30 Things to Do in Traverse City with Kids

Beth Wood:  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:  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:  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:  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:  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:  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:  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.

Great Wolf Lodge 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:  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.

Beth Wood:  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:  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:  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:  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:  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:  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.