Farmington Hills is a city located in southeast Michigan, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Detroit. With a population of over 80,000 residents, Farmington Hills is an affluent suburb with a lot to offer visitors. From historical villages that take you back in time to modern shopping centres, Farmington Hills has something for everyone.
| No. | Attraction | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Longacre House | Historical Site | A historic mansion used for events and tours. |
| 2 | Nature Center | Recreational Facility | Offers nature-related exhibits and programs. |
| 3 | Riley Archery Range | Recreational Facility | Provides archery lessons and practice ranges. |
| 4 | Farmington Hills Golf Club | Recreational Facility | A well-maintained golf course open to the public. |
| 5 | Greenmead Historical Park | Historical Site | A historical village showcasing life in the past. |
| 6 | Indoor Trampoline Park | Entertainment Venue | Offers fun and fitness activities on trampolines. |
| 7 | Hindu Temple of Canton | Cultural Site | A temple providing cultural and spiritual services. |
| 8 | Discovery Center | Educational Facility | Focuses on interactive science and technology. |
| 9 | Skate Park | Recreational Facility | A dedicated area for skateboarding enthusiasts. |
| 10 | Downtown Area | Shopping & Dining District | Features shops, restaurants, and entertainment. |
| 11 | Heritage Park | Park | A large park with trails, play areas, and picnics. |
| 12 | Power Play Sports | Recreational Facility | Offers various sports and fitness activities. |
| 13 | Ice Arena | Recreational Facility | Provides ice skating and hockey facilities. |
This article will highlight 12 top attractions that you don’t want to miss when visiting Farmington Hills. We’ll cover historical sites like the Longacre House and Nature Center, kid-friendly places like the Jump Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, cultural attractions like the Hindu Temple of Canton, and plenty of outdoor recreation like the Farmington Hills Golf Club. Whether you’re travelling with family, friends, or even solo, you’ll discover something new and exciting in Farmington Hills.
So let’s dive right in and explore some of the best things to do in Farmington Hills, MI!
1. Longacre House and Nature Center
Name and Location: Longacre House and Nature Center
History and Significance: Built in 1839, Longacre House is a historic farmstead and one of the oldest homes in Farmington Hills. The nature center opened in 1977, offering environmental education programs that allow visitors to step back in time and experience 1840s living.
What to Expect: Tour the historic home and gardens, visit farm animals, learn about Michigan wildlife, identify trees and plants on nature trails, participate in hands-on heritage programs and events. The site also hosts field trips, scout badges and birthday parties.
Visitor Information: Located within Heritage Park. Open year-round Tuesday-Sunday. Daily fees or annual memberships available. Trail access is free but donations appreciated.
The Longacre House and Nature Center is one of Farmington Hills’ most popular historical attractions. Built in 1842, this Georgian brick home gives visitors a glimpse into 19th century life through guided tours and exhibits.
You can explore the preserved rooms of the Longacre family home, which still contain many original early American artifacts and furnishings. Costumed guides bring the history to life and are eager to answer any questions you may have. The home is also surrounded by scenic nature trails winding through 25 acres of woodlands, perfect for a tranquil walk or hike any time of year.
With events like reenactments, demonstrations, and seasonal activities, there’s always something new to enjoy at the Longacre House. History buffs will love learning about early Michigan settlers while kids enjoy scavenger hunts, hands-on activities, and exploring the grounds.
2. Riley Archery Range and Sports Park
Name and Location: Riley Archery Range and Sports Park
History and Significance: Opened in 2009, this is one of the only public archery ranges in southeast Michigan. With sports fields and wooded trails, it provides year-round recreation and adventure sports opportunities for all ages and abilities.
What to Expect: Archery range and instruction, disc golf, mountain bike trails, hockey rinks, sports fields, playground, picnic pavilion and portable restrooms. Scheduled programs like Archery 101 classes and seasonal events.
Visitor Information: Located on 12 Mile Rd east of Halsted. Park access is free but activity fees apply for range use, rentals and classes. Website and posted signage provides updates on park status and upcoming events.
Home to one of the longest archery ranges in Michigan, the Riley Archery Range and Sports Park offers visitors a unique outdoor recreation experience minutes from downtown Farmington Hills.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to try archery for the first time or an expert marksman honing your skills, Riley Park has a course for all abilities. The 28 shooting lanes allow archers to target foam deer and other animal targets out to 60 yards. Try your hand at 3D challenge courses shaped like deer trailing through the open field for added realism in your target practice.
