If Michigan winter has you wishing for a tropical getaway but can’t quite afford a vacation to the Bahamas, we recommend trying out local conservatories and indoor green spaces. Whether it’s a day trip or a long weekend, we’ve got you covered with this list of indoor gardens that will have you feeling the summer heat in the dead of winter.
Day Trips
Check out these destinations within a two-hour drive from Canton.
Conservatory at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens
The Conservatory at Matthaei Botanical Gardens consists of three climate houses under one roof. Each house is separated by automatic doors to maintain ideal climate control for each area. The conservatory boasts a bonsai collection, koi pond, and benches and is wheelchair accessible.
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Parking: Metered
Admission: Free
Cranbrook Greenhouse at the Cranbrook House and Gardens
Originally built in 1908, and then rebuilt after a fire, the Cranbrook Greenhouse is part of the Cranbrook House and Gardens. This 174-acre estate was designed by the famous Detroit architect Albert Kahn and was the home of Detroit philanthropist George Gough Booth and his wife Ellen Scripps Booth.
The conservatory greenhouse is a habitat for tropical plants, orchids, and succulents. The estate is a historic preserved site and is not ADA-compliant, so it is recommended that persons using wheelchairs and walkers have additional assistance.
Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI
Parking: Free
Admission: Free
The Butterfly Garden and Matilda R. Wilson Free-Flight Aviary inside the Detroit Zoo's Wildlife Interpretive Gallery
The Detroit Zoo’s Butterfly Garden and Free-Flight Aviary are housed inside a 10,000-square-foot facility originally built as a glass-domed birdhouse in 1926. In 1995, the building was renovated as the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery. Both the Butterfly Garden and Aviary boast beautiful tropical plants all year round.
The Butterfly Garden is home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies. The Zoo purchases approximately 25 species of butterflies raised by growers from conservation programs in Central America. The Free-Flight Aviary, as its name suggests, does not cage any of the 20 varieties of birds it houses. These feathered friends fly, walk and swim freely throughout the massive enclosure.
Location: Royal Oak, MI
Parking: $8
Admission: $12-$27. The price varies depending on age and whether tickets are purchased online or at the gate, with free admission for children aged 2 and under. As a Canton Public Library cardholder, you can also get a discount on admission; read this blog to learn more.
Hidden Lake Gardens Conservatory at Michigan State University
The 200-acre land comprising Hidden Lake Gardens was donated to Michigan State University in 1945 by Adrian businessman Harry A. Fee with the wish that the Gardens be for the benefit and education of the public.
MSU has expanded the gardens to 755 acres, including an 8,000-square-foot conservatory. The conservatory consists of three separate biomes that house tropical, arid and temperate plants, as well as a variety of flowering houseplants.
Location: Tipton, MI
Parking: Free
Admission: $5-$10. The price varies depending on age, with free admission for children aged 4 and under. Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) holders can get discounted admission; read this blog to learn more about the Michigan Activity Pass program.
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, designed by Albert Kahn, is just one of the many attractions on the 982-acre Belle Isle Park. Having first opened its doors in 1904, it is also the oldest continually running conservatory in the United States. Its 13-acre footprint is home to five “houses,” reaching up to 85 feet in height, that feature exotic and rare plant collections from around the world.
Location: Detroit, MI
Parking: Free
Admission: Conservatory admission is free. However, Michigan residents must have a Recreation Passport to enter Belle Isle Park. Non-resident admission is $11. Admission is free for visitors who walk or bike to the island. Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) holders can also get free admission; read this blog to learn more about the Michigan Activity Pass.
Long Weekends
These conservatories are over a two-hour drive from Canton.
From 1899 to 1953, the 110-acre Dow Gardens property functioned as the family home to Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow and their children. Now, the property has been developed into a botanical garden that includes a recently renovated conservatory.
The conservatory is filled with tropical plants, has floor-to-ceiling windows, water features and a dedicated section for butterfly and chrysalis displays. While the conservatory is kept at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 90% humidity, it is a 1/3-mile outdoor walk from the Visitor Center entrance, so plan your attire accordingly.
Location: Midland, MI
Parking: Free
Admission: $5-$15. The price varies depending on age, with free admission for children aged 3 and under.
Kay Boydston Fern House at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve started as the modest 12.5-acre country home of Kay and Walter Boydston. It developed into a popular gathering place, and through the efforts of philanthropists Lawrence and Mary Plym, the property became public and grew to 105 acres.
One of the highlights of the property is the Kay Boydston Fern House. This 1,000-square-foot conservatory features a railway garden exhibit, a cascading waterfall, a small pond, and over 100 kinds of temperate ferns and other tropical plants.
Location: Niles, MI
Parking: Free
Admission: $5-$10. The price varies depending on age, with free admission for children aged 4 and under.
The Conservatory at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the youngest indoor garden space on this list, having opened its doors in 1995. However, it is home to Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory at five stories tall and a staggering 15,000 square feet.
The Conservatory features rock landscapes, a waterfall and a variety of exotic plant selections. Five additional indoor gardens include the Kenneth E. Nelson Carnivorous Plant House, Earl and Donnalee Holton Arid Garden, the Earl and Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden, and the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.
The entire 158-acre campus is barrier-free and handicap accessible.
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Parking: Free
Admission: $10-$20. The price varies depending on age, with free admission for children aged 2 and under. For SNAP EBT or WIC card holders, admission is $2 as part of the Museums for All program.
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