How Can I Spend a Day Indoors with Kids in Midland, MI? A Local Guide

What is there to do indoors with kids in Midland, MI?

There are plenty of fun, kid-friendly things to do indoors as a family in Midland, including: burning off energy inside The Playground; playing classic arcade games & pinball machines at Brinstar; enjoying the arcade, indoor mini-golf, laser tag, bowling, and bumper cars at Valley Lanes Family Entertainment Center; and catching a kid-friendly performance at Midland Center for the Arts.

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

Breakfast or Brunch
Mid-Morning
Lunch
Mid-Afternoon
Late-Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

Breakfast or Brunch:

Treat your family to all-things-delicious with traditional European pastries at Chef Sergey's Bakery. The kids will love the Chocolate Croissant or Cinnamon Babka, and parents will appreciate their expertly brewed coffees & handcrafted drinks like the comforting Miel Latte.
Start the day feeling great with cinnamon rolls & locally roasted specialty coffee at Creation Coffee or Live Oak Coffeehouse (with Midtown and Eastside locations).
Taste a piece of Paris with sweet or savory crepes from Crepes et Amis. (The kids will love the Berry Cheesecrepe with strawberries, Nutella®, and cheesecake filling!)
Indulge in French-inspired bakery treats from Iron Dame Baked Goods, including flaky croissants & delicious danish.

Mid-Morning:

Let the little ones burn off some energy inside The Playground, an indoor space with safe, clean playscapes & inflatables for kids.
Stop into Joyful Tantrum to shop a colorful boutique with a large selection of intentionally unplugged & creative toys.

Lunch:

Taste handcrafted, wood-fired pies at Pizza Baker, including classics like Cheese or Pepperoni for the kids, to signature options like Mushroom Creme or Cacio e Pepe, parents.
Enjoy sandwiches, homemade soups, and your choice from 10 specialty hot dogs, including the Bacon Cheddar Dog, at Amazing Deli.
Look to lunch at Pizza Sam's for specialty pizzas, soups, sandwiches, Coney Island hotdogs, and gyros.

Mid-Afternoon:

Take a taste adventure inside flight-themed Aviator Cookie Company, and order your (M&M, Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Scotchie...) cookies from an actual airplane wing!
Visit The Gourmet Cupcake Shoppe, where the goodies are made with natural ingredients including European cocoa, Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and real buttercream.
Step into Heather 'n Holly for gourmet caramel corn, handmade chocolates, fudge, and all kinds of candy for every sweet tooth.
Pop by Crumbl Cookies to get your hands on four weekly flavors — and six always-available classics, including the Brownie Batter Cookie and Celebration Cake Cookie.
If your little ones are LEGO® fans, bring them to Bricks & Minifigs — a buy, sell, trade, and play wonderland of all-things-LEGO®.

Late-Afternoon:

Challenge each other on classic arcade games & pinball machines at Brinstar.
- Need a little something to tide you over until dinner? Brinstar serves creative burgers & fresh-cut fries the whole family will love!
The weather won’t matter once you’re all inside Space Studios, where your family can personalize souvenirs from a wide selection of ready-to-be glazed pottery.
Step inside the climate-controlled Midland Civic Arena and have a brave adventure together on ice skates.

Dinner:

Take the family out for St. Louis-style barbecue at Molasses Smokehouse & Bar and enjoy Loaded BBQ Tots, BBQ Mac & Cheese, a variety of Smokehouse Meats, or St. Louis Ribs — and split the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert!

Evening:

Find all kinds of indoor fun at Valley Lanes Family Entertainment Center, with bowling, indoor mini-golf, an arcade, laser tag, laser maze challenge, bumper cars, and two escape rooms!
No one will mind that the sun’s not shining while roller skating at The Roll Arena inside Captain Dave's Family Entertainment Center.
Depending on your trip timing, be sure to check for kid-friendly concerts & performances available at Midland Center for the Arts.
No matter the weather, end the evening “all smiles” with artisanal ice cream at Great Lakes Ice Cream Company, and order up the fan-favorite Great Lakes Rainbow.

Things To Do

How to Spend a Weekend in Midland with Kids

Splash at multiple spray parks, roam through colorful gardens & groves, and dare to take the country's longest canopy walk up to four stories high in the forest! It’s all here (and ready when you are) when you spend a weekend in Midland with the kids!

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How to Spend a Day Indoors with Kids in Midland