Hayley Mills (9) and Zoey Mills (7) Enjoying the doll house at the Port Huron Public Library. They frequent the Library every few weeks. They are big into reading and playing with the fun activities at the library. Heather Burt
Explore nature on the hiking and biking trail on Keewahdin Road across from Fort Gratiot Middle School Heather Burt
Studio 1219 offers lots of art activities for all ages. Heather Burt
A young family enjoys open swim at the YMCA Heather Burt
Natalie Turner age 9, of Port Huron. Looking for books to read for the March of Dimes Read-a-thon. Heather Burt
There’s no better time of year than spring, filled with the sights and sounds of the new season. Birds are chirping, bees are buzzing, and kids across St. Clair County join in their annual spring break chorus of “I’m bored!” This spring, however, there’s plenty for children of all ages to do, and we’ve compiled a list of activities, most of them free, all of them ideal for a boredom-free St. Clair County staycation.
For the Little Bookworm
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Your local branch of the St. Clair County Library System
According to Tarri Ryan, lead of children’s library services, each of the St. Clair County Library System’s 11 branches will be hosting a range of events and activities during spring break, including sewing classes and push-pin poetry for teens, family storytime, Crazy 8’s (a math-based club), yarn art projects, a LEGO Block Party, and of course, access to tens of thousands of books for kids of all ages. For information about the activities your local branch will be offering this spring break, visit http://www.sccl.lib.mi.us and tap the calendar in the right corner, then filter results to show only the events at your location.
For the Budding Artist
Studio 1219 at 1219 Military St. in Port Huron
Whether your little one likes to sketch, paint, or throw pottery, there’s a class at Port Huron’s Studio 1219 designed just for them. During spring break (and all through the spring), Studio 1219 offers “after school art” from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays for only $5. Each week, kids will experiment with a new medium or project, expanding their artistic horizons. No worries if your Tuesdays are already too busy for an art class: Studio 1219 is also offering a one-time spring bowl clay class on Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. for $35. Register for the Tuesday “after school art” class or the spring bowl clay class at studio1219.com or by calling (810) 984-2787.
For the Nature Lover
Bay to Bridge and Wadhams to Avoca trails
St. Clair County has miles and miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails, and what better time to hike, bike, or walk them than in spring? That’s when the trails come alive, but that’s also when they’re at their most muddy, so be sure to wear your boots! One activity idea: bring a scavenger hunt checklist and see if your little one can spot a bird’s nest, green frog, fresh grass shoots, and so on. For more information and maps of the Bay to Bridge and Wadhams to Avoca (and other) trails, visit http://stclaircounty.org/offices/parks.
For the Daredevil
St. Clair County’s Skate Parks
There are several skate parks in St. Clair County. Two of them are especially rad, one in Marysville on Busha Highway (just south of Gratiot Avenue) and the other inside Port Huron’s Optimist Park (on Whipple Street). Remember, it’s always a good idea for kids of all ages to wear wrist guards, knee pads, and helmets.
For the Mini Mermaid
YMCA of the Blue Water Area at the corner of Third and Griswold in downtown Port Huron
The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is guaranteed family fun all year round, but during spring break, they make a special 
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effort to be even more exciting for kids of all ages, interests, and ability levels. For the mini mermaid, that little girl you just can’t keep out of the water, the Y offers various swim classes, focused as much on fun as they are on fitness, safety, and confidence-building. For more information on which classes and activities are available, and when, visit bluewaterymca.com.
For the Future Ten-Pin Master
Blue Water Area Bowling Alleys (there are several!)
It’s athletic, it’s fun, and it’s way more interactive than a video game--why not take the kids bowling? There are several bowling alleys in St. Clair County, including the Voyageur in St. Clair, Viking Lanes in Marysville, and the Bowl-O-Drome in Port Huron. Check with your local bowling alley for open bowl times; most have special hours for kids.
For the Future Action Hero
Sperry’s Moviehouse in Port Huron and Riverside Cinemas in Marine City
These are fantastic places for kids to see a movie, and this spring break, there are quite a few family-friendly films kids will love (at low matinee prices, no less): The LEGO Batman Movie, Disney’s live-action reboot of Beauty and the Beast, the Power Rangers, and Ice Age Collision Course, among others. For showtimes, ticket prices, and more, visit Sperry’s Moviehouse at sperrysmoviehouse.com and Riverside Cinemas at riversidecinemas.com.
For the Treasure Hunter
A real-world treasure hunt across St. Clair County
Geocaching is a free real-world treasure hunt, featuring hidden containers of all sizes (some with prizes inside), requiring a GPS-enabled device (Iike a smart phone) to find them. There are thousands of these hidden “caches” scattered across St. Clair County, many in parks and along trails and in other public places. Some are simple to find, others are devilishly difficult. Start your family’s geocaching adventure at geocaching.com or by downloading the free geocaching app to your smartphone.
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