Here are 10 things to do in Ann Arbor this Spring with all of your kids- no matter their age! Michigan likes to pretend it’s winter in the middle of April, so look for the “Rainy Day Bonus” for inside options on those cold days.  

Spring in Ann Arbor is pure magic! The flowers start blooming, the sun peeks out a little longer, and after months of chilly weather, we’re all itching to get outside. If you’re looking for ways to soak up the season with your family, look no further! Let’s get started…

1. Stroll and Play at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Nothing says “spring” like fresh flowers and winding garden paths! The trails at Matthaei Botanical Gardens are perfect for a family nature walk, and little ones will love spotting butterflies and frogs along the way. Bonus tip: Bring a picnic and enjoy lunch in the gardens. And of course, don’t forget to snap a few photos—this place is a dreamy backdrop for springtime memories!  

 

Rainy Day Bonus: If it’s cold outside, the conservatory is so fun to walk through. it’s warm, away from the elements, and you get to learn about different climates AND get a break from the “winter-spring” outside.

2. Hunt for Hidden Fairy Doors Around Town

Did you know Ann Arbor is home to hidden fairy doors? These tiny, magical doors are scattered throughout downtown, tucked into walls, cafes, and storefronts. Kids of all ages will love going on a scavenger hunt to find them! Start at the Ann Arbor District Library and see how many you can spot. Don’t forget to leave a tiny note or drawing for the fairies—it’s all part of the magic!

Rainy Day Bonus: If you’re feeling fun and adventurous, take an umbrella and jump in all the puddles along the way. Maybe even pack extra clothes or towels for the ride home.

 

3. Explore the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Okay, so spring in Michigan sometimes means surprise rain showers. But that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is a family favorite with interactive exhibits that entertain everyone—from toddlers to teens. Pro tip: Check their calendar for special events and science shows!

Rainy Day Bonus: All indoors, so you don’t have to worry about anything but fun! My pro-tip is to take hand sanitizer and/or wash your hands frequently. Although we have always had so much fun here, we have also brought home an accompanying week off of school afterwards as well. *Cough *Sniffle *Sneeze

4. Visit Domino’s Farms for a Barnyard Adventure

Who doesn’t love baby animals in the spring? Head over to Domino’s Farms to see adorable goats, cows, and sheep up close. Kids can feed the animals, take a hayride, and enjoy the fresh spring air. (And let’s be real—nothing makes for a cuter family photo than a toddler giggling at a baby goat!)

5. Take a Sweet Treat Tour of Downtown Ann Arbor

Spring is the perfect time to stroll through downtown and indulge in some local goodies! Stop by Washtenaw Dairy for legendary ice cream, swing by Sweetwaters for a fancy hot chocolate (because let’s be honest, Michigan spring isn’t always warm), and wrap up at Zingerman’s Bakehouse for the best cookies in town.

6. Check Out the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

Dinosaurs, fossils, and a planetarium—need we say more? The U-M Museum of Natural History is a fantastic spot for curious kids and budding scientists. It’s a great way to spend a cooler spring day while still keeping the fun (and learning) going! Bonus is that it’s free! Click HERE for hours. 

Rainy Day Bonus: All indoors and such a fun time for anyone who loves dinosaurs! We go for the fossils, rocks, games, learning, and more. Definitely worth a day out of the house and a couple hours of distraction and fun. 

7. Visit a Local Farmers Market

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market in Kerrytown is in full swing come springtime! Let the kids pick out fresh produce, sample baked goods, and chat with local vendors. It’s a great way to support the community while enjoying the vibrant sights and smells of spring.

 

8. Have an Indoor Climbing Adventure at Planet Rock

For a fun way to burn off some energy, take the family to Planet Rock for indoor climbing. With walls for all skill levels, even young kids can get in on the action. It’s a great way to keep active on a rainy or chilly spring day.

Rainy Day Bonus: Kids will sleep better when the get exhausted. Need I say more?

 

9. Go on a Library Adventure

The Ann Arbor District Library offers more than just books! Check out their events calendar for family-friendly activities like story time, craft sessions, and even hands-on STEAM programs. Plus, it’s the perfect cozy spot for a relaxed afternoon.

