Finally went into the actual park and wow, it is beautiful!!…read more I didn't realize I have driven by this lake so much on the freeway until my husband pointed it out! They have a playground (with bathrooms in the back) and the trail goes down a paved steep decline that then leads into the boardwalk path way. It is not the most stroller friendly mainly because you are dodging a TON of swan and geese poop the whole time. And it can be bumpy on some parts. But the whole pathway is pretty unique with bridges connecting it (at least 5 bridges) and there is one lookout spot you can go to. We went on a beautiful sunny and windy day and loved it!! Saw so many birds (I have never seen so many swans together before) and nests!! Lots of people fish here too. What a gem! Definitely coming back!

It's always such a beautiful time at North Bay! My husband and I are avid birders and have been…read morecoming here for years. The boardwalk through the wooded trails are beautiful but the real beauty is the boardwalk that goes through the lake. It is amazing! There is sooo much wildlife there, too. There are several spots with picnic tables and benches throughout the trail as well as workout equipment in different spots throughout the trails. It's a beautiful park and I highly recommend checking it out.

Love taking visitors here now…read more Unfortunately, right now, there isn't much bloomed. Only the indoor conservatory is worth seeing. The Bonzai trees are "sleeping" according to their sign :0( It's $5 for 2 hour parking (I still pay inside because the machine never accepts my credit card). There is a lot to explore here though. Especially on the walking trails.

This is the largest university operated greenhouse in the United States. Part of the University of…read moreMichigan. The conservatory consists of 3 areas..Tropical,Temperature and Arid houses as well as a nice Bonsai collection. The Conservatory is relatively small but thete are over 3 miles of Natural area and trails plus a few garden displays. Admission is free but there is a cost for metered parking.

One of my favorite local parks to walk with my dog! We typically get on the trail from the south…read moreentrance, which has plenty of parking, fields for sports, a play structure, and some pavilions. Hike is on the easier end, with wide paths. Would note that that it is prone to get muddy so expect that after rain and dress accordingly. Note - they've taken down the old boardwalk. Not sure if they are just removing it or if they are creating a new one? Pittsfield township also often has fun activities in the park, like Halloween or St Patrick's Day themed walks/"scavenger hunts". Cute little touch.

Uncrowded park for jogging or walking 2-3 miles near Ann Arbor! I drove here (about 9 minutes)…read morefrom the Hyatt Place. This park has two sections (North and South). I took time to walk along the path from the parking lot, past the soccer fields toward Turtle Pond. You'll need to walk about 0.5 miles to see the pond, but it's a lovely respite and seems dog-friendly. One downside is the proximity of I-94 which means that you'll hear the background noise of cars and trucks in the distance. It's not super-loud, but noticeable if you had expected a serene walk. Another downside is that the trail does not have clear signs or color stripes - but you can figure out the main route by using the pond as your guide. Would recommend folks staying in the hotels on the south side of Ann Arbor to give this park a try - it was really nice for jogging or a long walk.

Bandemer Park is an awesome park located right in Ann Arbor. Although it's close to everything,…read moreit's completely hidden. You can hear the cars driving by but can't see them. It's a beautiful place to walk and get closer to nature, and convenient because it is right in town. It could use some upkeep from the city or county. Some signs and the bike park are showing their age and not looking as maintained as they could be. Still a great place to swing by.

I stumbled on this park after a failed attempt at a nearby park…read more I would say this park is roughly only abou 1.10 miles in total but plenty of connecting areas. honestly I did I did part of this trail that's why pretty much turned around but I was happy to say that restrooms were available but unfortunately wasn't the cleanest. Would I go back here... YES! Happy Hiking!!!

Check the county website or facebook page before you go!! Recently, the beach at Independence Lake…read morehas had to be shut down several times for high e coli levels. One of the posts said that this is because of the amount of geese that have been frequenting the lake this year or because of runoff from rain. We went once before we knew about the e coli issues and actually had a great time. The beach (we thought) appeared clean and the water was the perfect cool temperature on a hot summer day. The swimming area went deep enough that we could float away from the littles on the shoreline. There were two life guards on duty. They have really amazing facilities where a get together was being held under the pavilion. They have a snack station, but we brought our own chips and sodas. They also have a splash pad with water slides. This area was closed when we went, and you have to pay a little more to access this area. They also have some cool trails and a frisbee golf course. You can bring dogs, but not to the designated swimming area. I hope they figure out the e coli issues because we would love to go back.

Very nice park. Clean water , beach , trails. Not too…read morecrowded. It's hidden in backroad. Definitely will be back again. My daughter enjoyed this park.

This park is a hidden gem! As a part-time photographer, I wish this place would have more exposure…read morebecause I kept seeing great photo locations. Maybe it is more known to local Ann Arbor residents, but I wish I had known about it sooner! I appreciated all the trails being clearly marked with signage and wooden paths. We went on a shorter trail and a longer one. The shorter one was just a loop and took maybe 5 minutes and the longer one we had to turn around because we were running low on time. I would definitely recommend coming here if you want to embrace fall season in Michigan. The paths take you through gorgeous trees, across bridges, and wind around different bodies of water. We also saw 2 deer right by the path. Amazing! It was quiet and peaceful and scenic through the whole park! I will definitely be begging my friends/clients to take photos here and also come back for long yap sessions with friends! I'm not a big outdoorsy person but this park made me want to be!

