Things To Do

Island Lake Recreation Area

Island Lake Recreation Area is a 4,000-acre park in Livingston County that offers an “up north” experience. The terrain is a mixture of open brush land to mature hardwood forest, with some pockets of open meadows mixed in. Island Lake is the only balloon port in the state park system. Balloons usually take off in the early morning or late evening, depending on the wind and weather. Island Lake Recreation Area has one of the nation’s safest shooting ranges. The park has great canoeing, volleyball courts, picnic shelters, swimming and cabins to rent.

Tanger Outlets Howell

Campus Martius Park

Ben and Heather loved going to Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit. There are a ton of bars, restaurants, and even a beach in the heart of downtown. The river walk is also very close!

Belle Isle

Belle Isle Park, a 985-acre island park located in the Detroit River near downtown Detroit, is rich with natural beauty and historical and cultural resources. The park provides spectacular views of Detroit to the North and Canada to the south. It’s home to the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, the Ralph Wilson Gateway (which serves as the official southern trailhead for Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail), a golf course and many more cultural and natural attractions. Visitors can also swim at the designated swim beach, ride bicycles, fish, paddle and more.

Kensington Metropark

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy the best of Michigan’s great outdoors, with Kensington Metropark, one of the most popular parks in Michigan. Kensington’s 4,486 sprawling acres of wooded, hilly terrain surrounds beautiful Kent Lake and is home to an abundance of wildlife and waterfowl. Kensington Metropark offers a multitude of recreational activities throughout the year, from biking, boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding.