Come March in Michigan, sunshine and warm breezes remain but a dream. But the shoulder season in Michigan abounds with ideas for families desiring to enjoy spring breaks together. Celebrate the season with family time at an indoor water park up north. Stand in the footprints of genius at Thomas Edison's lab. Visit the studio where Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross gave birth to the Motown sound. Across the state, winter doldrums blossom into inspiration at a variety of top-notch destination venues.

Make a Splash at Waterparks

Head north to make a splash at Michigan's largest indoor water park. With 88,000 square feet filled with indoor water attractions, Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls takes family fun to new heights. The facility has five water slides, a wet climbing wall, a children's pool, lazy river, Splasherhorn Mountain and two hot tubs.

While outdoor temperatures are chilly, inside Great Wolf Lodge water park the temperature is always just right. The water is kept at a comfortable 84 degrees at this Traverse City water playground. There are happy times for all ages with a four-story interactive treehouse with sprays and suspension bridge, agility course, twin three-story slides and whirlpools for mom and dad. There's also dining, shopping, a fitness room, a spa salon and a kids spa for pampering every member of the family.

Experience Little Bavaria

Experience European charm without crossing the Atlantic. Frankenmuth, nicknamed Little Bavaria, celebrates its German heritage in everything from food to shops. Watch the kids' eyes light up at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, a store the size of one and a half football fields dedicated solely to the holiday. Located in Saginaw County, Frankenmuth is Michigan's top tourist destination. All ages delight in the 50-foot tall glockenspiel and the chicken dinners that put the town on the map. Zehnder's restaurant is the largest family restaurant in America serving almost a million dinners annually. At its rival restaurant, the Bavarian Inn, costumed waiters and waitresses serve authentic German dishes, including schnitzel and sauerbraten. If you must have your own lederhosen and dirndl skirts, they're available at Frankenmuth River Place, a 40-store German-themed shopping mall.

Witness Butterflies in Bloom

Escape winter's grip with a family trip to Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids to experience the annual Butterflies in Bloom exhibit. In March and April, the world's largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit fills the 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Conservatory with 6,000 free-flying butterflies of 40 different species. Walk through the cloud of gentle creatures and wonder at their delicate beauty. Explore the sculpture park located within the woods and wetlands and open spaces of the facility's 132 acres. Emerging greenery along the sculpture pathways make viewing the works of 30 world-renowned artists a pleasant experience. Be inspired by art of August Rodin, Edgar Degas and contemporary artists.

Museum Hopping in Detroit

Travel back in time at Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Located in the suburb of Dearborn, The Henry Ford ranks among the state's top attractions. The Ford Museum's interior space spans 9 acres featuring exhibits celebrating America's ingenuity. Displays range from aviation and agriculture to transportation. Greenfield Village inspires with 83 historic buildings spread across 80 acres. Structures include Thomas Edison's lab and the home of Noah Webster. Discover world art treasures at the Detroit Institute of Art. The museum collection includes more than 60,000 works, considered one of the most significant collections in the United States. Find your musical muse at the Motown Museum. Home of Hitsville U.S.A., the studio turned museum is where the Motown sound was born. Artists like Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder are forever linked to the Motown label.

About the Author

Sally Barber is a 20-year veteran of the publishing industry. A specialist in business, travel, sustainable tourism and the environment, she has written for Virgin Atlantic Airways, the "Detroit Free Press," "Great Lakes Seaway Review" and various websites. Barber is also the author of three books.

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