Unique, Inexpensive Things You Can Do With Your Kids on Spring Break in Lansing
Although spring break is less than two months away, I'm a planner and I work with a budget. Time seems to go by faster and faster so now is the time for me to start planning something fun for spring break, otherwise it will sneak up on me and be gone before I know it.
Having a slim budget means that me and my family will be staying close to home for spring break, sadly there's no Disney World trips planned. That's ok though, we have a ton of diffrerent things to do locally that will satisfy the whole family.
Do you like pinball? How about science? Ice Cream? Want to get to know horses better? If you do, there's a place for you to go have a blast with the family.
Unique, Inexpensive Things You Can Do With Your Kids on Spring Break in Lansing
An amazing spring break doesn't mean that you have to spend thousands of dollars and deal with inconsistent flights. Try a "staycation" this spring break and save some money and the hassle of travel.
Get Up Close & Personal with Horses
MSU Arabian Farm - 3327 Collins Rd, Lansing, MI 48910
They are open daily from 8a - 4:30p and welcome you to visit. Learn about horses from conception to birth and lots of other fun things about horses you didn't know.
Try the Best Ice Cream
You'll find, arguably the best ice cream in mid Michigan at the MSU Dairy Store. This place is a blast and you can find it at 474 S Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824. Here's the thing, they serve 13 weekly rotating flavors of ice cream in cups and cones. It's cheap too, single scoops are $4, double scoops are $5 and shakes are $6. They don't just sell ice cream by the cone, they also offer hand-packed pints and quarts are available along with limited cheese flavors. They are currently open Wed - Sun, noon - 8p.
Visit the 29th Largest Library in the U.S.
Visit the main library at MSU. You can find it on campus at 366 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48824. Don't think that just because it's a college library there aren't kids books. There is a section that is dedicated to the kids with over 2800 books for them to look at. It's also a cool experience being on campus.
Showcase Your Art Skills with Your Kids
Check out the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. You'll find this at 547 E Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48824. Family Days take place on the first Saturday of every month. Tour the museum and do some fun "hands on" art projects.
Get Some Fresh Air and Steps
As you can see in the picture above, the River Trail has some great scenery. Depending on the weather, Lansing's River Trail is fun to walk and explore. You know how Michigan is. Late March could be nice and spring like or it can be winter. This will be a daily, game time decision. Riding bikes along the trail is the most fun in my opinion.
Have a Staring Contest with Animals
Potter Park Zoo is always fun. You can find it at 1301 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48912. Check their website for hours as they will change as the daylight and temps do.
Cheap Fun for a Roll of Quarters
Pay a visit to Pinball Pete's, 220 Albert St, East Lansing, MI 48823. I have two boys, ages 10 and 14. We try to go to Pinball Pete's as often as we can. It gets the kids off the screens and I can school them on old school arcade games.
Fill the Brain with Knowledge
Visit the MSU Museum, 409 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48823. This is cool, according to the MSU Museum:
The MSU Museum is the science and culture museum at Michigan State University and the state’s first Smithsonian Affiliate. The Museum features three floors of special collections and changing exhibits. Long-term exhibits include the Science on a Sphere Gallery that houses one of the world’s most dynamic learning technologies for visualizing data, along with Habitat Hall which features the area’s only full-mounted dinosaur skeletons, Allosaurus and Stegosaurus.
Pretend to be Einstein
Take the family to Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Dr, Lansing, MI 48933. There's so much to do with plenty of interactive experiences for the whole family. Each time I've taken my kids here I come home "more smarter" and they learn some cool, new things.
Look to the Stars
One thing I need to do with my kids is visit Abrams Planetarium, 755 Science Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824. I love space and the kids do too. Abrams does public planetarium shows, featuring the Digistar 6 projector. They are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 P.M. See them on Sundays at 2:30 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. It's on $5.50 to get in, $4.50 for kids 12 and under.