On display in the museum is also a 1949 Chris-Craft 16 ft. Sportsman mahogany boat that was raffled…read moreat the annual Algonac Lions Pickerel Tournament in 1949. The Maritime Museum has many photos of World War II landing crafts that were built at Chris-Craft between 1942 and 1945. One of Gar Wood's last mahogany boats from the Marysville, MI plant when it closed in 1947 was named the Last Gar. Also on display is a Chris-Craft kit boat, built every year by students in a boat building class at the Algonac High School until 1960. If you like to see and touch boating history live this is the place to visit. Have a great gift shop.

Very nice volunteer run museum. Highly recommend. It is free but they do have a donation box.read more

The Henry Ford Museum is truly massive with so much to see and explore. I was there for an Author…read moreTalk with Victoria Christopher Murray. Unfortunately her flight cancellation, prevented her arrival. The Henry Ford Museum was gracious to pivot and offer everyone FREE admission to the museum for our inconvenience. I thank my Yelp Bestie for an annual membership pass that she won for two people. I am truly grateful. This was a prime time to turn lemons into lemonade! We decided to check out the DaVinci special exhibition, shop the Museum Store and have lunch at the Plum Market Kitchen, too. The DaVinci exhibit was amazing. I had no idea of how many inventions Leonardo DaVinci made. I was only familiar with the Mona Lisa painting and the Safety Bridge. The Room of Mirrors was pretty cool. Check out their FREE APP for upcoming events and movie offerings - THF.org/ConnectApp. I plan to experience the curator-led audio tours on my next visit.

This is a huge museum with so many items. Cars, trains, planes, buses, steam engines, furniture &…read moremore. My favorite thing to see in this museum was the ACTUAL bus that Rosa Parks rode in & was able to sit on the bus. I saw some cars that the presidents drove in. So many different innovations and different vehicles too.

My friend recommended coming here on a Saturday to see what this place was all about. While I'm not…read morea death person, it was interesting to say the least. Admission is $10 to get in, and they have two wild looking hearses in the parking lot. The museum is small, but has lots of different stuff to look at. They have actual human bones and skulls, coffins, and lots of mortuary tools from different time periods. It was quite interesting to look at and the owner, who also greeted us when we walked in, told us all about his collection. I believe he said he was also a mortician? He was very knowledgeable and personable. I wouldn't call it a gift shop at the front of the store, but they do have several different types of things for sale like t-shirts, incense, and other interesting artifacts. Overall a very unique experience, and the owner is very insightful and full of knowledge.

Just moved to the area and was looking for cool and out of the box things to do, this is just that!…read more The owner Todd was super welcoming and personable, and you can tell he really cares about the place and contents in it. Definitely will be coming back!

For all you Christmas decoration lovers, I found a hidden gem that has 235 Christmas trees and…read moreother decorations in a very large wooden Cabin. I have lived in the area for more than 20 years and never knew this place existed. There is a staging area, where you park and pay, the cost wasn't to bad. As you wait in this building (sorry can't remember the name, belongs to a small newspaper) there is the Museum of Off Road Adventures. They numerous vehicles from the 1950's and forward. It is enough to keep you busy until the bus shows up to take you to the house. There isn't enough parking at the house to accommodate all the cars. The bus ride takes less than 10 minutes, the house is 3 miles away. Once we arrived, the bus drops us off in a small driveway. The bus has to back up in order to turn around. The walk way to the house is covered in straw to help keep the dirty snow from getting inside the house. Once inside the house, you wear these small booties that go over your shoes. Once inside there are three levels of decorations, there is also a pool area and the garage. Be careful in the pool area, there is water in the pool. The garage had two small cities built with small decorations from around the world. All three floors had some of the most incredible tree decorations I have ever seen. If the decorations don't impress you the house surely will. Truly a work of art, if you can find the history of the house read it. I think it was on the second floor near the stairs.

This was our first time doing the Christmas tree walk. It was a lovely experience. I feel that the…read moreprice is a bit high at $15.00 per person, but the home was beautiful and all those trees put you in a festive mood. It's nice that they shuttle you to the location too. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Christmas and decorating.

