Michigan offers families all kinds of activities across both peninsulas. Visit one of the state's many cities for a cultural or historical education or step outside into Michigan's unspoiled nature for outdoor activities, such as fishing, nature walks or skiing. Spend a fun-filled day at a water park, zoo, concert or sporting event. You won't run out of things to do in Michigan.
Michigan boasts the world's longest freshwater coastline and more than 100 public beaches, so take the family to the beach for the day for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, water-skiing or boating. You also have many lakes and rivers to choose from. The state houses 99 state parks where you can hike, bike, go cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and camping. Climb the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Empire or check out the multicolored sandstone cliffs of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising. Visit the waterfalls of Tahquamenon Falls near Paradise Lakes.
On a rainy or cold day in Michigan, take the family to any one of the many museums around the state. If your kids have a hard time sitting still, take them to a children's museum, such as the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum. For kids interested in science and space, take them to the Detroit Science Center or the Talbert and Leota Abrams Planetarium in East Lansing. Families interested in history can go to museums dedicated to famous Michigan natives, such as Henry Ford and Gerald Ford, or the many historic forts. Also visit car museums dedicated to cars, mining, lighthouses and Native Americans.
Take the family to an amusement park for the day. Splash Universe River Run in Dunee offers twisting water slides, a 500-gallon splash bucket, lazy river, arcade and on-site dining. If you're in the Flint area, visit Crossroads Village and Mott Children's Farm, where you can tour a historic structure or go for a ride on a carousel, Ferris wheel, train or paddle boat. The Michigan Adventure Amusement Park and Wild Water Adventure gives you the choice of more than 50 rides, slides and attractions.
If your family includes sports fans, take them to see a professional game. Michigan hosts the Detroit Lions football team, Pistons basketball team, Red Wings hockey team and Tigers baseball team. Or you can catch one of Michigan's many minor league games. For baseball, check out the Lansing Lugnuts. If you prefer basketball, catch a Grand Rapids Hoops game or if you like hockey see the Grand Rapids Griffins in action. Michigan is also home to two Big Ten Conference schools --- Michigan State University in East Lansing and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
