No matter the season, Michigan bursts with opportunities for children to have fun. Recreation options range from historical re-creation villages to water parks to natural landmarks of great beauty. In the winter there are the snow sports of skiing, sledding and ice skating. In the summer months, the state lives up to its nickname of Water Wonderland with long stretches of sandy, freshwater beaches.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes is a national lakeshore where visitors can hike, swim, kayak, ski, sled and climb. Share the legend of the sleeping mama bear and her two cubs with your children before visiting. For many Michigan residents, making the Dune Climb is a rite of passage, as is running down it after the difficult slog through the sand uphill. The Maritime Museum demonstrates its lifesaving techniques all summer long by demonstrating the Lyle Gun each day. The Lyle Gun fired out a rescue line to ships in distress as far as 400 yards from shore.
Just outside the heart of Detroit, The Henry Ford celebrates American and Michigan history with interactive exhibits that make for a memorable daylong trip. The two main attractions are Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum.
Greenfield Village is a historical village where 83 historical structures have been moved, including such homes as Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law and the home where Noah Webster wrote the first American dictionary. The village is filled with demonstrations of turn-of-the-century crafts such as glass blowing and smithing. There are also train rides, steam boat rides and old-fashioned shows.
The Henry Ford Museum is a 9-acre museum filled with the history of innovation and invention. Numerous automobiles and steam engine trains tell the story of Detroit and the industrialization of America. There are also vehicles of historical significance such as the limousine that John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated.
The Michigan Adventure amusement park has two separate areas -- one that is the typical amusement park and the other that is a water park. Open from May to September in Muskegon, Michigan, the park sits on the west coast of the state, a stone's throw away from Lake Michigan. There are more than 60 rides ranging from a Lazy River to seven roller coasters.
You can board a ferry near either end of the Mackinac Bridge and take a trip back in time. The historic island preserves a Victorian-era feel with its historic buildings, gardens and bike trails. Perhaps most important is the ban on non-emergency motor vehicles.
All transportation on the island is via foot, bike, carriage or horseback. The main street is filled with fudge shops, souvenir stores and bike rental kiosks. Once you leave the main drag, children can visit the Butterfly House and Insect World, play Revolutionary-era games on the lawn of Fort Mackinac, get spooked at the Haunted Theater and wax museum or fly kites at Mission Point.
