We love the Outdoor Adventure Center! We visit once a week when they open, which keeps my 2.5-year-old entertained and active. It can get busy with school field trips, so we prefer going early. There's a cafeteria, so you can pack a lunch and eat there, though they only sell a few snacks in the gift shop. We have a membership, and it's definitely worth it! Highly recommend this place! read more

I see the staff say good morning every morning on the news and finally got to visit on a field trip. I was with the littles, young elementary school aged kids, and they absolutely had the best time. This place was adorable, packed with so much for young kids to touch, see, experience, play with and play on and we were able to get through and do most of it. They loved the tree, the camp site, the plane, the kitchen, the waterfall area, the bunk beds, the fish, and fishing simulation, the driving simulations, this was a magical place for them. Since we had limited time and a big group, I did not get a chance to try the driving experiences, but it is only $5 admission. The only thing I wish they would have as a parent, and maybe this feasible for them would be to have a cafeteria where they actually sold food and drinks. You have to bring your own food and if you have a water bottle, they put it away for you since nothing is allowed on the attractions. read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This is a great place to bring a toddler to pre-teen age to spend an hour or two. There are enough activities from pretend camping to a real airplane kids can explore inside. Even I like the small plane, it really makes you wonder how pilots can remember all the buttons and knobs. The waterfall was nice to add an outdoor touch to things. They had a ATV and a snowmobile to pretend 'drive'. Lots of sensory items to touch and see. I'll be bringing my granddaughter back. read more

This is such a cool place. It's a nature center that introduces visitors to outdoor activities and Michigan nature, but it's all indoors. As an indoorsy person, the Outdoor Adventure Center resonates with me very much. My kids were able to go pretend fishing in a canoe, ride a virtual snowmobile, sit inside of an airplane, touch the fur of the animals that live in Michigan, climb up a treehouse, and lots more. There's also an indoor waterfall and stream, as well as dozens of exhibits that bring the outdoors indoors. This is the perfect place for young children, because there are lots of things to touch and see. My children are not-so-little almost-tweens, so we went through the Outdoor Adventure Center in about 45 minutes. But if they were both about five years younger, I could see us spending a couple of hours here. I think the perfect age range for this place is toddler through 7 years old. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 2-12, which is a great price! It is 100% worth the money to visit. My suggestion is to get there right when it opens. When we pulled up about five minutes before it opened, there was already a line waiting to get in. By the time we left about 45 minutes later, the place was packed. Another suggestion: Make sure your kids stay with you at all times! We were admonished by staff when our kids strayed a little too far from us, and our kids were told to go back to their parents. (We were maybe 10 steps away from them, because my kids like to walk ahead.) It wasn't a big deal -- I think staff just want families to stay together to prevent the place from becoming a chaotic madhouse. read more

Mitch was amazing!! Recommend him for this! He understood our needs and explained it all!

Always love this place! A lot to do but geared more toward kids ages 3 and up. Such a great and affordable thing to do with the kids in the cold of winter. $5 for adults and children ages 2+ is $3. Went on a Wednesday afternoon. Was way less crowded which made it more enjoyable. read more

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What a great place to bring kids of all ages! This place takes the outdoors and brings them indoors. Our kids definitely enjoyed everything, but truly the virtual experiences-- those were especially really fun. We also really loved going on the rope walks, which was a little bit scary as a mama, but lots of fun fun for the kids! read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

