Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI

Greenfield Village- http://www.thehenryford.org/village/index.aspx

Ages- 4 and up

Cost-   Members                                           Free

Adult:                                                 $24.00

Senior (62+):                                      $22.00

Youth (5-12):                                     $17.50

Children 4 & under:                            Free

Unlimited Daily Ride Pass*                 $14.00

They also have memberships detailed here.

Location- 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI   (313) 982-6001

Parking- $5 without membership

Other attractions nearby- Henry Ford Museum (right next door), Detroit Tigers, Midway Sports (go carts, games, mini golf), Arab-American Museum, and Detroit Zoo.

Places to eat nearby- Places to eat at the Village, Al Ameer (Mediterranean), Leon’s Family Dining, Hamido (Mediterranean), Buddy’s Pizza Dearborn.

Why to go there: We have a family membership to both Henry Ford and Greenfield Village.  It is a little price up front.  We went a total of 7 times last year.  They have an Imax also in the complex.  We’ve spent a day of Memorial Day weekend for the Civil War Remembrance exercises.  We are going to try the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s concert there in July also.  Established: I’ve been there a lot. 

Greenfield Village is ideal for younger kids.  They can check things out on the move.  People want to talk to them about the different districts of the village, including Henry’s Model T, an old-fashioned Main Street (grab some frozen custard), porches/parlors, and working farms.  All of them have rides and interactive exhibits that kids get.

My boys, now 4, really started to connect with some of the exhibits.  My daughter, 7, definitely connects and would like to ditch her brothers so she could read and interact with the homes and labs better.

Finally..do not miss the new playground…a solid 1 hour of fun for kids under 10.

What to do before hand: Hit the website.  It has a lot of resources.  Also, review the districts and try to get the kids some background.  The stuff is really neat and historic.  It can seem kind of limited without background, which also is available once you get there.

Also, bring water and snacks.  The snacking areas sometimes are crowded and difficult to get to.  Bring a large water container, so you can fill it up at one of the many drinking fountains.  Also, bring as many

Be careful:  Weekends crowded.  Lots of special events.  If the kids are under 5, bring the stroller.

Summary:  It’s like PBS, but hands on and live.  Kids learn something different at every age.