Shabach Bakery LLC

Surround yourself with the beauty and tranquility of nature when you visit the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The outdoor gardens are open for free to the public, although the conservatory itself requires an admission fee. Outside, you can wander around over a dozen different gardens, including a rock garden and a labyrinth, as well as walk along five different nature trails. And there’s even more on the inside!

The Paint Creek Trail in Rochester, a Detroit suburb, offers guests a gorgeous landscape and a wonderfully paved recreation trail. Perfect for walking, running, biking, skating and anything in-between, this former railway bed was the first rail-to-trail project in the state. The 8-foot wide paved trail stretches for nine miles and has plenty of free parking nearby.

Learn about the role the waterways played in shaping Detroit and vice versa at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Belle Isle Park. This special interest maritime museum outlines the history of ships and water travel along the Great Lakes and the Detroit River. You’ll be able to get up close to artifacts from the 1800s as you explore this ship-themed building.

The most popular park in Detroit, the gigantic Belle Isle Park is actually an entire island. Wonderful for people of all ages and activity levels, this island park has something for everybody. Visit the Dossin Great Lakes Museum; go swimming at the beach; hike along the lovely wooded trails; plan a pleasant picnic outdoors; and much, much more!