Lansing Mom’s Guide to Staycation in the Lansing Area

Staying close to home and want to fill your days with fun? Look no further, the Lansing Mom’s Guide to Staycation In + Around the Lansing Area is here! This guide is jam packed with fun for you and the whole family from places to visit, things to do at home and more! We’ve got you covered for all your family fun!

We are so thankful to our partners, CATA, Eastwood Towne Center, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, High Caliber, and Potter Park Zoo, for making this guide possible. Check out everything they have to offer for Staycation Fun below!

CNN named Grand Rapids one of the 10 Best American Towns to Visit in 2024, citing the city’s “family-friendly recreation” as a big reason why. There’s so much to see and do for kids of all ages, from the Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out exhibit at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum (through Sept. 8) to the Dino Adventures Jurassic Forest at John Ball Zoo (through Nov. 10). Plan your trip around the Return to the River Festival (Aug. 24-25) for circus performers, art and games, KWave Summer Fest (Aug. 31) for KPop performances and giveaways, or Fiesta Mexicana (Sep. 13-15) for music, dance, food, and carnival games. Make time to visit Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm for u-pick fruits, a petting zoo, outdoor concerts and weekend festivals. Grand Rapids is just one hour from Lansing, so it’s perfect for a Michigan staycation!

Be sure to be following along with Experience Grand Rapids on Instagram and Facebook.

For an enjoyable staycation in the city, consider taking a CATA bus to visit local attractions and venues. The Route 9 bus offers easy access to the Michigan History Center, with stops on Pine, Allen, and Kalamazoo.

Route 16 is another great option. It travels along Lake Lansing Road and into Eastwood Towne Center. It conveniently connects to locations such as Jumpin’ Jax Bounce Area on Lake Lansing Road, NCG Cinema, and a variety of unique stores and restaurants in the area.

Both routes originate at the downtown Lansing CATA Transportation Center and run every 30-minutes on weekdays. One-way fare for adults is $1.25, students ride for 60-cents, and young children under 42″ ride free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, call a CATA representative at 517-394-1000 or visit cata.org.

Be sure to stay up to date with CATA by visiting their Instagram and Facebook pages too!

High Caliber Karting & Entertainment is the #1 Indoor Action and Entertainment park in Central Michigan, located right in Okemos at the Meridian Mall. While they provide fun experiences, safety is their top priority for their guests looking for a great time in town. They have go-karts for both adults (16+) and juniors (8+), mini go karts (5+), axe throwing, throwbowling, gellyball battles, pocket soccer, a full arcade, and a rage room! Along with a full bar and kitchen. For more information be sure to check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram.

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is Michigan’s largest enclosed outlet center with a mile of shopping and nearly 200 retail, entertainment, and dining options. Located on I-75 at Baldwin Road exit 84 in Auburn Hills, the Center features luxury outlets, unique-to-market stores and attractions for kids of all ages including Sea Life Aquarium, Legoland Discovery Center, Peppa Pig World of Play, Kids Empire and Round 1 Bowling & Arcade. Be sure to check out more information on their Website, Facebook and Instagram.

Eastwood Towne Center is Mid-Michigan’s shopping, dining & entertainment destination with big city style and main street charm just minutes away from Michigan State University. Featuring small businesses, upscale fashion retailers, home furnishing shops, and great dining. Eastwood Towne Center is one of the best places to prepare for your Spring Trip or to enjoy a day out if you are home for a Staycation! There truly is something for everyone here and the best part, you can make a full day of it by, shopping, dining, and maybe even catching a movie!

Be sure to check out Eastwood Towne Center’s Website, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up to date!

Embark on a wild adventure by adding Potter Park Zoo to the top of your staycation itinerary! Immerse yourself in nature’s embrace right in the heart of Lansing, where every moment is filled with excitement. From the magnificent Amur tigers to getting up close with black rhinos and Magellanic penguins, Potter Park Zoo offers an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Don’t forget, our hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until March 31, and then we’re springing forward to our summer hours starting April 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.!

You can connect with Potter Park Zoo on the Main Website, Plan Your Visit Here, and check out memberships here.

We invite you to step into the brand-new Hyatt House Lansing East – University Area and AC by Marriott hotels, walkable from Michigan State University (MSU) campus and just 2 miles from downtown Lansing and the State Capital. In a vibrant redeveloped commercial center including restaurants, shopping, public parks and a connection to the Lansing River Trail. Walkable to Spartan Stadium and University amenities. A clean design brings 55″ flat-screen Smart HDTV’s to each room and complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout.

Check out what’s available at the hotel, book your stay, or view the dining experience at Toscana for your next night out.

Want to make it more of a Staycation and leave the house? Check out these cool stays below!

Hotels with Pools for Water Fun

Other Hotels we Love

Up for a little road trip? There are so many amazing places that aren’t a far drive for your family to spend the whole day! Check out our recommendations below!

Detroit

We’re sharing our top recommendations for a full day in Detroit!

Places to Eat:

Things to Do:

Places to Stay:

Metro-Detroit

  • Our biggest recommendation for a day out in Metro-Detroit is to head to Great Lakes Crossing, grab food from Beyond Juicery + Eatery, visit Peppa Pig, check out Legoland and end your day at the SeaLife Aquarium.

Ann Arbor

Places to Eat:

Things to Do:

Where to Stay:

Grand Rapids

Places to Eat:

Things to Do:

Places to Stay:

North of Lansing

Things to Do:

The Lansing area has no shortage of places to eat so we’re rounding up our favorites for you below!

Have some time without the kids? We highly recommend checking out Joy’s itinerary for a Date Staycation!

Breakfast and Coffee:

Dinner Spots

Desserts

Lansing Mom strives to provide up-to-date information for our community. If you would like to be part of our guide please email [email protected]

Looking for more resources?

Check out our Lansing Mom Guide to Spring

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