Nature’s Playgrounds

Exploring northern Michigan’s magical children’s gardens

By Kierstin Gunsberg | June 15, 2024

As nature writer Elizabeth Lawrence once wrote, “There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”

With the lavender beginning to bloom and afternoons marked by the sound of trees rustling in a Lake Michigan breeze, there’s no place as bright, soft, or fragrant as a summer garden in northern Michigan. So grab the littles (and some sunscreen) and find your own enchanted place at one of these nearby gardens created just for kids.

Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden

Ever wanted to kiss a frog prince, daydream with koi fish, or get carried away by a wise old tortoise? With a little imagination, it’s all possible at the Grand Traverse Area (GTA) Children’s Garden, thanks to Susan Kuschell.

A Master Gardener, the late Kuschell was inspired to create the storybook-themed garden behind the Traverse Area District Library after visiting Michigan State University’s horticulture gardens. “Gardens and libraries, if you Google it, it goes back years and years and decades and decades. They definitely belong together,” says Sarah Kuschell, the garden’s executive director.

Sarah is also Susan’s daughter, and she grew up with a behind-the-scenes look at the garden’s growth from the first seeds to the mini-campus that it is today. Starting at a lifesize sundial and winding through pollinator friendly blooms, its path leads through interactive exhibits before opening to an 18-plot learning garden.

“[That] garden focuses on teaching children, but is open to visitors of all ages for wandering and inspiration,” says Sarah. “It is a safe, social, happy place, full of good energy, used by people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Find It: Sandwiched between the Traverse Area District Library and Hull Park.

Kid-Favorite Features: After ringing the bell on the wooden train playscape, grab an errant stick and crawl into the shade of the willow house to roast pretend marshmallows over a pretend fire—just don’t burn ’em!

Good To Know: This summer, the garden is celebrating its 25th anniversary with free family friendly events, concerts, and special guests, including a visit from Wesley the miniature horse. To learn more about upcoming events at the GTA Children’s Garden, visit them on Facebook.

The Earth Tones Music Garden at Raven Hill Discovery Center

Before Tom Kaufmann was creating music sculptures for ArtPrize, he was working with Cheri and Tim Leach to dream up their music garden. It was 2009, and the Leaches had commissioned the artist to create his very first music sculptures for their 175-acre, hands-on-learning museum after receiving funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Once it was finished, the Leaches named the outdoor exhibit The Earth Tones Music Garden. “Because all of the instruments are made from materials that come from our earth,” explains Cheri, before concluding that technically, everything comes from the earth in some way or another. “But it’s a nice name for the garden,” she adds with a laugh.

Set between the Picnic Pavilion and the Jurassic Park exhibit, Raven Hill’s music garden features larger than life playable instruments made from recycled materials like granite countertop and propane tanks. “So not only does it come from the earth,” says Cheri, “but we’re reusing and repurposing things, too.”

Find It: Tucked on the outskirts of Raven Ridge Nature Preserve in East Jordan.

Kid-Favorite Features: Unique instruments like the amadinda (that’s a type of Ugandan xylophone) and mushroom bells (fashioned out of old oxygen tanks) are guaranteed to be new to your crew. They’ll be having so much fun discovering each one that they won’t even realize they’re getting an all-in-one-lesson on culture, conservation, and the science of sound—on school break no less!

Good To Know: The center is open every day through the summer, and most visitors spend at least a couple of hours exploring the campus. The cost is $10 per person, or $5 to peruse the outdoor exhibits only. Call (231) 536-3369 for hours, to add accessibility options, and for group admission.

The Children’s Sensory Garden and Fairy Forest

Pictured, photo by Steve Tavener

What started as a field of invasive bromegrass has been transformed into a colorful children’s sensory garden at the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park.

“[We were] first approached by the Friendly Garden Club when they were looking to make an impactful new garden in the community,” recalls Executive Director Matthew Ross. The club’s vision to create a sensory garden that would welcome all children was right in line with the Botanic Garden’s goal of adding more space for kids and families to explore on the 26-acre property.

“Creating accessible and free places for families in nature is critical not only for their developing minds but for all of us as a society,” says Ross. “Far too often we get wrapped up in the minutiae of life and don’t have a moment to stop and reflect in nature and realize how amazing life really is.”

Find It: At the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, just a short hike from the adjacent Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Kid-Favorite Features: Kids of all ages will have a blast exploring the new waterfall fountain feature, peeking at the garden’s flowers through the giant nature kaleidoscope, and taking a gander at the life-size bronze statue of Colantha the Cow situated in the center of it all. Up the hill from the Children’s Sensory Garden is a pollinator garden that opens up to a woodland fairytale dream come true. Under the constant shade of conifers and maples is the Fairy Forest, where dozens upon dozens of handmade fairy houses made from foraged, natural materials rest at the base of tree trunks throughout the trail.

Good To Know: Both the Children’s Sensory Garden and Fairy Forest (along with the rest of the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park) are free and open to the public year round. The garden offers free monthly programming for kids where they’ll learn how to do things like propagate plants and craft fairy wands. Parking is central to all of the gardens and exhibits, including a labyrinth complete with benches for taking in the resident birds.

More to Grow

Check out these other cool gardens around the region and keep the summer fun going!

Developed from the remains of a former dump site, the Otsego County Demonstration Garden is now blooming with three beautiful acres of gardens to explore. Meander through the songbird, rose, and native wildflower gardens or head over to the compost demonstration site to get the lowdown on turning kitchen scraps into plant food. Afterward, check out the 16 acres of wooded walking trails nearby.

Charlevoix’s Native Plant Educational Garden is free and open to the public. The garden features 70 native plant species like the dainty bird’s foot violet and wild geranium, which surround the Conservation District building. Take in the sun and shade gardens then pop inside to cool off while perusing info about backyard conservation and shoreline preservation.

For a true Alice In Wonderland garden experience, head over to Castle Farms, where admission to the ornate gardens is included with each ticket. The Queen’s Rose Garden and the secluded King’s Courtyard Garden make for a relaxing stop while exploring the sprawling grounds. Kids will especially love running through—and getting turned around in—the Hedge Maze. But watch out! There’s a dragon dwelling among the Smoke Bushes and Prickly Pear Cactus of the Dragon’s Lair. (Word is though, he’s pretty cool for a hot-breathed fantasy creature.) A 2012 ArtPrize semi-finalist, “Norm” the dragon is sculpted out of recycled materials by artist John Andrews and makes for a perfect “what did you do over the summer?” photo op.