30 Things to Do in Traverse City with Kids

Beth Wood said:  Grand Traverse Resort & Spa offers families a comfortable home away from home with kid-friendly accommodations including condos and suites. Guests can enjoy the resort's golf course, spa, beach club, tennis courts, shopping area, fine dining, indoor and outdoor pools, health club and much more. Family-friendly beach bonfires, live music, water sport rentals, scavenger hunts, lawn games and more are also available for added fun!

Beth Wood said:  Music lovers in your family? Plan a trip to the Music House Museum to take an hour and a half guided tour of music through the ages. The museum's collection starts in the 18th century and goes to 1950. See and hear rare instruments that actually play, as well as learn about the engineering and craftsmanship of these instruments. From music boxes to recorded sound to radio to complex instruments like player pianos and organs, you'll witness a little bit of everything to do with automated music.

Beth Wood said:  Spend a day of fun with the kids at Pirate's Cove Adventure Park - one of the best Traverse City family activities! Visitors of all ages can enjoy playing adventure golf on two 18-hole mini-courses, zip lining, a ropes challenge course, bumper boats, race track go-carts, kiddie go-carts an arcade and more action-packed games.

Beth Wood said:  This park is located two miles away from downtown Traverse City. It features a campground, a quarter mile beach on the Grand Traverse Bay, playground areas and more for its guests to enjoy. Camping reservations can be made year round.

Beth Wood said:  Check out Lucky Jack's family fun center for plenty of things to do with kids in Traverse City when you want to spend some time inside. Enjoy bowling, laser tag, an arcade featuring over 80 different games, laser maze, bumper cars and more. Kids bowl free during the summer (with sign up).

Beth Wood said:  The Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City offers guests of all ages exhibitions and programs in the visual arts, sciences and performing arts. Both indoor and outdoor art installations and exhibits are available for viewing year round. The on-site Discovery Gallery offers hands-on exhibits and experiences appreciated by children and adults. The Milliken Auditorium typically hosts concerts, films and other live art performances throughout the year.

Beth Wood said:  Turtle Creek Park is home to the Traverse City Pit Spitters collegiate summer baseball team (and formerly the Traverse City Beach Bums minor league team). This ballpark offers visitors loads of family fun and is a clean, spacious and comfortable spot for families to take in a game, when in season. Stadium seating, as well as grass-berm seating, is available. Fans can enjoy entertainment between innings, giveaways, fireworks on select nights and other special events.

Beth Wood said:  Traverse City's biggest annual event typically draws crowds of over 500,000. The week-long festival is jam packed with all things cherry and loads of things to do with kids, many of which are free! Festival highlights include: 4th of July fireworks show, parades, midway rides and games, live concerts featuring national acts, cherry pit spitting contests, pie eating contests, kids activities, car show, pancake breakfasts, air show, and much more.

Typically late June-early July

Beth Wood said:  The TART (Traverse Area Recreational Trail) is a 10.5 mile paved trail that runs from the west side of Traverse City to Acme Township. It links to the Leelanau Trail, Boardman Lake Trail and Three Mile Trail for additional passage. People of all ages enjoy biking, walking, scooting a stroller, or running along the trail. Stop along the trail to find fun things to do in Traverse City with kids: explore the beautiful scenery, parks, restaurants and shops.

Beth Wood said:  Enjoy water fun year-round at Great Wolf Lodge! This indoor water park and hotel features waterslides, a lazy river, pools, water activities, hot tubs, cabanas and much more for the whole family. An outdoor pool is available during summer months. After a day of fun in the water, be sure to check out the other family-friendly activities Great Wolf offers: mini-golf, shopping, bowling, an arcade, quest games, p.j. storytime and more. Each hotel room is fashioned to look like you're staying in a log cabin...bunk beds are available for added fun!

Beth Wood said:  Plan a sailing adventure for the whole family on the Tall Ship Manitou! Set sail on Grand Traverse Bay on this 1800s cargo schooner replica. Day trip sails are offered on the 114' long, 58 passenger schooner with plenty of space for sitting and moving around the decks. Choose to help sail the ship with the crew or sit back and relax. The Manitou Moomers Ice Cream Sail is always a big hit with the kiddos, and includes two scoops of the delicious treat!

Beth Wood said:  With hands-on learning and exploring experiences geared toward young children, The Great Lakes Children's Museum is one of the best things to do in Traverse City with kids. Have indoor fun exploring exhibits focused on the Great Lakes, sailing, ships and the world around us.

Beth Wood said:  A visit to Moomers is one of the best things to do in Traverse City with kids! Moomers makes over 160 different ice cream flavors on-site at the store and dairy farm. There is plenty of seating inside and outside. The whole family will have fun seeing the dairy farm and creamery while you enjoy your special treats!

Beth Wood said:  Farmer's Markets are a dime a dozen during the summer months in and around Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula. Gallagher's stands out for its family-friendly atmosphere and great location between Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. When available, a barnyard is available for children to explore where they'll meet chickens, pigs and lambs. An outdoor picnic area is a great spot to enjoy ice cream or a treat from the bakery. You can also shop for fresh produce, local wines, baked goods and much more within the store.

Beth Wood said:  ISEA's mission is to "inspire Great Lakes curiosity, stewardship, and passion in people of all ages." They offer hands-on learning activities aboard tall ship schooners that set sail from the Sutton Bay Marina on Grand Traverse Bay. These 2-3 hour long interactive and educational sailing excursions are family-friendly and great for guests of all ages.

Beth Wood said:  Plan a day trip to the charming town of Suttons Bay. Located on the Leelanau Peninsula, it's an easy drive from Traverse City along the famed and scenic M-22 highway. You'll find shopping, art galleries, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, a marina, a public beach and a park with a children's playground on the beach and much more during your visit. Art shows, craft fairs and wine festivals are often held in the park during summer months.

