9 Fun Things to Do in Saginaw and Central Michigan
Looking for fun activities with the kiddos? There’s no shortage of great finds. Check out these nine fun things to do in Saginaw and Central Michigan that are sure to be a hit with the whole family:
In This Article
Delta College Planetarium
Bay City
Introduce the wonder of space and astronomy to your children at this public planetarium, where immersive dome shows bring these subjects to life. The planetarium regularly offers programming and special shows specifically designed for kids and families, like Jupiter Family Night, which also includes demonstrations and other activities.
Dow Gardens & Whiting Forest
Midland
Established in 1899, Michigan’s 110-acre Dow Gardens blends stunning floral displays with high-altitude adventure. Visitors can tour the historic Pines Home or experience Whiting Forest’s 1,400-foot canopy walk – the nation’s longest – featuring a glass-floored overlook 40 feet up. Open year-round, it offers seasonal events from spring tulips to summer movies.
Coldwater Lake Family Park
Weidman
Soak up the sun at Coldwater Lake Family Park and its family-friendly sandy beach perfect for sunbathing or building sandcastles. The water is shallow, an ideal depth for swimming and playing, plus there are picnic areas offering shade.
Saginaw Children’s Zoo
Saginaw
Open seasonally (usually spring through fall), this zoo offers plenty of exciting exhibits, including penguins, sloths, kangaroos, river otters, prairie dogs and more. There’s also a miniature train ride, a carousel, playgrounds and picnic areas.
Saginaw River Headwaters Rec Area
Saginaw
Pack a picnic, put on your walking shoes or bring your bikes to Saginaw River Headwaters Rec Area, where more than 2 miles of trails offer gorgeous riverfront views. If you want to make it educational, you could also explore off-trail and see what plants and animals you can find.
Play City
Bay City
Located inside Veterans Memorial Park, Play City is an ADA-accessible public playground with all the bells and whistles – slides, ramps, swings and climbing structures. Plus, it’s next to a pavilion and riverwalk trails, so you can divide and conquer if some of the family wants to take a hike.
Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum
Mt. Pleasant
This vibrant, hands-on children’s museum is designed for kids up to age 12. A dynamic 12,000-square-foot space sparks curiosity through screen-free, play-based learning, offering fun interactive areas where families can explore riveting science, technology, engineering, art and math concepts together.
Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel
Mt. Pleasant
Weather is irrelevant to having a good time at Soaring Eagle Waterpark. A large, indoor water park resort, it has slides, a lazy river, a wave rider and so much more. This attraction is technically part of a hotel resort, but day passes are available.
Breckenridge Splash Park
Breckenridge
The Breckenridge Splash Park is a free community hub for summer refreshment. Operating daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the interactive water feature offers families a safe, colorful space to cool off and play.
Get to Know the Great Lakes Bay and Central Michigan
Want to learn more about living and working in Saginaw, MI, and the surrounding communities? Check out the latest edition of Livability Great Lakes Bay – Central Michigan Region.