So with gas at about $4.00 a gallon, the idea of a Staycation is starting to sound very frugalicious. I have teamed up with over 85 bloggers to bring you a list of great Staycation ideas throughout the United States! Today I will let you know some of my favorite bargain activities in Oakland County, Michigan and tomorrow I will have links to great Staycations ideas across the whole country.
Biking on the Paint Creek Trail
The Paint Creek Trail was the first Rail-to-Trail in the State of Michigan, as it was converted to a trail from the former Penn Central Railroad. The Paint Creek Trail is 8.9 miles long and ideal for year-round activity. If you like to hike, jog, bike, ride a horse, cross-country ski, fish or just watch nature, the Paint Creek Trail is for you! We usually park at the Rochester Municipal Park, located off Pine Street north of University, and west of Main Street (Rochester Road) to start our bike ride. This is the south end of the trail. We often see deer in the woods. You forget how close you are to the city when you are riding on the trail. There is no cost to use the path.
There are over 30 more trails located within 50 miles of Rochester Michigan. Additionally there are rails to trails paths all across the country. You can find them near you on the Rails to Trails website.
Sometimes I pack a picnic to eat in the park at the end of the ride. If you want treat yourself, bike over to Rochester Mills Brewing Company and sit at the patio for lunch or dinner. This restaurant is very kid friendly and they have great beer! This is one of my husband’s favorite restaurants. Plus I always use a Restaurant.com gift certificate when I visit to get almost 50% off my bill.
Outdoor Fun at Stoney Creek Metropark
The Metropark also features a nature center, mountain bike skills course, disc-golf course, 18-hole regulation golf course, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, soccer fields, volleyball and basketball courts. Picnic areas with reservable shelters, grills and comfort stations are located throughout the park. You can enjoy the best of nature and outdoor fun at Stony Creek Metropark.
A Metropark Motor Vehicle Entry Permit gives you access to all 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks including Stoney Creek. You can buy an annual car pass for just $25 or a daily pass for $5.
Visit the Detroit Zoo
Located in Royal Oak, Michigan, the Detroit Zoo is a great place to visit. It is situated on 125 acres with many naturalistic habitats. The major exhibits include the Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Outback Adventure, Great Apes of Harambee, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles, Penguinarium and Butterfly Garden. The zoo is home to over 1,500 animals of 260 species. My favorite spot is always the Artic Ring of Life and the Polar Bears!
One super fun bargain activity is to visit on Wednesday nights during July and August for the Wild Summer Nights concert series. Concerts take place in the Zoo’s Main Picnic Grove from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 6 through August 31. Wild Summer Nights features a variety of live music from local bands, including children’s, jazz, pop, folk and blues. Concert-goers are invited to bring a blanket and pack a picnic. Food, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks are available for purchase from Zoo concessions. The concerts are FREE with the purchase of Zoo admission. The Zoo remains open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays during the concert series. Click here for the concert schedule.
Daily Detroit Zoo admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children. Plus $5 to park. For just $69, residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties receive a family membership. This is a much better value. The membership has paid for itself after two visits for family of four. All memberships include FREE parking. Plus you can get 50% off admission to hundreds of zoos across the country with your membership.
More Oakland County Bargain Fun
There is so much to do in Oakland County that I just can’t list it all. A great source for more information is Destination Oakland. They list all kinds of fun family activities throughout the county. This year I plan to take my girls to Red Oaks Water Park. I found this list for discounted tickets and when I called my local office I found out I could get tickets for those 43 inches and more for just $9.75 vs full price of $16.00! It pays to plan ahead.
Make sure you stop by tomorrow for links to all of the other National Staycation posts! There will be over 85 blogs to visit for a list of activities all over the Nation.
Did I miss one of your favorite places in Oakland County? If you have something to add to the list, please leave a comment!
