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)
- UM Medical History Exhibit (Open Weekends)
Video Game Enthusiast
Is your child an avid gamer? Take a day to explore video games at some of these unique locations).
- The Computer & Video Game Archive (open noon-8p Monday-Thursday, and noon-5p Friday during AAPS spring break). They have decreased their hours since the pandemic, so school breaks when UM is in session is the best time to visit.
- Best in Games (BIG) has laser tag, an arcade, bumper cars, and virtual reality. They also have a Go Kart Track, Axe Throwing, and an Adventure Course.
- Sadly, it does not look like Pinball Pete’s will reopen by spring break.
Game On Time! 7 Best Family Fun Arcades Near Ann Arbor
Introduce the kids to retro fun at the 7 best arcades in Ann Arbor to take your kids? Whether you’re planning a fun outing with elementary schoolers or teens, there are a number of arcades to choose from. From retro pinball machines to state-of-the-art arcade games, these spots offer something for every gamer in the […]
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.
Ann Arbor Playground Profiles
Are you looking for a new Ann Arbor Playground to visit? Be sure to check out our Ann Arbor Playground Profiles. If there is one thing that Ann Arbor has in abundance, it is parks. The City of Ann Arbor owns and operates 159 parks. That doesn’t even count Washtenaw County Parks, or parks in Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti, Dexter, Saline, […]
World War II History Day
I love combining a visit to the Michigan Flight 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, Little 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, 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 28
- 2p – Softball vs Purdue
- 2p – Men’s Lacrosse vs Maryland
- Sunday, March 29
- noon – Men’s Tennis vs USC
- 1p – Softball vs Purdue
- 1p- Women’s Lacrosse vs Oregon
- Tuesday, March 31
- 4p – Softball vs Oakland
- Wednesday, April 1
- 4p – Women’s Tennis vs Ohio State
- Thursday, April 2
- 7p – Women’s Lacrosse vs Ohio State
- Friday, April 3
- 4p – Baseball vs Oregon
- Saturday, April 4
- TBD (as of March 5) – Women’s Water Polo vs Indiana
- 2p – Baseball vs Oregon
- Sunday, April 5
- noon – Baseball vs Oregon
- noon – Men’s Lacrosse vs Rutgers
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.
From Alligators To Zebras: Ultimate Guide To Animal Encounters Near Ann Arbor In 2026
Kids love animals. Did you know there are lots of opportunities to see animals near Ann Arbor? While there are two great zoos within an hour, they are both day trips. There are several closer options that don’t require the all day commitment. These places to see Animals Near Ann Arbor include several nature centers, […]
Escape to the Tropics…at Least Temporarily
While spring break is relatively warm this year, the initial forecast looks like we are in for several days of rain. 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.
Swim Year Round at These Indoor Pools Near Ann Arbor
Yes, there are a number of Ann Arbor Indoor Pool where you can swim year round! There’s nothing like a taste of summer on a cold winter day – until you have to go back outside. Find an Indoor Swimming Pools Near You Are you looking for an Indoor Swimming Pool? Check out the map to […]
Another option is to book a night or two at a local hotel with a pool. Or head to a waterpark hotel in Frankenmuth for the night (Splash Village or Bavarian Inn) – or book a day pass.
Where Kids Can Play While Parents Work
I have been running this site since my daughter was 3. Over the years I have worked in all kinds of places while my daughter played. I remember sitting on the floor at an inflatable bounce place on my laptop. I’ve also worked in the library common areas while my daughter attended events. Of course since she’s 20, many of the places we used to go are no longer options.
Our indoor play article is a great place to start. Dinoland, Hide & Seek Play Boutique, and Recess all have nice tables for parents to sit at while they work. We Rock the Spectrum is now offering work and play passes.
Epic Indoor Play Near Ann Arbor: Bounce, Climb, Imagine & More
There are plenty of fun indoor play spaces near Ann Arbor where kids can jump, climb, run, and explore. Perfect for when the Michigan weather takes a turn – sub-zero temperatures in winter, rainy days, sweltering summer days, or poor air quality days from distant wildfires. From sensory-friendly gyms to trampoline parks and play cafés, […]
Libraries are always a great option. Whether your child is at an event, looking for books, or playing with toys or on devices, you can get some work done. If they’re younger you’ll need to sit with them, but as they get older you can give them a bit more space.
