Free & Affordable Detroit, Michigan

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the country’s oldest continuously running conservatory, is home to many different rare and exotic plants from across the globe. The conservatory is divided up into five distinctive areas: the Show House, the Sunken Fernery, the Cactus House, the Tropical House, and the Palm House. Plants that produce food, such as oranges and bananas can be seen in the Tropical House. The Conservatory and Gardens are spread out over thirteen acres shared by a Lily Pond and the formal gardens.

900 Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207, Phone: 313-821-5428

The Belle Isle Park is an island park encompassing nearly one thousand acres of Detroit and features cultural, environmental, and historic resources that generations have loved. Among the many different amenities and facilities at the park are the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Nature Center, the Belle Isle Aquarium, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Belle Isle Park is open each day from 5:00am until 10:00pm, with various hours of operation for facilities like the aquarium and nature center. The public park is managed by the Belle Isle Conservancy.

300 River Place Dr, Detroit, MI 48207, Phone: 313-331-7760

Many of Detroit’s most popular east riverfront highlights can be found at the Cullen Plaza. These include the inlaid map of the area’s Detroit River made out of granite, the beautiful Cullen Family Carousel, a sculptured glass map of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, lush landscaping, a children’s play area, and playful fountains. The plaza is also home to the RiverWalk Cafe, as well as the Wheelhouse Detroit, which is a bike shop that offers bike rentals, service, retail, and tours. The RiverWalk Cafe and the carousel at Cullen Plaza are open during the warmer months of the year.

1340 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 48207, Phone: 313-566-8200

Visit a Museum or Attend a Festival

The Detroit Historical Museum shares the history of the Detroit region, as is the only museum to do. The Signature Exhibitions at the museum are its permanent exhibits, showcasing over three hundred years of the rich history of the city. Five permanent exhibits opened in 2012, which include the Kid Rock Music Lab, the Allesee Gallery of Culture, Detroit: The Arsenal of Democracy, the Gallery of Innovation, and the Legends Plaza. There is also the Streets of Old Detroit, Frontiers to Factories: Detroiters at Work, America’s Motor City, and Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad.

5401 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, Phone: 313-833-1805

The Detroit International Jazz Festival is the city’s free annual jazz festival held during Labor Day Weekend every year. The festival is held at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit. Each year, the Detroit International Jazz Festival features a lineup of over sixty different performances, which are made up of performance as diverse as the jazz genre itself. There are also often spontaneous late-night jam sessions, as well as other activities and events. The festival has changed named over the years, starting out as the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival, then the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and now The Detroit Jazz Festival.

1 Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI 48226, Phone: 313-469-6564

For Tweens and Teens

The Detroit RiverWalk is a stretch of the riverfront stretching from the Gabriel Richard Park to the Ambassador Bridge, which is approximately five and a half miles. Many people visit the riverfront to walk, bike, run, or simply spend time with friends and family and take advantage of the all the riverfront has to offer. Attractions situated along the Detroit riverfront include open greens spaces, pathways, pavilions, plaza, and park. All of which are connected by the Detroit RiverWalk. The riverfront also features residential areas, retail shops, restaurants, and a marina. The Detroit RiverWalk is the work of the Conservancy.

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is located on Belle Isle and is focused on telling the story of the region’s Great Lakes, along with a specific emphasis on the role the city of Detroit has played in the maritime history of the region and the country. Exhibits housed within the museum share over three hundred years of the rich maritime history of the region, from shipping fleets ruling the waterways to the various roles the Detroit River and the Great Lakes have played in the region’s social and industrial history. Exhibits include the championship hydroplane Miss Pepsi and Built by the River.

100 Strand Dr, Belle Isle, Detroit, MI 48207, Phone: 313-833-1805

For Families with Small Kids

The Eastern Market is one of the country’s largest and oldest public markets open year-round. The Saturday Market offers more than 225 vendors and cooking classes for visitors of all ages. This market has been a tradition in Detroit for over 125 years and strives to make the city happier, wealthier, and healthier. This is more of a street market than farmers market, featuring artists, musicians, jewelers, cooks, and more. The Tuesday Market offers free fitness classes.

2934 Russell St, Detroit, MI 48207, Phone: 313-833-9300

The Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum lets visitors take a walk through a timeline of mechanical history. Guests can explore vintage coin-operated machines, unusual nostalgia, video game crazes, oddities, and macabre throughout the museum’s five thousand square feet. Visitors of all ages can play a variety of games and earn tickets that can be redeemed for a large selection of prizes. There is also a cafe offering snacks and free wireless internet, as well as several photo booths and rides for children. The Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum doesn’t charge a fee for admission. Souvenirs and t-shirts are also available.

31005 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, Phone: 248-626-5020

The Dequindre Cut Freight Yard is a go-to destination in Detroit during the summer for outdoor fun and libations. The Dequindre Cut area is a gathering place, home to retail shops, and a place for entertainment, all built out of nine shipping containers that have been repurposed. The Freight Yard includes entertainment, a wine and beer gardens, a Detroit-based market created by the Build Institute, and food trucks by the people of Yum Village and Brut Detroit. Visitors can check the Facebook page for the Dequindre Cut Freight Yard for hours, vendors, food trucks, and entertainment schedules.

Dequindre Cut Greenway, Detroit, MI 48207, Phone: 313-566-8200