Summer Fun: Enjoy Pure Michigan

Editor's note: This story is part of a 10-part series about how to keep your children busy during summer vacation. Click here for more ideas in the series.

People like to complain about Michigan – the winter weather, the lousy economy, etc. – but during our glorious summers, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more family-friendly place.

Whether you and your kids like to spend time outside or have a penchant for arts and culture, there are myriad opportunities for fun.

Michigan has more than 98 state parks and Oakland County has 11 county parks that offer a variety of options including camping, canoeing, bike and boat rentals, golfing, water parks and special events.

Before you head out for a day of fun in the sun, make sure you pack some park essentials:

• Picnic lunch or snacks
• Plenty of water
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent

If you prefer a bit of culture, DestinationOakland.com offers a plethora of nearby attractions that can provide great summer learning opportunities for kids, including:

• Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills
• Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills
• Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills

The state's travel arm, Pure Michigan, also has compiled a list of attractions in southeast Michigan, such as Detroit Children's Museum or Laser Quest in Madison Heights.

If none of those ideas tickle your family's fancy, what about a good old-fashioned trip to the ballpark?

The Detroit Tigers offer fireworks nights and $5 deals on tickets, meals and parking – how can you beat that?

Go Tigers! Go Michigan!