10 Adventures Under $10

Affordable Spring Break Fun Up North

By Lynda Wheatley | March 26, 2022

Going somewhere warm over spring break always sounds tantalizing—until you compare the prices this week to those of the same trip two weeks later. (Or earlier.) Rather than paying a premium, we suggest dedicating this week to exploring your own backyard.

With few tourists and even fewer locals around, lines are short, traffic is light, and deals abound. We can’t promise sunny skies, but we can guarantee 10 free or inexpensive ways you and your kids can make the most of this year’s break, with sanity (and budget) intact.

1. Launch into Outer Space
Kids can always drive a boat, a Coast Guard ’copter, and a fruit truck at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum in Traverse City, but during this year’s spring break, they can head off to outer space. Just like real astronauts, kids will train for their trek with hands-on experiments (static electricity, surface tension), problem-solving challenges (reconnecting a power supply; designing, building, and testing a space vehicle), and a human hamster wheel. Littles aren’t left out, either; they’ll get their mitts on moon adventure blocks and a lunar landscape sensory station, and all kids can try an astronaut snack. Three time slots are open daily on March 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, and April 1. Reservations are recommended: greatlakeskids.org. $7 per visitor over age 1.

2. Feed a Reptile, Build a Rocket
With snakes, lizards, rats, tents, teepees, slides, virtual reality, and more art, science, and building opportunities than a kid could shake a wand at, COGNiTiON is a magical place for young minds—but best of all, young hands can touch just about everything at this nonprofit in Beulah. Only $7 per kid for all-day entry, a single visit here can easily keep kids occupied for hours. Best of all, COGNiTiON is expanding its hours just for spring break: From Monday, March 28, through Friday, April 1, the center is open from 10am to 5pm. Normal winter hours—10am to 5pm Wednesday through Saturday and 1pm to 5pm Sundays—resume April 2. No reservations are needed. discovercognition.org

3. Hike at Night
As sunset falls over a secret (and super sweet) trail hidden behind Kohl’s in Traverse City on the first Friday of spring break, you and your kids can set off on an easy 1-mile path with lanterns in hand. The Grand Traverse Conservation District hosts the self-guided hike—and will greet you at the trailhead with hot cocoa 7:30pm and 9:30pm on March 25—and point you to the best features of the aptly named Kids Creek. Think: gravel paths, wooden bridges, boardwalks, a burbling creek, duck pond, and more. The event is free, but please register at natureiscalling.org. Prefer sunlit hikes? The GTCD offers two other all-ages hikes, both guided, over spring break: 10am on March 30 at Miller Creek Nature Preserve and noon on April 1 at the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve. See the website for details.

4. Bowl Outside
Snow, rain, sunshine, or sleet—whatever the day brings, bring the kids to bowl down Main Street in Harbor Springs between noon and 2pm Saturday, April 2. The Harbor Springs Chamber is shutting down the town’s main drag to make it the biggest outdoor bowling lane Up North. Johan’s Pastry Shop, at the intersection of State and Main, will provide free hot cocoa and donuts. The Rocking Horse Toy Company is giving away a free grab gift to kid bowlers, and the Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre is planning a free movie that morning. Stay tuned to the Lyric’s Facebook page (@lyricharborsprings) for the official announcement.

5. Sugar Up & Hike
Alpine Maple Farms in Gaylord says the sap got a late start this year, but that’s perfect timing for sweet-toothed spring breakers looking to see how trees are tapped and how the sap is made into pure maple syrup, sugar, candy, and even maple cotton candy. Guided tours are always free during syrup season; small groups can call ahead to set up a time: (989) 858-9252. Find Alpine Maple Farms at 3399 Wilkinson Rd., in Gaylord.

