The Absolutely Ginormous 982-Acre Park In Detroit The Whole Family Will Love
By Catherine Armstrong|Published June 22, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Summertime is the time to make family memories, but it can be tough to find a spot that offers something for every member of the family. The best park in the city is located right in the middle of the Detroit River, and it offers a wealth of recreational activities. Plan to spend an entire day at Belle Isle Park, where you can paddle in a kayak, burn some energy on the playground, wander through a historic conservatory, and much, much more.
Editors Note: Currently, several of the attractions at the park are closed due to COVID-19. Visit the website for updates, and put them on your bucket list for later.
For a day full of family fun, cross the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle Park.
This botanic wonderland is full of exotic plants. Wander through the perennial garden, lily pad garden, and visit throughout the year to see the changes in the seasonal gardens.
The historic building was constructed in 1904, and at the time was the third largest in the world. It was recently renovated, and today offers a huge, unique collection of fish and sea creatures.
Riders 48 inches and taller can ride for just $1. The slide is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The swimming beach is the perfect place to splash and play on a hot summer day. Bring your beach towel and some sand toys for a few hours of sun-soaked fun.
The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is free to visit (a $5 donation is suggested), and it has hands-on activities for kids, a huge collection of model ships, and plenty of maritime history.
The Deer Encounter, where you can feed the fallow deer and see them up close, is one of the most popular activities, but visitors young and old will also enjoy the turtle exhibit, indoor beehive, and spider exhibit.
Even after visiting the conservatory, nature center, aquarium, beach, slide, and museum, there's still more to see and do! Check out the large playground...
Belle Isle Park is open year-round, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Take the DDOT bus, walk, ride your bike, or get a one-year Recreation Pass for just $12 so you can park on the island.
Attraction hours and fees vary, so make sure to check the website before heading out.
Learn more about Belle Isle Park on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website. Have you visited Belle Isle Park? We’d love to hear about your family adventures there – tell us in the comments!
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