Yes, downtown Detroit and the surrounding area has a lot more to offer visitors than ever before and it’s often overlooked as a family fun spot. Detroit is actually crammed with activities that can educate, enlighten or entertain every member in the family. But the one thing Detroit may be a little light on is family dining options that aren’t your standard McDonalds or other chain restaurant. If you’ve brought your family to Detroit and are looking for just the right combination of family friendly dining with unique flare, use the following guide to help you find the right restaurant for you and your family.

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Apple Annie’s Kitchen & Bakery rates pretty high with locals and guests. Serving up the best of both worlds when it comes to family dining, large portions and low prices, Apple Annie’s Kitchen is your standard family restaurant with reliably consistent food, cheerful service and a pleasant atmosphere. Children are not only welcome at Apple Annie’s, they’re expected.

Another family restaurant located just outside Detroit is the Moose Preserve Bar & Grill. Don’t let the word Bar scare you off, this upscale bar and grill is known for its steaks, fresh fish and BBQ Ribs. You can also try one of its famous buffalo burgers. The hunting lodge motif makes it a welcome environment for the entire family. The clientele is varied so you don’t have to worry about running into a crowd that’s just interested in the cheapest taper in town. If the weather is nice, head out to the patio to eat on the terrace or under the sugar maple tree. When it’s a little chillier the upper deck provides a place to eat with a covered roof and heating.

Okay, it’s a chain restaurant, but a visit to the Hard Rock Café in a city that’s known for its music is different than any old Hard Rock. In the heart of Detroit, this café shares the pride of the city’s rich musical past. Look for memorabilia from musical greats such as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Eminem, Jimi Hendrix, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad and Kit Rock among many, many others. Not only is the Hard Rock sort of a tourist sight in itself, its located so close to many attractions that it’s a super convenient place to take the family without a lot of travel or tricky directions.

A great place to bring the kids is Guernsey Farms Dairy, a family owned and operated restaurant since 1940. The restaurant features an ice cream parlor, store and gift shop and a dairy processing plant. Not only is there a lot to see and do at the Guernsey Farms Dairy, but only the finest ingredients are used and each meal is always a delight. Before your visit, take a virtual tour of the dairy plant to turn your little trip into a learning experience for the kids. It will make the visit all that much more interesting. And don’t forget to pick up some dairy products at the family owned store.

What’s family dining without a pizza restaurant in your back pocket? Ferlito’s Family Dining & Pizza might be just the back up restaurant you need. A standard pizza restaurant that serves up traditional fare with fresh, quality ingredients. No fancy over the top Italian theme here, just good old fashioned family food. It’s important to note that the menu is full of variety so if you’ve got a finicky eater who only likes noodles, then he or she is going to be happy, in fact the whole family will be happy with this large menu.

For a restaurant that screams kid-friendly, try Secret Recipes Family Dining. The built in toy boxes or the game boys available up on request should occupy the children for quite some time while you sit back and take a long needed and well deserved break. Secret Recipes prides itself on cooking most of its items from scratch and making deep fried foods as healthy as possible by using trans fat free frying oil. The menu is varied and again, it’s very kid-friendly. Meals are also available on a carry out basis, so if you want to pick up something to bring back to the hotel feel free, but let us recommend visiting the restaurant and taking a break while the kids play.

Okay, so its another chain restaurant, but if you’re really looking for a break and a little time to relax, then the old standard is right at hand, Chuck E. Cheese. You know the menu and you know the routine and sometimes when you’re vacationing with children they need a little taste of the familiar to calm high-strung nerves and provide a stress free dinner. It may not be exactly what you had hoped for your vacation but you’ll be glad that you let them play in a familiar atmosphere for a while. If not while your at (the sometimes impossibly loud) Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, you’ll be happy later when they’re so tired they fall right to sleep.

Detroit is also full of other chain restaurants, including the dreaded McDonald’s, and many other family owned and operated restaurants that cater to families. Use the above list as a starting point and check with your hotel or tour guide to see if they have any recommendations. But whatever you do, don’t avoid a trip to Detroit. It’s really a great city to visit and comes loaded with fun, educational and recreational activities for everyone in the family.

Save on your hotel so your whole family can eat more!  Click here for great rates on hotels in Detroit or anywhere.