Beth Wood said:  Leelanau State Park is located on the northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula on Lake Michigan's coast. The 1,550 acre park features a campground, playground, Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, picnic area and hiking trails. Hike on over 8 miles of trails through wooded areas leading to the amazing shoreline. "Hidden" art installations can be spotted in some of the wooded areas off the trails....see if you can spot a flying monkey or serpent on your hike!

Beth Wood said:  The Village of Northport sits on Grand Traverse Bay near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, north of Traverse City. This quaint waterfront village offers visitors a large marina, kid friendly restaurants and ice cream shops, galleries, public beach, playground area, nearby state park and more. There are plenty of rentals to stay, or drive up for an afternoon!

Beth Wood said:  Clay Cliffs Natural Area offers visitors unparalleled views of both Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau. Visitors can take a one and half mile hike on both flat and hilly terrain along trails that wind through the woods, up a bluff and through a field, back to the original starting point. A viewing platform offers gorgeous views of Lake Michigan from 200 feet above the beach. Views of Lake Leelanau and its beautiful countryside can be seen on the trail heading down the bluff which is also home to one of the best wildflower sites on the peninsula.

Beth Wood said:  This family-friendly hotel sits adjacent to the Leland Country Club golf course. Single or double occupancy rooms or small cottages are available. The onsite restaurant, Bogey's 19th Hole, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner that can be enjoyed indoors or on the large outdoor deck where musicians entertain guests several nights a week. Beautiful gardens, patios and green space add to the hotel's charm. Lobby games, nearby playground and bike loans for hotel guests add to the fun. It's just a short walk to town for shopping, dining, public beaches and the marina.

Beth Wood said:  Located northwest of Traverse City, Leland is a small coastal town located on the Leelanau Peninsula. Sitting between Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan, Leland offers its visitors beautiful scenery, shopping, galleries, restaurants, public beaches, harbor and marina, historic Fishtown canal area, coffee shops and more - all within walking or biking distance of one another.

Beth Wood said:  Plan a day trip or overnight camping trip to North or South Manitou Island. Visits to the islands offer beautiful beaches, camping areas, lighthouses, hiking trails and more. The Manitou Island Transit Ferry offers daily trips to both islands from the Leland Harbor. Choose the more guest/camper friendly South Island or the more exploratory/rustic North Island for your adventure.

Beth Wood said:  Step back in time and visit this old-fashioned drive-in movie theatre. Cherry Bowl shows family-friendly double-features during the summer months - only G, PG, and sometimes PG-13. Enjoy mini-golf, an outdoor playground, and family fun events like hula hoop contests, pony rides and clowns! Homemade popcorn, caramel corn, hot dogs, ice cream, sodas and candy are available for purchase.

Beth Wood said:  The Homestead Resort is a year-round oasis nestled in the woods along the shore of Lake Michigan. The Homestead lets you experience the magic of both summer and winter "Up North." Spacious rooms, condos and villas are available for rent. Enjoy an outdoor pool, lazy river, beach area and more during summer months and downhill snow skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing during winter months. On-site restaurants, shopping, resort transportation, a spa and more are available for guests' enjoyment.

Beth Wood said:  Plan a family fun day kayaking on the Crystal River or biking on the trails along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crystal River Outfitters provides kayak rentals for a 2-3 hour paddle down the Crystal River in Glen Arbor. "Shooting the Tube" is a top attraction - a culvert large enough for you and your kayak to pass through.

Bikes are available to rent so you can cruise around the downtown area of Glen Arbor, head to the beach or hit the many bike trails along the Leelanau Peninsula. Whichever activity you choose, you'll have fun while enjoying the beautiful scenery around you!

Beth Wood said:  Northwest of Traverse City, the town of Glen Arbor sits on the shore of Lake Michigan among the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This quaint lakeside town has lots to offer and is the perfect spot for a family friendly day trip! Guests will enjoy shopping, galleries, dining, public beaches, playgrounds and more on their visit.

Beth Wood said:  More than just a retail store, the Cherry Republic Glen Arbor campus is a must for cherry lovers! Sample and shop for yummy cherry products (jams, jellies, salsas, candies, etc.) at the Great Hall, soda taste or wine taste at The Winery and dine at the Cherry Public House on cherry-themed snacks, ice cream and lunch or dinner items. The three different venues are tied together by beautiful gardens filled with perennials, outdoor seating and dining areas, statues and kid-friendly play areas (including a cherry pit spitting arena).

Katie G. said:  Spend the day on the beautiful Platte River canoeing, kayaking, rafting or tubing. Located about 40 minutes outside of Traverse City, families will enjoy the scenery and beauty as they glide down the Lower Platte River. With a gentle current and shallow depth (2-3 feet), your approximately 2 hour trip down the river will pass through Loon Lake and end at the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan.

Katie G. said:  Empire is located about 30 minutes east of Traverse City, on the southern end of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Families can enjoy shopping in the village, hiking along the beautiful Empire Bluffs or relaxing at one of the many beaches. You won't want to miss the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center, where you can learn about the area, view the taxidermy animals on display in the museum or purchase a park pass. Family-friendly dining favorites include: Joe's Friendly Tavern, Tiffany's Cafe, Empire Village Inn and the Shipwreck Cafe.

Beth Wood said:  The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Shoreline is a must see! Campsites, 100+ miles of hiking trails, dune climbs, scenic drives, beachfront, lighthouses, a maritime museum and much more are waiting to be explored at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Shoreline. Be sure to take the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. The 7.4-mile long drive goes through the forest, over dunes and allows you unparalleled and spectacular views of Lake Michigan, the Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Glen Lakes.