South End's Bucket List for Kids
For kids (and kids at heart), you’ll find a new adventure around every corner in South End.
Kid-friendly adventures await in South End. Mixed in among the breweries, restaurants, and art galleries (although many of those are kid-friendly, too), South End is full of fun activities for the whole family. So grab the kiddos and start working your way through South End’s list of must-do experiences for families. Every visit will be a new adventure full of magic and memory-making fun.
1. Walk, bike, skate, or ride your way down the Rail Trail. Keep your eyes peeled for all of the colorful public art pieces along the way!
2. Watch as the trains zoom by from the bright yellow swings at Edna’s Porch (this is a great opportunity to talk about street/train track crossing safety, too).
3. Get a mouthwatering burger and crispy fries at Bang Bang Burgers or Shake Shack.
4. Take a photo at the Wish You Were Here mural and send it to grandma or another family member you’re missing.
5. Play table tennis with up to six people at the free outdoor hexpong table in the courtyard at the Urban Design Center near Bland Street Station.
6. Visit the Fairy Ring Light at Atherton Mill and play tag around it. Go right at dusk for a magical experience.
7. Have a taste of Detroit-style pizza at Emmy Squared Pizza.
8. Participate in the family-friendly First Friday Gallery Crawl to discover local art, artists, and galleries in South End.
9. Create your own art crawl with South End Interactive, where you can scan a QR code to view a video of the artist, generate site-specific face filters, and explore a 3-D model of the piece.
10. Go on one of ArtWalks CLT's South End art tours. Choose from South End Bland Street, South End East/West, South End Gold District or South End Tremont—or just do them all!
11. Play on the see-saw at Fowler Porch. Bring chalk to create your own sidewalk art on the concrete there, too.
12. Stock up on local goods at South End Farmer's Market at Atherton Mill on a Saturday morning. Pop into Living Kitchen for a juice or Not Just Coffee for a hot cocoa on the colder days.
13. Treat yourself to a paleta from Morelia Gourmet Paletas or ice cream from Golden Cow Creamery or Two Scoops.
14. Pick out the coolest game-day gear at Girl Tribe, 704 Shop, or Glory Days Apparel.
15. During the summer months, run through the splash pad outside of 1100 South apartments near Carson Blvd Station.
16. Take a picture riding the Magic Carpet Murals on the Rail Trail.
17. Taste test different barbecue sauces on the Jr. Pig, a juicy kid-sized pulled pork sandwich, at Mac’s Speed Shop.
18. Write a message on the Rail Trail Chalkboard.
19. Snap a photo in front of the Confetti Hearts Mural. Sweets from Pepperbox Doughnuts or Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams are a great motivator!
20. Get a tasty smoothie at Clean Juice or Green Brothers Juice Company.
21. Drop off a book or browse for a new one at one of South End's Little Free Libraries.
22. Pack a picnic and experience the natural play area at Wilmore Centennial Park at South End.
23. Have your pick of nachos, tacos, or a quesadilla from the Superica kids menu. Enjoy your Tex-Mex fare on the patio underneath the Design Center Water Tower.
24. Explore one-of-a-kind sports trading cards and get your own starter pack of collectible cards at One Stop Sports.
25. Climb to the top of the indoor rock climbing walls at Inner Peaks Climbing (day passes available).
26. Have each family member make their own personal candle at Paddywax Candle Bar.
27. Get your first pair of skates (and safety gear) from the skating experts at Derby City Skates.
28. Show your parents you're ready for your first dog by proving you can take care of a plant. Find an easy-to-care for plant at Charlotte Collective or Mindful Market. Then once you’ve gotten your furry friend, head to Canine Cafe and PetWants Charlotte to stock up on food, snacks, and toys.
29. Watch Moana and Coco at the Movies in the Park series this October, or check out the lineup of outdoor movies at Triple C Brewing and Craft Tasting Room.
30. Make chalk art, play games, and more at Camden Commons, presented by Lowe's.
