As the outdoor living history museum section of the Henry Ford complex, the 90-acre Greenfield Village is worth its own day of exploring. With 83 historical buildings from the 17th century to the present, kids will love the costumed interpreters who demonstrate period tasks like glass blowing or husbandry on the working farm.

Other highlights include a ride in a real Model T car, a trip in a horse-drawn omnibus shuttle, and the Weiser Railroad that navigates around the village. 

Although it’s a 25 minute drive west of downtown Detroit, the Henry Ford Museum is worth the trek for kids looking to learn about auto mogul Henry Ford and the history of transportation in the United States. The living history museum boasts 18 interactive touch screens and a huge collection of activities and games.

Older children will love building their own race cars, while younger kiddos can service their own 1960s replica car in a garage. Pro tip: Don’t miss the Rosa Parks Bus which is on exhibit in the "With Liberty & Justice for All" section of the museum.

Since the 1880s, the Detroit Zoo has been entertaining kids of all ages, and the parklike grounds spread over 125 acres offer adults a scenic experience too. Don’t miss the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, a 33,000-square-foot marvel where visitors can see more than 80 penguins in action.  

This free museum located in Detroit’s cultural center takes a deep dive into the region’s history with permanent exhibitions like the Streets of Old Detroit, Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, and America’s Motor City.

There’s all kinds of kid-friendly activities and events planned throughout the year, so check the museum’s calendar to stay up-to-date.

The weather is getting colder and it’s time to get some winter reading done. The Detroit Public Library is open on Sundays now and hosting Sunday Family Sundays, which includes special family programming.

Adults will love this world-class museum with a permanent collection that includes African art, Impressionist paintings, and Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry murals. But kids can also have a great time too thanks to eye-spy activities, audio tours, and weekend art demonstrations. 

Hit the lates at one of the country’s oldest continuously operating bowling alleys. The Garden Bowl has some groovy neon lights the kiddos are sure to love. There’s also pizza available at Sgt. Pepperoni’s, which shares the space.

It’s a known fact that kids love to ride on things that move: trains, rollercoasters, horses. And if they can be high above everything, all the better. The People Mover offers all this in a tight loop around downtown Detroit, as well as some pretty cool station art, all for 75 cents a ride. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better entertainment value than that.

Anchoring a two-square block in the heart of downtown, Campus Martius offers year-round fun with plenty of gardens, lawns, and fountains. From November to March, kids can skate on the city’s most popular outdoor rink.

There’s fun for the whole family at the bar and arcade. Kids (and adults) get to play any one of the dozens of classic arcade games while parents get to drink. Plus, everyone loves pizza.

Open seven days a week, it’s a great option during the colder months.

One of the oldest and largest year-round markets in the U.S., Eastern Market is a gathering place that just so happens to have Detroit’s freshest produce, top-notch cheese and meats, and more. There’s lots to do year round, including the Saturday market and special holiday markets.

The kids will love the popcorn vendors, the candy at Rocky’s, and the murals on seemingly every building.

Although the river-themed carousel and splash fountains only operate in warmer months, the entire Rivard Plaza offers much for kids to explore. If the gorgeous carousel isn’t running, check out the in-laid granite map of the Detroit River, a standing glass sculptured map fo the St. Lawrence Seaway, or the nearby Wheelhouse Detroit, which offers rentals and tours.  

This 75,000-square-foot multi-sport indoor facility is a boon to the sports community. Kids can register to play soccer or lacrosse on the indoor fields, and a restaurant provides much-needed snacks post-practice.

Checking out a Detroit City FC soccer match at Keyworth Stadium is also fun and kid-friendly.

Located in the sprawling Belle Isle Park, the Anna Scripps Whicomb Conservatory was designed by renowed architect Albert Kahn and opened in 1904. Adults will love the building’s domed architecture while kids will have fun exploring the gorgeous 13 acres of plants. 

The conservatory recently completed a major renovation and is once again open to the pubic.

The oldest aquarium in the United States has more than 1,000 fish and 118 species of sea life. Though this detail is more for the parents, it’s also Albert Kahn designed with an iconic, green-tiled and vaulted ceiling.

Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., it’s a perfect weekend destination.