A month ago I called about having a homeschool field trip here. I was told I would have to fill out a form online. Nobody wanted to talk to me on the phone about the field trip and sent me to the website. I had a request for 24 to attend on Feb 14. I filled out the form January 8. A few days later I called to make sure they received the form because I didn't receive any kind of email saying they received my request. I was told the DNR goes through requests as they come in so mine must be still processing and I needed to wait a couple weeks. 2 weeks goes by and I called again to touch base and was told to wait longer and I would get an email in the next week. Nothing ever came. Fast forward to today, I called to touch base and was told my group is too small for a field trip and isn't eligible for the group discount (29 people now in total) because of a 30 person minimum. I said well just put me in for the 30 people, I'll spend $3 to save the group $28, to which they said my application for the trip was denied. The customer service here is awful. Throughout every phone call, nobody identified who I was speaking with or could give me basic information for a field trip. It is NOT on the website for a 30 person minimum. Only that classroom sessions can go up to 30 people. Also, one day I called to talk to Demira, I was left on hold for 15 mins and ended up hanging up and calling her back the next day. This place could use some good customer service training, because it is lacking. read more

As a native Michigander, I'm still not much for outdoor winter activities. I love outdoors, but when it's 50 degrees plus. This place is a great way to experience outdoors, indoors. There's tons for kids to do- simulated canoe, ATV, and snowmobile rides; airplanes; waterfalls; a climbing tree and slide; rope bridges. For a price of $4 per person, it's a great experience and deal. Plus, it's free the first Sunday of every month until June. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Great place for me and my three grand kids age one month -3 years old and a 9 year old--lots of school field trips come here so lots of kids and some things had long lines.Online boasts a place to eat and 1.5 hours before closing they claimed it was closed for cleaning-other families had to eat outside as well (no place to eat outside except across street). There was no heavy cleaning -no floors cleaned just tables wiped off. Visiting from out of town I feel they should note online that eating area closed 1.5 hours prior to closing so families can plan! read more

Such a cool place to take a class or children! Navigate your way through the indoors and learn about the great outdoors. There were so many people and it was too busy to bring my little one in a stroller (in my opinion) but I would come back!! I could also be a fun day date. read more

Great for the kids. Lots of little interesting things to keep the kids busy. Just a good place to get out but be inside away from the heat. read more

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This place is great!! I know it is designed for kids, but I loved it. It was very well laid out, and everywhere you looked you would see something different. There were various stuffed animals in every nook and cranny. I loved the waterfall and the plane. I can see why school group like to come here. read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - How many stuffed animals can you see? - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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This place is AMAZING! It's a great place to let your child of any age burn energy, explore, and have an adventure. So much to do and see! Adults will have a great time too! read more

I took my 3 year old to the Outdoor Adventure Center with one of my friends and her 2 kids. We went on a weekday, right when they opened to avoid larger crowds. There were still a lot of people so I do recommend going early. I found it to be a great place to take small kids. The prices are extremely reasonable to begin with. $3 for my child and $5 for me. They have free lockers so you can lock your diaper bags, etc. while you are there. Also, the entire thing is indoors so it's great in the winter, if it rains or if it's ridiculously hot outside (which it was when we visited). They have many different exhibits for the children to use and look at, including a small aquarium, waterfall, station where you can touch different kinds of fur, airplane you can explore, wood bridge you can cross, ATV you can "ride" in and many more. It was a good blend of fun and learning. Many of the exhibits had information posted around them relating to the exhibit. Some were about how to save energy, or about the depth of the lakes, the fish inside the aquarium, etc. All of the kids enjoyed each one and had a great time. We would definitely go back to the Outdoor Adventure Center again. read more

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Fun! The indoor waterfall is neat. The treehouse/slide was a highlight for kiddos. The exhibits are interesting for all ages. Definitely on our list of places to visit again sometime. read more

I njoyed myself when I was there, and the kids didn't want to leave. It's such an amaaaaaaaaaaazing place with a lot of knowledge BCAUSE I learned soooo many things that I didn't know. I would greatly recommend ur business to my family and friends read more

