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Exciting Spring Break Ideas for Lansing Area Families
Are you sticking around the Lansing area for this Spring Break?
If so, and you’re looking for fun ideas your kids will love during Spring Break or outings that are great for the whole family, read on!
Staying close to home doesn’t mean you can’t do something exciting for Spring Break. There are so many fun places in the Lansing area we don’t always have time for during our daily routines. Spring Break in Lansing is the perfect time to plan a visit.
The next time someone asks us, “do you have big plans for Spring Break?” we can all say “YES! Right here in Lansing!”
BONUS: If you decide to take a last-minute trip, we have some great suggestions that will ensure you have a fantastic Spring Break with your family.
Below you’ll find a list of FREE + more ideas for the week, Spring Break Camp options, Greater Lansing Spring Break events, along with short trip destinations worth the drive and packed with fun for your entire family:
FREE Spring Break Ideas Around the Lansing Area
If you’re planning a Spring Break staycation of fun but don’t want to break the bank, here are some FREE ideas your family will love. Some of our family’s best quality time memories have been at these places.
Have fun and let us know which your family ends up loving too by commenting below or tagging us on Instagram!
FREE Spring Break Ideas for Lansing Families
MSU Butterfly House is a must visit each year. Don’t miss the amazing experience of holding a butterfly in your hand!
Walk-in-Wednesday at REACH Art Studio is really cool. You’ll create and make an art project with one of their knowledgable teachers.
Family Day at the MSU Broad is April 4, 2020. You’ll create, make, and be inspired during this family-friendly event.
MSU Science Festival runs April 1 – 30th. There’s so much to do it’s hard to comprehend! Use our guide to plan.
MSU Museum (Dino) keeps us going back for more. No matter how many times our family takes a trip here we have a blast! If it’s nice out you may enjoy walking to shops on Grand River, or the MSU Dairy Store’s two locations.
Stop By a Nature Center to see the natural beauty in our area by playing and exploring on the grounds and discovering animals and reptiles in the welcome centers.
Play at Jolly/Dunckel Road McDonald’s play structure. Trust me, it’s tons of fun for all ages of kids! Located at 2530 E Jolly Rd, Lansing, MI 48911
Pick Parks to visit on the big list of the best playgrounds in our area! They may be a little slushy at this point in the year but still so much fun if you wear the right footwear.
Take a Tour:
Capitol Building (guided or self-guided) – read about our self-guided tour and the 5 ways you can tour!
Justice Building (guided or self-guided
Beaumont Tower – walk the long spiral staircase up to see the carillon being played. Kids are fascinated by the huge bells and castle-like architecture.
CADL Library – Attend one of their storytimes and play areas.
Delta District Library – Explore their children’s area, enjoy storytimes, and fun events all week long!
East Lansing Library – Play in their super colorful and fun-filled kids area or plan for storytime and other events.
Make buttons and magnets at the MSU Broad Art Lab space located across the street from the Broad Museum.
Fitzgerald Park Ledges and Trails
Visit Animals
Potter Park Zoo – Enjoy FREE admission for all Ingham County residents on Mondays from open till noon! And if you happen to have Spring Break a little later this year, check out the Night at a Living Museum for the MSU Science Festival.
Preuss Pets – Take a trip to feed their koi fish in the indoor or outdoor pond, hear the parrots and birds, and visit all of the other animals, creatures, and fish!
Horses at MSU Horse Barns – Bring a treat (apples and carrots) to feed these beautiful animals. Daily between 8 am and 4:30 pm.
Cows at MSU Cattle Barns – Daily between 8 am and 4:30 pm.
ALL ages DIY Craft Time on Thursdays at the Delta District Library.
Explore Greater Lansing’s Art Districts. That’s right, we have pockets of art all around town now that can’t wait for you to explore. ReoTown (Blue Owl Coffee, ReoTown Marketplace, and more!), Old Town Art District (Creole, Vintage Shops, Art Galleries, and more.), Grand Ledge Bridge Street (it’s an “antique heaven”), Downtown Dewitt (Sweetie-licious and The Crafted Bean are here! Don’t forget to stop by their great park downtown), East Lansing has it all, Williamston (a fun and great little quick trip for delicious food and fun).
Walk/Tour Greenhouses and take some time to wander through Van Ettas on the East Side, Horrocks on the West Side, Lansing Gardens on the Southside, and Cottage Gardens near Holt.
Flicks Family Film Festival at Celebration Cinemas has free movies through Spring Break. Kids watch for free.
Kids Eat Free all over town throughout the week.