Rainy Day Bonus: Take home a pile of books, break out the blankets and make a reading fort. They’ll have hours of fun and story time, while you get to snap a few photos of your genius day and maybe even take a nap afterward.

 

10. Take a Scenic Drive to See the Blossoms

Sometimes, the best adventures are the simple ones! Pack up the car, grab some snacks, and take a scenic drive around Ann Arbor to admire the cherry blossoms and spring blooms. Nichols Arboretum and Gallup Park are great places to stop for a stroll and some breathtaking springtime views. If you’re really craving flowers, Tulips in Holland are absolutely incredible! The best time to see them is May, so get ready to soak up some beautiful weather and walk through thousands of gorgeous blooms.

Spring is a season of new beginnings, so get out there, make memories, and take lots of pictures! (And if you need a pro to capture those sweet family moments, you know where to find me! )

The post 10 Things to Do in Ann Arbor first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Belle Lavande Lavender Farm

One thing you have to be aware of about lavender farms is the bees. They are pretty much everywhere. I am afraid of very few things, but bees just happen to be one of them (hello allergies). After about 10 minutes wandering around this lavender field, it is very clear that bees have way more to do than pay attention to anyone walking or sitting nearby. So grateful Jenna and Doug also seemed to be unaffected by them. They were so good about trying any pose, getting up and down, walking through the bees, and getting pictures from every angle.

Enjoy this little peek into this sweet lavender farm mini-session.

My favorite pictures, the ones that make me audibly go “aaaaawwwww!”, are the ones with Mckenna and each parent. Seeing those cute little moments when your babies are so little just melt my heart. Kids grow up way too fast, and it’s so wonderful to have photos to remember these cute little ages. But! My all time favorite photo from their session is the family picture walking through the lavender. The sun was getting lower in the sky, the lighting was nearing perfection, and all the colors are out there absolutely killing it. Wearing light colors in a field of purple and green had a huge punch factor in the very best way! I loved it so much that I listed it first – so we can all look at it a little longer.

Definitely recommend these outfit choices for this location! Light colors just bouncing off of the purples and greens are the way to go! During sessions, I often giggle or get a little too excited about how beautiful the shot is….and people just don’t believe me, I guess. That leads me to the next part…

The funniest moment to me was the reveal session. After I showed them a slideshow of their insanely gorgeous family, they said, “Wow, they look so good! I just didn’t think they’d turn out so well.” This is not an uncommon thing for me to hear. So, if you’re thinking, “Yeah, but my family isn’t that cute” or “Well, we just aren’t them, so our pictures won’t look that good”, I am here to tell you…ahem…in the kindest way, that you’re 110% wrong. I actually love it when I hear phrases of surprise. I always want you to love your photos more than you thought you would!

To the Sharples Family, thank you so much for allowing me to capture these gorgeous and sweet memories for you!

Check out Belle Lavande! They’re amazing and have wonderful products. If you’d like a session here, let me know and I can surely hook you up!

Check out my Top 5 Photo Locations near Ann Arbor HERE.

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Spunky and Sweet Home Newborn Session | Ann Arbor

We started this session off in all the right ways. We had some amazing toddler energy playing hide and seek, marshmallows for bribery (WHY have I never thought of this?! No fearing chocolate stains), and the money shot family picture within the first few minutes. Way to go, guys!

Reid – most patient dad ever. I don’t say that lightly because I have seen my own husband lose his mind and then vow to never do family pictures again. Huge props to the dad of the year over here! I loved chatting with Cass while we were waiting for sweet Collins to eat and sleep again. Such an amazing woman, mom, and example! So grateful I got to hear her story – it’s truly inspiring.

Titan was the champion of the day – he was so good for so long! It’s not easy being the big brother and having to listen for so long, but he was seriously a rock star. Lucy, I could kiss her for giving us such fun moments and some smiles! Those are triumphant moments for me when you get the shot you want, but better because it has all the personality too. Honest – they’re my favorites!

