What is there to do indoors in Midland, MI?

There are plenty of fun things to do indoors in Midland, including: grabbing breakfast or brunch at a local coffee shop or cafe; touring mid-century modern architecture and the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio; discovering unique downtown shops, from Serendipity Road to Peel 'n Pare; and visiting local breweries & distilleries like Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom or Midland Brewing Company.

What's a great 1-day indoor itinerary in Midland, MI?

Chef Sergey's Bakery | @sergeysbakery

Breakfast or Brunch:

  • Indulge in artisanal breads, traditional European pastries, and specialty coffee beverages at Chef Sergey's Bakery.
  • Discover Café Zinc inside the H Hotel to taste European culinary tradition — in Cafe Omelets, Cafe Quiche, or the Chef's Weekly Benedict — by the warmth of a roaring fire.
  • Visit Crepes et Amis to experience a piece of Paris in made-to-order, French-style crepes.
  • Swing by Iron Dame Baked Goods for French-inspired bakery treats, including flaky, buttery croissants.
  • Cozy up at Live Oak Coffeehouse, with Midtown and Eastside locations, to taste delicious quiche & locally roasted coffee.
  • Sip sustainably grown, responsibly sourced coffee at Creation Coffee (possibly with a bagel, breakfast sandwich, or warmed cinnamon roll).

Mid-Morning:

  • From the comfort of your car and in any kind of weather, view more than 400 architectural gems on a Mid-Century Modern Midland driving tour, guided by the free mobile app.
Molasses | @minnie.bites

Lunch:

  • Feast on St. Louis-style barbecue, smoked low & slow, at Molasses Smokehouse & Bar.
  • Stop inside Proper Taco for Carnitas tacos and “proper” sides like Cactus Dip.
  • Sink your teeth into Neapolitan-style, wood-fired sourdough pies from Pizza Baker.
  • Share signature sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri in a modern setting at Maru Sushi & Grill.

Mid-Afternoon:

  • Make art inside Space Studios, a beautiful gallery setting with a selection of ready-to-be-glazed, handcrafted pottery.
  • Peruse the gallery inside Creative 360 and see if an inspirational class is available during your day indoors.
  • Reserve the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio tour to immerse yourself into an oasis of mid-century modern architecture.
Serendipity Road | @serendipityroadmi

Late-Afternoon:

  • Spend time wandering through Serendipity Road, a makers' market for home decor, stationery, jewelry, and more.
  • Discover delicious scents inside Coyer Candle Co., with their wide variety of hand-poured soy wax candles.
  • Find all-things-kitchen-and-cooking at Peel 'n Pare, from kitchen tools & essentials to gourmet pantry staples.
  • Take in the aroma of fresh-baked treats at Aviator Cookie Company, and choose from over a dozen rotating varieties offered daily.
ONe Eighteen | @oneeighteenmidland

Dinner:

  • Slip into a cozy booth at ONe eighteen to enjoy American tavern fare with a twist, a modern, mid-century-inspired ambiance, and classic, handcrafted cocktails.
  • Dine on fresh, regional Italian cuisine at Gratzi to taste prime meats, top-catch seafood, and classic pastas, while sampling from their extensive wine list.
  • Relax inside a retro-inspired eatery at Beatniks for elevated comfort food & seasonal craft cocktails.

Evening:

  • Bring in the night at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom — a distillery, brewery, and winery in one — and try the frothy Blue Jasmine Fizz or a Smoked Rye Whiskey Old Fashioned.
  • Belly up at Midland Brewing Company to sample brews crafted in honor of regional history, like Copper Harbor Ale.
  • Slip inside Whichcraft Taproom to experience more than 80 varieties of craft brews (along with wine, cider, and mead) that are all Michigan-made!
  • Settle into Oxygen Lounge for an upscale, yet comfortable setting and the ultimate place to unwind.
  • Experience Midland's Nordic-inspired neighborhood hangout, Nord Social, and sip on house-favorite cocktails like the Nordic Espresso Martini or Danish Mule.
  • Step into Brinstar, open late-night, to play classic arcade games & pinball machines, with 12 brews available on tap.
  • Have fun solving cryptic clues to get out of a locked room at Code Breakers Escape & Puzzle Rooms.
  • Pick your (wood sign-making, candle-pouring) project at AR Workshop Midland and spend an evening crafting your one-of-a-kind item with the help of an instructor.
  • See if catching a performance at Midland Center for the Arts is possible while you’re in town (and grab a drink at the on-site Pendulum Lounge).
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Jen W. O'Deay + Go Great Lakes Bay

By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com