Fun Indoor Winter Things to Do in Michigan
Looking for some indoor winter things to do in Michigan?
As every Michigander knows, it can get bitterly cold in this state. Especially in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
From indoor water parks and indoors farmers markets; to fun games like laser tag and axe throwing, there are fun things to do inside all over the state of Michigan.
Here are locations where you can have a fun time doing indoor activities while the weather is
cold and snowy outside.
Read on to discover 15 of Michigan’s best indoor attractions during winter.
PRO-TIP: Sure we all like to stay warm in the winter, but you might want to keep this list handy for spring break and summer break, too. You might need a trip idea or two when it’s rainy outside.
Best Indoor Winter Things to Do in Michigan with Kids
Explore the Curious Kids Museum – St. Joseph
Address: 415 Lake Blvd, Saint Joseph, MI 49085
As the name says, this museum is perfect for those Curious Kids who want to know more, do
more, and play more.
Staying for hours inside this attraction instead outside in the cold is
tempting enough, however, this museum offers a wide range of activities that are also
handicapped-friendly. Don’t miss the Lake Michigan Water Table, where kids can navigate their ships through currents and more.
Outside of the museum, be sure to explore St. Joseph, Michigan. Southwest Michigan is full of
Picturesque lighthouses, fun festivals, and endless miles of beaches to explore. Don’t miss Silver Beach in downtown St. Joseph. Even on a snowy or rainy day, the views are beautiful.
Visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan – Auburn Hills
Address: 4240 Baldwin Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326
This attraction in Great Lakes Crossing is a great idea for LEGO fans in addition to enjoying colorful toys. There are lots of activities offered, such as playgrounds (called Merlin’s Magic Wand), photo taking, rides, and theater experience, too.
LEGOLAND is ideal for parents who want to let their kids (3 to 10 years old) have a fun time after strolling through the mall. There are two types of rides that children can enjoy: the “Kingdom Quest” and “Merlin’s Apprentice.”
The best part? You can even get a class from an expert builder in the Creative Workshop.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Address: 220 E Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Imagine stepping inside a life-sized soap bubble! That’s just one of the cool, interactive exhibits at this popular museum in downtown Ann Arbor. Filled with interactive exhibits will surely excite your children to new possibilities, this favorite thing to do any time of the year. Kids can discover the scientist within while building simple machines and replicas of scientific concepts.
Don’t miss the “STEAM Park,” which features an exhibit with interactive mechanical gadgets and sculptures for children and adults alike.
Zehnder’s Splash Village
Address: 1365 S Main St, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Zehnder’s Splash Village is also a hotel that allows you to enjoy the festivities for days on end. In fact, this water park is the largest one in Michigan. Let that sink in.
This attraction is a fun place for the entire family. It is right beside Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland shop and right down the street from the cute town area of Frankenmuth.
Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan
Address: 4362 Baldwin Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Peppa Pig World of Play is located in the Great Lakes Crossing Mall. This is a place to escape the endless shopping experience and allow your children to express themselves freely.
With interactive play places and activities to participate in, this is a perfect spot for any family hoping to have their kids have fun while enjoying their favorite characters. The primary reason to visit however is how close it is to other great indoor activities.
Great Wolf Lodge Water Park
Address: 3575 N U.S. 31 S, Traverse City, MI 49684
Great Wolf Lodge is a massive indoor water park and hotel where children and adults can have a great time relaxing and spending time in a nature-themed resort. It has gift shops and cute cafes where souvenirs and apparel can be bought.
It can be an excellent place to visit either alone or with the family. Available to all ages and also
family-friendly, it features playscapes, a lazy river, and many water rides. This attraction is one
of the best places for some good indoor fun.
Best Indoor Things to Do in Southeast Michigan and Metro Detroit (All Ages)
Visit the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124
The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is one of the top museums in the entire country, and it’s easy to see why. It’s filled with both meaningful and inspiring exhibits that tell the story of American innovation.
Take a step onto the bus where civil rights leader Rosa Parks made her stand, and see the 1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine that John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated. From the Wright Brothers to the present, you’ll learn how American inventors have paid the path toward the future.
Go Ice Skating at an Indoor Rink
There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as hitting the ice and doing a couple of laps at an indoor skating rink. Lucky for us, both hockey and figure skating are big in Michigan so there are many indoor arenas throughout the state.
Use our guide to the best Michigan skating rinks to discover the best places to go ice skating near you. We’ve included listing in both the lower and upper peninsulas.
See Cool Fish at SEALIFE Michigan Aquarium
Address: 4316 Baldwin Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Home to Michigan’s only 180-degree water tunnel, you’ll love walking under the sharks, rays, and other fish swimming all around you. Explore a coral reef and an interactive touch pool while checking out more than 250 species of fish and aquatic life.
Nestled in the middle of the Great Lakes Crossing outlet mall, this is an excellent getaway for the family or a solo trip.
Play at Zap Zone
Address: 43680 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48314
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy an indoor playground. Laser tag and bumper cars are only some of the fun activities you’ll find at this (and other) Zap Zones.
Looking for even more activity? Choose from bowling, trampolines, roller skating or the Ninja climbing zone. Glow-in-the-dark golf (Glo Golf) is a great way to blow off some steam, too, and you can play it here!
Michigan Science Center
Address: 5020 John R St, Detroit, MI 48202
This Smithsonian-affiliated science museum in Detroit’s Midtown area is great for all ages. From a space gallery where you can learn about rocket travel to a walkable, 80-foot replica of the Mackinac Bridge, there is a lot to see and learn.
One of my favorite things here is the Centennial Lab, where on-site docents conduct interactive chemistry experiments.