Lets go on an adventure. Since science centers are a thing of the past now. Children need to experience some sort of nature one way or another. So enter the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. To teach children things that are all about disconnecting from your tablets and smartphones and enjoying the great outdoors of #PureMichigan. 4 years back,, this very building was a just a shell of what seemed to be an industrial warehouse of sort. All I knew before is that it used to be the beginning of the Dequindre Cut park area. Now, it's risen from the ashes in its full glory as the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. I enjoyed checking out the stuff this place had to offer. The displays of all the animals you'll be able to encounter here in Michigan. The things that you can do, like fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, hunting, hiking, etc. All the awesome #rei1440project things for #PureMichigan. Bring your kids, nephews, neices or borrow your friends kids... This place is an awesome place to learn. My favorite part is climbing the inside of the big tree to get to the hanging bridge. I know I had a lot of fun.. I'm sure everybody else will. Cheers!! read more

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This place is pretty awesome. Having a few days off, I decided to come down here and check this place out. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in, and had a blast when I was here. It's a great little museum, with tons of animals that showcase what we have here in Michigan. Elk, fish, bears, deer, trees and so much more! Not only is it educational, but fun as well. They had an upstairs and a downstairs, along with labs for kids as well if you do a school field trip. I really liked the waterfall part, along with the camping section as well. They also have several sections where kids can get a feel for canoeing, biking and snowmobiling. There's also a fake tree to climb here as well. Not just for kids, but adults as well! The only thing is that I didn't spend more then an hour here, so it's definitely not an all day event, even if you have kids. Totally original and only $5 to get in, worth stopping in for a good time! read more

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This is a fun spot to spend an afternoon with younger kiddos. My daughter is 4 and enjoyed herself during our visit. We spent about 2 hours and I think she would have stayed longer had we been able. They let you bring your own food which is great. Parking is also free. Inside, there are a variety of activities to engage kids. There is a large climbing tree and some simulated vehicles (snowmobile, ATV). There are also simulated guns, which we skipped. There is a lot of interesting information and hands-on materials like animal skins and a rock path by a three-story waterfall. There is a play tent and home with food you can "cook" over the fire. All in all this place is a hidden gem for younger kids! read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Such a wonderful place for everyone !!! My kids loved it and so did my husband and I !! Also very autism friendly ;)

Great place for kids! I had so much fun taking my godsons here for a special outing while I was babysitting them one day. They had a blast. All the interactive exhibits kept them busy for hours. The staff is really great too. And FREE parking too!They require kids be accompanied by an adult within 3-5 feet of them at all times. My sneaky godsons went into the tree to explore, I was waiting at the bottom of the slide to take a picture but they never came out...I was starting to worry...what I didn't know was that the tree has a ladder inside to the second floor. I was about to freak out when I looked up and saw them with a staff member instead of sending them back down alone they made me come up to get them... While I appreciate that, I'm not sure having a ladder to the second floor that most adults would not fit through is the best idea. Also their hours could be a bit of a hinderance if you want to go during the week and don't want to fight the weekend crowd but work... they are not open Monday and Tuesdays and close at 3pm. Also, a few of the exhibits were out of order. read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - And now the FUN begins - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Outdoor adventure center is great. I brought my two girls 3 and 2 and they had a blast. So much hands on learning and exploring. I love the car stimulators. My kids could spend all day there. read more

I've had the good fortune to enjoy the OAC on a couple of occasions recently and I've been so impressed both times that I will rave about this place to anyone I talk to. On the first occasion, I went to the OAC's Ladies Night, which involved drinking and eating limitless cider and donuts while making a holiday wreath. The event cost only $12, a bargain in itself, but the OAC made the experience above and beyond awesome and surpassed every expectation. First, they set up a scavenger hunt for us that allowed us to explore all 3 levels of the impressive facility. The winning team. received mugs full of Sanders chocolates. Then we went to do our craft in a small room set up for the purpose. Each person had their own station set up with scissors, glue gun and everything we would need to make a beautiful wreath. The supplies were premium and allowed everyone to make a gorgeous wreath worthy of our homes. Additionally, the OAC workers were great and made the experience so much better. At the end of the night, each of us were given a nice reusable bag to carry home our wreath plus an extra gift - a light up tumbler. And as a thoughtful touch, the security guard offered to escort us back to our cars as we exited. The second visit to the OAC was with my 3-year-old nephew. My nephew adored the OAC! It was the highlight of his trip to Detroit. It's a paradise for an active toddler - the ultimate indoor playground. He enjoyed everything from flying like an eagle to camping indoors to fishing to kayaking to driving a snowmobile and an ATV. He also loved the suspension bridge and the plane and the kitchen and basically everything. And I loved seeing his joy at every little thing. I had a bogo coupon and we had three adults ($5 admission each) and one child ($3 admission). They gave us two adult admissions free so it was only $8 for everyone to go. What a deal! It was so worth that and much more. If you have small children, run don't walk to the Outdoor Adventure Center this winter! read more

