Indoor Michigan Winter Fun and Things to Do in Metro Detroit

It's nice to have a handy list of some Michigan places to go where you can have indoor winter fun. Here are a few suggestions of things to do and places to go when it's cold outside in Oakland County and Metro Detroit, Michigan: 

Indoor Michigan Fun for kids in Sterling Heights, Michigan
Best Western Sterling Inn Indoor Waterpark
34911 Van Dyke Avenue
Sterling Heights, Michigan
48312-4662
586/979-1400
Featuring a 5,000 square foot swimming pool, three-story water slide, Lazy River, Bubble Seats and more. Click here for a full review and photo gallery of the Best Western Sterling Inn Waterpark.

Indoor Michigan Fun for kids in Farmington Hills, Michigan
BonaVenture Family Skating Center
BonaVenture offers skating lessons, open skates, birthday parties and more. They even offer free skating times throughout the winter months.
24505 Halsted
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48335
248-476-2200
(more info)

Indoor Fun for kids in Oakland County, Michigan
Click here for Oakland County, Michigan Indoor Ice-Skating rinks
Local ice-rinks provide plenty of fun things to do. Check our directory for open, public ice-skating times and ice skate rentals.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Clinton Twp., Michigan
C.J. Barrymore's Sports & Entertainment (arcade, bowling, laser tag and more)
21750 Hall Road
Clinton Township, Michigan
586-469-2800
Year-round, head to this sprawling park's indoor attractions, including a new bowling alley, Lasertron laser tag and an arcade that towers two stories that's packed with video games, billiards and more.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Utica, Michigan
Dave and Buster's (restaurant, arcade and more)
45511 Park Avenue
Utica, Michigan 48315
Dave and Buster's is humongous bar and restaurant that features a Midway of arcade and carnival style games. I'm not talking about a dingy, shopping-mall type of arcade. It's upscale and features the latest and greatest arcade games. Dave and Buster's is more like a casino experience than it is a Chuck E Cheese Michigan arcade visit. Click here for a full review of Dave and Buster's in Utica.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Clawson, Michigan
Doc Sweets' Candy Company (candy store)
120 S. Rochester Road
Clawson, Michigan 48017
(248) 597-1051
Take a visit this winter to Michigan's largest candy store - Doc Sweets Candy Company of Clawson. A visit to Doc Sweets' feels more like a field trip than a shopping visit. Click here for a review, photo gallery and video tour of Doc Sweets' in Clawson

Indoor Fun for kids in Royal Oak, Michigan
Emagine Theatre (bowling, upscale movie theatre)
The 71,000 square foot Emagine Theatre entertainment facility features a 10-screen movie theatre and 16 lanes of upscale boutique bowling. Click here for a review and photo gallery of Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Birmingham, Michigan
Great Harvest Bread Company (breadmaking tours for kids)
1137 S. Adams
Birmingham, Michigan 48009
(248) 594-0505
Attention, Moms! If you're looking for a FREE, fun, educational activity for your child, you might consider a tour of the Great Harvest Bread Company. Great Harvest Break Co also offers tours at their Commerce Twp and Northville locations. Click here for more info and a video tour!

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Shelby Twp., Michigan
Joe Dumars Fieldhouse (arcade, laser tag, climbing walls and more)
Shelby Township, Michigan
586-731-3080
The Shelby sports complex is 110,000 square feet and houses first-class basketball and volleyball courts, floor hockey and roller hockey rinks.Its giant Bayou Adventure features a deluxe miniature golf course, climbing wall, laser tag center, arcade games, high ropes obstacle course and a 33-foot Titanic slide and Slot Car Race Way. Field trips available. Hours: Fieldhouse, 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Sunday. Bayou Adventure, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. Joe Dumars Fieldhouse is a great place to take the kids when it's too cold outside!

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Jungle Java (Large indoor playscape)
Farmington Hills, Michigan
248-919-3284
Visit this children's play center for soups, salads and a coffee bar for parents - and free, unlimited, high-speed Internet access. For kids, there's a jungle play area with a tree house, main structure for children of all ages and the "Toddler Safari" for ages 3 years and younger. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Madison Heights, Michigan
Laser Quest (Indoor Laser Tag)
31401 John R St.
Madison Heights, Michigan
248-616-9292
Experience live-action laser tag at the top of its game. Laser Quest combines laser tag, hide-and-seek, cops and robbers and capture the flag all into one game. It's also open for birthday parties, sports teams and family and group events. Hours: 6-10 p.m.Tuesday-Thursday, 4-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Libraries
Check out our Oakland County Library Directory. Many Oakland County libraries have things to do on cold Michigan winter days for free. Events and activities vary from library to library. Some don't even require registration for their events.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (arcade and museum)
31005 Orchard Lake Rd.
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334
(248) 626-5020
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum features over 5,000 square feet of vintage coin-operated machines, macabre oddities, pinball machines, unusual nostalgia, and the newest video game crazes. Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum provides things to do for kids of all ages. Best of all - admission is free! Click here for a review and photo gallery. 

