Are you staying in town and looking for Michigan Spring Break Ideas? We have ideas to make this week a great Ann Arbor staycation – whether you have the whole week to explore, a day, or
Ann Arbor Museums
There are several great children’s museums in Ann Arbor – or at least museums that appeal to children. With wet weather most of spring break week, museums are a great choice. They are all walking distance from each other (Hands-on Museum is a little further).
- Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum (Closed Monday)
- UM Museum of Natural History (Open all week during spring break)
- Kelsey Museum of Archaeology (Closed Monday)
- UM Museum of Art (Closed Monday)
Video Game Enthusiast
Is your child an avid gamer? Take a day to explore video games at some of these unique locations).
- Pinball Pete’s (they open at noon) and have fun with the pinball machines and arcade games
- Personally, we like to check out Insomnia Cookies when at Pinball Pete’s
- The Computer & Video Game Archive (open noon-7p Monday-Thursday, and noon-6p Friday during spring break). They moved a couple years ago and are now in Shapiro Library – down the street from Pinball Pete’s.
Best in Games (BIG) replaced Zap Zone (is located a couple of doors down on Carpenter Rd). Like Zap Zone, BIG has laser tag, an arcade, bumper cars, and virtual reality. They also have a Go Kart Track, Axe Throwing, and an Adventure Course.
Playground Tour
Don’t just visit one playground, many playgrounds are in walking distance of other playgrounds. A few playgrounds you can combine:
- Water Hill – Hunt, Belize, Mixtwood-Pomona, Ann Arbor Open playgrounds
- Argo Area – Longshore, Beckley, Plymouth Parkway, Riverside
- Island Park – Island Park, Fuller Park, Riverside
Explore the map on our Playground Profiles to find other walkable playgrounds. One of our readers suggested touring several elementary school playgrounds and comparing them at the end of the day.
World War II History Day
I love combining a visit to the Yankee Air Museum with a meal at the Bomber Restaurant.
Explore a Downtown Area
Pick a section of Ann Arbor or one of the smaller towns near Ann Arbor. Explore the shops, try a new restaurant, visit a park. I’ve picked a couple of areas and just named a few activities, shops, restaurants, and nearby parks. There are definitely more options in each area.
- Ann Arbor Kerrytown
- Activity – Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Ann Arbor Farmers Market
- Shops – Catching Fireflies, Mudpuddles
- Restaurants – Zingerman’s Deli, Miss Kim, Detroit St Filling Station, and more
- Parks – North Main, Wheeler Park
- Ann Arbor Main St
- Activities – Look for Fairy Doors & public art
- Shops – Vault of Midnight, Rock Paper Scissors, Cherry Republic
- Restaurants – Pretzel Bell, Frita Batidos, Shalimar, Blank Slate Creamery, Taq
- Ypsilanti
- Activities – Michigan Firehouse Museum, Aurora Society at Decode
- Shops – The Rocket, World of Rocks
- Restaurants – Aubrees, Bobcat Bonnies, Maiz, Ma Lous’s, Bellflower
- Parks – Riverside Park
- Dexter
- Activity – Dexter District Library
- Food – Dexter Bakery, Dexter Creamery, A&W Drive In, Aubrees
- Park – Mill Creek, Lions Park
- Milan
- Activities – The Play Station (indoor playground)
- Food – Life is Sweet Bakery,
- Parks – Wilson Park
Attend a UM Sporting Event
Home sporting events during Ann Arbor spring break:
- Saturday, March 23
- 2p – Softball vs Purdue
- 2p – Women’s Water Polo vs Toronto
- 2:30p – Men’s Lacrosse vs Maryland
- 5p – Women’s Water Polo vs Long Beach State
- Sunday, March 24
- 9a – Women’s Water Polo vs Bucknell
- noon – Men’s Tennis vs Nebraska
- 1p – Softball vs Purdue
- 3p – Women’s Water Polo vs UC Merced
- Monday, March 25
- 4p – Softball vs Purdue
- Tuesday, March 26
- 4p – Baseball vs Michigan State
- Wednesday, March 27
- 4:30p – Softball vs Toledo
- Friday, March 29
- 4p – Baseball vs Maryland
- Saturday, March 30
- 11a – Women’s Tennis vs Indiana
- 12:30p – Women’s Lacrosse vs. Maryland
- 2p – Baseball vs Maryland
Visit Animals
Spend time visiting with animals – take a day trip to the Detroit Zoo, the Toledo Zoo, or check out one of these more local options.
Escape to the Tropics…at Least Temporarily
Spend the morning at the Conservatory at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Make sure to dress in layers so you don’t overheat in the Conservatory but can head outside to the Children’s Garden. Note they are closed on Mondays and open at 10a other days. They stay open until 4:30p ever day except Wednesday when they close at 8p.
Head to an indoor pool and the warm humid air will make you think you’re in the tropics – at least until you go back outside.
Another option is to book a night or two at a local hotel with a pool. We’re still looking forward to the return of a local indoor water park at Splash Universe. Splash Village in Frankenmuth typically offers day passes.