Super fun. Wasn't expecting straight-up joy from a "museum" but it was a hit for me, my teen and my…read more92-year-old dad. Lots of machines to choose from, with descriptors and convenient cup holders. Our only caveat, according to my 13yo: "They should have a more advanced card-to-coin machine or card readers on the pinball machines." Agreed--tho it wld put a crimp in the old-timely mystique. I rarely carry cash and I didn't see anywhere in advance (maybe I missed it?) that I needed singles or fives instead of a credit card to get quarters... So come prepared. They do have an ATM machine. (I don't have an ATM card these days, and my debit card wouldn't work.) Next time we'll bring the jingle. PS: There are a few pool tables, too--quarters only.

i used to frequent Sparks about a decade ago -- then i fazed out of pinball a bit and moved out of…read morethe area (i mean.. only 20ish miles, but still. i'm a pud.) i recently went back with my renewed love of pinball and had a good time ... for the most part. some of the machines were quick to gulp up quarters (note: put one in at a time and make sure it registers), a few were beat up to the point of being pretty unplayable, a good number have ZERO ball save which is rough on newcomers... i was kind of bummed in a sense. especially considering the owner of these machines (who's a great guy, don't get me wrong) claims to enjoy fixing them up more than playing them. well, i play 'em, and so you know... some are a bit wonky! truly, that can be part of the fun and mystique of pinball though -- except the eating quarters thing. fuck that. anyway my favorite part about Sparks now is that Mike has a slew of new Stern pins that are Insider Connected, so you can track your progress -- i'm always a fan of that. plus, the truth is, newer really is better in the world of pinball. i've always loved many machines from the late 80s and throughout the 90s, but most of the new machines being put out now are just incredible and i appreciate Sparks having about 8 machines from 2015ish to today. all in all, i enjoy it here, and it wouldn't feel quite right without dropping $6 for a 32oz draft of labatt poured into a haggard and microplastic ladened mug. which reminds me -- a drink and a half. that's the sweet spot for getting loose and doing well on a machine. happy pinning!

A Somewhat unusual museum that documents the history of the Wills Ste. Claire automobile, made in…read moreMarysville, Michigan, from 1921 until 1926. Be aware, the building museum is easily mistaken for a factory, as that is what it once was. As such, the Museum sits in the middle of the Marysville South industrial park, located off of M 29/Busha Highway. If you cross the railroad tracks on Busha highway, you've gone too far - but when you drive into the industrial park, you have to cross a set of tracks to get to it. How's that for confusing? If you're into big garish classic automobiles built before World War II, it's a nice place to visit. There are several of these automobiles here; according to Museum volunteers, supposedly roughly about 10% of the entire surviving population of these automobiles are on display here at any given time (about 85 or so are known to still exist, so do the math). While the exhibits are extremely static (with the exception of the fact one automobile can usually be found rotating on a turntable ala the Detroit Auto Show) it's somewhat amazing the kind of displays they are able to put forth in what is essentially a volunteer/club run museum. Like a lot of museums of the sort, it is only open on weekends or by appointment - however, unlike a lot of museums of this nature, many of the volunteers actually live nearby, so if you call the phone number listed on the sign you can often get in to see the displays even on an off day. The museum tends to be closed in winter, as they offer heated storage to antique car owners during that time (this area often gets blocked off for liability reasons). All in all, a nice museum that hopefully will continue to expand and developed in the future.

This place was awesome. I had never visited before, but my husband and I took a tour today of the…read moremain house. Tours are $20 and you're welcome to walk the grounds after, plus stop by the Playhouse (tiny house that was for the Ford's 7-year-old granddaughter) and the garage, where five antique vehicles are housed. The tour lasts an hour, our tour guide was Dan and he was great. My husband works for Ford so I thought he'd find the tour interesting, too. There's another tour, called Nooks and Crannies, that dives deeper into the house and it's history, and I'd like to take that one next. The grounds themselves are beautiful and there is a lot to see, including the displays in the Visitors Center, Bird Island, and the places I mentioned above. The Visitors Center also has a gift shop. I've heard they do concerts here in the summer, and I saw on Instagram that they will have a butterfly house, too, so I'll have to come back another time for that. Overall, I really enjoyed Ford House and hope to come back for the other tour at some point too.