Beyond archery, Riley Park contains an 18 hole disc golf course, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and a large playground area. With so many ways to stay active, it’s a perfect spot for families looking to tire out the kids. Free to use and open year round from dawn until dusk, it’s both a budget-friendly and unique attraction to check out during your Farmington Hills visit.
3. Farmington Hills Golf Club
Name and Location: Farmington Hills Golf Club
History and Significance: Established in 1924, this public 18-hole course wraps around Woodland Lake providing a scenic golf experience for players at all skill levels. With improvements over its history, it continues Farmington Hills’ long golf tradition.
What to Expect: Challenging play on meticulously maintained greens and fairways, with water hazards coming into play on several holes. Amenities include practice range, clubhouse grill, pro shop and rental clubs. Leagues, lessons and tournaments offered seasonally.
Visitor Information: Located on 11 Mile Rd east of Halsted. Open mid-March through November, with hours varying by season. Resident and non-resident green fees apply. Tee times can be booked online up to 7 days in advance.
For over 50 years, the Farmington Hills Golf Club has been one of the area’s premier golf destinations with two 18-hole courses stretching across over 400 acres of scenic countryside.
Designed by legendary golf architects Arthur Hills and Roger Packard, both courses incorporate strategically placed bunkers, undulating greens, and a variety of picturesque ponds and trees into the challenging layouts.
The Hills Course gives players bright green surfaces flanked by towering oaks, maples, and birch trees native to the landscape. The Arthur Hills-designed North Course contrasts dramatically with the lush Hills layout with a more links-style Scottish feel on the front nine and heavily-wooded marshland holes making up the back nine.
Visitors looking to refine their short game can spend hours dialing in their wedges on the spacious practice green while range rats have plenty of room to tee off at the double-ended driving range. After your round, enjoy craft beer and upscale pub fare at the sophisticated FarmLinks restaurant. With competitive pricing and Stay & Play packages available, the Farmington Hills Golf Club is a can’t miss attraction for both local linksters and traveling golf enthusiasts.
4. Greenmead Historical Park
Name and Location: Greenmead Historical Park
History and Significance: Established 1976, the 12 acre village allows visitors to experience Farmington Hills’ 19th century origins through its collection of restored historic buildings including founder Joshua Simmons homestead built in 1841. Interpretive exhibits showcase over 175 years of local history.
What to Expect: Hourly tours of historic homes and shops bring volunteers in period clothing to life, sharing stories of past residents and artisans. Special events, demonstrations, school field trips and scout programs offered seasonally. Rental facilities available.
Visitor Information: Located on 6 Mile Rd east of Farmington Rd. Open year-round Tuesday-Sunday. Fees: $3-5 for home tours; annual memberships available. Free trail access and parking on site.
History buffs and garden lovers flock to Greenmead Historical Park, one of Farmington Hills’ best kept secrets. As one of Michigan’s Centennial Farms, the picturesque 137 acre property contains historic buildings from the 19th century Milton Moore farmstead along with 12 distinct garden areas showcasing a variety of botanicals and floral designs.
Architecture fanatics will delight at Greenmead’s wide range of preserved structures from the stately Greek Revival-style Alexander Blue House to the Victorian worker’s cottage known as The Abbey. Costumed interpreters offer guided tours that provide insight into what life was like for early Michigan settlers. Be sure to visit the on-site Gifts Shop stocked with homegrown herbs, vegetables, and botanicals grown right on the property.
Beyond the historic homestead and gardens, GreenmeadPark has wooded nature trails perfect for birdwatchers looking to spy nesting bluebirds, cardinals, sparrows, orioles, and over a hundred other species that have been spotted on the grounds. With events like heirloom plant sales, high tea luncheons, and fall cider making workshops, GreenmeadHistoricalPark always provides a memorable experience across its eight seasons.
5. Jump Zone Indoor Trampoline Park
Name and Location: Jump Zone Indoor Trampoline Park
History and Significance: Opened in 2014, Jump Zone fills over 17,000 sq ft with interconnected trampolines and foam pits, providing active indoor fun for all ages. As part of national franchises, they offer a consistently fun experience in a clean, monitored environment.
