Have a picnic on Belle Isle as you look out to the skyline of Detroit! And after lunch, go explore some of the amazing free attractions (mentioned earlier) on the island! (Insider tip, there is an amazing large playscape in the middle of the island!)
Go bird watching at Kensington Metro Park! In the wintertime, you can even get the wild chickadees to eat birdseed out of your hand! (A Metroparks Vehicle Entry Permit is required to visit)
And while you are at Kensington, be sure to stop over and visit their animals at The Farm Center! And while at the Farm Center, take a short walk to the riverside where a one-of-a-kind “green” building (made exclusively of natural materials), a stone labyrinth, a grass maze, and more!
If you haven’t heard of GeoCaching, this is the summer to give it a whirl! This treasure hunting activity is fun for the whole family! There are tons of them spread out everywhere, from neighborhood parks to Metro Parks!
Enjoy a stroll along the river in the beautiful Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor! The peonies bloom in June and are magical to see!
If you have a metro-parks pass, check out 250 acre Wolcott Farm, a working farm with a variety of animals!
And worth mentioning again, Campus Martius is an amazing FREE outdoor spot to have some fun this summer! Enjoy playing in the sand at the man-made beach in the middle of the city! Enjoy Food Truck fare M-F from 11 AM – 1 PM and then stroll over to Cadillac Square to play some free ping pong, cornhole, chess, Jenga, and more! (Secret Yummy Tip: Walk up Woodward a half block and get a refreshing delicious treat from Detroit Water Ice. 100% of the proceeds are donated to charity!)