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I came here over the weekend with my son and my friend and her kids. We had a great time. This place is very interactive and great for all ages. We had ages 1-8 and all of them enjoyed it. Not only is it fun for the kids but great for adults too and so much to learn. The only thing missing is an actual area that sells food. read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - Aquarium with Fish - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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What a hidden gem! I heard about this place through a friend who comes here often with her kiddos. I bet a lot of people living in the area still don't even know this place exists. Lots of parking and it's nice that it's next to the river so in the rare occasion it's nice outside (let's be real it's in Michigan), you can go for a stroll before or afterward hitting up the adventure center. On this particular day in May it was cold and rainy so we were looking for a fun, indoor place to meet up with our Detroit family that was also kid friendly. Coming all the way from Ann Arbor, it was worth the commute and it turned out to be the perfect meet up spot. Lots of fun for kids and enjoyable for adults. Not huge but big enough to keep kids of various ages entertained for a couple hours. Three different floors with some simulated outdoor activities, educational and fun areas for families to explore. Best part, it's only $5 -- so it's very affordable! read more

I've gotta be honest with you, when my old lady said we should come down here I wasn't really interested. I thought it as gonna suck and really wanted to just stay home where it's warm and save my gas money. But, it actually didn't suck and I'm glad I got off my ass and came down here to check it out. This is a pretty neat place. It has just the right mix of education and entertainment which is important when looking for something to do with a small child. Too much blah blah blah and not enough Yay! is the kiss of death for a place like this. Luckily they hit the ratio just right, at least as far as my kid was concerned and trust me, his reviews are way harsher than mine. The center itself is housed in an old ship builders building which was interesting to learn about the history of that. The attractions inside include stuff about Michigan's wildlife, Native People, natural resources, industrial history and outdoor activities the state has to offer. In addition to the displays there are a few "rides" sprinkled throughout where your kids can simulate fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling and biking. To mix it up a little more there is also a playscape in the center that resembles a giant tree with slides and what not. They also have an indoor archery range which was actually transformed into an indoor snowball fighting arena on the day we were there. Also, it's probably unlikely you are gonna spend more than a hour or two here unless it's really busy but, they have a cafeteria area available in case you wanna pack a lunch and make a day of it. The price is also just right. You have to assume most of their visitors have at minimum a 20 minute drive to get down here so even if you don't like the attraction itself, you didn't spend a lot to get your family in and got to park for free. This isn't a place you are probably gonna make annual visits to unless they change up some of the exhibits but, if you are looking for something different and cheap to do with your kids it's worth a trip down here fo-shizzle. read more

