Family Friendly

The appeal of the area isn’t limited to those college-aged and above – Ypsilanti offers an abundance of attractions and activities that are perfect for the whole family. Whether you want a jam-packed weekend full of recreation and adventure or you want to take it easy and stroll around downtown and depot town, we’ve got something for everyone.

Exploring the outdoors is the perfect way to get to know Ypsi as a family. Ypsilanti expands beyond the downtown districts to include 23,000+ acres of public park and recreation areas that help make up the Washtenaw County area.  Just minutes from town you can find golfing, mountain biking, canoeing, hiking or natural scenery you can relax in with the whole family. Take a stroll through Riverside Park and enjoy views of the Huron River or get everyone in a canoe out on Ford Lake at sunset for vistas you’ll never forget.

Summer in Ypsi is an especially great time for the family – with so many special festivals and fun annual events, it’s never been easier to get out and go make memories. Every summer, the Michigan Firehouse Museum hosts the Fire Truck Muster, showcasing firefighting equipment both old and new. What could be more fun for the kids than getting to see fire trucks in action? Not much, but grabbing ice cream from Cream & Crumb on the way certainly wouldn’t hurt… If you need to beat the heat from Memorial Day to Labor Day, visit the Rolling Hills Water Park, with a wave pool, lazy river, AND water slides!

Some of the Ypsilanti area shops simply can’t be passed up while you’re walking around town. Unicorn Feed & Supply is a truly unique and one-of-a-kind celebration of all things fun and magical. While sparkles and sequins are in abundance, there are plenty of choices for the glitter-resistant – check out the terrariums, air plants, and fairy gardens. The Ypsilanti District Library is always a great place to visit, especially throughout the summer during their summer reading challenge, when your kids can participate and read to win prizes! Quick tip: many of the area’s microbreweries are family-friendly – it’s not uncommon to see friends gather for a pint with the kids in tow! Check out all our upcoming family-friendly events here!