Michigan has a wide range of museums across the state, some of which are created just for kids. These museums are educational and engaging, making the learning process fun, for both kids and adults. Most of the museums are continuously adding or changing exhibits so visitors can come back again and again. Learn more about each of these unique museums that are sure to put a smile on your kiddos’ faces!
West Michigan
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
11 Sheldon Ave NE, Grand Rapids | 616.235.4726 | Website
The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is nestled in a great area of downtown. The first floor of the two-story building is largely focused on small children and allowing them to crawl and walk between games and interactive activity areas. The second floor of the museum is focused on educational exhibits.
The Little Grand Rapids exhibit allows kids to do all of the activities grown-ups do such as grocery shop, visit the bank or post office. The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum also has a climbing wall, more legos than you will ever need and a lightbox to keep children busy.
Curious Kids’ Museum
415 Lake Boulevard, St. Joseph | 269.983.2543 | Website
The Curious Kids’ Museum is perfectly located for a day of activities in St. Joesph. You can start your day at the beach right around the corner, visit a downtown restaurant and finish up the day at the kids’ museum.
The museum offers over 100 hands-on activities that provide immediate feedback in their exhibits. The Kids’ Space exhibit allows kids to be a radio DJ, which is fun for kids of all ages! The S.S. Cruizer is a great exhibit for any boat fanatics to play captain.
The Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone is also based in St. Joesph. The Discovery Zone is designed for ages 3 and up. It is within walking distance to the museum, so you may want to consider paying for admission for both locations.
Bonus Museum
Air Zoo is based in Portage. While it isn’t exclusively a kid’s museum, it does have amusement park rides and educational activities that are fun for kids and adults. Learn more about Air Zoo and things to do in the Kalamazoo area.
East Michigan
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
220 E Ann St, Ann Arbor | 734.995.5439 | Website
The Ann Arbor museum has over 250 science exhibits spread across four floors. If you are local, the museum has a $5 entry every Thursday after 5 pm.
The Preschool Gallery focuses on the youngest museum visitors allowing them to dress up as firefighters and play on a fire engine. The Michigan Nature exhibit focuses on the state’s beautiful scenery and wildlife. Don’t forget to check out the Legacy Gallery which teaches kids how the internet works, since they will never know a life without it!
Flint Children’s Museum
1602 University Ave, Flint | 810.767.5437 | Website
The Flint Children’s Museum focuses on creating a love for learning for kids age 2 to 10. The museum has a Discovery Zone that rotates every 3 months, so it regularly has something new and fun to checkout.
The How Things Work exhibit is great to learn about everyday things that your kiddos might not fully understand yet, with the gravity wall being a great example. The Performing Arts exhibit is a fun area for kids to perform as well as come up with their own story or create dramatic music on the pipe organ. The Flint Children’s Museum also has the Tot Spot for it’s youngest visitors to play in.
Mid-Michigan
Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum
315 W Genesee Ave, Saginaw | 989.399.6626 | Website
Based in Saginaw, the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum is full of hands-on galleries to keep the kids from birth to the age of 10 busy and having fun all throughout your visit, whether it is a short one or half a day. The building was a former car dealership but has been converted to an amazing space, in addition to classrooms that are perfect for field trips and birthday parties.
A notable exhibit at the Saginaw children’s museum is Insides Out where kids learn a lot about the human body when they visit the ophthalmology, orthopedics, dental “offices” as well as others. The Water, Water Everywhere exhibit allows kids to see be little scientists by doing water experiments and learn more about the water cycle.
Impression 5 Science Center
200 Museum Drive, Lansing | 517.485.8116 | Website
Impression 5 is a hands-on science museum in downtown Lansing. The museum is designed for kids to explore all five of their senses. The science center caters to children of all ages and is even fun for adults too.
The newest exhibit, SMASH: A Nuclear Adventure, focuses on nuclear science and atoms, is geared toward older visitors. They also have long-standing and loved exhibits such as Spectrum, a light exhibit, and Chew On This which looks at oral health.
Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum
5093 E. Remus Rd, Mt. Pleasant | 989.317.3221 | Website
The Mr. Pleasant Discovery Museum is for children 12 and under. The discovery museum also has a lending library that learning activities to take home and let the fun continue.
The discovery museum has a variety of exhibits including Honey Money Bank to play with money and practice math skills. The Luminary Lab allows kids to explore light in a variety of ways. It also has an outdoor exhibit, Friendship Field, with a kitchen, flowers and plants.
Northern Michigan
Great Lakes Children’s Museum
13240 S W Bay Shore Drive, Traverse City | 231.932.4526 | Website
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is located in Traverse City. Here kids learn through playing and experimenting. The museum has exhibits, both permanent and rotating as well as daily programs.
Grab a fishing pole or hop in the rowboat in the Row, Row, Row exhibit designed for kids 1 to 3. Cross the Mini-Mac to visit the Building Bridges exhibit. Here older kids can learn about bridge design before building their own. The Traverse City children’s museum has a lot of activities that feature Michigan’s Great Lakes roots too.
Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum
123 West Baraga Ave, Marquette | 906.226.3911 |Website
The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum is based in Marquette. With rotation exhibits, there’s never a wrong time to go. If you live in the area, the Marquette children’s museum has a variety of programs and events to check out too.
The Human Body exhibit allows kids to climb into the stomach before sliding down the intestines. This exhibit will soon have a heart chamber to explore too. Visit the Creature Kingdom for the chance to touch turtles, and see snakes and reptiles. The Over the Air exhibit is a fun combination of being a pilot, or on-air as a weathercaster.
If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Michigan that are both educational and fun be sure to check out these museums throughout the state. They are also a great place to host a children’s birthday party too. The kids will love it and so will you!
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