The Best Public Gardens in Michigan to Visit with Kids – LittleGuide Detroit

If you want to explore nature amidst the colorful beauty of flowers, check out these kid-friendly gardens!

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House (Grosse Pointe Shores)

The home of Edsel & Eleanor Ford on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores is beautiful and the grounds are a year-round experience. The state-of-the-art visitor center adds a new dimension to the experience with a permanent interactive museum, indoor and outdoor classrooms, and a restaurant with a grab-and-go picnic option. A great time to tour the Ford House is during FREE Storytime at the Visitor Center on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.!

Cranbrook House & Gardens (Bloomfield Hills)

Explore the 40 beautiful acres of Cranbrook Gardens in Bloomfield Hills where you can take a free self-guided tour and spend an afternoon outdoors! You won’t want to miss the immaculate sunken gardens (the floral arrangements change every year), the fun red bridge in the Japanese Gardens that is perfect for photo ops, or the outdoor amphitheater where our kids test out their acting skills. The grounds are open year-round (weather permitting) but offer different views/experiences during different seasons. Be sure to check the calendar to find out about upcoming events or plant sales!

Fairlane-Ford House (Dearborn)

Explore the gardens and grounds of Fair Lane for free from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. The main house and powerhouse are closed for renovations, but the grounds are beautiful and the perfect place for a picnic. Picnic tables are available near the garage and powerhouse.

Detroit in full bloom (Detroit)

This nonprofit community garden is a Detroit sanctuary where you can wander at your leisure from sunrise to sunset! They have a native plant nursery, outdoor wellness garden, butterfly nursery, and Kids Abloom – a garden discovery area for children! Not only do the flowers grow here, but so does the garden’s vision, and you can even be a part of it by volunteering, shopping at their online native plant store, or attending their events and workshops.

Matthaei Botanical Garden (Ann Arbor)

There’s something for everyone at Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor! From the garden designed just for kids to the nearly 3 miles of walking trails to the beautiful greenhouse with plants from around the world, this FREE attraction will keep your kids entertained for hours as they play in the Gaffield Children’s Garden, discover aquatic friends in the pond, find busy bees in the Pollinator Garden, act out stories in the Forest Amphitheater or play with the toys in the sandbox! Be sure to check the events calendar for guided nature walks, plant sales or special workshops.

Hidden Lake Gardens (Tipton)

Hidden Lake Garden is a 755-acre garden with an arboretum, walking trails, conservatory and brand new treetop walkway. Put on your walking shoes and get ready for adventure. You park and walk down a gravel path to the treetop walkway, which is best for walking but not stroller-friendly. The treetop canopy is 65 feet above the ground and has viewing platforms where you can stop and admire the trees. The suspension bridge is 374 feet long and has a little give but no wobble. Volunteer docents limit use to 10 guests at a time to keep people comfortable.

Worth the road trip:

MSU 4-H Kindergartens (East Lansing)

Michigan State University’s scenic garden is just for kids, where they can run around, explore and use their imaginations. This fun garden destination is organized by theme – including a “pizza garden” that’s shaped like a giant pizza with a slice cut out of it, and grows plants that would make up a pizza (wheat, tomatoes, peppers, basil, oregano and chives). The gardens are open April 1 through October 31 and feature two dining areas for the perfect outdoor picnic. There are fun events scheduled that you won’t want to miss!

Frederik Meijer Gardens (Great Rapids)

If you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway, put Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids on your list! Featuring a treehouse village, a giant water table in the shape of the Great Lakes, a bright red barn, a storytelling garden with a puppet theater in the summer, and 158 acres to explore – trust us when we say you’re going to need a map!

Dow Gardens (Great Rapids)

These magnificent gardens in Midland offer a variety of attractions to explore! With striking bridges, a fun exploration garden for kids, water features, a visitor center, and more, you’ll want to come back every season! One of our favorite features is the Canopy Walk (suitable for all ages and abilities!), which offers unique viewing platforms – a large cargo net you can climb on over the spruce trees, a glass floor 40 feet up, and a view of a woodland pond from 25 feet up. And don’t forget to stop by the epic playground, conveniently located next to a cafe! Dow Gardens is currently open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.