Michigan with 3 and 5 yr old
 

Does anyone have suggestions for what to see in Michigan with a 3 and 5 year old in Michigan (lower penninsula)? Please also give beach recommendations.

Are there any fun festivals which you would recommend?

Note: we already went to Warren Dunes last year. This beach was not so good for us since we prefer a more shallow depth water with a beach which has a larger flat area.

Michigan is a big state. Where are you coming from? What dates will you be here? Petoskey is a great area with a great state park. The beach is in the bay, so much easier for swimming, but we need more info.

I would be coming to Michigan in July or early August. I am coming from the Chicago area. I would like my trip to be 3-4 nights long. This means that I would have 4-5 days (which would include the commute time).

I am not sure if we would make it up to Mackinac Island since it is quite a drive.

Can someone comment on whether or not these are worth visiting?

Lena Meijer Children's Garden
Grand Rapids Children Museum
Detroit Children's Museum
Sleeping Bear Dune
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village

I think we were either in the Silver Lake State Park or the Ludington State park. I can't remember which.

If I am looking for a great beach with calm, shallow waters and fine white sand, what would you recommend? Is Ludington better than the Silver Lake area?

The Lena Meijer/Fred Meijer Gardens are wonderful, as is the Detroit Children's Museum. I can't comment on the Detroit Museum or Sleeping Bear Dunes as I've never been, but Henry Ford and Greenfield Village are both wonderful as well.

What is best about the Fred Meijer Gardens is the butterflies in the spring, but the other indoor and outdoor gardens are also fun. The Children's Museum is great fun and also educational, and also the air conditioning would be a blessing in the heat of the summer. Also in Grand Rapids is the John Ball Zoo.

The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are really most appreciated with some background knowledge about the history of the exhibits. However, there are some great trains on display and one in the village, if one of the kids is going through the train phase.

I think the kids are too young for Mackinac anyways, since one of the greatest parts is the ability to ride your bike everywhere.

I've never been to either, but just based on what I know Ludington is a more popular destination than Silver Lake. PJ Hoffmaster State Park is closer to Grand Rapids and would make trips to Fred Meijer Gardens or the Children's Museum more convenient and the park also had a fairly nice beach when I was there 5 years ago.

I would say that where you go really depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for. Henry Ford Museum might be lost on a 3 yo, but the village might be just the thing. Check out what special things they have going on on their website (historic baseall, old cars, etc). If your kids like trains, there is the Allegheny (one of the largest locomotives ever made) in the museum in the event of rain. I have not been to the Childrens' museum in Detroit, so I can't comment. It is only open one Saturday per month, so the timing of your trip could be an issue. The Detroit Institute of Arts is a great museum. Also on the east side of the state is the Ann Arbor Hands' On Museum.

Frederick Meijer Gardens is a wonderful facility. The Children's Garden is 5 acres. The sculpture garden (da Vinci's Horse by Nina Akamu is only one of the amazing pieces in the collection) and the Conservatory are worthwhile. If sculpture is your thing, downtown Grand Rapids has its fair share. See
http://www.visitgrandrapids.org/tour...tour=sculpture
There's a minor league baseball team in Grand Rapids, also.

If beach is what you want, Ludington and Silver Lake are both very nice. There are a lot of dune activities in the Silver Lake area - dune rides and rentals, Craig's Cruisers/putt putt area, etc. There are no ATVs allowed at Ludington so it's a different atmosphere. Both places have both an inland lake and Lake Michigan for different beach options.

Overall, you might want to check out http://www.michigan.org/Things-to-Do...ult.aspx?m=2;2
for tons of Michigan info and ideas.

I think I will have to try the dune ride. It might be fun for the kids.

I am thinking that it makes more sense to go to Ludington/Silver Lake instead of Sleeping Bear.