And Collins, oh my goodness, so perfect. She has such a beautiful, petite little face and was so good at opening her little hands up for me. She can also sleep through anything! We moved her so many times, unwrapped and wrapped her up, had bouncing going on all around and she was a dream.

Donakey Family, thank you so much for allowing me to capture these beautiful moments for you! Your family is so sweet, and it was great getting to know you guys better. Can’t wait to see where life takes you and all the exciting things you get to do with your fun family!

Enjoy this little peek into this sweet newborn session!

See another newborn session HERE!

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Tecumseh Park Extended Family Session

Amber and I chatted about this session about a month prior and it didn’t look like things were going to work out. Their family was going to be here in Michigan for Thanksgiving and I was leaving to Ohio – with no overlap. It’s always such a busy time. I was so sad to miss them!

Turned out that everyone was staying one day later than we had originally thought and we got to meet in the morning before anyone flew out that night. So glad everything worked out! It was super chilly, so we were grateful for cars close by as we warmed people up in between groupings. They were super glad to get warm and head for breakfast as soon as it was over – they deserved it!

The lake at Tecumseh Park is called “The Pit”. What? That doesn’t even make sense. It’s so pretty- even in the winter! I was kind of nervous that having trees with no leaves in the background was going to be a little lackluster since only brown sticks would be reflected in the water, but I am so glad that it’s not the case at all. This “pit” is so pretty that it makes everything look beautiful!

I love getting all the family groupings and showing every stage their in. We had it all: the fun and exciting dating stage, the almost having your first baby stage, the 9 month adorable baby cheeks and young parents stage, and the two slightly older kids family stage. It was so fun to pause everyone right now and have it all done at the same time. Everyone was so fun to work with and so willing to freeze for me! ❤️

Hill Family, thank you so much for allowing me to capture these amazing memories for you! Love your family and it was so fun getting to know more of you!

Enjoy this little peek into this beautiful extended family session!

See another extended family session here!

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Chelsea Clock Tower Family Session | Christie Family

Here I am again…going to talk about the weather. You know, being a photographer is part weather forecaster anyway. It was the weekend before Halloween, which can either be terribly cold or beautiful. Luckily for us it was right in between and leaning on the side of wonderful. We started a little earlier in the day because we had some trunk or treating to do an hour later and I’m so glad we did. We needed the sun to warm Lilah up, so we were grateful it was warm in the sunny spots. She was an absolute trooper braving the cold shade for a few minutes here and there before she zipped away to do some more sunbathing.

So much fun and energy happening here! We had Tyler, who was so excited to get his picture taken (much to the surprise of parents); Amelia and Maddy, who barely needed any instruction because they’re just that good; Zach, who didn’t want to be there, but warmed up with the idea of candy and smiled for ice cream (all about bribery over here!); and Lilah, who was zooming in and out of photos like nobody’s business and such a good sport!

Last, but not least, Jennifer and Ryan who were so much fun! After we got past some -what we laughed about and called “pained expressions”- were lighting up the town! Seriously, I love the way these two look at each other and Jen has the very best smile!

Christie family, I love you guys! Thanks for being such good sports on so many levels!

Enjoy this little peek into this sweet family session!

See another family session HERE!

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Sweet Newborn Session At Home | Ann Arbor

I’ve been so excited for this session for so long! All the planning that goes into new babies and all the anticipation makes it all so exciting. Wondering what they’ll look like and the details associated with a new person you haven’t met yet. Will they be a good sleeper, how will mom feel, how will the kids take to a new baby, how will he do for the session, etc? So many questions you can’t really answer until your thrown in the mix of it all. Just going on a hope and a prayer that everything will go well.

I kid you not, this baby is a literal sleeping gift from heaven! Our session was almost 4 hours long and he slept through the entire thing! Woke up at the three and a half hour mark to eat, but was so calm and wonderful for every unwrapping, every little movement, changing positions, changing people – everything. He smiles in his sleep constantly and was such a good sleeper that we didn’t even have an opportunity for any yawning pictures. He is, for sure, very easy to love.

