Fun for the Family

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
219 E. Hurron St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-995-5439
Not far from Detroit, on the University of Michigan's campus in Ann Arbor, is the newly expanded Hands-On Museum. On the four floors of the building, there are 250 hands-on exhibits ranging including watching optical illusions, making the Bernoulli Ball stay afloat, and making your own laser show. Part of the expansion includes a section solely for preschoolers, the Kids at Work Preschool Gallery.

Belle Isle Park
Jefferson Ave. and Grand Blvd.
Deroit, 48215
313-852-4078
This famous floating park in the middle of the Detroit River was designed by the same architect who created Central Park in New York City. Visiting the park's freshwater aquarium, Belle Isle Zoo, and Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, your family can spend a whole day just in this park.

Cranbrook Institute of Science
1221 N. Woodward Ave.
Bloomfield Hills, 48304
800-GO-CRANBrook
Parents and children alike can hands-on experiments to learn about physics, the laws of motion, and how life works. If dinosaurs excite your family, come face to face with the only Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in Michigan. Call before you visit to learn what attractions will be offered that day.

Detroit Science Center
5020 John R. St.
Detroit 48202
313-577-8400
Small kids with a lot to do -- what could be more perfect? With more than 50 hands-on displays for them, your kids can't complain that they are bored. Take in several experiments, and then watch a movie in the IMAX Theatre about Egypt or the Rainforest. Just have fun!

Detroit Zoo
8450 W. 10 Miles Road
Royal Oak 48067
248-398-0900
Debuting in 1928 as the first zoo with roam-free areas, the Detroit Zoo is still going strong. Always looking ahead, the Zoo is planning an Arctic Ring of Life to open in the summer/fall of 2000. Some other exhibits include the domestic farm animals, the Rackham Memorial Fountain, and the Elephant House. If you become a little tired from all the walking, there is a miniature railroad that can take your family from one part of the zoo to another for a nominal fee.

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Detroit 48121
313-271-1620
There are two separate parts to this museum, the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. On display in the Henry Ford Museum are kitchens from past, jewelry, things made in America from the 18th to the 20th century and, of course, automobiles in America (and these are just a few of the displays). Greenfield Village offers the family tours of different lifestyles from around the country. You can stop in the Phoenixville Post Office, or visit Henry Ford's birthplace. It's a great history lesson for the whole family.

Motor Sports Hall of Fame
Novi Expo Center
43700 Expo Center Drive
Novi, MI 48050
810-349-7223
Car lovers, this place is for you! Designed for all ages, from newcomers to the sport to veterans, the Sports Hall includes everything from Indy cars to open-wheelers, from driving simulations to mind-boggling automotive displays.

Spirit of Ford
1151 Village Road
Dearborn, MI 48124
313-317-7474
Located just outside of Detroit, visitors will discover the Spirit of Ford. This place embodies learning and fun together. The hands-on exhibits allow you to build a car, make a commercial, learn about recycling to make a car, and much more. The museum was designed to foster the knowledge of how cars are designed, tested, engineered and manufactured.