6. Paint Some Pottery
Sure, you could easily corner yourself into paying $45 for your kid to paint a cookie jar shaped like a snowman, but if you can steer their big vision to the first stack of shelves at Handz On Art in Traverse City, you’ll both find loads of smaller ceramic pieces—animals, fish, hearts, Easter eggs, and other objects that make a young artist’s heart go zing—for $10 or less, which includes the piece, all the paint, and firing (firing and pick-up is scheduled for a later date). There’s no limit on the time spent—or memories made. Learn more at tchandzonart.com.

7. Tour a World Record Firehouse
The two-story pressed-brick structure standing at 281 First St. in Manistee was built in 1888 in a “cross-gabled” Romanesque-Revival style, is flanked by a 2 1/2-story domed tower capped in copper, and hasn’t undergone any alteration in design since. It isn’t just beautiful; it is the oldest continuously manned operating fire station in the world, says Guinness World Records. And if you’d like, an on-duty firefighter paramedic will take you on a tour of it just about any time between 9am and 5pm, says City of Manistee Fire Department Captain John Peddie. Guests will get to learn the history of the fire station, check out firefighter gear and equipment, and get up close (and inside!) the firetrucks. You’ll want to call the station beforehand to confirm a time and date, number of visitors, and their ages, Peddie says. “This helps us prepare. Most tours take approximately 30 minutes.” He adds that the total time depends greatly on two things: one, the age demographic of the visitors, and two, of course, fire. “Any emergency calls will end the tour.” (231) 723-1549

8. Roll Around the Water
Barring any big, unexpected snowfall, word has it that the 7.5-mile Lake Cadillac Foot and Bike Path that winds around Lake Cadillac is clear and ready for walks, bikes, scoots, and trikes. We recommend starting and ending at the After 26 Depot Café (127 W. Cass St., after26project.org), which enjoyed a former life as Cadillac’s grand old railway station, just behind the downtown district and overlooking the water. If you and your bud want breakfast (it’s served all day), kids usually love the chicken and waffles—three breaded and deep-fried chicken strips served atop a homestyle waffle doused in maple syrup and powdered sugar. If lunch is on your mind, the savory-sweet Monte Cristo (ham, turkey, swiss, and strawberry preserves pressed between two waffles, $9.99) can be yours starting at 11am. Skipping meals? Then save that $10 for downtown Cadillac’s Toy Town, just across the parking lot, where kids can find countless ways to make that money go far. toytowncadillac.com

9. Evade Lasers
Spy kids who dream of dodging laser beams can put their mettle to the test in Incredible Mo’s Laser Maze in Grawn. Only $3.25 a game Mondays through Thursdays, Mo’s Laser Maze gets kids moving fast as they work to fulfill their mission’s must-dos without breaking a light beam before the clock runs out. After that warm-up, get ’em moving with a round of laser tag. They’ll take off through a semi-dark, 2-story arena full of hidey-holes to take aim at opposing teammates and hide or run like heck to avoid getting hit with the other team’s beams. Each game lasts 10 minutes and costs $6 per person Monday through Thursday. Friday through Saturday, both games go up: $3.75 per maze, $7 per tag. If you do want to splurge, we recommend staying for some bowling, arcade games, or the incredible kids’ (and adult) menu at Mo’s Sauce restaurant—all are under the same roof. incrediblemos.com

10. Shoot the Ultimate Off-Road Selfie
Bigger kids looking for some big adventure should aim their Google Maps to Slagle Creek Overlook. One of the biggest and best panoramic views of the Big Manistee River and the surrounding Udell Hills, it not only offers a shot at a sweet Up North selfie, but also two cool adventurous routes to get there. 1) Hike in from the Red Bridge Trailhead off Coates Highway and head about 4 miles north on the trail, or 2) Edge up the tricky two-track known as S. Slagle Creek Road to drivers of 4x4s and SUVs and “Do Not Go” to everyone else (accessed just west of the intersection of 1 Mile and 30 Mile roads). Find a trail map and more information under the Grab a Map section at cadillacmichigan.com.