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I've had a long-held belief that the DNR is evil, but I forgot why. I tried to put that aside and not view everything as DNR propaganda and ended up having a great time! I came here with another adult on a Sunday afternoon and we asked about whether the place was oriented towards kids and the girl selling tickets enthusiastically told us it was for all ages. For five dollars a ticket, not a huge risk, so we checked it out. All the kids we saw seemed to be having a great time, but this review is for adults with no children who just want to take in a little learning. Highlights: - The learning! I did find myself a bit more educated on the Great Lakes environment. Displays were nice and clean and informative. - The pelts. There's some nice pelts to pet here with some information about the animals. Many of the poops were stolen from the displays. I don't blame anyone for that. - The shooting games! There are two shooting games that were really fun. One of them was squirrel shooting and someone had turned on the "show blood" feature so our game looked very violent. However, someone who worked there came by to turn that feature off. Happy to report being on the high score board for both shooting games. Disappointments: -The aquarium lists several varieties of fish and asks whether you can spot the fish. Well some of these fish were clearly not in there. Very frustrating for two goal-oriented individuals. -There were some simulations like snowmobiling and fishing, but it's hard to get in line for those knowing that little kids are waiting for you to be done. We did not do those. -There is also archery, but only in a limited window. Sadly, we missed it. Overall, there's a lot to do here and even a special program where someone from the Metroparks came and brought some reptiles and amphibians. I think we spent a good hour or two here. I would recommend stopping by even if you have no kids with you. They really did a great job with this space! read more

Pretty cool place for kids to pretend outdoor activities. Huge place. A little artificial for my tastes, but for the little kids, it's amazing. My 4 year doesn't want to leave. It's a 3 story converted and previously blighted/abandoned building along the riverfront. Its an "outdoor" experience so there is a larger artificial tree that the kids can climb in, a real waterfall, simulated fishing and kayaking experiences, underground tunnels, and plaques along all the walls explaining dome michigan natural history. There is an archery range that will be opened in September that looks pretty cool But there is an exhibit devoted to hunting, with actual animal pelt displays for the kids to touch and a video discussing to billion dollar industry that hunting brings to Michigan. I am not a hunter and was a bit weirded out by the authentic pelts, understanding my hypocrisy while wearing leather shoes. $5 per adult, $3 for kids under 17. $50 yearly family memberships. This would be a cool place to go on a hot summer day or a rainy day and a break from the monotony of the Michigan Winters. read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - The before view. - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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So much fun and interactive activities for kids of all ages! Visited here with my kids ages ranging from 7 to 1. Everyone was busy running around trying different station. You can ride simulator vehicles and play hunting simulator games. Also there's a tree with a climbing stairs in the center you can climb from lower level to the upper level and a swinging bridge that goes across when you get to the top of the tree. That had to be everyone's favorite by far. The admission fee is super affordable and the facility has a free parking. It's situated by the riverfront that has a nice walkway which was another big plus! Definitely coming back next time we're visiting Detroit area! read more

This place is such a hidden gem! It's a great way to introduce your kids to what the Michigan outdoors has to offer. So many fun things like the fishing and kayak simulator and the animal finder! read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I took my students here for a field trip during their environmental unit. They did forests in the city activity in one of the meeting rooms that was really engaging - they got really into it. If we came back next time I would plan more classes if possible and less free time because it is definitely geared toward elementary kids, but my high schoolers still really enjoyed it. There's no food here, but there is a cafeteria. It would be cool to take a short walk and eat at the river walk cafe or have a picnic. read more

This place is AWESOME! Listen, for any parent with children 3-10 you need to get your kids here, especially during this winter. Like it's a MUST! The place has a lot to do and you can cover it all within an hour but it about being a kid along side with your children. BE A KID TOO! Make sure to buy an annual pass. It's a $50's well spent and you can get up to 5 people in with you. It's totally worth it. GET THERE! Enjoy- read more

