With over 200 miles of beaches, Michigan is a great spring break area for families. Michigan also offers camping, fishing, hiking and water sports for outdoor travelers looking to connect with nature on Spring Break. Families with older children might consider looking at colleges in Ann Arbor and Lansing as part of their spring break plans.
Most of the beach towns are a short drive from one another along the scenic West Michigan Pike. Campgrounds are available on the coast or inland along Route 31. Families should expect to pay between $12 and $25 a night for a site at a state park, depending on proximity to the shore, type of site and level of amenities. Plan a tour of Michigan's beaches with overnights at different sites or base your beach break out of a convenient home base such as Charlevoix, which offers four beaches of its own. Charlevoix has inexpensive motels for families who prefer not to camp, but be sure to make reservations early.
The beach town of Muskegon offers an amusement and water park where kids can play, as well as three state parks that have hiking, beach access and picnic areas. Families with pets should take care to research leash laws and pet access for any parks they want to visit.
Grand Haven's signature red lighthouse sits at the end of its shop-lined boardwalk for families with slightly older children.
Families hoping to make spring break a college tour should visit Ann Arbor's University of Michigan and Lansing's Michigan State University. MSU offers admissions tours as well as general visitors tours; each requires no reservations and is free, though they leave from different locations. MSU visitors should stop by the Kresge Art Museum before leaving campus. Also in Lansing, the Impression 5 Science Center can keep little hands busy. Impression 5 features a walk-through heart exhibit and many interactive demonstrations and programs for children.
The University of Michigan has many small museums, most of which ask for a suggested donation or offer free admission. The Gerald Ford Presidential Library is hosted at the University of Michigan.
Walk the streets of Ann Arbor to get a feel for its quaint shops and funky vibe. In particular, the Kerrytown neighborhood features weekend farmers markets and boutiques while Main Street shows visitors the town's college charms. On houses and businesses throughout Ann Arbor, watchful visitors can spot urban fairy doors--miniature decorative doors. Nearby Ypsilanti offers a historic Michigan Firehouse Museum, an exhibit of wooden marionettes and the Chelsea Teddy Bear company and Toy Museum.