This is one of my favorite parks in Ann Arbor. I like to get here by biking down the connecting…read moretrail between Gallup Park and Parker Mill County Park. The path is paved, making it easy to navigate. The trail views are very scenic l. I love biking through the woods and seeing all the wildlife. There's a cool interactive water pump/art display kids and adults can hand pump water into and see the water flow down into the stream. There's a special trail called the Post Trail just for walkers (no jogging/biking and no dogs) that you can explore the woods with. There is a convenient parking lot and bathroom for visitors as well. Great park, will definitely be back!

This is a great place for outdoor activities no matter the season…read more In the summer, the pool is an ideal place to cool off. There is a zero-depth pool for young kids and another area about 4 feet deep for older kids to swim in, with or without parents. When the weather turns cold, the ice rink is well-maintained and fun for all. I appreciated that they Zamboni the rink halfway through an open skate so that it stays smooth. Two fire pits allow for warming up if your fingers start to freeze. Overall this is a fantastic place to spend some quality time being active outdoors all year round.

They have a covered outdoor ice skating rink which is really cool and well kept. The lobby is…read moreheated with restrooms. Skate rentals are available. Customer service was nice! Had a very good time with this winter activity.

The best time to view the peony is end of May and begin of June. This blooming only happens on the…read moreshort duration of time. We were lucky to visit arboretum during this time on our trip to Ann Arbor. The peony garden can be reached in two locations. The best parking is near Ronald McDonald House of Charity Ann Arbor. That parking lot gets you direct access to the garden. The other parking near Nichols Drive and go the entrance by taking the first right trail to the top and reach the garden. The garden has 28 bed of flower beds. Each bed has the name of flower indicated. During the blooming time, there are a lot of visitors. Parking may be full. The flower is beautiful and the pedal open wide and bright. I got my peony moment during my visit. Some flower has fragrances smell. So don't forget to smell the flowers during your visit.

The first time I came here in April and there were no flowers or green and everything was brown!…read more I came back on the last day of May with my husband and it looked completely different!! There is a lot of green everywhere and soo many different flowers (especially the peonies before they were vandalized)!! We parked in the back where it is about a 15-20 min walk to the peonies. It was a nice and mostly shaded walk. We even saw a new bird (Great Crested Flycatcher)! I think it's only worth coming for the peonies but otherwise, it's free (unless you park in the front and then you have to pay).

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!! got a huge pool. 12 ft deep on the far side of the lanes. Has a cute kid…read moreside with shallow end! Adults is only $6 for entry, I forgot how cheap it was for kids but I think it was $4. Regardless this is my new spot. Opens at 11-8 for the pool. They have walking trails and picnic areas, a play ground for the kids. Staff is friendly. And environment is amazing and chill.

I haven't been able to explore all of Fuller Park yet but they get 5 stars automatically from me…read morefor their amazing pool! I live really close to the Vets Park pool but I think Fuller Park's may be my new spot. First off, it's HUGE. I think maybe the biggest public outdoor pool in Ann Arbor? They have several lanes for laps, a deep end for swimming, and a shallower end for kids. They also have a separate waterslide tucked in the back (although it doesn't empty into a pool). While Vet's Park is better for the really little ones (they have more of a toddler pool with overhead sprinklers and such) Fuller is better for older folks. In fact, the last 10 minutes of every hour is "Adult swim." Anyone under 18 has to get out of the pool so the adults can have a bit of a peaceful float for 10 glorious minutes. It's not just great for swimming either. It's wonderful for relaxing as well. They have LOTS of lounge chairs and pergolas to keep you semi shaded. I spent several fantastic hours here this past weekend cooling off in the water for a bit and then heading back to my chair to dry off and read a book. It was lovely. If you're feeling peckish they have a few vending machines for beverages and snacks. They have a couple of ice cream novelty machines too. Oh, and they have a few picnic tables and areas for parties. $5 a day for adults, $4 for kids and seniors. They have resident yearly passes ($140 for adults or $265 for familes) or punch passes (10 punches for $40 or 20 punches for $80) if you don't think you'd use the yearly pass often enough for make it worth your while. The pool is pristine, the locker rooms are also clean, and it's just so spacious and great. I really genuinely love it there and can't wait for my next visit!

Old wooden jungle gyms are good for exploring and using your imagination. Modern playgrounds are…read moreonly good for playing. Thankfully this park has both! And some cool stone figures to play on, a splash pad park and a little train area for little ones. Lots of areas to walk, roam and bring your dog. Truly, miss Parks like this and wish there were some in Arizona. They are so nostalgic and remind me of being a little kid back home in Michigan.

Wonderful park with a pond and a spring for nature discovery. Loads of play equipment and picnic…read moretables, with clean restrooms nearby. Our favorite spot!