When planning a trip to Detroit the first two things that come to mind are the auto industry and Motown. You can guess that there are museums in this town to cover both of those subjects. Even better, after you’ve enjoyed museums about cars and music, you’ll be overjoyed to know there’s more to learn and see in the way of Detroit Museums.

Motown Historical Museum is actually Detroit’s highest attended attraction. It draws people from around the world, keeping the legacy of Motown alive in their hearts and the streets of Detroit. You’ll learn the history and impact this music industry had on the 20^th century. The museum is located in a small house where Berry Gordy Jr. first dubbed it Hitsville USA. You will love looking at historical photographs, artwork, costumes and the fully restored home of Mr. Gordy.

Henry Ford Museum offers viewing of classic Ford autos. But you won’t just find evolution of auto manufacturing, there are also histories on other American’s ingenuity including everyday household items all the way to airplanes. The building is a large hanger-type hall with tall 40 foot ceilings. Besides the relaxed stationary exhibits, there are always traveling exhibits such as the James Bond exhibit and the Chocolate exhibit. Don’t miss the Made in America exhibit which features history and information on the steam engine and other American inventions.

Detroit Children’s Museum has so many activities and exhibits that it is hard to pick just one outstanding feature of this museum. But, if one had to pick, the must see feature would have to be the planetarium. The “Autumn Constellation” is a don’t miss event if your are visiting Detroit during the fall months. The museum also helps children and adults discover world arts and cultures, sciences and history. For a fun and imaginative learning experience, the Detroit Children’s Museum is hard to pass up.

Detroit Historical Museum presents the history of southeast Michigan within 78,000 foot building. You’ll find a replica of the streets of Detroit during the 1840s, 1870’s and 1900s. This is truly the most popular feature of this museum where you can lose yourself, if even for a few moments, in the past life of Detroit. Don’t miss their special events such as African American History Day in February and Eggstravaganza in April. Admission is always free.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History explores the diversity and culture of African American History. It is the largest facility of it’s kind that is dedicated to the experience of African Americans. The museum is home to over 30,000 artifacts including the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection, the Coleman A Young Collection and the Harriet Tubman Museum Collection. There is also a 22,000 square foot multi-level interactive exhibit. Special events include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January and Malcolm X Day in May.

Detroit Lighthouse Depot is a new museum that was currently the headquarters for the U.S. Coast Guard. Originally it was an actual lighthouse depot, working as a supply storage location for illuminating oil, buoys, fuel and other maintenance equipment for lighthouses. This beautiful 3-story brick building was built in 1874.

Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to the education and joy of gospel music around the world. Each year a grand celebration takes place at the museum with an induction ceremony honoring the legends of gospel music. Some of the current inductees include Aretha Franklin, The Barrett Sisters, Della Reese, Edwin Hawkins, Leonard Scott and many more. Learn about all of your favorite gospel singers at the this museum.

National Museum of Tuskegee Airmen honors the African-Americans aviator fighters during World War II. Housed in historic Fort Wayne, you’ll be able to see authentic uniforms, equipment, aircraft and photographs depicting the reality of a point in time when the armed forces were segregated, yet true Americans did not let this stop them from fighting for their country. Large tours can be arranged at any time.

Automotive Hall of Fame celebrates the creativity of men and women of the motor vehicle industry. You’ll especially enjoy the classic car show held the last weekend in July. You may want to plan your trip around this event. Best yet, it’s close to the Henry Ford Museum making it a great day’s adventure for car buffs. Enjoy the “Design Your Own Car” interactive exhibit.

Lincoln Park Historical Museum preserves and collects historical artifacts, photos pertaining to Lincoln Park for the enjoyment and education of the public. You’ll learn about the French settlers and the original inhabitants of the area, the Potawatomi Indians. This location is also the home of the Downriver Geological Society.

Carver/Curtis Museum honors the memory and work of scientist George Carver Washington and Dr. Austin Curtis, his assistant. Take a tour to see how the natural skin care products are still made today.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) serves as a hub for contemporary art ideas. Make a day trip to enjoy the exhibitions as well as the bookstore and café included in this 22,000 square foot cavernous building. For those who enjoy modern and contemporary art pieces or those who enjoy all art. Admission is free.

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