A QLINE streetcar on Woodward Avenue near the Fox Theatre (2021)

Family · One day

Where should you take kids under 10 in Detroit?

A streetcar on Woodward, hands-on science and a planetarium, an Afro-Caribbean lunch, old Detroit streets in a museum, the zoo in the afternoon and a kids' bookshop.

stops: 6
length: One day
areas: 4

With little ones, it's all about pace: short hops, things to touch, and room to run. In the morning the QLINE takes you to the Michigan Science Center in Midtown; after lunch come the old streets of the Detroit Historical Museum, then you drive to Royal Oak for the Detroit Zoo. If anyone still has energy, finish at a bookshop with its own kids' corner.

A day with the little ones

09:30
QLINE
Downtown
Kick off with a streetcar ride: the QLINE is free, comes about every 15 minutes on Woodward, and runs on batteries with no overhead wire on most of the line, which is worth pointing out to the kids. Get off at Warren Avenue.

About a 4-minute walk to John R Street.
10:00
Michigan Science Center
Midtown
Science you can get your hands on: interactive stations on physics, technology and the natural world, live demonstrations, a planetarium and big-screen films. Check showtimes before you arrive.

QLINE from Warren Avenue north to Baltimore Street, then a 1-minute walk.
12:30
Yum Village
New Center
Lunch in New Center: Yum Village cooks Afro-Caribbean flavors with a community focus and an eye on easy everyday dining. The official menu runs from wings to yam stew, with vegan items marked.

QLINE from Baltimore Street south to Ferry Street, then a few minutes on foot.
13:45
Detroit Historical Museum
Midtown
The re-created Streets of Old Detroit make the city's past something kids can walk through, alongside stories of car-making and local communities. A great way to give little ones context for what they'll see around town.

About 20 to 25 minutes by car north to Royal Oak, depending on traffic.
15:30
Detroit Zoo
Royal Oak
Time to run: the Detroit Zoo spreads across a big campus on the Royal Oak and Huntington Woods line, with its Arctic and penguin exhibits among the best known. Plan for plenty of walking; animal sightings and seasonal experiences vary.

About 5 minutes by car to Washington Avenue in downtown Royal Oak.
18:00
Sidetrack Bookshop
Royal Oak
One last stop before bedtime stories: Sidetrack is an LGBTQ-owned independent bookstore with its own children's shop, The Caboose, and it hosts Drag Queen Story Hour. It's open until 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Good to know

Zoo Boo fills the zoo on October weekends: October 3–4, 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25, 3 to 8:30 p.m., with trick-or-treat stations, live entertainment and costumed characters; tickets run $21–$25, or $27 at the gate.
The Detroit Historical Museum hosts Treats in the Streets, a family Halloween afternoon, on October 25, 2026, with a quieter sensory-friendly hour at 1 p.m. beforehand.
Some Science Center screenings and programs need separate reservations; use the center's descriptions to pick what suits your kids' ages.
Give the zoo at least half a day and expect lots of walking; check admission and parking on the official ticket page.