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!
Give your family the gift of Grand Rapids this winter! Visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for the annual Christmas & Holiday Traditions extravaganza and the new ENLIGHTEN outdoor lighting spectacle, from Nov. 27 through the first week of January. Shop 60+ outdoor vendors, enjoy holiday food favorites and revel in festive family fun at the Christkindl Markt, Nov. 15-Dec. 23. See holiday shows including Cirque Dreams Holidaze (Dec. 3), Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 8) and Grand Rapids Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Dec. 13-15 & 20-22). Every week between now and the new year is filled with holiday magic – and 2025 kicks off with World of Winter (Jan. 10 – March 2), America’s largest winter festival, featuring kid-friendly art installations, entertainment, games and more. Make the trip even more merry for your kids with an overnight stay at a hotel with an indoor pool – there are 60 to choose from in Grand Rapids, nine of them downtown, including the Amway Grand Plaza and Embassy Suites by Hilton. Check out our Family Fun page for even more activities and events.
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!
Create magical memories together at the zoo’s Wonderland of Lights! Stroll through breathtaking displays and enjoy festive music from 5-8 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 23 – Dec. 23. This holiday experience is perfect for families and friends looking to start a heartwarming tradition.
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.
The Lansing Area has no shortage of Museums, Indoor Play Places and more fun! Check out these fun spots below!
- Impression 5
- IQ Hub
- The Emerging Parent
- TinkrLAB
- MSU Horse Barn
- R.E. Olds Museum
- Michigan History Center
- Royal Scot
- City Limits
- Spare Time
- Playing Picasso
- Art Unlimited
- MSU Museum
- MSU Broad Art Museum
- Abrams Planetarium
- Wharton Center
- Capitol Building Tours
- Launch Lansing
- High Caliber Karting
- Defy
- Ella Sharp Museum
- Owosso Curwood Castle
- Shiawassee Arts Center
- Meridian Historical Village
- Turner-Dodge House
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
You’re at home and you need some inspiration?! Look no further! We’ve got a full list to keep your littles entertained at home!
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:
- One of our favorite stops is Belle Isle, with a brand new nature center, new playground, beaches, aquarium and more you won’t be disappointed.
- DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
- Michigan Science Center
- Detroit Institute of Arts Museum
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:
- Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
- University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
- Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Gallup Park
- Domino’s Petting Farm
- Leslie Science and Nature Center
- The Creature Conservancy
- Fox Science Nature Preserve
Where to Stay:
Grand Rapids
Places to Eat:
Things to Do:
Places to Stay:
North of Lansing
Things to Do:
Spring has sprung and reading is still at the top of our list! Here’s our recommendations to bring into your home this Spring!
- Five Books to Grow Your Child’s Library This Spring
- Eight Kids Books You Didn’t Know You Needed
- 5 Kids Books Featuring Black Heroes
- Children’s Books By Black Authors
- 5 Self Development Books for 2023
- Raising Anti-Ableist Kids Part 1: Disability-Inclusive Books
- Picture Books that Celebrate Family Diversity
- Books To Read with Your Kids to Celebrate LBGTQIA+
- 10 Diverse Picture Books You Need
- 10 Books to Talk To Your Kids and Teens About Race
- Resources to Be An Ally for Individuals with Disabilities
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:
- Foster Coffee Co.
- Blend Superfood Cafe
- Strange Matter
- Ayven Grace
- Blue Owl
- Blondie’s Barn
- Ferris Coffee
- Anna’s House
- Social Sloth Cafe
Dinner Spots
- Lansing Shuffle
- Buddy’s Pizza
- Horrock’s
- The Cosmo’s
- Soup Spoon Cafe
- The People’s Kitchen
- Tavern 109
- Bad Brewing Company
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