Belle Isle Nature Center
Address: 176 Lakeside Dr, Detroit, MI 48207
Located on beautiful Belle Isle, in middle of the Detroit River in downtown Detroit, the Nature Center is operated by the Detroit Zoo. Free to the public, the Belle Isle Nature Center is home to amazing exhibits that give an up close look at urban wildlife.
Belle Isle Nature Center has many snakes, turtles, goats, sheep, and other aquatic animals. It is
an enjoyable experience for anyone. Also, since it is located in Detroit, you can take a quick look at some of the amazing buildings in the city of Detroit.
Take in Some Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Address: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
The DIA is one of the top art museums in the country, playing host to one of the largest collections of significant art in the United States. In addition to works of art from well-known artists like Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Matisse, you’ll also find an amazing collection of Asian works of art spanning 8000 years.
The beautiful pieces of ceramic sculptures and intricate metalwork are pretty amazing. My favorite collection? The endless suits of armor in the European Sculpture Collection are so cool.
This museum has a great blend of old historic artifacts and also paintings.
Fun Indoor Activities and Things to Do in West Michigan (All Ages)
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Yes, the majority of exhibitions at the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park are outdoors, but there are indoor art galleries, at this Grand Rapids museum.
These galleries house a permanent collection featuring works by Rodin, Degas, and many other sculptors. Watch for special indoor events around the holidays and at other times throughout the year: the Butterfly House and Christmas Traditions exhibitions are hugely popular.
Take a Road Trip to the Geoscape Rock Shop
Address: 37111 Red Arrow Hwy, Paw Paw, MI 49079
Check out a huge collection of fossils, unique rocks, minerals, and more collected from mines around the world. This family-owned Rock shop in southwest Michigan showcases everything from Geodes and Petoskey stones to Yooperlites and much more.
Some of the rocks are in their original form and some have been carved into jewelry, toys, and decorative objects. Both kids and adults will enjoy this unique spot.
Gilmore Car Museum
6865 W Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Ever seen a Ford Model-T up close? Here is your chance.
This fun museum features a collection of more than 400 vintage and collector cars and motorcycles. It’s said to be the largest automobile museum in the country.
From an 1890s automobile to muscle cards from 1950s and 1960, this a pretty amazing collection. Plan your trip right, and you’ll be able to take a ride in some of the cars, there are car shows help throughout the year.
Fun Indoor Activities in Northern Michigan (All Ages)
Alecatraz Escape Rooms
Address: 221 Garland St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Escape rooms are great ways for families and friends to bond together in a faux high-stakes game. In addition, this is also good for growing minds as the puzzles and situations encourage new connections to be made. This is beneficial for smarter and healthier minds as these fun games make your brain work for it.
Tour the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center
Address: 500 W Fletcher St, Alpena, MI 49707
This museum in Alpena may just be one of the best-kept secrets in Michigan.
A vast historical museum, the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center lets visitors have a hands-on experience by walking recreations of ship decks, dive tubes, and glass bottom boat tours. The exhibitions are so lifelike that I actually felt a tinge of seasickness walking through the cabin of the Great Lakes schooner.
The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Museum also has many historic artifacts that were rescued from old sunken ships from Lake Michigan and Lake Orion as well. This place is certain to fascinate any of its visitors.
Things to Do Indoors in the Upper Peninsula
A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum of Michigan Tech
Address: 1404 Sharon Ave, Houghton, MI 49931
One of the top mineral museums in the country, this museum showcases the finest collection of minerals from the Great Lakes region. Located in the Keweenaw Peninsula on the campus of Michigan Technological University, this is a heritage site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park.
The A.E Seaman Mineral Museum of Michigan offers mostly minerals from the Great Lakes but also shows minerals found in all different parts of the world as well. This is certainly a great place to enjoy with the family.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Address: 18335 N Whitefish Point Rd, Paradise, MI 49768
In this museum, you can find out more about the Edmund Fitzgerald and also view many historical diving suits. Situated at Whitefish Point, it is near a lighthouse that overlooks a great view of the water.
As a bonus, the admission fee to this museum is free. For the amount of knowledge that can be gained from this experience, it is sure to be a trip to remember. It also has accessible travel locations nearby for an enjoyable experience, and is one of the best indoor winter things to do in Michigan.
Visit the Marquette Maritime Museum
Address: 300 Lake Shore Blvd, Marquette, MI 49855
Marquette Maritime Museum also has a lighthouse that can be viewed and toured by its visitors.
Although it is located in the historic City Water Works building, this museum features historical artifacts and information about maritime history. See exhibits on shipwrecks in Marquette and Lake Superior, Early Life-Saving and US Coast Guard, and the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald among others.
Located in the Marquette, the museum shows the harsh conditions of the waters in that area and the
effect it had on those who traveled by ship.
More Indoor Winter Things to Do in Michigan
Here some some more great ideas for indoor winter things to do in Michigan:
Discover your local Coffee Shops – Most local coffee shops offer more than coffee; you’ll find milks, teas and more. You also might find sweet treats and sandwiches at some.
Visit Your Local Library- Libraries are for more than books these days: they are the busy community centers offering classes, books discussion groups and storytimes for kids and adults alike.
The Jump Station Trampoline Park
2422 E Broomfield Rd, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
MSU Dairy Store in East Lansing
474 S Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824
Discover More Things to Do Indoors in Michigan
About the Author:
Anna Heim is a content writer for mymichiganbeach.com. Originally from Fenton, Michigan, she
now attends Michigan State University. She majors in Interdisciplinary Humanities and minors in
Korean. In her free time, Anna enjoys working out, East Asian media, and video gaming. During
her childhood, she spent her summers visiting places all around Michigan.