Things to do in Michigan, United States: The Best Observatories & Planetariums

September 6, 2021 Flossie Demartino

Think you need an ocean for a beach? Think again. There are miles and miles of sandy lakefront beaches in Michigan (thanks to the four Great Lakes that border it). The west coast of Michigan has especially nice beaches—try a rental in Muskegon, Grand Haven or Saugatuck. You won’t need a car when visiting Mackinac Island. In fact, they’re not allowed—this lovely Victorian resort town is pedestrian-only.
Restaurants in Michigan

1. Kalamazoo Valley Museum

230 N Rose St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-5803 +1 800-772-3370 [email protected] http://www.kalamazoomuseum.org
Excellent
72%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 309 reviews

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum features exhibits on science, technology and the history of Southwest Michigan. The Museum is currently open limited hours with registration. Please visit our website for more information and to register.

Reviewed By monicah149

How many places are FREE anymore? This place has something for everyone in the family - history, hands-on activities for the kids, rotating exhibits to always bring you back, and a planetarium. Every time we go, we discover something new. A favorite place for our multi-generational family

2. University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

1105 N University Ave Biological Science Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1085 +1 734-764-0480 [email protected] http://ummnh.org
Excellent
47%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 174 reviews

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History is temporarily closed due to the global pandemic. The museum doesn't just preserve the past; it also shows off the latest in scientific research with interactive exhibits, new programming spaces, and a state-of-the-art Planetarium & Dome Theater! New exhibits include: On the Trail of Mastodons; Evolution: Life through Time; Under the Microscope; Exploring Michigan; and People and the Planet.

Reviewed By sisterida - Onsted, United States

Many times taking kids to a museum is overwhelming because there is too much to do. The University of MIchigan Museum of Natural History has great exhibits with great information posted and a good variety to help everyone enjoy the experience. This was a great Sunday afternoon trip.

3. Whitefish Point Bird Observatory

16914 N Whitefish Point Rd, Paradise, MI 49768-9612 +1 906-492-3596
Excellent
68%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 73 reviews

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory

4. Grand Rapids Public Museum

272 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5351 +1 616-929-1700 [email protected] http://www.grpm.org
Excellent
63%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 697 reviews

Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a place of never-ending inspiration and discovery, with a focus on science, history and culture. We have three floors of core and traveling exhibitions, the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, a 1928 Spillman Carousel and a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

Reviewed By 8zzf3mh8reu7ddw - Grand Rapids, United States

They have built quite the museum here. It is very beautiful, with much to see here, but I very much miss our old time museum on State street. It used to take us so long to go through our old museum, we'd go most Sundays. We could look the whole day over and over again, just loving every inch. This one has a merry go round inside for the kids and some adults. They do have a few special celebrations inside. It is big!

5. Longway Planetarium

1310 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503-1987 +1 810-237-3400 [email protected] http://www.sloanlongway.org/LongwayPlanetarium.aspx
Excellent
70%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 79 reviews

Longway Planetarium

Longway Planetarium is Michigan’s largest planetarium, and presents educational and entertaining shows exploring astronomy and science topics every day of the week. Longway Planetarium also offers a wide variety of hands-on science field trips, Scout programs, summer camps, and public events throughout the year. New shows debut three times per year.

Reviewed By 722jimmyc

very nice for the whole family it if you have a problem with flashing lights this would not be for you they do have programs for everybody's interests from nature to rock and roll

6. Besser Museum

491 Johnson St, Alpena, MI 49707-1496 +1 989-356-2202 [email protected] http://www.BesserMuseum.org
Excellent
67%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 92 reviews

Besser Museum

Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is an educational institution dedicated to providing the public with enriching cultural experiences in art, history and science. The Museum’s eight-acre campus offers a modern 42,000 square foot facility containing a collection of over 47,000 artifacts. The Museum houses a full dome planetarium and a two-story Foucault pendulum. Besser Museum also offers the unique opportunity to dig and keep all the Devonian period fossils you find in our outdoor Lafarge Fossil Park exhibit. Besser Museum art exhibits rotate through an extensive collection of fine art with works from local, regional, national, and world renowned artists such as Dali, Cezanne, Renoir, Picasso, Warhol, Rivera, Chihuly, Clewell and more!

Reviewed By D4694WYsarahp

We visited while on a drive through Alpena. We weren’t expecting much. A $5 per person hodge-podge of art, history, and a planetarium? Strange. I was so wrong. This place is a gem. Husband and I had a blast here. It is exactly a blend of history, art, and science. We did the planetarium show (an extra $5 per person). This is a must-do. The astronomer in residence is knowledgeable, funny, and candid. We watched the “Michigan Skies” show and learned a tiny bit of what we see every night in our home state. It was fascinating. We spent three hours there!

7. Shiras Planetarium

1203 W Fair Ave, Marquette, MI 49855-2668 +1 906-458-0032 [email protected] http://shirasplanetarium.org
Excellent
50%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2 reviews

Shiras Planetarium

Shiras Planetarium is the only fully operational planetarium within a two hundred mile radius of Marquette, serving a large region of the Upper Great Lakes.

8. Abrams Planetarium

Shaw Lane and Science Road Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 +1 517-355-4676 http://www.abramsplanetarium.org
Excellent
43%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 37 reviews

Abrams Planetarium

9. St. Charles Waterfowl Observatory

225 E Spruce St, Saint Charles, MI 48655-1309 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Charles-Waterfowl-Observatory/146571768705102
Excellent
50%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
50%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2 reviews

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