Storybook walks make the perfect outdoor adventure for kids to engage in literacy and for families to spend time together outside. If you’ve never been before, pages of children’s picture books are displayed at several stations throughout the trail, making it a fun hands-on learning experience for children.
My family loves visiting our local storybook trail- shout out to Baldwin Library’s story book trail at Beverly Park! My little guy can’t wait to see what the new book is each month and we always have fun walking (mostly running) from “page to page.” The best part is that most Metro Detroit storywalks are located in local parks. So pack a picnic, enjoy a good book, and have fun exploring these local storybook trails with your littles.
Auburn Hills Public Library Story Walk (Auburn Hills)
Location: 3400 E Seyburn Dr, Auburn Hills
Additional Family Fun: Stroll over to Civic Center Park to explore the nature trails, a fishing pond, disc-golf course, play structures, and picnic tables.
Beverly Park Story Book Trail (Beverly Hills)
Location: Beverly Hills Village Park, 18801 Beverly Rd, Beverly Hills
Additional Family Fun: Playground, disc golf course, sports fields and two minute drive to Douglas Evans Nature Preserve.
Story Walk at E.L. Johnson Nature Center (Bloomfield Hills)
Location: 3325 Franklin Rd, Bloomfield Hills
Additional Family Fun: Explore over 2 miles of trails where you’ll find animal wildlife habitats and an 1800s homestead where kids will love playing on a natural see-saw and tree swing.
Heritage Park Story Trail (Canton)
Location: 1150 S Canton Center Rd, Canton
Additional Family Fun: Playground, walking track, and pond. Please note the splash pad is not open this year.
Baker Woods Preserve StoryBook Trail (Chelsea)
Location: 11914 Trinkle Rd, Dexter
Additional Family Fun: Stock up on trail snacks and visit Dexter Blueberry Farm.
Clarkston Independence District Library Storywalk (Clarkston)
Location: 6495 Clarkston Road, Clarkston (trail begins behind the library at the entrance to the woods)
Additional Family Fun: Take a 5 minute drive to Independence Oaks park and visit the beach, go on a boat, play archery or take a hike.
Springfield Township Library Storybook Trail (Davisburg)
Location: 12000 Davisburg Rd., Davisburg
Additional Family Fun: Explore the playground or baseball fields at the end of the trail or hop in the car for a short drive to Springfield Oaks County Park which has a beautiful historic barn and walking trails.
Highland Township Public Library Storywalk (Highland)
Location: Highland Township Public Library, 444 Beach Farm Circle, Highland
Additional Family Fun: 15 minutes south is Proud Lake Recreation Area with nature trails, fishing docks and boat rentals.
Livonia Civic Center Library StoryWalk (Livonia)
Location: 32777 Five Mile Road, Livonia (located behind the library).
Additional Family Fun: Get ice cream across the street from the Handi-Dip or take a dip in one of the city’s public pools (reservations required in 2020).
Red Oaks Nature Center Storybook Trail (Madison Heights)
Location: 30300 Hales St, Madison Heights
Additional Family Fun: Nature Center play area, educational children’s classes, paved trails, and picnic tables
Beaver Creek Storywalk (Sterling Heights)
Location: 34100 King Richard Drive, Sterling Heights
Additional Family Fun: Picnic area, baseball diamond, playground, toddler play area, tennis court
Troy Public Library Storybook Trail (Troy)
Location: Raintree Park, 3775 John R. Rd, Troy
Additional Family Fun: The storybook trail is located on a paved, stroller-friendly trail. The Park also has a playground with an accessible toddler play structure and separate play structure for older kids along with a disc golf course.
Salem-South Lyon Library Storybook Trail (South Lyon)
Location: Salem-South Lyon Library, 9800 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, MI 48174
Additional Family Fun: The storybook trail is located in the back of the library in a wooded area. More great things to check out in South Lyon is McHattie Park and Carousel Acres
Photo credit: Overton Park Conservancy