What to Expect: Wall-to-wall aerial attractions like dodgeball courts, slam dunk hoops, battle beams and a ninja warrior course over a huge main court area filled with individual trampolines. Fun fitness classes offered daily.
Visitor Information: Located behind Costco off Grand River Ave. Open daily, with late weekend hours. Socks required. Single visit, monthly and party packages available. Parent waivers needed for under 18 years.
Home to wall-to-trampoline slam dunk basketball hoops, foam pits, and over 17,000 square feet of interconnected trampolines, Jump Zone Indoor Trampoline Park is an ideal year-round getaway for families visiting Farmington Hills. Kids of all ages burn endless energy bouncing between trampoline dodge ball courts, tumbling lanes, vertical climbing walls, and balance beams.
Little jumpers stay safe in a special toddler court filled with pequeño-sized trampolines perfect for beginners. Parents can join in on the fun with their own dedicated bounce areas or relax in lounge seating while supervising from special viewing decks. Private party rooms are available for birthdays or team celebrations looking to have run bouncing off the walls.
With special needs sensory times and fitness classes like “Bounce Boot Camp”, Jump Zone appeals to guests of all ages and abilities for an unforgettable indoor adventure.
6. Hindu Temple of Canton
Name and Location: Hindu Temple of Canton
History and Significance: Built in 1999, it is the oldest and one of the largest Hindu temples serving metro Detroit’s growing community. Elaborate architecture fused ancient Indian and modern styles to create a peaceful space for worship, reflection and celebrating Hindu culture.
What to Expect: Ornately carved shrines housing murtis (deities), regular religious services, cultural exhibits explaining symbolism. Scriptures library and bookstore onsite. Visitors welcome to attend prayers or simply admire the architecture.
Visitor Information: Located on Haggerty Rd south of Ford Rd. Open daily, with weekend services. Shoe removal required and modest dress recommended inside temple. Guided group tours by arrangement.
Recognized as one of the largest Hindu temples in North America, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir located in Canton Township is a must-see spiritual and architectural attraction for visitors passing through Farmington Hills. Inspired by traditional Hindu mandir design, the intricate temple encompasses over 34,000 square feet of hand-carved Italian and Indian limestone pieced together like a stunning ancient jigsaw puzzle.
From the heavenly aroma of fresh flowers and Indian cuisine to the echoes of hypnotic hymns, all five senses feel peacefully stimulated with each step inside the BAPS temple. Friendly volunteers guide guests through exhibitions detailing Hindu tenets and traditions.
Be sure to admire the intricate Italian Carrara marble stonework hand-carved by artisans specializing in temple construction. The sprawling 24,000 square foot Haveli stage features carved timber columns, arches, and rafters resembling wooden lace.
With worship ceremonies, dance and music performances, yoga classes, and vegetarian food fairs, Michigan’s marquee Hindu temple immerses visitors into the rich culture and traditions of India without the need of a transcontinental flight.
7. Discovery Center
Name and Location: Discovery Center
History and Significance: Founded in 1977, this hands-on museum provides interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) exhibits and programs aimed at inspiring children’s natural curiosity on diverse topics.
What to Expect: Two floors of fun, educational hands-on galleries like Idea Lab, Energy Lab and Health & Nutrition. Daily on-site programming like live demos as well as offsite outreach. Field trips catered for all ages.
Visitor Information: Located downtown Farmington. Open Tues-Sat, with expanded summer hours. Adults $10, seniors/children $8. Annual memberships available. Store and snack area on site.
With over a dozen interactive STEM exhibits spread across three floors, Farmington Hills’ Discovery Center provides families with a full day of educational entertainment. Children and kids at heart can participate in engaging hands-on activities focused on applied math, science and technology.
Test your construction skills using giant blue foam building blocks on the KidBuild ramps. Perform experiments to move clouds, levitate objects and explore chemical reactions that make each hair stand up on end.
Discovery Center’s ideasPARK contains innovative exhibits designed to inspire creativity and design thinking skills. Plenty of activities help cultivate right-brain imagination and innovative problem solving solutions.
Be sure let little ones burn off steam racing through the multistory supersized Lightbright pegboard structure. With monthly parents night out special events and summer/spring camps, Discovery Center offers STEM-based fun all year long for future scientists, engineers and explorers.
