Finally went into the actual park and wow, it is beautiful!!…read more I didn't realize I have driven by this lake so much on the freeway until my husband pointed it out! They have a playground (with bathrooms in the back) and the trail goes down a paved steep decline that then leads into the boardwalk path way. It is not the most stroller friendly mainly because you are dodging a TON of swan and geese poop the whole time. And it can be bumpy on some parts. But the whole pathway is pretty unique with bridges connecting it (at least 5 bridges) and there is one lookout spot you can go to. We went on a beautiful sunny and windy day and loved it!! Saw so many birds (I have never seen so many swans together before) and nests!! Lots of people fish here too. What a gem! Definitely coming back!

It's always such a beautiful time at North Bay! My husband and I are avid birders and have been…read morecoming here for years. The boardwalk through the wooded trails are beautiful but the real beauty is the boardwalk that goes through the lake. It is amazing! There is sooo much wildlife there, too. There are several spots with picnic tables and benches throughout the trail as well as workout equipment in different spots throughout the trails. It's a beautiful park and I highly recommend checking it out.

Small and quaint little park. There is a short boardwalk area and a bridge…read more We saw baby Robins in a nest and a Purple Finch. Lots of dragonflies during this time (July)! I just love all the trees in Michigan's parks. So beautiful!

Fun set of easy trails to explore…read more Map should be updated- green wasn't listed Small lot No dogs and no garbage can or potty

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!! got a huge pool. 12 ft deep on the far side of the lanes. Has a cute kid…read moreside with shallow end! Adults is only $6 for entry, I forgot how cheap it was for kids but I think it was $4. Regardless this is my new spot. Opens at 11-8 for the pool. They have walking trails and picnic areas, a play ground for the kids. Staff is friendly. And environment is amazing and chill.

I haven't been able to explore all of Fuller Park yet but they get 5 stars automatically from me…read morefor their amazing pool! I live really close to the Vets Park pool but I think Fuller Park's may be my new spot. First off, it's HUGE. I think maybe the biggest public outdoor pool in Ann Arbor? They have several lanes for laps, a deep end for swimming, and a shallower end for kids. They also have a separate waterslide tucked in the back (although it doesn't empty into a pool). While Vet's Park is better for the really little ones (they have more of a toddler pool with overhead sprinklers and such) Fuller is better for older folks. In fact, the last 10 minutes of every hour is "Adult swim." Anyone under 18 has to get out of the pool so the adults can have a bit of a peaceful float for 10 glorious minutes. It's not just great for swimming either. It's wonderful for relaxing as well. They have LOTS of lounge chairs and pergolas to keep you semi shaded. I spent several fantastic hours here this past weekend cooling off in the water for a bit and then heading back to my chair to dry off and read a book. It was lovely. If you're feeling peckish they have a few vending machines for beverages and snacks. They have a couple of ice cream novelty machines too. Oh, and they have a few picnic tables and areas for parties. $5 a day for adults, $4 for kids and seniors. They have resident yearly passes ($140 for adults or $265 for familes) or punch passes (10 punches for $40 or 20 punches for $80) if you don't think you'd use the yearly pass often enough for make it worth your while. The pool is pristine, the locker rooms are also clean, and it's just so spacious and great. I really genuinely love it there and can't wait for my next visit!

Milan Nature Park is relatively small yet well-kept. The entrance is off Platt Road. There is a…read morebaseball diamond, a picnic shelter and a kiddie playground. What we really liked was the pair of waist-high metal funnels that allow you to play the telephone game. Each person stands at one and speaks into the bell. You are about 25' apart, but you can hear each other like you are whispering into each others' ears. Neat-o! Over by the lake, it's too mosquito-ey to linger for long. You are basically behind the back yards of several homes, so be considerate. We also walked out to the driveway. There seems to be a trail head across the street (the other side of Platt) but don't go over there. The poison ivy is in the lawn itself. It will require more mowing before it gets killed back enough. There is a large, open area at this park that would be perfect for radio controlled planes. Close to lots of other parks that ring the same lake. It's called Ford Lake, but don't confuse it with the Ford Lake near Belleville. The name comes from the fact that Henry Ford converted the old mill on this lake for auto production.

Bandemer Park is an awesome park located right in Ann Arbor. Although it's close to everything,…read moreit's completely hidden. You can hear the cars driving by but can't see them. It's a beautiful place to walk and get closer to nature, and convenient because it is right in town. It could use some upkeep from the city or county. Some signs and the bike park are showing their age and not looking as maintained as they could be. Still a great place to swing by.

I stumbled on this park after a failed attempt at a nearby park…read more I would say this park is roughly only abou 1.10 miles in total but plenty of connecting areas. honestly I did I did part of this trail that's why pretty much turned around but I was happy to say that restrooms were available but unfortunately wasn't the cleanest. Would I go back here... YES! Happy Hiking!!!

One of my favorite local parks to walk with my dog! We typically get on the trail from the south…read moreentrance, which has plenty of parking, fields for sports, a play structure, and some pavilions. Hike is on the easier end, with wide paths. Would note that that it is prone to get muddy so expect that after rain and dress accordingly. Note - they've taken down the old boardwalk. Not sure if they are just removing it or if they are creating a new one? Pittsfield township also often has fun activities in the park, like Halloween or St Patrick's Day themed walks/"scavenger hunts". Cute little touch.

Uncrowded park for jogging or walking 2-3 miles near Ann Arbor! I drove here (about 9 minutes)…read morefrom the Hyatt Place. This park has two sections (North and South). I took time to walk along the path from the parking lot, past the soccer fields toward Turtle Pond. You'll need to walk about 0.5 miles to see the pond, but it's a lovely respite and seems dog-friendly. One downside is the proximity of I-94 which means that you'll hear the background noise of cars and trucks in the distance. It's not super-loud, but noticeable if you had expected a serene walk. Another downside is that the trail does not have clear signs or color stripes - but you can figure out the main route by using the pond as your guide. Would recommend folks staying in the hotels on the south side of Ann Arbor to give this park a try - it was really nice for jogging or a long walk.

