things to do with kids

Hi,

I%26#39;m considering attending a short course at the University of Michigan in June. I know its a ways away, but I%26#39;m thinking if it is worth bringing the family (kids 9,7,3yrs) along. I%26#39;ve never been there before, and dont know if there is much to do with kids there. If there is, we can make this a sort of family vacation, otherwise, i go alone. The earlier we book tickets, the better deal we get.

would appreciate whatever info i can get. (a list of things to do with kids would be great- will be staying in a hotel close to university).

thanks

things to do with kids

There%26#39;s a very cool hands on museum in the old fire house across from the police station on Huron St. And I always loved the Museum of Natural Hisory on campus.

things to do with kids

If you%26#39;re considering bringing your family for vacation, I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll be disappointed.

Both things above are great suggestions. Plus, in June you can enjoy outdoor activities. Ann Arbor has many parks. Hike in the Nichols Arboretum or rent canoes (if you%26#39;re coming with another adult).

Downtown Ann Arbor has many fairy doors that kids like to find: http://www.urban-fairies.com

Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village is about 45 minutes away if you want to take a day trip. Detroit Zoo isn%26#39;t much farther.

Your youngest in particular and maybe even the 7-year-old might like playing on the playground that is adjacent to the Ann Arbor Airport. You can watch planes take off and land from a closer vantage point than you%26#39;d normally get.

If your trip is after June 12, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival%26#39;s ';Top of the Park'; is great, free fun for families. Enjoy music and movies outside! The schedule will be available in about a month at http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/

Ann Arbor District Library has great family programs, but you%26#39;ll have to wait until closer to the trip to see if anything fun is happening during your visit.

Also, if you want to head out of the area for a few days, Michigan offers great beach opportunities on both Lakes Michigan and Huron.

If you will be in town on a Saturday you could take the kids for a tour of the Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory (http://www.chelseateddybear.com/factory_tours).

I always liked the Museum of Natural History. Both RedRox and I have been there a few times when we use to do School Field Trips.

I also liked The Kelsey Museum. It has Mummies on display.

Oh yeah! I forgot about the mummies at Kelsey! That was always cool!

Thanks very much everyone! The info was great!

:o)

But i was also wondering...is the Ann Arbor area(univeristy or suggested areas in previous replies) considered a safe area?

I think Ann Arbor is a safe area. I suppose there may be some crime around but it is, overall, very safe. I don%26#39;t know of crime statistics but I do know that my husband and I frequently comment that the worst crime in university towns (he grew up in AA and I grew up in East Lansing) is stolen bikes. I am still amazed that kids in my neighborhood here in New Jersey can leave their bikes in the yard for days at a time and noone touches them. Not so in AA or EL, at least when we lived there.

Ann Arbor is a college town so it tends to have a pretty good night life and, if you stick to the commercial areas, you should be absolutely fine.

It%26#39;s funny, but it would never occur to me to question safety in Ann Arbor. Detroit, maybe, New York City, maybe, but not Ann Arbor. It%26#39;s a very cute, interesting town. Moms

Yes, the university area is considered safe. Especially in the summertime, when it is less crowded, your family (I assume they%26#39;ll be with another adult while you%26#39;re in class) could readily walk around downtown, even in the evenings. Ann Arbor makes many ';Best Place for X'; lists, including (I think) best place to raise kids. There are a gazillion parks (with various amenities), numerous day trip options (lots already listed), and plenty of things to do just in town. How long will you be here?

Natural History museum is nice..dinosaurs, other fossils, animal %26amp;mineral displays