Taking the Family Outside

Igloo life at River Edge Brewing Co. in Milford

By Danielle Alexander

In January, I wrote about ways to keep kids entertained at home during the winter months. However, it’d be remiss of me not to disclose that my family and I have been spending a great deal of time out of the house, as well. It was definitely easier to find safe, out-of-home activities to take part in with the kids during the summer and fall months since the weather was still decent; nevertheless, we’ve discovered that if you’re willing to put a little time and effort into planning, there are still numerous ways to safely enjoy time with your family around metro Detroit this winter, too.

Igloo dining is fun

Prior to the pandemic, we would usually carry out one meal during the week and eat out at a restaurant every weekend. Thanks to DoorDash and curbside pickup, carryout has fortunately still been possible this past year but to continue supporting our favorite local restaurants while simultaneously embracing the opportunity for a fun family outing, we have been all about the igloo life this winter.

Because the majority of the igloos you see in metro Detroit are heated, many couples and families are also embracing the trend. In order to actually have the opportunity to dine in an igloo, you’ll need to plan ahead as some igloos are already booking out months in advance, especially on the weekends. Yes, there may be lastminute cancellations, so it’s always worth checking online or calling, but if you can be flexible you’ll probably have better luck during the week or at an obscure meal time. Many igloo reservations require food and drink minimums, so be sure you’re considering that ahead of time, especially if you’re planning to dine with just your significant other or have little ones who don’t eat full meals yet.

Our favorite metro Detroit igloos have been at Bigalora in Southfield, Detroit Fleat in Ferndale and River Edge Brewing Company in Milford. We were also pleasantly surprised by how warm we were on the heated patios at Cafe ML in Bloomfield Hills, Ferndale Project in Ferndale and Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in Northville!

Try an outdoor activity

Normally my family and I would be spending at least a day or two each week at metro Detroit indoor play places, but if we wanted to be able get out of the house this year, we had no choice but to invest in warm winter gear and find safe outdoor activities to take part in. Just like igloo dining, some of these activities do require pre-registration.

Sterling Heights’ Dodge Park Ice Rink, for example, offers open skate times (and skate rentals) for Sterling Heights’ residents and nonresidents alike, but patrons must register. Likewise, in order to participate in the brand new ‘glow-tubing’ activity at Bowers Farm’s Winter Park in Bloomfield Hills, it is highly recommended that you register in advance online rather than show up and not have the opportunity to receive a sanitized tube.

If you do wake up one morning and feel like getting out of the house for a bit but did not reserve anything, consider checking out Northville’s Heat in the Street. Every weekend through April, a few Northville restaurants set up stands to serve delicious food off of a preset menu. With Main and Center Streets closed down for pedestrian use, my family and I pick up our food, find a warm spot to sit or stand, eat and then go check out the variety of shops and boutiques that Northville has to offer. My husband and I love having date nights here, too, since you’re able to order wine, beer and mixed drinks to go and have a walk around. Downtown Farmington just started something similar called The Syndicate.

Sledding hills are always a great outdoor option. We always make an afternoon out of it, and stop at a local coffee shop on our way home for hot chocolate and yummy baked goods!

Indoor activities are still an option

Although we’ve been doing our best to keep our family’s out-of-home adventures outdoors, we have tried out some indoor destinations like Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills and The Henry Ford Museum. Due to the fact that they both had limited capacity, required masks, and are so big in size, my husband and I felt safe and agreed that we’re game for more indoor outings like this.

If you’re looking to stay warm but would rather keep your public exposure to a minimum, we also recommend Movie Magic Lakeside’s drivein movie experience in Sterling Heights. They do offer concessions, but we often pick up our favorite carryout order to indulge in once the family-friendly film starts playing on the big screen.

Try these ideas with your own family, and tag us in your social media posts (@chaldeannews)

Danielle Alexander is the owner of Edify LLC, a tutoring/editing/freelance writing business, and a frequent contributor to Family Time.