8. Farmington Hills Skate Park
Name and Location: Farmington Hills Skate Park
History and Significance: Opened in 2010 thanks to efforts by the non-profit Action 36 Committee, this concrete skate plaza was envisioned as a safe place for skaters of all ages and abilities to progress their skills year-round.
What to Expect: 17,000 square feet of ramps, rails, boxes and transition obstacles suitable for skateboards, inline skates, freestyle scooters and BMX bikes. All skills welcome from beginners to advanced. Helmet required.
Visitor Information: Located next to Costick Activities Center. Open daily 8AM-9PM. Membership card provides access to Costick amenities like indoor restrooms. Website lists skate clinics and garage sale fundraisers.
Situated within Heritage Park, the Farmington Hills Skate Park contains over 16,000 square feet of smooth curving ramps, quarter pipes, fun boxes, rails, and transitionspurpose built for aspiring skaters and BMX riders to get airborne. With beginner, intermediate and advanced areas, the concrete playground allows boarders of all skill levels to roll and jump safely within the sprawling park.
Watch locals effortlessly ollie, kickflip, and grind over the variety of ramps and rails. Bicyclers practice jumps and even daredevil stunts at the deeper end of the park. Warm sunny days see huge crowds as young skaters cheer each other on picking up new tricks they see on YouTube or X-Games competitions.
Plenty of ledges and hubbas allow for grinding while daredevils launch themselves from the towering nine foot high half pipe area. Whether visiting Farmington Hills to skate or just watch the excitement, be sure to spend an afternoon taking in high flying action at the area’s premier skate park.
9. Downtown Farmington
Name and Location: Downtown Farmington
History and Significance: Founded 1824, the historic downtown district spanning Farmington and Farmington Hills retains its 19th century charm anchored by the towering 1885 Greek Revival Old Town Hall. The compact walkable area provides a vibrant urban experience.
What to Expect: Diverse dining, boutiques and galleries housed in restored buildings along bricklined Grand River Ave and Farmington Rd. Events like Art on the Grand gallery walks, Founders Festival and winter ice skating.
Visitor Information: Located along Grand River corridor spanning both cities. Walkable district has metered parking and free lots/garages available. Get the positive small town community vibes while enjoying both historic and new businesses.
Located just a 15 minute drive from Farmington Hills, Downtown Farmington transports visitors back to the 1940s and 50s with its quaint historic shopping district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cobblestone roadways are lined with indie boutiques, candy stores, antique shops, galleries, theatres, bookstores, and some of metro Detroit’s hottest restaurants and cafes.
The atmospheric downtown also plays hosts a variety of public events across all four seasons. Summertime sees free live music concerts and movies in Riley Park along with Art on the Grand fine arts fairs. Pumpkin-lined streets in the fall set the stage for hayrides and cider festivals.
The winter holiday season brings caroling, carriage rides, and a radiant lighting display coordinated to festive music accessible over the radio. With so much character and charm, downtown Farmington remains one of Southeast Michigan’s can’t miss attractions for out-of-town guests.
10. Heritage Park
Name and Location: Heritage Park
History and Significance: Established in 1975 on the historic Warner family estate, this 225 acre park welcomes visitors to experience activities that reflect 300 years of regional history within its farmstead buildings, gardens and nature trails. A living history lesson.
What to Expect: Longacre House tours, heritage craft demos, special events, nature programs, campfires, trails, playground, picnic sites and athletic fields. Also site of annual Founders Festival, Farmers Market and winter activities.
Visitor Information: Located at 24915 Farmington Rd. Park access free, activity fees vary. Nature trails/facility rentals open year round. Longacre House hours limited seasonally. Website details full offerings.
Covering over 900 acres across both Farmington and Farmington Hills, the sprawling Heritage Park provides visitors outdoor recreational activities including wooded hiking trails, fishing holes stocked with rainbow trout and bluegill, sledding hills that transform into sunbathing spots come springtime and two flowing creeks perfect for skipping stones.
Multiple playgrounds like the award-winning Amenity Park contain extra tall slides, monkey bars, swings and imagination-fostering playscapes. Families gather for picnic lunches at the cluster of pavilions available to rent for special events.
Athletic travelers take advantage of the park’s 12 baseball diamonds, rugby pitch, cricket grounds and one of Michigan’s top rated disc golf courses winding through the woods and wetlands where birding enthusiasts attempt to spot the nearly 150 recorded bird species.
