Easter eggs have been hunted, the weather is finally warming up, and blooming flowers seem like they are here to stay—Spring is in full swing here in Ann Arbor and we couldn’t be more excited!   

While summer break is still several weeks away, that doesn’t mean A2 isn’t ripe with kid-friendly adventures to embark on. Playgrounds, art walks, baking classes, bike trails and skate parks are all here to keep your family happy and entertained before school is out. To help you navigate it all, we rounded up a few of our favorite springtime, family-oriented activities in the area below. Have a great spring!   

Explore Kidopolis

If you’re looking for a day of fun with your kids in Ann Arbor, you don’t want to miss Kidopolis Studios, a local small business dedicated to children’s entertainment and enrichment. Here, you and your kiddos can use your imagination to travel the world; try out different careers; see an exciting show and even get coffee (or hot chocolate) at their handy coffee and snack bar! Right now, they are doing all they can to keep you and your family safe amidst the pandemic. That means strict social distancing measures, an appointment booking system and more. Click here for all the information and to plan your day at Kidopolis!   

Tour the Chelsea Sculpture Walk 

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Festivals + Events

Celebrating its 12th year this season, SculptureWalk Chelsea is an event where local artists create outdoor sculptures to be placed around town for one whole year! The 2020-2021 season has brought 14 new, incredible sculptures to the Chelsea area. Head to Chelsea to explore them before they are removed and replaced at the end of May! You can get a sneak peek of all the sculptures online before you go.  

Ride your bikes on a local trail  

Learning how to ride a bike is a childhood rite of passage. From your neighborhood sidewalk to local parks, A2 is chock full of great places to start riding. The Border-to-Border Trail is a 20-mile scenic trail that starts in Hudson Mills Metropark, taking you through Dexter, Ann Arbor and finally, Ypsilanti. But no matter where you start on this trail, your family will love exploring everything Washtenaw County has to offer! We also love Waterloo State Recreation Area, Olson Park, Lakelands Trail State Park and the Lower Huron Metropark—each offering a few fantastic places to ride.   

Find Ann Arbor’s Fairy Doors  

Fairy doors have been popping up all over Ann Arbor in various locations for as long as we can remember. Today, you can find these charming, artistic, miniature doors at The Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor District Library, The Ark, Nicola’s Books and at least four other documented locations in town. Take your family out on the town this season and try to find them all! Here is a great map that will help you track them down.  

Go skating at the Ann Arbor Skatepark  

If you’ve got a budding Tony Hawk in your family, don’t miss Ann Arbor’s own skatepark located in Veterans Memorial Park! This skatepark—which is open every day from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.—is a 20,000-square-foot facility where skaters of all ages and backgrounds can come together to skate for free. As for current COVID-19 guidelines, playground equipment around the park is not sanitized so Friends of the Ann Arbor Skate Park asks you to use caution. They also ask that you remain 6 feet apart from others and wear a mask when around others.   

Watch a Wild Swan Theater production  

In 1980, Hilary Cohen and Sandy Ryder founded Wild Swan Theater with a desire to reach youth and families with artistic and accessible theater productions of the highest caliber. More than 40 years later, Wild Swan Theater is still going strong, offering a quality theater experience for young audiences that is both affordable and enjoyable! They are currently offering Pop Up Virtual Productions, so you and your family can watch their shows safely from home. Click here to see what events are coming up and to purchase your tickets!    

Learn something new at the Eddy Discovery Center

The Gerald Eddy Discovery Center in the Waterloo Recreation Area is a great way to introduce your children to our natural surroundings. This nature center explores the glacial geology of the region, the diverse natural habitats, and the many recreation opportunities available in the park and the Chelsea area. After you’re finished learning, take a few hours to explore everything else the Waterloo Recreation Area has to offer—we have a full guide of our favorite stops, here.   

Take a kid-friendly baking class

Tucked between Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Zingerman’s Creamery, BAKE! is Zingerman’s hands-on teaching bakery. There, you can learn everything from cake baking to cheese pairing. Classes are open to the public in topics like pizza making, donut frying, flour grinding, soft pretzel creation and more. Their specially designed Kids Camp Classes are classes providing hands-on instruction in valuable kitchen skills from baking to dinner making to cake decorating! They are also currently offering virtual class options to keep your family safe. Click here to see what’s coming up.  

Take a day trip to a nearby city  

Ann Arbor’s incredible location means it’s just a few minutes away from several amazing towns. Hop in the car and take a mini-road trip to Brighton, Manchester, Frankenmuth, Lansing or even Detroit! Every Michigan town has a plethora of things to offer. If you want to throw some road trip destinations into your trip, check out our guide to 13 “World’s Largest Things” in Michigan.   

Dine outside in Ypsilanti  

On April 1st, several streets throughout Ypsilanti closed to drivers, allowing local restaurants and shops to expand their stores outside—giving shoppers and pedestrians more room to social distance. If you have time this season, make sure to drive over and enjoy a meal al fresco with your family! Several Ann Arbor streets plan to close as well, so keep an eye on the city’s Instagram page for information on when you can enjoy sidewalk dining and shopping here in A2 as well.   

Play at a local playground  

Photo courtesy of Bryan Mitchell via Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation

From the iconic playground at County Farm Park to lesser-known gems like Glacier Highlands Park, Ann Arbor is full of playgrounds that your kids will love exploring. Follow Ann Arbor Family on Facebook, where they do a playground spotlight almost every single day! Then see how many you can hit this season. Just remember, many of these playgrounds are not regularly sanitized. We recommend going during off-hours to avoid crowds and, of course, always wearing a mask and social distancing when around others.  

Have a great spring!   

What do you plan to do with your kids in Ann Arbor this season? Let us know in the comments below!