Indoor activities in the Traverse City area
Looking for a rainy day activity in Traverse City? Or just need a break from the great outdoors? We’ve created a line-up of all of the best indoor activities for kids in the Traverse City area! Enjoy!
Great Lake Children’s Museum
13240 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum provides hands-on, interactive, and informal educational environments for children and the adults in their lives that invite curiosity, allow exploration, encourage participation and celebrate the child-like wonder in all of us. Reservations are strongly recommended.
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Dennos Museum
1410 College Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686
The Thomas A. Rutkowski Discovery Gallery at the Dennos Museum provides hands-on activities for the entire family. Kids can "paint" images of themselves on a video screen and make music on a Sound Wall, then explore the rest of the museum which houses a collection of nearly 3,000 works of art, including one of the the largest and most comprehensive collections of Inuit art in the United States. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children 5-7, and 4 and under are free.
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GT Butterfly House
8840 M-72 East, Williamsburg, MI 49690
GT Butterfly House is a locally owned educational facility, home to hundreds of invertebrates from around the world. You’ll engage with an education team who helps guests receive an up-close, personalized self-guided tour of Zoo’s collection of hundreds of animals, including our personal favorite part, the Butterfly House. Bonus - there’s an amazing little ice cream shop next door! Open May through September.
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Elev8 Climbing Gym
777 Boyd Ave Traverse City, MI 49686
Elev8 offers full service climbing, yoga, fitness and plenty of youth offerings. Family Climb Nights are held every first Sunday of the month from 4:30pm - 7:30pm. Kids climb for $5 (including rentals) when they attend Family Climb Night with a paying/climbing adult.
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Handz On Art
144 Hall St., Warehouse MRKT, Suite 110, Traverse City, MI 49684
Handz on Art is a paint your own pottery studio located in downtown Traverse City. The studio is walk-in basis, no reservations are necessary for group under 10 people.
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Darling Botanical
144 Hall St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Visit Darling Botanical’s retail store and build your own terrarium from start to finish. They have everything you need including a selection of glass and pots (or bring your own!) Their trained staff will guide you. No appointment necessary.
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COGNiTiON Science and Discovery Center
232 N. Michigan Ave, Beulah, MI 49617
COGNiTiON is an interactive science playground full of intimate exhibits that capture big ideas in creative ways. Hold hedge hogs, guineau pigs, lizards and more!
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Raven Hill Discovery Center
4737 Fuller Rd, East Jordan, MI 49727
The goal of Raven Hill Discovery Center is to foster an interest in and to convey information in science and technology, history and the arts by inviting visitors to have quality hands-on experiences. Raven Hill is a place to immerse yourself inside and outside in a world of discovery by trying and touching.
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Lucky Jack’s
1705 S. Garfield Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49686
Lucky Jack’s offers 12,000 square feet of arcade, laser tag, 8 billiard tables, 33 lanes of bowling and bumper cars.
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Free storytimes
Various locations
Storytimes do so much for our littles, from instilling an early love of reading, introducing new words, listening and motor skills, and providing socialization. And in the Traverse City area, we’re lucky to have a storytime available every weekday!
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Incredible Mo’s
1355 Silver Lake Crossings Boulevard Grawn, MI 49637
Incredible Mo’s offers a 35,000 sq. ft. Entertainment Center features 16 bowling lanes, escape rooms, laser tag, casual dining & a full arcade.
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The War Zone
1421 Woodmere Ave., Traverse City, Michigan 49686
The War Zone is a locally owned, Hi-Tech Battlesport Arena in downtown Traverse City.
Their goal is to bring video games to life with a custom, high intensity, indoor battle simulation experience.
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Northport Pub & Grille
116 S Waukazoo St, Northport, MI 49670
NPG offers professional-grade bowling alleys and an arcade game room along with handcrafted, locally sourced food, Leelanau Peninsula wines, and Michigan beer.
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The Coin Slot Arcade Bar
346 E Front Street, Traverse City, MI
The Coin Slot offers pinball, arcade game, billiards and skeeball along with a full bar for adults.
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Great Wolf Lodge
Purchase a day pass and enjoy access to Great Wold Lodge’s 37,000-square-foot water park kept at a warm 84 degrees year-round.
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Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark
1 Boyne Mountain Road, Boyne Falls, MI 49713
Avalanche Bay offers day passes so you can enjoy 88,000 square feet of rides and slides, a surf simulator, and even a lazy river.
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Did we miss something? Shoot us a note and let us know! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for the latest in Up North activities and events: https://www.instagram.com/myupnorthkids/