Top Things to do in Michigan
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What to do and see in Michigan, United States: The Best Zoos & Aquariums
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. Whitetails Live
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
2. LeCronier's Baby Acres
3. Belle Isle Nature Center
4. The Creature Conservancy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 49 reviews
This is a wonderful up-close and personal wild animal conservancy with over 80 species of mostly exotic animals, many of whom are rescued former pets. Open to the public weekend afternoons 1-2:30pm and 3-4:30pm with featured presentations at 1:30 and 3. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the website in order to limit audience size due to COVID-19 concerns - $8 kids (age 2-12), $10 adults (age 13+), infants under 2 are free. Weekdays times are available by appointment for private tours, private group events, school field trips, summer camps. Birthday parties and other private events can be arranged for weekends or weekdays. Most of the animal display enclosures are under cover so this is a great afternoon event for both hot and cold weather! Handicap and stroller accessible. Free parking in main, paved parking lot.
Reviewed By sarahlK6095WX - Naples, United States
This a great opportunity to see and learn about some exotic animals while supporting a conservancy that works hard to educate the public on the perils of exotic pet ownership. The majority of the animals are surrendered and rescued former pets that do not qualify for release back into the wild. Walking though the tour with Alexander you can get a feel for how well cared for and loved these animals are. A great local experience. The private tour (great during these strange Covid times) can be booked for fair price and lasts about 90 minutes.
5. Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary is a reptile rescue facility that is open to the public. We are home to hundreds of reptiles who have come to us through adoption, donation, rescue, or from other institutions. We have worked with local and state authorities with animal control needs and we also work with schools and universities with educational programs and internships. No animals are bought, sold, or traded at the Alligator Sanctuary. We provide a comfortable home and care for these animals for the rest of their lives.
Reviewed By angelawM3350DD
This was such a fun place to visit. We have been doing a lot of things outside during Covid and this was perfect. There were several staff members out mingling with visitors and they obviously love their jobs and the animals. It was fantastic seeing the alligator up close. The alligator show was really good. Who knew that alligators can do tricks and learn their names. Perfect for a half-day outing. Also, our daughter has a medical stroller and could see most of the animals easily.
6. Roscommon Zoo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By mosstravel1
Very clean, well kept. Grass is trimmed (not tall around fencing), animal pens well maintained. Good variety of animals. Carrots to feed animals. Staff very nice.
7. The Reptarium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
Open To The Public Hours: Friday & Saturday 4PM - 9PM Sunday 3PM - 8PM See our amazing collection of Reptiles including snakes, alligator, tortoises, lizards, geckos and more! CHILDREN & ADULTS (3-UP): $10 PER PERSON TODDLERS (0-3): FREE We also have birthday parties, private tours and special events thru the year!
Reviewed By RyanAl6
This place has a massive variety of reptiles, and the new expanded section has so many incredible creatures! It's quite a low admission price as well, and it's a wonderful way to get a close up and enlightening experience with these animals. The place has frogs, lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, fish and even tarantulas! I would absolutely recommend that you visit if you can.
8. Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm is a family owned and operated business, specializing in offering trained reindeer for holiday and specialty events around Michigan. We have been in operation since 1991, visiting numerous schools, businesses, and even private homes. Our reindeer have been featured in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and trade journals throughout the midwest over the past several years.
9. GarLyn Zoological Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
See native and exotic animals up close. Including tiger, cougar, bobcat, river otter, grizzly bear, camel, ring-tail lemurs, reindeer and much, much more.
Reviewed By Jeannie099 - Plymouth, United States
We loved the zoo! We were a little skeptical at first, but so glad we stopped. Free range birds are all around, makes you feel in the zoo. Loved the black swans and big cats. Great place to visit.
10. Detroit Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,316 reviews
The Detroit Zoo has 125 acres of naturalistic habitats for more than 2,000 animals from anteaters to zebras and features award-winning attractions such as the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Great Apes of Harambee and Arctic Ring of Life. The Zoo’s newest attraction is the spectacular Polk Penguin Conservation Center, the largest facility for penguins in the world.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Since my wife and I live only a short walk from the famous Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, we always plan visits to other zoos to draw comparisons while traveling from coast to coast. Detroit Zoo is one of the most impressive of all. Located at l8450 West 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, Michigan, at Royal Oak and Huntington, two miles north of the Detroit city limits, at the intersection of Woodward Avenue, 10 Mile Road and I-696, it is one of Michigan's largest family attractions, hosting more than 1.5 million visitors annually, almost as many as Henry Ford Museum. Detroit Zoo is home to more than 2,400 animals representing 235 species and is the first zoo in the United States to use barless exhibits extensively. Opened in 1928, this 125-acre property was added to the National Register of Historic Sites in 1990. Among the most significant attractions in the zoo are the Horace Rackham Memorial Fountain, popularly known as "the Bear Fountain," which was created in 1939 by sculptor Corrado Paducci; the Arctic Ring of life, one of the largest polar bear habitats in North America, which was opened in 2001 and is centered on a 300,000-gallon aquarium that allows visitors to view the polar bears and seals from a 70-foot-long underwater tunnel; the Australian Outback Adventure exhibit, which opened in 2006, and allows visitors to walk through a two-acre simulated Outback containing red kangaroos and red-necked wallabies; the Edward Mordigian Sr. River Otter Habitat, which features four river otters in a 9,000-gallon pool with a waterfall and a waterslide and a glass wall that allows visitors to enjoy an eye-level view of the otters as they swim; The Great Apes of Harambee exhibit, a four-acre indoor-outdoor habitat that is home to chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas; the Holden Reptile Conservation Center, which is home to 150 reptiles representing 75 species; and the Giraffe Encounter, which allows visitors to feed the giraffes from an 18-foot platform that extends into the habitat. Unfortunately, visitors will have to wait until June 2020 for the reopening of the remodeled and renovated Polk Penguin Conservation Center. The original site opened in 2016, replacing the Penguinarium, which was built in 1968 and became the largest facility in the world dedicated to the study of penguins. It was closed in September 2019 for repairs.