What an awesome place this is for kids! If you want to talk about a great place during winter time or even a good rainy day or just a good day in general to take your kids to enjoy a cool place where they can feel like they're outdoors this is definitely it. I love how they teach kids about camping outdoors the different animals and plants that they can a counter in the wild and stuff like that. This place is definitely great on price because between myself and my sister and my nephew going it only cost me 13 bucks. He had fun running around learning about things and 2 1/2 hours later he was still enjoying himself. All pictures could never justify how amazing this place was for kids to enjoy. They even had a plane that you can sit in and learn about flying and stuff like that. They had a fish tank that you can see local fish in the area and you would see up north and all of Michigan lakes. The staff was very friendly and very polite and help watch the kids from doing anything they shouldn't be doing which was a good thing but didn't yell at the kids which is always a great thing. This is definitely one of the best things the state has done for this area when it comes to teaching kids but not overcharging. I do wish they had a little bit of like a cafeteria or at least a few better vending machines to help and I'll grab some snacks but fortunately they only had one of each and it was all junk food instead of maybe a few healthy choices in there. But you can bring in food and eat into the food area if you want to which is an option for next time since they do have lockers that you can use for free. This is definitely a place I would recommend to any of my friends who have kids because their kids will definitely have fun. Plus an awesome thing that my nephew really enjoyed was they had a fake hollow tree that you can climb all the way to the top floor where they had a bridge you can cross and they also had a slide. read more

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The disregard for people and customer service level is so horrible. Door attendant watched me and my children stand in the rain without acknowledging us. Sign and listing states open until 3pm however we arrived 2:30pm, I had to wait for other attendees to exit the building to be let inside (all while it's raining), requested a supervisor and she stated they closed 15min before closing time (3pm). Even though it's listed 3pm. Me and my children were inconvenienced three times; once standing outside in the rain and also were not even able to see the exhibit and the drive from the suburbs to downtown. I will never try to attend again and anyone that decides to make sure you arrive an hour before the time its listed to close or you'll also be left outside! Super dissatisfied and disappointed going somewhere else that actually close at the time that's listed!!! read more

This place is a great activity spot for 5-10 year olds, but it wasn't quite what I had expected or needed it to be for my wife and I. That said, it's clean, easy to access, inexpensive ($10 for the two of us), and it does have a lot of cool information. We had expectations of more live animals when we first saw the Great Lake's fish aquarium near the front of the center but beyond that all the wildlife is stuffed. They have some other cool "rides" like the ATV and snowmobile simulators, as well as a couple hunting simulators. They also have an activity center that may change daily. I thought this would be a great place to bring some little ones but it definitely caters to children. read more

This place would've been much more fun had it not been overrun by school aged kids on a field trip. The admission cost is very fair but once we got in and saw the chaos we thought twice. The field trippers were running around loosely supervised by teachers spending more time chatting with one another than watching the kids. Staff came on the speaker to remind everyone of the rules (no running, no climbing up the tree, etc) but you couldn't really hear over the kids yelling. The facility had some neat simulators but the lines for them all were so long we didn't even bother waiting. And this was Wednesday morning! Still, my kids liked the place but it was geared more toward younger elementary than older kids. I loved how they re-purposed the building for this museum and it was well maintained and clean. It would be a great way to kill a few hours, if the school buses aren't filling the parking lot! BTW- I know kids need field trips but obviously these were too many kids at once in this small-ish museum. Limit students for a better experience for all. read more

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The OAC is a great place. I live in the city and take my kids here all the time. That said, I invited my family to join us there recently and we were treated very badly by the Director of the OAC. After a long morning of the kids playing, I brought in lunch and we sat in the cafeteria eating. This is something I cleared with OAC the night before, and again that morning, and is a common activity there to bring your own lunch. When we were finishing up eating (which was less than an hour) the Director came in fuming and accused us of having a birthday party (against the rules unless booked prior) and said we had to leave. When we tried to explain that we weren't having a birthday party and that my sister brought a gift because a birthday was coming up and she wasn't going to see us so was just handing it off, (we had no cake, no dessert, no other gifts, no balloons, no decorations, nothing, just us and some lunch). The Director refused to believe us and insisted we leave. She then switched to accusing us of hogging all of the tables (we had two tables and the cafe was empty except for one other family eating lunch). She then switched to say there was a 30 minute rule, that we were taking too long to eat our lunch and that we had to leave. We were finishing up anyway so we voiced our disappointment and left. What an embarrassment for the OAC and the DNR to have leadership making accusations of families, calling us liars, kicking us out of the cafeteria and making us feel so unwelcome. I talk up the OAC to all of my friends and family. Some of which were in from out of town and some from the suburbs. This was their first visit and, up until our encounter with the Director, was great fun. After being made to feel so unwelcome we all left with a bad taste, which is unfortunate because it's a terrific place and great for Detroit. It just needs a management change, or for the Director to go through some serious interpersonal skills training. All the other staff is always professional and quite friendly. read more

