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Things to do with kids in Ann Arbor

12 family-friendly places in Ann Arbor: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Ann Arbor
Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0 (licence)

Things to do with kids in Ann Arbor

  1. SeeScience museum

    Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

    Nine galleries with more than 250 interactive science demos and exhibits, on topics from physics to health to nature to mathematics. Kids will like it a lot; adults will be fairly entertained.

    Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow$9 (donations gratefully accepted)

  2. Buy

    Nickels Arcade

    Shops and galleries housed in a historic indoor walkway with a glass atrium-style ceiling, built in 1915 and modelled after a European arcade.

  3. EatIndian restaurant

    Earthen Jar

    This tiny restaurant is full of flavor and the only all-vegetarian Indian restaurant in town. Family recipes may surprise. Catering.

    Mon-Thu Sat 11AM-8PM, Fri 11AM-9PM, closed Sunsalad bar $5/lb

  4. See

    Buhr Park

    A 39-acre (16 hectares) park with picnic areas, children's play area, softball diamond, soccer fields, outdoor tennis courts, 25-yard (23 m) swimming pool, children's wading pool, outdoor ice arena for public skating and ice hockey, cross-country ski center, and snowmobile trails. Skate rentals available.

  5. See

    Cobblestone Farm Museum

    An 1845 two-family home, notable for its façade made of cobblestones in herringbone rows, now restored and interpreted to give a view of past rural life in Washtenaw County.

    Tours offered 10AM-1PM on the last Sat of the month, beginning in May. On-site gift shop open during tours or by appointment$2

  6. See

    Domino's Petting Farm

    15 acres (6 hectares) of land with farm animals from around the world, including rare and near-extinct species, like the French Poitou donkey (only 200 reportedly in existence), African watusi cow, Horned Dorset ram, and Tibetan yak. The barn was once part of a working 1925-era farm, but was opened as a petting zoo in 1984. Tours, hay rides and educational presentations available.

    Mon-Fri 9:30AM-4PM, Sat Sun 10:30AM-5PM$5 adults, $4.50 children and seniors

  7. Eat

    Paesano's

    Family-owned Italian restaurant featuring appetizers, salads, pasta, Italian main courses, desserts, and an award-winning selection of Italian wines. Try their rigatoni with country greens, sausage and hot peppers.

    Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri 11AM-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-10PM$10-23

  8. Do Not mapped

    Ann Arbor Bicycle Club

    Ann Arbor Bicycle Club is a weekly bike cruise that happens from the early spring until the late fall. It is made up of many 'Townies' and U of M students. Enjoy the fresh night air and see the town from a different angle. On this pleasantly paced ride you will visit local parks and other public hangouts that most overlook. Bring your bike, bring your beer, and bring your friends. But don't bring yo' kids!

    9PM-4AMFree

  9. DoArcade

    Elks Pratt Lodge

    220 Sunset Rd

  10. DoArcade

    Pinball Pete's

    1214 S University Ave

  11. DoArcade

    Pinball Pete's

    500 E Liberty St

  12. DoAmusement park

    The Ark

    1955 Pauline Blvd

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Ann Arbor (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.