Top Things to Do in Midland
With natural wonder and downtown cityscapes, relaxed comforts and upscale splurges, you'll find your vacation in Midland to be a beautiful blend of it all.
Whether you'll spend your time on the nation's longest canopy walk within Dow Gardens, marvel at mid-century modern architecture, or venture out amidst the 1,200-acre haven that is Chippewa Nature Center — enjoy this sampling of the top things to do in Midland, Michigan!
Dow Gardens | @vibrant.vibgyor
Dow Gardens | @karthikeyan_petchi
Discover
Dow Gardens
With abundant florals, tranquil water features, a tropical conservatory, and America's longest treetop canopy walk — Dow Gardens was made to be admired in all four seasons.
Stroll Through Blooms
Streamside walks along winding pathways, architectural bridges, jaw-dropping florals and greenery — be sure to enjoy the gorgeous 110-acre Dow Gardens any time of year! Consider Butterflies in Bloom (spring), outdoor movies in the gardens (summer), Christmas Walks (winter), and touring The Pines home in any season.
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Explore the Canopy
Within Dow Gardens, you'll find its Whiting Forest — and the longest canopy walk in the nation, stretching into the treetops, up to four stories above the ground! Don't pass on discovering this incredible $20 million project, complete with a glass-floor orchard overlook and endless spots for exploring.
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Venture Out
Spend time in nature hitting up nearly 19 miles of trails at Chippewa Nature Center (and check out the two-story observation deck for bird's-eye viewing at its best). Guided kayaking trips to Full Moon Strolls complete the unique experience!
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Eat + Drink in Midland
From slow-smoked, St. Louis-style barbecue at Molasses Smokehouse & Bar to elevated American fare at Cafe Zinc and ONe Eighteen, you'll find no shortage of flavor while in Midland. Taste your way through the regions of Italy at Gratzi or enjoy a delicately crafted meal at the city's gourmet farm-to-table concept, Aster.
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Alden B. Dow Home & Studio
Witness A
Mid-Century Masterpiece
Explore an "oasis of architecture and inspiration," the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, designated a National Historic Landmark and available for public tours. Discover more than 400 other mid-century modern structures across the city with the Mid-Century Modern Midland mobile app at your fingertips.
Take This Trail
Plan time to get out and breathe in the fresh air when you bike, hike, or inline skate the 30-mile Pere Marquette Rail Trail — and begin your journey at The Tridge, Midland's iconic, three-legged bridge!
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Dip Your Paddles
Put Ike's Mobile Kayak Rentals on your radar if you're looking to add waterfront memories to your Midland getaway, or choose a 2 - 5 hour Tridge Trip with Nor'East Outdoors to paddle the calm Chippewa River on a comfortable kayak.
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Find Your Bliss
Immerse yourself from April - November in Dahlia Hill and experience eight terraces bursting with more than 3,000 Dahlia blooms of more than 300 varieties, garden sculptures, and artist Charles Breed's working studio and museum.
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Midland City Forest | @amy_cl
Bike Through Beauty
Midland City Forest
Join bikers, runners, hikers, equestrians — and anyone who enjoys fresh air and nature — at the 520-acre Midland City Forest! Conquer 16 miles of winding mountain biking trails over flat land and steep hills, or 8 miles of hiking trails through the wooded scenery. Stop into Ray’s Bike Shop on-site at City Forest to try out rentals on the trails!
Eat + Drink in Midland
Stop by Midland Brewing Company to enjoy "historically great beers" that honor lumberjacks and brewers of the 1800s, or experience a distillery, brewery, and winery in one at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom. Sip inside Whichcraft Taproom, which serves up more than 80 varieties (40 on tap) of beer, wine, cider, and mead exclusively from Michigan artisans. Late-May through September, Larkin Beer Garden's outdoor shipping container bar serves up cold summer suds — live music & food trucks, too!
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Midland Center for the Arts | @midlandcenter
Enjoy the Show: With museums, performance venues, and art studios — all under one roof — Midland Center for the Arts is a one-stop destination for art, science, history, music, theater, dance, films, and world-class entertainers. Check their schedule of events before visiting, because there's always something worth experiencing here!
Get All Hands In: Walk into the Pottery Studio and Glaze Bar at Space Studios to try your hand at painting and creating from a wide selection of ready-to-be-glazed pottery. And stop into Creative 360 for all kinds of creative endeavors to explore while enjoying art exhibits by area artists.
Serendipity Road | @serendipityroadmi
Shop Your Heart Out: Check out all the shopping options available in Midland, and be sure to stop into favorites like Serendipity Road for goods made by Michigan artisans, Coyer Candle Co. for hand-poured soy wax candles, Peel 'N Pare for all-things-kitchen & cooking, or Prim Sage for on-trend fashions.
Make Your Saturday Morning: If you're in town between early-May and mid-November, set aside time for a trip to the market! Midland Area Farmers Market is a haven of locally sourced produce, meats, fish, cheese, eggs, fresh baked goods, and fresh-cut flowers, and you won't want to miss a single vendor — or the food trucks!
Play Ball: Or at least experience a Great Lakes Loons Minor League Baseball game at Dow Diamond! With seating for 5,200 fans (and 24 concession facilities, two indoor fireplaces, and two outdoor fire pits), enjoy a day at the ball game and say hi to official mascot, Lou E. Loon!
Try These Tastings: Be sure to visit Downtown's boutique winery, Grape Beginnings Winery, to enjoy wine tasting alongside hot plates like Crab Puffs and Tomato Basil Bruschetta. Or, travel a touch out of town to Crazy Vines Winery to sample wines, hard ciders, and charcuterie in a cozy & comfortable atmosphere.
Stretch Your Fun: Step into Brinstar, open late-night, for classic arcade games from Galaga to Centipede, specialty burgers, and a selection of 12 beers on tap — many from featured local brewers.
Bringing the kids? Add these outings to your list!
Joyful Tantrum | @joyfultantrum
Warm Up to Fam Fun: Whoop it up at Longview Spray Park or go wild splashing at Gerstacker Spray Park. (If the weather’s not cooperating, The Playground is an indoor neighborhood fun zone that serves perfectly poured lattes for parents!)
Shop Toys & Treats: Pop by Joyful Tantrum to let the kids experience a toy store, unplugged — then grab goodies from nearby Aviator Cookie Company to enjoy on the way to your next adventure!
Find Your Center: Spend time inside Midland Center for the Arts to experience an interactive invention space for kids, Spark!Lab® Smithsonian, or discover hands-on STEM exhibits as a family.
Explore Indoors: Make every moment together count while playing mini-golf inside Valley Lanes Family Entertainment Center, where you’ll also find bowling, an arcade, laser tag, bumper cars, and two escape rooms!
Ahh, Midland. Home to The Tridge (a three-legged bridge and a must-experience), and the kind of city that'll leave you feeling you've found the best of both worlds. Enjoy our top things to do in Midland found here, and far beyond! Learn More
Things To Do
Explore the country’s longest canopy walk and 110 acres of botanical gardens, bike a 30-mile stretch of scenic rail trail, or sip under the stars at an open-air beer garden — and enjoy every moment of your vacation in Midland, Michigan!
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Things To Do
Splash at multiple spray parks, roam through colorful gardens and groves, and dare to take the country's longest canopy walk up to 40 feet 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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Author
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