Everyone has already mentioned the wonderfully themed exhibits and simulations - it's a great stop for kids. I love the DNR's goal of inspiring our younger generation to continue on the many outdoors traditions that Michigan is known for - hunting and fishing in our great lakes state. The theming is great and lots of fun simulations of snowmobiles, mountain biking, 4x4 off roading, fishing, hunting, and lots of hands-on play items from trapping furs to planting gardens, airplanes, climbing trees, visit a bear den, and more. It's like a live advertisement to the DNR's State Parks and Rec Areas - fabulous. My husband prefers to actually be in the outdoors than plastic versions but this was a good stop on a random day off school for mom/kids who were otherwise going to be bored inside. The only reason for 4 out of 5 stars was that I could tell exactly when one employee must have clocked in - it was a while after we had arrived - everything had started out peaceful. Then suddenly the PA system was constantly on and off with "Parents, please be within arms reach of your children at all times." In between her accusatory announcements that were unpleasantly loud, she would then stand at the top of the tree climb (which parents can't do), and ask each child "where is your parent?" and roam around asking children that over and over. As a mother of 3 kids of 3 different ages, they have differing interests and abilities. There is a zero percent change that the 8 yr old and 6 yr old are going to stop and wait while the 3 yr old pets the raccoon fur and nor do they need to - they are perfectly capable of waiting in line for the simulation or sitting inside the airplane for a turn. This is an enclosed hands on play place with tons of blind spots, (they are beautifully themed enclosures and exhibits) so as soon as your kids walk into this wonderful room, they scatter into various areas and you immediately cannot see where they are. I felt that as long as I saw them every few minutes, everything was fine. There was no way to be within an arms reach of all of them and nor would I do that at any playground... that is just not realistic to expect patrons to adhere to after you build a playground hands-on attraction. If this was the DIA, yes, they should be all within reach/sight (funny.. they don't demand that over the PA, though). I think that the announcements are overbearing, that posting a sign "only go up the tree, not down" is not going to work when most of the children are not of reading age. Just let them go up and down, they all go to playgrounds, they know how to take turns and watch out and hang on with hands, etc. If there is some one with a 1 yr old there, that is on the parents to go up and down with them and every parent knows that. The older kids, 3+, do not need to be within an arms reach. If you just allow the parents to find a "home base" to stand watch, the kids will pop in and out of the tree, the bear den, hop the rocks on the river, and check back in with mom/give a wave as they go by. Leave it to the parents to parent their children in the manner that they see fit, and do not create rules that are impossible to enforce and rules that are fit for a china shop. You end up just becoming a broken record of annoyance. I'm sure that lady has better things to do than be the Tree Police/Parent Match Up police. She was asking so many kids and they are like, my mom is right there, geez! As parents don't go up the tree, its impossible to meet the kid at the top via the stairs in time, by the time I was up, my kids were back down, it was pretty funny. This was the only thing that made our trip slightly off, but the price is great and facility is wonderful... I just probably won't rush back because that irked me. read more

As an adult with no children, this was only mildly awkward with a good amount of entertainment value. The fishing interactive totally took me by surprise as the rod actually pulls pretty hard (kudos to the designers!) and they've got a pretty cool duck hunt type game with squirrels in lieu of ducks. The animals are all done up nicely and it seems informative for kids (who has time to read in a place like this?) Admission is fairly cheap and it's a nice place to thaw if you've been walking along the riverfront. read more

Outdoor Adventure Center - Tell me you've seen a better looking bambi - Planetarium Near Me - Detroit, Michigan