Ah, Lansing the capital of Michigan. Well this city may not be your first choice to visit, if you find yourself here rest assured there are still many adventures to be had! Spending a significant amount of time in the Lansing area I went on a hunt to find the best free things to do in Lansing, Michigan so you don’t have to. We have everything on this list from nature preserves to museums if that sounds like your cup of tea then this list is for you!
1.) Woldumar nature center
Let’s start with one of my favorite places on this list. Woldumar Nature Center offers some of the best trails in Lansing and all are completely free! They have everything from wetlands, prairie, pine forests, and more. They offer miles of trails and even have a historical cabin on the property that you can explore. Throughout the year they will throw different events, most for free. They do have a little gift shop with the funds going back into preserving the land. For the kids, they also have a small observation center with turtles, birds, and fish. We come here all the time to unwind and reconnect to nature, if I could only suggest one thing on this list Woldumar would be it!
2.) Michigan museum
I’ve been to many museums all over the world at this point, but the Michigan Museum is one of my favorites! They offer something for everyone here. There are so many interactive displays throughout the museum that will keep kids and adults entertained. The museum walks through the timeline from the Native Americans all the way through to the 70s. They have events here often for a small fee or you can visit on Sunday for completely free! Sometimes they will have reenactors spread throughout the museum in all the different time periods to teach and help people get the most out of their experience. All in all, if you are looking for a free thing to do in Lansing the Michigan museum is one of the best!
3.) Grand ledge island and ledges
Another free activity in the great outdoors is the Grand Ledge Island. If you want a place to take a long stroll, feed the ducks, and watch the flowing river, here you go! My friends and I have taken hammocks here before to relax and eat at our picnic. sitting right next to the island going along the river is the Grand Ledge ledges. This is a narrow trail that runs along the river and attaches to Fitzgerald park. There are many places to stop and climb rocks or skip stones. There are shoot-offs as well that run along a stream you can play in as well. Since the ledges connect to the park if you walk all the way down it also gives you free access to Fitzgerald Park. Here you’ll find more trails, disk golf courses, playgrounds, baseball fields, and more. The Island is the starting point to unlock all of this!
4.) east Lansing farmers market
Lansing offers many free farmer’s markets during the summer, one of my favorites is the East Lansing Farmer’s market. This is where you can get all your farm fresh produce along with honey, maple syrup, and more. If you desire a relaxing easy Saturday morning, brew your coffee, and let’s head down to the market! Strolling the booths you’ll be able to see the produce Michigan has to offer and meet some incredible people. There are more markets throughout Lansing and the Lansing area like the Dimondale market, or Grand Ledge market. If you want to find any market in all of Michigan you can also use the Michigan Farmers Market Association website. They have a tool that will show you every market in Michigan. Upper and lower Peninsula!
5.) Old town
If you want a free activity that doesn’t have you in the woods head on down to Old Town! Just walking around this part of Lansing is cute and offers a plethora of places to take good pictures. If you have a little cash to spare they have cafes and boutiques lining the streets, but even if you are saving every penny it is still a nice area to wander around and explore. If you are in Old Town I would suggest checking out Preuss Pets. I’m not a huge animal person but I still think this shop is pretty cool. It’s a jungle-themed pet store that is an adventure just to walk through. They have every aquatic-themed animal you could want to see (the jellyfish are my favorite,) and reptiles of every shape and size. If you are looking for an adventure for no cost hit the streets of Old Town and I promise you won’t get bored!
6.) the capital
Can you even visit Lansing without seeing the capital? My favorite is to visit the capital at night with friends when it’s all lit up. For a fee, you can go inside but really the outside is all you need to see. A lot of times they will have food trucks lining the streets around lunchtime. It’s a great place to have a picnic with the best local food. They also will have a farmers market on the front lawn throughout the summer and fall. You can get cider and donuts from local farms and watch all the hustle and bustle. If you go up one street from the capital you will find a lot of cute cafes (my favorite being the Social Sloth, the only Turkish cafe in Lansing) and delicious restaurants. Lansing is a beautiful melting pot of so many different cultures so you will find everything down here from an Iraqi bagel shop to some of the best Thai restaurants around!
7.) Fenner nature center
Here is our last nature center on this list. Fenner Nature Center is located in the heart of Lansing but you would never know once you step into the park! This is the absolute best place to come in the fall with all of their maple trees. They throw a free fall Maple Syrup Festival where you can watch them tap the maple trees and taste all the yummy maple treats! They have miles of trails but the best section is truly their maple forest. If you want a spot to take fall pictures here you go. Once the colors start changing it’s like you step into another world and it looks like the forest is on fire! They have a small observatory as well with games and interactive displays for the kids to learn about the forest. This park is a really well-rounded free park that has a lot to offer!
8.) Horrocks farm market
If you live in Lansing then chances are you know about the ever-growing Horrocks Farm Market. Talk to anyone from the West side of Lansing and chances are they will tell you their favorite thing to do for fun in Lansing is visit Horrocks. Even if you don’t want to spend any money it is quite entertaining to walk through their outdoor nursery or their growing market. They do offer free beer and wine tasting in their beer garden. Often live music is going on in the evening and there are many picnic tables and chairs out to enjoy the cool atmosphere. They have everything here from sushi, food trucks, fresh produce, a pizzeria and so much more! If you want a spot you can go and socialize with friends here it is! They even have a gelato stand where you can get gelato for cheap and then stroll through the plant nursery. There really is something for everyone here!
wrapping up
There we have it! 8 free things to do in Lansing, Michigan!
I hope this list gave you some ideas for your next outing in Lansing, Michigan! Even though Lansing can feel unassuming we really do have a lot to offer. If you want more Michigan adventures make sure to check out These Sweet Camping Spots! What are your favorite free things to do in Lansing? Did I miss something? Let me know! I am always looking for new places to explore and adventures to be had.
Until Next Time, Olivia Grace:)
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