Top Things to Do with Kids in Detroit

The former Detroit Science Center reinvented itself as this Midtown attraction. Hands-on, high-tech activities pack the place. Kids get a charge out of learning about electricity in the Energy Sparks Theatre and launching rockets in the space exhibit; all ages stroll across an 80-foot-long replica of the Mackinac Bridge. An Imax theater and planetarium round out the activities. 

With exhibits honoring aviation pioneers, car culture and U.S. inventors, it's hard not to be inspired by the American ingenuity on display at The Henry Ford Museum of Innovation and Greenfield Village, both part of The Henry Ford in nearby Dearborn. Ford amassed an astonishing collection of Americana, including the bus where Rose Parks refused to give up her seat, Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, the home of the Wright Brothers and the limo JFK was sitting in when he was assassinated. 

The home field of the Detroit Tigers holds so much fun stuff that you might forget there's a baseball game going on. Once through the castlelike entrance gates, you'll find a Ferris wheel with giant baseball-shape cars, a tiger-theme carousel, batting cages, and life-size sculptures of Ty Cobb and other famous players. Kids 14 and under can ride the carousel and Ferris wheel free on Sundays, as well as run the bases after Sunday home games.

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This world-class museum impresses adults with an amazingly broad permanent collection that includes African art, Impressionist works and Diego Rivera murals. But it also makes visits fun and interesting for children. Check the schedule for family-friendly activities such as in-studio workshops, storytelling, art demonstrations and live performances.

Related: Top Things to Do in Detroit

What was once an inner-city speakeasy is now the place to go for signature square slices of Detroit's most popular deep-dish pizza. Don't let the unassuming exterior and long lines deter you; this pizza is worth waiting for. We like the chicken fajita variation for something different, but the classic plain cheese lets the quality of the ingredients really shine. 

A stunning fountain and parklike grounds set the Detroit Zoo apart. A local fixture since the 1880s, this zoo spreads over 125 acres and is to more than 2,800 animals and 265 species. Lions and tigers and bears are just a few of the stars; you'll also see Japanese snow monkeys, kangaroos, giraffes, pythons and butterflies.

The 900-plus acre state park in the Detroit River delivers a lineup of fun for both kids and adults, including a free aquarium with more than 1,000 fish, a marble lighthouse, beach, bike path and maritime museum. The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, with its exotic plant collection, is scheduled to reopen in 2024 after a $10 million renovation.

Studded with pretty parks and fountains the kids can splash through, the 5.5-mile RiverWalk stretches beyond the borders of downtown to link Joe Louis Arena and Gabriel Richard Park. Along the way are landmarks such as the GM Renaissance Center and Eastern Market. Stop at Cullen Plaza to take a spin on the carousel adorned with Great Lakes-native animals.

No need to worry about the kids being noisy here. Shouts of "Opa!" ring out every few minutes as the waitstaff delivers flaming saganaki. This Greektown staple serves a sizable selection of traditional cuisine, such as moussaka, kabobs and gyros. The portions are as ginormous as the menu, but try to save room for one of the delectable desserts. 

Get a taste of wildlife, camping, mountain biking and other adventures through exhibits and simulators created by the state's Department of Natural Resources.