The Best Family-Friendly Hotels to Book in Michigan

Inn at Bay Harbor is right on the shores of upmarket Bay Harbor and offers beautiful views | Courtesy of Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection / Booking.com

Michelle Juergen

9 November 2021

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Although Michigan is known as the Wolverine State, you won’t find any of those fierce, fuzzy creatures during a visit. What you will encounter are rolling hills and swaths of forests in the Upper Peninsula, and thousands of miles of shoreline in the Lower Peninsula. And water — lots of water: more than 40 percent of the state is covered in it. It’s the perfect destination for the whole gang, and there are plenty of family-friendly hotels in Michigan to suit your tastes. Here are the best – all bookable on Culture Trip.

The Lakeview Hotel, Shanty Creek Resort, for outdoorsy fun in Bellaire

A suite at The Lakeview Hotel, Shanty Creek Resort, with a double bed and tree views through sliding doors

Courtesy of The Lakeview Hotel / Booking.com

Set in picturesque northern Michigan, Shanty Creek Resort has four different villages with more than 5,500 acres (2,225ha) of play space. The Lakeview Hotel in Summit Village is a family’s paradise, offering activities like skiing and tubing on Summit Mountain, hiking and biking on Nordic trails, golfing, and hitting the fitness center or spa. Snag the cozy King Studio for a cabin feel with modern amenities, including a full kitchen and the option to connect to a guest room.

Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City, for woodsy wonder in Traverse City

A family room at Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City with two double beds and a separated seating space

Courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City / Booking.com

Adults get to act like kids, and kids get to live out their adventure fantasies at Great Wolf Lodge, which has cemented its place among families as a beloved haunt. The Traverse City location touts everything from an indoor waterpark — the hallmark of the brand — to arcade games, mini-golf, and MagiQuest, an interactive adventure game exclusive to Great Wolf Lodges. Suites are inspired by the northern woods and include access to the waterpark and kids’ events.

Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney, for a stylish stay in Detroit

The impressive four-story central atrium at Aloft Detroit

Courtesy of Aloft Detroit / Expedia

Marriott’s Aloft brand sets itself apart with a focus on the needs of the modern urban traveler — efficiency, flexibility, healthful options and streamlined group bookings — without neglecting function and style. Funky, bright decor and sweeping views of downtown Detroit define the rooms at this location, while the historic, jaw-dropping lobby and atrium are a marble and terra cotta marvel. Grab breakfast and snacks from the tech-forward convenience store before exploring all the city has to offer.

Ann Arbor Regent Hotel & Suites, generous amenities in Ann Arbor

A traditional room at Ann Arbor Regent Hotel & Suites with a double bed covered in a green blanket

Courtesy of Ann Arbor Regent Hotel and Suites / Booking.com

Rated highly for its warm hospitality and excellent service at a great value, this property makes a family stay simple. Both the Executive and One Bedroom suites have sectioned-off or fully separate living rooms with sleeper sofas; come with complimentary breakfast; and feature a refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker. And with hi-def LCD flat-screen televisions in both rooms, there’s no fighting over the remote. If there is, head to the billiards room for pool, shuffleboard or foosball to work it out.

Boyne Highlands Resort, for European elegance in Harbor Springs

A stylish room at Boyne Highlands Resort with a double bed and working fireplace

Courtesy of Boyne Highlands Resort / Booking.com

An ideal base for exploring the heart of northern Michigan, Boyne Highlands Resort was designed to accommodate families of all sizes, with lodging options from upscale hotel rooms, cottages, and multilevel condos to home rentals. The Main Lodge is styled after an English country estate, and newly updated digs feature handsome decor in dark earth tones, while on-property home rentals feature robust amenities including full kitchens, washer/dryers, fireplaces and lots of outdoor space.

Grand Traverse Resort And Spa, for games galore in Traverse City

A simple room at Grand Traverse Resort And Spa with a double bed and sofa

Courtesy of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa / Booking.com

Disconnect from the daily grind at this sprawling northern Michigan resort, which has spa, golf, a taproom, nearby casinos, and first-rate restaurants with locally grown fare for parents. For kids and teens, there are watersport rentals, indoor and outdoor pools, and indoor recreation paradise The Den. But with an escape room, axe-throwing, bowling, VR experiences and arcade games available in the Den, the adults just might have to join the kids for a night of fun and games.

Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection, for lakeside luxury in Bay Harbor

A calming room at Inn at Bay Harbor with taupe walls and a cozy-looking bed

Courtesy of Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection / Booking.com

A Michigan family vacation isn’t complete without a visit to Lake Michigan — one of the five Great Lakes that comprise the largest freshwater system in the world. This Marriott Autograph Collection property, situated right on the shores of upmarket Bay Harbor, affords expansive views of this legendary lake and its variety of habitats and wildlife. A recent multi-year renovation updated guest rooms and suites, the lobby, its two lakeside restaurants and cafe, and the full-service spa and salon.

Best Western Greenfield Inn, for historic charm in Detroit

A simple room at Best Western Greenfield Inn with a double bed and seating area

Courtesy of Best Western Greenfield Inn / Booking.com

Get close to Detroit’s city center without the urban din. This Victorian-style Best Western is located in Allen Park, a suburb of Motor City that’s home to the 80ft (24m) tall Uniroyal Tire, one of the world’s largest roadside attractions. The hotel has several room options, including accessible suites and pet-friendly rooms, along with free breakfast, a lounge, an indoor pool and dry sauna, and a fitness center.

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