School’s out for Holiday Break and there are two weeks to fill with memory-making activities for kids and families. Choose Lansing for a perfect getaway for a couple of days of family bonding and fun. With so much to see and do, we’ve compiled a handy list of ideas to choose from. Take a look.

Local Attractions

Impression 5 Science Center

Young girl blowing bubbles at Impression 5

Regular hours Tuesday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
However, Impression 5 will be closed December 24-26 and January 1st.

Impression 5 Science Center is a dynamic, interactive space for families to play, create, and challenge their understanding of science.

  • First Impression Room
  • Pop! A Bubble Experience
  • SMASH: A Nuclear Adventure
  • FLOW: A Water Experience
  • Spectrum
  • Chew on This
  • Throwing Things
  • Nano
  • Build
  • MI Nature

Featured Exhibit for the holidays is TRAINS: Full STEAM Ahead running now through January 14th! 
TRAINS features over 300 fully-operational HO-scale mini railcars weaving through an immersive environment that not only showcases the magic of steam engines, but also the beauty of the small communities that are home to railroads and train stations.

I-5 Trains Full STEAM Ahead
Have Fun at Winter L.A.B.S. (Ages 5-11)

Impression 5

L.A.B.S. (Learn About Basic Science) December 22, December 27-29, January 2-5. All classes run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Find Snow Day Science, Art Adventure, Slimey Science, Mission to Space, Nature Investigators, Toy Designer, Kitchen Chemistry and Marvelous Machines.

Register at Impression 5 Science Center

Michigan History Museum

Holiday hours
Closed December 22-25,
Open December 26-28 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed December 29-January 1, 2024.

With three floors of Michigan history, the Michigan History Museum lets you walk chronologically through eras and decades of Michigan beginning with the native peoples, fur trading, Michigan's struggle for statehood, the Civil War, and more. Walk through a copper mine, stand next to the giant wheel in the lumbering exhibit, then window shop in a streetscape. Duck into the old time theater and take a seat. The exhibits continue through the war years and up until the 1960's with some Motown music.

Entertainment Centers

High Caliber Karting and Entertainment

Hours
Monday-Thursday Noon-10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday Noon-12 a.m.
Sunday Noon-8 p.m.
Closed December 24-25, Special Sunday hours December 31 Noon-1 a.m., Closed January 1

Get your adrenaline pumping at High Caliber Karting and Entertainment! Drive a European electric go-kart with speeds up to 50 mph on two different tracks or try Combat Karting where you can embrace High Caliber's Infinity Combat System ™, the world's only live, first-person shooter go-karting experience. Drivers must be a minimum of eight years old and at least 54" tall to race. 

New!!! Mini Go Karts for kids 5 and up, no height or weight restriction. These karts will be on a separate track than the larger karts.

An accessible Handicapable Go Karting option is also available.

Channel your inner lumberjack and participate in axe throwing. Axe throwers must be at least 13 years old.

Additional activities include:

  • Rage Room Participants must be at least 13 years old
  • ThrowBowling Players must be at least 5 years old
  • Gellyball Battles Players must be at least 5 years old (with parental/guardian supervision) 
  • Archery Tag Players must be at least 8 years old
  • Pocket Soccer and Arcade Ages 5 and up

Enjoy great food at High Caliber Bistro! Kitchen open Monday-Thursday 3 p.m. to close, Friday-Sunday Noon-close.

Launch Trampoline Lansing

Hours
Wednesday-Thursday 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 10 a.m - 9 p.m.
Sunday - 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed December 25.

Enjoy a Ninja Course, Laser Tag, Dodgeball, Battle Pit, Slackline, Basketball, Tumble Tracks and Trampoline Courts!

Additional activities include The Mine Shaft Escape Room, an Arcade and Krave Restaurant for food and drink.

Spare Time Entertainment Center

Spare time entertainment team bonding

Hours
Monday - Friday 3 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday 1 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Closed December 24 & 25
Attractions may have separate hours

Fun for the whole family! Spare Time Entertainment Center has over 30 lanes of bowling, great arcade games, escape rooms from Escapology, and bumper cars!

Enjoy great classic American food at Spare Time's Grand River Bar & Grill.

Zap Zone XL Lansing

Hours vary

Zap Zone XL is Lansing's premier family fun center! With its new location inside the Lansing Mall families can enjoy laser tag, go-karts (two different types: one for children and a faster model for adults), a dozen bowling lanes, mini-golf course, trampoline, ninja course, restaurant and sports bar, toy store, and rage room — and more than double the number of arcade games than the previous location. Fun for all ages.

Sports, Entertainment and Recreation

Bowling

Bowling is always a great family outing and Greater Lansing has multiple options available. Get out there and show them how you roll.

Movies

Movies over Christmas break are totally a family tradition. Get ready for the theater experience with popcorn, pop, Junior Mints and the latest movie.

December 28 @ 7 p.m. HOCKEY vs Ferris State (Great Lakes Invitational)
December 29 @ 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. HOCKEY vs. Alaska/Michigan Tech (Great Lakes Invitational)
December 30 @ 2 p.m. Men's Basketball vs Indiana State
January 4 @ 7 p.m. Men's Basketball vs Penn State
January 5 @TBD WREST vs American University
January 6 @TBD WREST vs Ohio University

Visit MSU Athletics

Holiday Activities

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Sledding/Ice Skating/Skiing

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When it’s time to pack up the family and head for a stay in Michigan’s capital region, you may want to look for a hotel that offers something that everyone can enjoy. safely. And what we mean, is to look for accommodations that come with a pool following safe protocols. It’s a fact that kids return from a vacation that's chock full of new adventures, yet all they remember is the pool time!

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Great Family Friendly Dining Options

Noodles & Company

Noodles & Company serves fresh Asian, European and American cuisine, sautéed and grilled to order. From healthy to indulgent and…

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Fleetwood Diner

We are an upbeat, casual diner. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Full menu available during all times of operation. Open 24…

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Crunchy's

Crunchy’s, an East Lansing tradition, is a casual restaurant adjacent to the MSU campus. We feature the “Best Burger in Town,” and…

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Sweetie-licious Bakery Café

We have the best pies in the country! Five of our delicious pies took home 1st place and the coveted Best of Show at the 2009…

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Falsetta's Casa Nova

Since 1951, Casa Nova has been honored to serve Lansing. Specializing in Italian food. Enjoy pizza, pasta, steaks, seafood and…

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Pizza House

Family owned and operated for over 20 years. Pizza House stays true to one philosophy, "great food, great service, your place or…

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