Guests visiting Heritage Park also enjoy cultural entertainment including live music performances, movie screenings, theatre shows, winter holiday celebrations, craft fairs, and food festivals held annually. With year-round natural scenery and landscapes, Heritage Park delivers plenty of reasons to venture outdoors during any season spent in Farmington Hills.
11. Power Play Sports
Name and Location: Power Play Sports
History and Significance: Opened in 2014, Power Play is a family entertainment center focused on youth sports training via batting cages, pitching tunnels and golf simulators. Their experienced coaches help build skills while having safe active fun year round.
What to Expect: Multi-sport training zones – private batting cages, portable mounds, virtual sports simulators, strength/conditioning area – suitable for individuals or teams. Pro shop, lessons, camps and league teams available.
Visitor Information: Located at 37500 Grand River Ave. Open daily with extended weekend hours. Packages start at 30 min sessions. Team rates/party events available. Check site for coaching staff bios and skills training methodology.
When kids and kids-at-heart need a high energy indoor adventure, Power Play Sports sets the stage for family entertainment with activities like bumper cars, laser tag, arcade & redemption games, rock climbing, mini bowling and more all under one roof. Parents supervise the chaos while refueling at Power Play’s on-site pizzeria serving up mouthwatering pies and ice cold drinks.
The massive 25,000 entertainment center contains Michigan’s largest indoor Nerf battle arena for dart blaster battles across two floors of obstacles and hiding spots. Kids not tall enough to drive bumper cars get their own fleet of miniature electric vehicles to cruise across a pint-sized roadway.
Aspiring ninjas test their skills on climbing structures and cargo nets that take coordination and physical dexterity to traverse. For those looking to win big, Power Play Sports houses one of the region’s largest arcades loaded with today’s hottest interactive and redemption games.
Affordable daily rates allow families to come back over and over again to maximize their fun at one of America’s premier indoor entertainment centers.
12. Farmington Hills Ice Arena
Name and Location: Farmington Hills Ice Arena
History and Significance: Constructed along with Costick Center in 1976, the Ice Arena has offered public skating, hockey and figure skating within metro Detroit for over forty years thanks to recurring improvements and dedicated staff.
What to Expect: NHL regulation ice surface hosts hockey games/practices, open skates, skating lessons and daily stick time sessions. There’s a pro shop for equipment needs, skate rentals and sharpening services on site. Onsite vending machines with hockey essentials.
Visitor Information: Located at 35500 Eight Mile Rd. Rink hours vary daily. Drop in fees $6-8 or value passes available. Skate rentals $3-5 additional. Call desk for open hockey/skate times or schedule private ice rentals.
Home to the Farmington United high school hockey team, the Farmington Hills Ice Arena not only develops the next generation of skating talent but also provides the public opportunities to skate recreationally across its two NHL sized ice rinks. Visitors can join pickup hockey games with other passionate puck heads or take to the ice solo to practice slapshots and passing drills with the rinks fast and smooth surface.
Figure skaters have plenty of room to practice spins, camel spins, sit spins, and even triple axels on the expansive rinks. Families with little ones just learning to balance on blades can use on-site skating aids to slowly gain stability and confidence.
Beyond open skates, the Ice Arena offers curling leagues, skating lessons, birthday party rentals, broomball leagues and skating competitions for more advanced figure skaters. Guests visiting during the summer can escape the heat and humidity skating under the cool conditions of the Ice Arena. Year after year, the Farmington Hills Ice Arena continues giving locals and visitors of all ages fond memories gliding effortlessly across the frozen pond.
Conclusion
As highlighted across these 12 attractions, Farmington Hills contains plenty of unique sightseeing spots, kid-friendly playgrounds, outdoor recreation, historic architecture, and cultural experiences to fill any visitor’s itinerary.
From skating indoors at the ice arena to unleashing your child’s imagination in the interactive STEM exhibits at Discovery Center, Farmington Hills takes family entertainment seriously.
Outdoor adventurists hike and bike across the sprawling grounds of Heritage Park while history lovers tour 19th century homesteads and learn about Michigan’s origins at sites like Longacre House and Greenmead Historical Park.
You can even take an architectural tour of North America’s largest Hindu temple just over in Canton Township. Whether travelling solo or with a group, Farmington Hills provides memorable activities across every season.
Use this list as your guide on your next visit to maximize your stay in one of Metro Detroit’s most beloved suburbs.