Best Toddler Activities in NW Michigan

Finding fun activities for toddlers can sometimes be a challenge, but Northwest Michigan has plenty of options to keep little ones entertained and engaged! Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there are tons of exciting things to do with kids 3 and under, from interactive library storytimes to outdoor adventures at parks and playgroups. Here’s a list of the best toddler-friendly activities in Northwest Michigan, perfect for creating special memories with your little ones!

Indoor Entertainment

Great Lakes Children's Museum (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum provides hands-on, interactive, and informal educational environments for children and the adults in their lives that invite curiosity, allow exploration, encourage participation and celebrate the child-like wonder in all of us.

Raven Hill Discovery Center (East Jordan, Charlevoix County)

Raven Hill Discovery Center is a unique place in northern Lower Michigan where children and adults can link science, history & the arts with hands-on activities and explorations both indoors and outdoors.

COGNiTiON (Beulah, Benzie County)

COGNiTiON is an interactive science and discovery center offering hands-on exhibits and educational activities for kids, sparking curiosity in subjects like technology, engineering, and nature. It’s a fun and engaging space for young minds, to explore and learn.

Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark (Boyne Falls, Charlevoix County)

As Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark, Avalanche Bay offers thrilling water slides, a lazy river, and interactive play areas, making it a perfect year-round destination for family fun.

Great Wolf Lodge (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

A family favorite, Great Wolf Lodge features an indoor waterpark, kid-friendly activities, and cozy lodge-style accommodations, creating the ultimate getaway for kids and parents alike.

Water's Edge Gymnastics Preschool Open Gym (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

Water's Edge Gymnastics offers a fun and safe space for preschoolers to burn energy with trampolines, soft play areas, and obstacle courses, perfect for active toddlers.

Handz on Art (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

This paint-your-own pottery studio lets kids (and adults) get creative by choosing and painting their own ceramics, offering a fun and artistic experience in a relaxed environment.

Visit a Local Library (Multiple Locations)

Local libraries in Northwest Michigan offer a variety of toddler-friendly activities, including storytime sessions with interactive songs, crafts, and early literacy games. These programs provide a fun and educational environment for toddlers to engage with books, socialize, and develop key learning skills.

Music Classes

Mindful and Musical (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

Through music, yoga, story time and mindfulness, Miriam Picó Younce shines a spotlight on Love, Kindness, Social/Emotional Learning, Self-Care, Peace and the Interconnectedness of ALL beings. Sing, dance, move and groove, play instruments, learn and laugh with your littles! Spanish, ABC's, colors and sign language are sprinkled into each class, as well as many many opportunities for family bonding.

Kindermusik at the River City Music School (Manistee, Manistee County)

Kindermusik is perfect for infants and children up to age 7.  They offer age appropriate classes for newborns and babies, walkers, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary children.

Dance Classes

Alden Dance Academy (Alden, Antrim County)

Creative movement, pre-ballet, ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and pointe classes for ages 2 and up.

Beautiful Feet Dance Studio (Harbor Springs, Emmet County)

Beautiful Feet Dance Studio offers ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, acrobatics, tumbling, musical theater, contemporary, and lyrical dance classes to students ages 1 - adult.

Charlevoix Circle of Arts (Charlevoix, Charlevoix County)

Community art center with year-round exhibits and a gift shop featuring items made by local artists, as well as art classes, dance instruction, yoga, special events, and other programs for both children and adults.

Dance Arts Academy (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

Dance Arts Academy has been training dancers since 1996. They offer a healthy, positive, and supportive atmosphere for our student’s development of a strong work ethic, grace, poise, and physical and emotional well being.

Design Dance Studio (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

Dance exploration, ballet, jazz and lyrical classes for kids 3 and up.

Fitch Dance Company (Kalkaska, Kalkaska County)

Ballet, Tap, Celtic, Hip Hop, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, and Pre-School Classes for kids beginning at 2 years old.

Great Lakes Dance Academy (Petoskey, Emmet County)

Dance studio in Petoskey for students of all levels.

Kingsley Dance Company (Kingsley, Grand Traverse County)

Lyrical, jazz, ballet, contemporary, tumbling and hip hop dance classes for kids.

Landing Dance Academy (Cadillac, Wexford County)

The Landing Dance Academy offers classes in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, Irish and Ballroom in downtown Cadillac.

Northern Lights Irish Dance and Ballet Academy (Cadillac, Wexford County)

A dance academy located in Cadillac, committed to bringing traditional and quality dance training to students.

The Conservatory of Dance (Manistee, Manistee County)

Classes in ballet, jazz, tap, celtic, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, acrobatics, contortion and musical theatre for ages 3 and up.

The Studio TC (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

The Studio offers Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Tumbling, Combination Classes, Technique Classes and Performance/Competitive dance teams. Each class presents opportunities for students to experience elite dance education, as well as provide opportunities to enhance artistic, intellectual and creative growth.

Swim Lessons

Cadillac Area YMCA (Cadillac, Wexford County)

The YMCA offers classes for all ages to learn this important skill while building knowledge, stamina, and form to become a strong and safe swimmer.

Charlevoix Area Community Pool (Charlevoix, Charlevoix County)

The Charlevoix Area Community Pool offers group and private swim lesson options for children, beginning with infants and toddlers, and adults.

Grand Traverse Bay YMCA (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

YMCA swimming lessons are a progressive program teaching swimming skills, stroke technique and water safety skills such as floating, treading water and safety entering and exiting a pool. Swim lessons are available for all ages, from infants to adults.

HopeFloats (Traverse City, Grand Traverse County)

HopeFloats offers parent + me/family, swim development and stroke development classes for kids, as well as adult classes.

Petoskey Swimming (Multiple Locations)

Petoskey Swimming provides cost-effective swim programs for all ages and skill levels, such as Water Fitness classes, Self-Rescue & Learn-to-Swim Classes, Life-guarding, CPR Courses, and more.

Art Classes

Crooked Tree Arts Center (Petoskey, Emmet County)

Crooked Tree Arts Center offers exhibits, concerts, classes, lectures, special events and so much more, from campuses in Petoskey and Traverse City.

Leelanau Pottery Company (Suttons Bay, Leelanau County)

Pottery classes are available on-site and in Stephanie's private studio! Sign up for a Mommy & Me pottery class, hand build your work in any class you take or glaze a pre-made piece.