Plan ahead to decide which part of the park you'd like to explore, from forests and lakes to bluffs and, of course, the dunes. With nearly 100 miles of hiking trails in the National Lakeshore, it's impossible to conquer all of Sleeping Bear in one visit. If your kids enjoy the sandbox at your local playground, then these miles of sand and beaches will be sure to impress them.
If you happen to visit in the winter, enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ocqueoc Falls holds the title of the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The trip is about a 2.5-hour drive from Interlochen, Michigan. Ocqueoc Fallsįor a more serene, nature-filled day trip, head up to Ocqueoc Falls for a day of hiking and swimming.
Photo courtesy of Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau Best Day Trips From Interlochen, Michigan with Kids 7. Mackinac Island has lots of kids activities throughout the summer. Related: 30 Fun Things To Do in Madison with Kids Indoor and outdoor seating is available, starting daily at 4pm.
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The menu is extensive, offering steak, pizza, seafood, sandwiches, and a full kids menu. This local restaurant was once a favorite stop for an “off-campus” meal when I was an Academy student. Hofbrau Steak House & American GrilleĬan’t quite make it across the pond to Munich’s Hofbräuhaus for dinner? Kein Problem. The neighboring towns also have some great parks with playgrounds, including Blair Township Park in Grawn and East Bay Park in Traverse City. We spent a couple of hours here, and it's well worth a stop. If you've already explored the playground at Interlochen State Park, head just down the road to Green Lake Township Memorial Park. Interlochen, Michigan has its share of fun playgrounds for kids. Check out the Explorer Programs when visiting with kids during the summer months. You can camp, fish, swim, hike, and do so much more at this gorgeous park. Right across the road from the Interlochen Center for the Arts is Interlochen State Park, a perfect daytime destination for the whole family. Have some fresh-air fun at Interlochen State Park. Louis with Kids: 35 Best Things To Do in St. My family left with full tummies, to-go mochas, and some adorable stuffed animals.
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Bud’s welcomes kids with its tasty food and ice cream, plus an enticing toy and book section right as you enter the restaurant. Start the day with a delicious breakfast and freshly brewed coffee at this family-friendly Interlochen, Michigan restaurant. Concerts take place in the outdoor, covered Kresge Auditorium, the perfect lakeside venue to enjoy sunsets and a warm breeze while soaking in the music. As a camper, I’ll never forget seeing Norah Jones from the front row and dancing to Hootie and the Blowfish with a group of my new summer orchestra pals. The Center brings in some of the biggest names in music, including Harry Connick, Jr., Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, and Chicago. Check out our Family Travel Guide and Midwest Family Travel Guide for more fun family vacation ideas.Īnother big reason to visit the Interlochen Center for the Arts campus is its annual summer Arts Festival. Here are 20 things to do in Interlochen, Traverse City, and Northern Michigan with kids. Whether you’re looking for a place for young musicians, artists, actors, and writers to hone their craft or a place to explore the scenic outdoors in the Great Lakes State, Interlochen and its surrounding areas are the perfect places to visit with kids. Nearly 20 years later, I returned to the campus-this time with a little one in tow- to experience the magic of Interlochen, Michigan as a family. I’m a proud alumna of both the Center's Interlochen Summer Arts Camp and its Interlochen Arts Academy. In Interlochen, nestled between Duck Lake and Green Lake, you’ll find the world-class Interlochen Center for the Arts. And then there's the delicious food-fish boils, the National Cherry Festival, decadent chocolate fudge, and more to fit everyone’s taste buds. With its gorgeous lakes, trees, and beaches, you can’t get much more picturesque than Northern Michigan, which includes popular destinations like Traverse City and Interlochen, Michigan.