Go on the Mural Crawl. After Below the Stacks in 2019, our mural/street art status rose! Doing this crawl with kids is SO FUN and evokes great conversations.
More Things to Do During Spring Break
Find TONS of options in our Indoor Play Guide like jumping parks, gymnastics, roller skating, and more.
Go on a date with your sweetheart or get out for a girl’s night out!
Launch Lansing has a Spring Break Special of unlimited jump and laser tag.
REACH Art Studio – enjoy a week of art workshops.
See a Lugnuts game. Go nuts at a home game on the Saturday of Spring Break!
Visit a Museum. There are enough museums around here to fill up your entire week. Impression 5, Michigan History Center, MSU Museum, R.E. Olds Museum, Curwood Castle in Owosso, All Around Africa World Museum, Nokomis Learning Center, and The MSU Broad.
Try High Ropes Courses for a fun adventure at this course in Howell, MI.
Experience High Caliber Karting and Entertainment. Throw Axes, go-kart, and more!
FunTyme Aventures is opening for Spring! Head here for put-put golf and batting cages and have a – you guessed it – fun time!
Go on a unique-treat taste tour of hand-rolled ice cream and bubble tea at Unicha in EL, flavored popcorn at Cravings and Horrocks, pan dulce at Don Panchos, donuts (gluten-free and vegan options) at Strange Matter, and tea and treats at ReoTown Marketplace.
Watch at Sun Theatre when you catch a flick for $3 in Grand Ledge and Williamston
See a Movie! It’s always a good time at NCG, Studio C, Celebration Cinema, and Regal Lansing.
Spring Break Camps & Programs
Here are both fun and educational camp options for your kids this Spring Break in Lansing:
Youth Spring Break Camps:
The Summit (formerly Aim High), 2-Day Basketball Shooting Camp
Lansing Parks and Rec – Foster Community Center
Lansing Area Events – Things to do During Spring Break
Spring Break is the perfect opportunity to plan a “staycation” in Lansing where we get to spend time with our families without the stress of packing and travel.
Lansing has interactive and family bonding events to do just that. We can clear our heads, learn something in a cool setting, or just have some good old fashioned fun.
The best part – we can do it in our own neck of the woods.
Click the + to find events throughout the week of Spring Break.
Spring Break “One-Tank” Getaway Trips Close By and Worth the Drive!
Short road trips can be really fun, doable, and take minimal planning.
Packing light in few bags makes traveling with kids pretty smooth. Along with sleeping in the car, being prepared with drawing kits, books, and a couple of small toys can be immensely helpful when we head out of town.
We are so lucky to live in the Lansing area – right in the center of fun getaway spots that are, as LFF team member, Sarah, puts it – “one-tank” options.
Here are our top choices for Spring Break quick-getaway destinations:
“One-Tank” Getaway Spring Break Trips:
Indoor Waterparks
- Mt. Pleasant – Soaring Eagle Waterpark
- Grand Rapids/Lakeshore Area – Holiday Inn Water Park Hotel, Holland Aquatic Center ($6 per person!), Kroc Center, 45 min to 1 hour from Lansing
- Ann Arbor – Splash Universe, 1 hour 21 min drive from Lansing
Visit Grand Rapids. GRKIDS has an amazing spring break guide for families. You’ll find things to do that suit your family’s needs. 45 min to 1-hour drive from Lansing.
Visit Kalamazoo. KZOOKIDS’s Ultimate Spring Break planner will guide your family through great ideas. Plus, our family loves the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. It’s FREE to the public and a great indoor destination during Spring Break. 1-hour drive from Lansing. Bonus: just next door is the Kingman Museum in Battle Creek and is newly FREE to the public as well!
Visit Detroit. Head over to Detroit for so much fun! Belle Isle is free to the public and their Conservatory, Aquarium, and Nature Center are a blast for both the kids and parents. Plus, check out other amazing things happening around the waterfront and Campus Martius for guaranteed fun during the week. 59 min to 1-hour and 30 min from Lansing.
Visit Owosso. There are so many adorable shops, great coffee at Foster Coffee, and amazing food at Lula’s Louisiana Cuisine and her sister’s restaurant Lily Pearls Lounge next door. Visit the Polar Express Train, or tour the Curwood Castle and walk the city’s suspension bridge.
Visit Chicago. Take in the sites, play at Millenium Park, check out Shedd Aquarium and other museums, shop the Magnificent Mile, and visit Navy Pier and more! If you plan to do it all, the City Pass is a great option to save money and skip having to stand in lines. Also, Chicagokids is a great place to start if you’re wanting family tips and ideas.
Whether you choose to have a staycation or go on a getaway – have an awesome Spring Break, friends!