Enjoy this little peek into this sweet home newborn family session!

Favorites:

How in the world do you choose favorite photos from baby sessions? I honestly just love them all, but if I had to choose… I swoon over the three kids together. All tight and snuggly! It’s like a parent’s whole world in a single frame. Gentle and loving and perfect. As a close runner up…would be baby details. Their fingers and toes, tiny little ears, and sweet profiles. Gosh, I love them! I also adore little baby hands with their parents’ because it gives scale to such a tiny hands. The newborn stage is fleeting and I love things like that to keep it on pause.

Squires Family, I can’t get over your sweet kids and how much they love their new little baby brother. You make some B-E-A-UTIFUL kiddos! Super huge congratulations! Let me know if you ever need a stand in baby snuggler because I’m always available to come help out.

See another family session HERE!

The post Sweet Newborn Session At Home | Ann Arbor first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

I also run into Anna every day at the library. I’m kidding, we don’t go that often, but it seems like our children run out of books at the same times. 🙂 It’s always fun to run into good people who always make you smile, so thank you Rosko kiddos for being avid readers! (Anna, you and I should start a book club so we could possibly read a book! 😉)

Dreamy Family Of Five Late Fall Family Photos

Peak week in Michigan is the busiest week of the year, for good reason. It’s gorgeous! After that week it can be a little tricky to find a good location that still has leaves on the tree instead of on the ground. Luckily, they have this gorgeous open field in front of their house and we picked the one spot that made it look like we were still getting all the good stuff Michigan had two weeks prior. Give me some light colored, tall grasses and some color in the background and we’re in heaven!

There is nothing I love more than two year old energy coupled with older siblings who can really put on a show. My hats off to these older brothers for getting their sweet sisters to smile and laugh. Seriously, just the sweetest faces and I love being able to look at a picture and know everything that went into making it happen. ❤️

Also, can we just talk about these couples photos! I am dying! We missed these shots last year and I was so sad, so we made it a point to get them this year and oh…I am so glad! Some of my favorites!

Rosko family, thank you, thank you! It’s so good to see you again and again. I had so much fun with you guys this year and love seeing how personalities for pictures change or stay the same. I have so much fun spending time with you guys! See you at the library! 🙂

See another family session HERE!

The post Dreamy Family Of Five Late Fall Family Photos first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Seriously bouncing up and down in my chair that I finally get to share this Tecumseh Park family session with you! You know how, when you need to write about your day, there just isn’t much to tell? Well, there are so many fun things to tell about this session.

We had some early morning mishaps and unfortunate planning on my part, but it all worked out in the best way! We were freezing, but by how beautiful these photos came out, I think maybe even the kids will forget how frigid we all felt. It. Was. So. Cold! My hand warmers didn’t do a thing. The kids were SOOOO good! All things were stacked against them, but they were amazing!

Freezing Beautiful Tecumseh Park Family Session

The Problem

Where to even begin. Okay, first, I’m not from Michigan. I’m from Utah and I really like going back home because I know the ins and outs of every street in most of the cities (they’re just all jumbled together, so that’s easy to do). My goal is to feel the same way about Michigan one day, so I often practice driving places I’ve been to a couple times without my GPS so that I can really learn where I am and where I’m going.

There I was, driving down to Hidden Lake Gardens at 7:20 am. I almost turned down four of the wrong roads before resorting to the fact that I should probably just trust Google with my morning so I would arrive on time. Input Hidden Lake Gardens. Problem arises: Hidden Lake Gardens doesn’t open until nine and our session is at 8:00. Not gonna lie…I kinda freaked out. I started talking to myself to try and calm me down.

What to do

I called Hannah, trying to sound as relaxed as possible, but truly feeling frazzled on the inside – I don’t live in Tecumseh. I have no idea where to go or what is available let alone what will work as the sun is coming up. Hannah is so kind and was so understanding (makes sense since she comes from an insanely nice family), but she wasn’t quite sure of another location.