I had to laugh when someone left a review-stating "the currents here drown many people." There's no…read morecurrent, it's a self contained body of water! It is a self contained spring fed quarry (if you need to put a name to it.) I have been coming here since I was 15..a long time. I actually loved the place so much-I moved to the area in 1999 to be closer to the beach-but shortly after we got into the area, the red tape politics closed down the beach for years. We were so bummed, but it was eventually taken over a couple of times by different people, but they just never ran it as well as the Heath Family-the 1st family to own "Heath Beach," as it was called most of the time. The problem came when one of the Huron parks named "Heather Heath Beach" was constantly shut down for their nasty water, and dangerous bacteria counts. (I believe it was a Huron Metro Park.) The news updated which parks were closed on the radio, daily. They'd say "Heather Heath Beach is closed again." The public heard "Heath Beach," and didn't go to the beach in Milan. It really hurt their attendance, so the owner filed a lawsuit bcuz they were losing their livelihood-as many of the reporters got lazy and would sometimes just say "Heath Beach is closed again." They wanted to force the news crews to clarify that it's a totally different beach that was being closed. The attorney fees ate up the last money they had; so they lost the family beach. The water was tested daily, and was sent to the health dept on the regular-and they claim with proof of testing that it was the cleanest, freshest water in the 13 surrounding states! The beach has never had any bacteria issues-unlike so many fresh water sources around. We moved away now, but it looks really nice since the new owners came in! Good luck to them-it was a great place for kids and adults to hang out, and enjoy the spring water that just makes your skin so soft and it always soaks the bones of any aches and pains in that warm mineral water. It's as warm as bath water, but every once in a while you will feel the refreshing spring releasing a little cold water on your toes! This beach gets raked daily, kept clean-and is definitely worth the trip!! Enjoy a fun time with the kiddo's in their roped off shallow end!

Visited my first time last year and it was amazing! It was very well kept and a good price for the…read moreday!

This was a cool playground setup. It had some of the typical things like monkey bars, but lacked a…read morebunch of the other stuff. Instead it was a labyrinth of climbing and going in and out of wooden towers. It was difficult to follow along as I'm 6'2, 200. I barely fit in some of the spaces. But the kids had fun and had no issue at full speed. There is also a splash pad about 100ft away. It's not very fancy, but in combo with the playground and I'd say it's a pretty decent way to spend an afternoon. The library is next door too..

The first time I came here in April and there were no flowers or green and everything was brown!…read more I came back on the last day of May with my husband and it looked completely different!! There is a lot of green everywhere and soo many different flowers (especially the peonies before they were vandalized)!! We parked in the back where it is about a 15-20 min walk to the peonies. It was a nice and mostly shaded walk. We even saw a new bird (Great Crested Flycatcher)! I think it's only worth coming for the peonies but otherwise, it's free (unless you park in the front and then you have to pay).

We spent two days in AA and this was my favorite activity! What a beautiful time to…read morewitness the thousands of peonies in the peony garden. So many different variations and colors. We stopped by the visitor center and got a guide to the different types of peonies. They also had a restroom which was nice. We took the 2.7 Nichols Walking Trail and really enjoyed the nature, wildlife, scenic city overlooks, and the Huron river views. I would say it's a medium level of hard given that most of the path is easy walking but some steeper inclines and steps that get your heart rate working. It was incredibly pleasant, we spent a little over 90 mins exploring. Also, we learned there is free parking in the Blue M28 lot on the weekends and were able to utilize it! Looked like dogs were welcome, met some friendly pups. Saw people having a picnic in the park and a cute little free library! Such a wonderful place, really glad we came!

This beach was Heath Beach back in the day-and the spring fed water is very clean! They had tested…read morethe water and was said to be the cleanest fresh water lake (quarry) in 13 states! We moved quite a distance away, but we'll travel for a day at Get Away Bay, aka Heath Beach!! Always a great time!

Not so hidden GEM just south of Milan. Right off 23. You can see it from freeway! Slice of heaven…read more What was previously known as heath beach/ milan beach is the same natural spring fed lake with a new owner who is breathing a fresh life into the place. You can tell by the new chairs and picnic tables! Natural spring fed lake with just about everything you can think of for a fun day in the sun (summer... fall... and winter...) Let's start with summer... pontoon sun deck with diving board, dock with diving board, water slide... Plenty of room to lay out. Just about anything under the sun can be rented for maximum enjoyment.. paddle boards, boats, paddle boats, floats, rafts etc etc. all reasonable prices. Here with family? A roped off sandy beach area with a couple floats for the kids to enjoy. Also- ADA water toys to help those that need help getting into the water. A nice touch! Did I mention an ice cream cart that drives around?! Or if you don't want to wait... a snack bar with all the options... water/pop/gaterade and snacks... including ice-cream. Want to host a party? There is a barn. Or a pavilion and plenty of upgrades to make the day fun including grills to rent or comfortable lounge chairs. Rentals are endless.... Anything and everything to make the day great. Wouldn't be surprised if you could purchase a bathing suit at this place. Not into water? Plenty of fun activities on land. Volleyball nets, orbeez gun obstacle to go all tactical with your buddies, horse shoe, disc golf. Sounds like camping is now included. And plenty of fire pits to rent for a fall gathering. More to come with the follow up fall and winter reviews... hay rides. Bon fires... possible haunted hay ride? Ice rink in the winter? Really a year round haven of activity. Fishing is just on the weekdays. Plenty to get after!