Gilded The Edsel…read moreand Eleanor Ford House is, on the surface, a spectacular estate.The architecture--a refined lakeside Cotswold-style manor--is stunning. The grounds are immaculate. And yet, the overall experience left me with one word: tacky. Not tacky in the sense of bad taste, but tacky in the way a museum can be when it doesn't trust its audience. The message throughout is clear: Please, middle class, come see how the well-to-do lived--but on our terms, at our pace, behind our ropes. You arrive, eager to explore, only to find the doors locked until a specific tour time. So you wait. Outside. Like a guest at a party no one's ready to let you into. Once inside, you're sorted: self-guided vs. those who paid more for a guided tour. I could only imagine if a self-guided were to stand close and eavesdrop! Then come the barriers. Physical and psychological. You can see how the ultra-rich lived, but do not step deep into most rooms. Velvet ropes whisper stay back. Much of the art has been replaced with copies--originals long ago donated to the DIA (how generous, but also how convenient for security). Even the books are brazenly zip-tied together, presumably to deter mischief or theft. A low point? The kitchen. There, plastic, shiny faux-food--maybe straight from Target's preschool toy aisle--sits arranged to show what a prep area might have looked like. A plastic ham! A plastic cake! Oh, in a prep area! You crane your neck into an ahead-of-its-time bathroom like a zoo visitor spotting a rare animal. Yes, this very bathroom. The one someone used. Then you learn it wasn't ahead-of-its-time bathroom--this was what wealth bought for you! There's the playhouse--charming, yes, with electricity. Oh, it's a house. The Ford's philanthropy, parenting, and perfection are woven into every communication: nannies were present, but they were involved. Citizens, yes. Philanthropists, absolutely. Divine beings, apparently. The whole thing feels less like history and more like hagiography--a shrine to benevolent gods who once walked among us, now preserved in amber and zip ties. Verdict: Tacky. See it on your own if you must, but honestly, try an online tour first. It probably has more dimension, access, and interesting details than what you'll get on foot.

I visited here with a mystery trip ( Eagle Rock tours) from Ohio and it was a wonderful experience…read more The historical musical instruments was a wonderful added bonus for our trip! This is a must see visit if you come to Detroit! I believe the young and old would enjoy this. You need to call ahead, hours are limited.

Went for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed myself and all the people that work there!…read moreMy daughter and I both work in the car industry and were amazed by all of the beautiful pieces in the museum. We will be back more times to experience it again, and will spread the word of this beautiful place; also, I cannot wait to see the expansion as well of this building, it is going to be wonderful!

I brought my almost 4 year old granddaughter here recently. They have a toddler area and a Kids…read moreTown area. The Kids Town area was her favorite with water activities and some interactive exhibits. The toddler area was ok, with some large building blocks and a few other things that she enjoyed. The motion gallery and several exhibits were non-functioning, but for a 4 year old it didn't matter, but it would to older kids. The colorful escalator, the numbers hopscotch and even the small scale Mackinac Bridge were a hit. She LOVED the science show with the gases, fire and exploding balloons although she covered her ears for the 'booms'. Pricing is outrageous I think - $69 for 2 adults and a toddler. What?! I can go to the Outdoor Adventure Center for $5 a head (senior price), and $5 for her. The Nature Center on Belle Isle is FREE. Parking is free but limited, I got the last spot, my bf who met me there had to find street parking. The gift shop was nice and of course on the way out so we ended up with a stuffed animal and some mystery sand adding another $20 to my bill, so $89 for a 2.5 hour visit. OUCH.

What an awesome museum for kids to explore and learn! We had free tickets to come visit and check…read morethis place out and we were not disappointed. The kids were free because they are 2 as well. The parking in the lot next to it was $8 and its gated so it felt really safe. They have a ramp if you have a stroller. They offer stroller parking too. We walked around the main floor and checked out the exhibits. Then we went to the lower level and played in the kids area. The kids loved it. They do clean 12:30pm to 1:00pm. We were able to play for an hour. They loved the water section. There was dancing fruit in one of the rooms and my son was dancing a lot. Another room had soccer balls that he was throwing. They had a pretend kitchen area and a seated area with magnetic blocks. My kids did not want to leave. When we walked out they had a demonstration at the science stage at 12:30pm about fire. That was really cool. They also have IMAX theatre shows. We did not want to participate in that because our kids would just scream. We did go to the dinosaur exhibit on the third floor as well. Overall, it is a nice, clean, and fun museum for kids. We will definitely be back!