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Auburn Hills, Michigan
North Oakland YMCA (fitness, things to do) 
3378 East Walton Boulevard
Auburn Hills, Michigan
248-370-9622
North Oakland YMCA offers a beautiful indoor pool/waterpark in addition to basketball and many kids programs, events and activities. The child care offered on-site while you work out is second to none and daily passes are available. It's a great way for entire families to be active during the cold winter months! Click here for a review of North Oakland YMCA.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Novi, Michigan
Paradise Park (arcade, laser tag)
45799 Grand River Ave.
Novi, Michigan
248-735-1050
Year-round indoor treats include laser tag, arcade games, a cafe area, food court, party rooms and more. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Pontiac, Michigan
Planet Rock Climbing Gym (climbing walls)
Pontiac, Michigan
248-334-3904
These climbing gyms boast being among the world's biggest (13,500 square feet in Pontiac, and 22,000 in Ann Arbor). Indoor terrain, which caters to novices and pros alike, features five-story-tall walls and "bouldering caves" with low, rope-free climbing. There's safety equipment rental and experienced staff on hand. Ask about kids' parties and programs. Hours: 3-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Friday, 3-11 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Auburn Hills, Michigan
Pump It Up (bouncers, inflatable playplace)
Auburn Hills, Michigan
248-375-1100
"The Inflatable Party Zone" lets kids jump, climb, bounce and slide at one of several area locations known for parties, bouncers and a whole lot of fun. Family play times are available, and any event can be customized.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Rochester Hills, Michigan
Rochester Hills Skating and Sports Arena (fitness, sports, roller skating)
1700 S. Livernois
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307
Rochester Hills Skating and Sports Arena offers low-cost Zumba Fitness, Stroller Skates, Open Skates and much more. Click here for info and details of low-cost fun for kids in the winter at Rochester Hills Skating and Sports Arena.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Rochester, Michigan
Rochester Play (plascapes and daycare)
Rochester, Michigan
248-650-PLAY
The services offered at Rochester Play! include child care, drop-in child care (4 hours or less), open play (parents stay), and the play cafe - an indoor playscape with a healthy cafe.
Click here for a video, photo gallery and review of Rochester Play! 

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Sterling Hts., Michigan
Spring Training (indoor batting facility)
35977 Mound Road
Sterling Heights, Michigan
586-264-1122
Indoor batting cages. Little sluggers can test out their homerun skills at six batting cages for both baseball and softball at one of the finest indoor batting cages in Michigan. You'll always find after-school specials for good grades, hitting leagues and private instruction. Hours: 3:30p-8p Monday-Friday, 9a-9p Saturday and Sunday.

Indoor Michigan fun for girls in Novi, Michigan
Sweet and Sassy (salon and spa for kids)
43530 West Oaks Drive
Novi, Michigan 48377
248-347-6500
Sweet and Sassy is the ultimate salon, spa and place for girls events. Sweet and Sassy of Novi offers a complete salon and spa experience with party packages and pink limousines. Click here for a review and video of Sweet and Sassy events.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Novi, Michigan
Whirlyball
Novi, Michigan
248-788-8900
Competition gears up with high-action fun at Whirlyball, which combines the games of jai alai, hockey, basketball and polo - all played from a bumper car. Kids and adults are welcome; groups of 10 or more. Food and refreshments are available: also, a full-service restaurant, two bars and a TV-stocked lounge that seats 103; Hours: noon-midnight Sunday-Thursday, noon-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Reservations required.

Indoor Michigan fun for kids in Waterford, Farmington and Utica, Michigan
Zap Zone (laser tag, arcade)
Farmington, 248-471-6777
Utica, 586-323-0030
Waterford, 248-706-7777
The whole family has a blast at this laser tag adventure, compared to "stepping into a real-life video game." Arcades, prizes and a "Bear Factory" also are on hand. The just-relocated Farmington locale now features go-karts, mini bowling and Glo Golf. Birthday parties and other get-togethers welcome. Hours: 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 2 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Times may vary by location; always call ahead. Click here for a review of a Zap Zone birthday party.

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Click here for a list of local sledding and skating areas for Outdoor Michigan Winter fun!
Click here for more Oakland County and Metro Detroit, Michigan events, activities and things to do.