Take to the skies (while staying close to the ground), here are the best places to inspire and amaze your plane lovers in metro Detroit and beyond.

Yankee Air Museum (Belleville)

Through aircraft displays and precious artifacts, the Yankee Air Museum teaches guests about aviation technology and the importance of flight through past wars and and the emergence of commercial aviation in the United States. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for kids. The museum is open Tuesdays thru Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and from 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

Selfridge Military Air Museum (Harrison)

The Selfridge Military Air Museum showcases the heritage and traditions of the Michigan Air National Guard and Selfridge Air National Guard with over two dozen military planes and vehicles on display. Admission is $5 for kids and $10 for adults. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm.

Outdoor Adventure Center (Detroit)

Experience the high in the sky feeling at the INDOOR Outdoor Adventure Center. Climb aboard an airplane and see how the DNR uses planes to fight wildfires, monitor and manage wildlife like moose and elk, and find trees being damaged by invasive forest pests. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. The OAC is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The Henry Ford (Dearborn)

Aviation is at the heart of innovation and that makes it a big part of The Henry Ford complex. Inside The Henry Ford Museum you’ll find the Heroes of the Sky exhibit that takes you through the timeline of early flights to present day with hands-on displays and entertainment. Greenfield Village is home to the house of the Wright Brothers and showcases a fun re-enactment of their grand accomplishment. The Henry Ford is open daily.

AirZoo (Kalamazoo)

When you’re ready for a road trip head to the AirZoo. The interactive museum feels like an amusement park with indoor rides and flght simulators. Explore aviation models from the past and future, used for commercial and military purposes. Walk from the main museum along a trail of plane displays to a hanger with mutliple planes being restored for use and preservation. The museum is open daily and a Michigan must.

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