PLEASE NOTE: THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN JUNE 2006 - PLEASE CHECK WITH ATTRACTIONS FOR CURRENT DEALS AND EVENTS.
Air Zoo
The kids are out of school, the mercury is rising and the familiar strains of the words "I'm bored" are starting to resonate throughout the house. So what's a family to do? Head to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, of course...where it's always 70 degrees and there's plenty to do this summer.
Have an aviation buff in the family? No problem...this July, the American Barnstormers Tour will make its first stop for the Air Zoo's Barnstormer's Bonus Weekend with 15-20 historical aircraft. The weekend will also include airplane rides.
Need help engaging the kids? The Air Zoo Players bring history alive several times a day with character portrayals of important aviation history-makers such as Wilbur Wright and Benjamin Davis, a Tuskegee Airman.
Need to give both kids and parents a break? Air Zoo summer camps will engage kids ages 6-18 with several different types of summer camps including one where kids can actually fly a plane! The Air Zoo even offers an overnight family camp.
Want to ride in a historic P-51 Mustang? Beginning mid-June, the Air Zoo will be raffling off a ride in this historic bomber escort. Tickets will be $5 each or five for $20.
Here's a run down of some other great kid-friendly attractions around the state:
Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad
This popular family attraction features a magnificent steam railroad and a living history village of 34 historic structures, including Masters Cider Mill. Friendly villagers in period dress welcome you to the homes, mills and shops where they demonstrate crafts and skills of the 1800's. Live entertainment in the Opera House, vintage amusement park rides and a beautiful paddlewheel riverboat add to the fun all summer long.
Curious Kids' Museum
Inquiring minds will enjoy this hands-on museum dedicated to stimulating the curiosity of children of all ages with educational exhibits and programs that challenge the senses and offer exceptional learning opportunities.
Detroit Children's Museum
Children, families and adults have loads of fun with learning experiences that encourage understanding of themselves and the world around them. Be sure to schedule enough time to explore the museum's Planetarium.
The Lena Meijer Children's Garden
The kids are in for an exciting time filled with rock quarry and tree house explorations where they learn about insects, wildlife, birds, and trees at the Lena Meijer Children's Garden. They'll engage in one-on-one interaction with staff using props such as boats, shovels and puppets to promote fun-filled educational learning.
Full Blast Family Entertainment Center
Full Blast, the international award winning family entertainment center has over 150,000 square feet of year-round fun for the entire family. Amenities include a brand new miniature golf course (glow in the dark), indoor and outdoor water parks, video arcade, imagination station, rock wall, inflatable obstacle course, food court, basketball and volleyball, bouncy room, trampoline thing, cyberspin, screamer slide and more.
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
Michigan's second largest city offers a place where childhood is celebrated by providing an educational environment that inspires learning through a number of interactive, hands-on activities guaranteed to keep your children ages 2-10 engaged for hours.
Impression 5 Science Museum
This hands-on museum is designed so kids of all ages can experience the physical and natural sciences firsthand. The facility has an excellent selection of interactive science-related toys. The museum also offers a number of science labs and day camps for inquisitive kids.
Mackinac Island Butterfly House
Walk through a greenhouse with more than 500 butterflies from all over the world in flight over 1,000 flowers. Here, you'll find one of the few nationwide educational displays that demonstrate the life cycle of the butterfly and their role in our environment. Kids love to watch an adult butterfly emerge from a pupa into a beautiful, colorful creature.
Michigan has great attractions designed with kids in mind. To find one in a city that you plan to visit this summer, visit our michigan.org kids' attractions page.