Ok guys, seriously panicking. I did a quick google search of local parks and I decided Tecumseh Park looked the most promising by it’s absolutely terrible google image, but it was far better than the other park pictures posted. I got there a few minutes early and OH! The relief! It is gorgeous! The trees around the pond were heaven sent: so many colors, and would block the harsh light that was sure to happen if we got started a little too late and I’m glad because all this light and reflection on the water – I can’t get over it!

The Session

I loved every ounce of energy that these guys had! We got some silly and sweet. Isaac pulled some of the funniest faces. Emmalyn and her monkey…oh my goodness. She is so sweet! Walter protected his bubbles in his pocket (thank goodness for bubbles) and those bubbles saved us more than once. By our last pose, Walter had taken off his shoes and his little toes were freezing. He was done. But! Bubbles and candy as bribery totally won out and we got the perfect up close family shot!

And Leo. Oh Leo, please come snuggle me every day. I don’t know how his face wasn’t freezing off, but he was such a dream. The very best baby in the most freezing weather. I know my 2 months old wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes.

Hannah and Sam, you are such great parents and your kids are beyond wonderful! Thanks for braving the cold and working so hard so early in the morning! You have such a beautiful family!

Enjoy this little peek into this sweet family session!

See another family session here!

The post Freezing Beautiful Tecumseh Park Family Session first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

This session was so much fun for me for a few reasons. One, it was WARM! Oh my goodness, you have no idea how relieved we all were. Sometimes I feel like I’m turning 100 years old talking about the temperature outside, but the struggle is real! It is very important when you have little kids. We thought this was going to be our third year of freezing family pictures, but we sneaked away having zero tears and mildly chilly fingers.

Show-stopping Family Pictures at Lillie Park

Next up, we have all these adorable kids growing up and showing off how cute they are. I even had to include a silly little sniffy face of little Aidan. His facial expressions were totally cracking me up. I have a whole outtake reel that will make me laugh if I ever need a quick pick me up.

Lastly, their family grew by one dog this year and she is absolutely adorable! I like it when other people get dogs because I get to have all the benefits without having to take them outside in the cold myself. I imagine this is what grand parenting feels like – getting all the perks and leaving the harder times to parents? Clark is the best big brother to siblings and his sweet little Maple. Elsie was such a cutie and was laughing so hard at anything her dad was doing to make them smile.

I can’t believe how much Lillie Park changes over the course of two weeks in the fall. So many more golds and fall colors for this session than the week before. So many beautiful things going on!

Hanna Family, you know I love you! This was the best, am I right! So low stress and we had a great time (maybe even Brandon did too?) 🙂 Thanks for letting me make a fool of myself in front of you every year. The potty noises really won Aiden over this year and I’m glad he found me funny for an hour.

Enjoy this little peek into this beautiful family session !

See the Hanna’s last year session HERE!

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We originally had plans to have this session at Hudson Mills, but the time crunch is real when the sun goes down so early and getting off work happens around 5 o’clock. I had just posted a photo of my neighborhood pond when Lauren texted me to see if we could change the session location. Turns out that we both live in the same neighborhood and switching locations was such a great idea!

The colors were incredible! It was so nice to have home close by for some last minute doggy drop offs.

Colorful Fall Neighborhood Family Session | Dexter Michigan

We had so much fun getting all warmed up for some epic family photos. Julian started out very shy. However, by the end we were friends enough that we had fun playing games, jumping in the grass, and playing follow the leader. He got to pull his parents all over the place.

One of the funniest moments was telling Anthony that it would be great for a smile to come out. I was standing so far away from them when I told him and I heard, so quietly, something like “Oh man, I didn’t think she could see that.” I also love how much Lauren adores her family. I knew beforehand that she loves them so fiercely, but it is so fun to get in hugs, tickles, Eskimo kisses, or some real, beautiful kissing pictures (always a fav!).

Lauren, Anthony and Julian, thank you so much hanging out with me! You are so fun to be with and I’m so glad we could get some updated family photos for you! Five years goes way too fast, am I right?!

Enjoy this little peek into this sweet family session!

See another family session HERE!

The post Colorful Fall Neighborhood Family Photos | Dexter Michigan first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.