Last updated October 5, 2026 · ranked from 6,736 Google reviews · How we rank
This list ranks 17 things to do in and around Bay City, MI, led by Wenonah Park at World Friendship Shell, Little Builders Play Yard and Downtown Bay City. Together they have 6,736 Google reviews; Little Builders Play Yard has the highest Google rating on the list at 5.0. Every place on the list is in Bay City, MI. Rankings weigh Google rating, review volume, how complete and current each listing is, and our own notes on each place.
A riverside walk, a picnic and a concert all have a place at Wenonah Park at World Friendship Shell in Bay City, MI. Its combination of a waterfront promenade, an amphitheater for concerts and other events, and a children’s play area earns it the No. 1 spot. Picnic tables, public restrooms and free parking support everyday visits, while wheelchair-accessible entrances, parking and seating broaden access. The compact green space also welcomes dogs and holds a 4.6-star Google rating from 1,437 reviews.
Riverside promenade
Concert amphitheater
Children’s play area
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Digging, building, and imaginative play put Little Builders Play Yard at No. 2, supported by a 5-star Google rating from 25 reviews. This indoor playground at 519 Washington Ave in Bay City, MI centers on a sandbox designed for children ages 1–8, with space for parents to relax while kids explore. Open daily, it offers free lot and street parking, plus a wheelchair-accessible entrance and restroom. Those practical features make it a useful family outing focused on hands-on play for younger children.
A historic district with shops, eateries and places to explore gives Downtown Bay City, MI its No. 3 spot. The mix supports a visit built around browsing and dining rather than a single stop. One reviewer called the town “quaint and pretty,” and the listing holds a 4.6 Google rating from 305 reviews. Free lot and street parking, wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance add practical reasons to visit, while children are welcome too.
Historic downtown district
Shopping and dining
Free parking
“We had no idea this town was so quaint and pretty!”
Riverwalk access, picnic facilities and room to play earn Bigelow Park the No. 4 spot among things to do in Bay City, MI. A pavilion, picnic tables and barbecue grill support an outdoor meal, while slides, swings and grassy space give children places to play. The boat dock adds another waterfront feature. Free parking, public restrooms and a wheelchair-accessible entrance make visits practical, and dogs are welcome. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Riverside walks, sports and picnic outings give Veterans Memorial Park its No. 5 spot among things to do in Bay City, MI. The grounds combine walkways with a marina, an arboretum and a concert stage, while a baseball field and volleyball court offer space for games. Families have slides, swings, picnic tables and barbecue grills available. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the park also provides public restrooms, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking.
Riverside walkways
Sports fields
Picnic tables
“Needs a little cleaning from animals waste. But other than that, looks great for children to play at!”
Picnic tables, a public restroom and a welcome for children and dogs make Wenonah Park Pavilion a practical choice for a park outing in Bay City, MI. Those amenities, along with a 4.7-star Google rating from 45 reviews, earn it the No. 6 spot. Located at 103 Center Ave, the park has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking. Daily hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. leave room for an early visit or an evening picnic.
Wetland views from a boardwalk give Ted Putz Nature Area its main draw, earning it rank 7 among things to do in Bay City, MI. The four-acre park overlooks the Saginaw River floodplain, while reviewers also point to birdwatching, dog walks and a nine-hole disc golf course suited to learning the fundamentals. Dogs and children are welcome, and wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance add practical conveniences. Its Google rating is 4.4 out of 5 from 141 reviews.
Wetland boardwalk views
Nine-hole disc golf
Dogs welcome
“This nine-hole disc golf course offers a pleasant experience, featuring notable tree formations. While not extensive in size, it provides an excellent environment for individuals to grasp the fundamentals of disc golf. The convenient pre…”
A duck pond and tree-lined grounds give Carroll Park a setting for an outdoor break in Bay City, MI. Dating to 1875, the park earns rank 8 by combining places to picnic with tennis courts and a playground with slides and swings. A reviewer describes a walkway around the pond with animal statues, adding another reason to explore. The pavilion, barbecue grills and public restrooms support longer outings, while wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance provide practical access.
Duck pond walkway
Picnic tables and grills
Tennis and playground
“Wonderful park! Lots of shade, a cute little walkway around the pond with animal statues, and a playground”
An outdoor meal gives a visit to Kantzler Memorial Arboretum a simple focus. This park at 701 John F Kennedy Dr in Bay City, MI earns rank 9 for its picnic tables, suitability for family picnics, and wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking. Children are welcome, making it a practical stop for a picnic with kids. Its Google rating of 4.7 from 20 reviews adds positive visitor feedback to those concrete amenities.
For a skating stop in Bay City, MI, Infinity Skate Park earns rank 10 with a dedicated activity setting and a 4.3-star Google rating from 77 reviews. Of those reviewers, 52 gave it five stars. Located at 413 Marquette Ave, the park welcomes children and has wheelchair-accessible parking. Its listed hours are open around the clock every day, giving visitors flexibility when fitting a skate park visit into their plans.
At 101 3rd St in Bay City, MI, Third Street Waterfall Park earns rank 11 as a park stop with practical access for families and visitors with dogs. It welcomes children and dogs and has a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Daily hours run from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., allowing for morning or evening visits. Free lot and street parking are listed alongside paid lot parking. Its Google rating of 4.4 out of 5 across 46 reviews adds positive visitor feedback.
Picnic tables and a child-welcoming setting give Battery Park a straightforward role in a day out in Bay City, MI. The park at 501 Center Ave earns the No. 12 spot for those practical features, along with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking. It is open 24 hours daily, allowing flexibility when planning a visit. Its Google rating of 4.7 out of 5, based on nine reviews, adds positive visitor feedback to those concrete amenities.
An outing with your dog earns a place on the itinerary at Bay County Dog Park in Bay City, MI. Ranked 13 for its dog-focused recreation and practical amenities, the park has picnic tables, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking. One reviewer praises its double-sided setup and ample room for large and small dogs to run. Located at 1008-1098 Livingston St, it also holds a 4.3-star Google rating from 225 reviews.
Room to run
Picnic tables
Wheelchair-accessible parking
“Closed aug 4-8 for the fair. Location is north of New construction.”
Families and dog owners have a park option at 202 E Fisher St in Bay City, MI. Ramsey Park earns rank 14 for welcoming children and dogs, providing a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking, and keeping long daily hours. It opens at 6 a.m. every day and closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Friday, with Saturday hours extending to 11:30 p.m. Its Google rating is 4.3 out of 5 from eight reviews.
Playground time and a picnic can share one stop at Nate Doan Park, earning it rank 15 among things to do in Bay City, MI. At 105 E Indiana St, the park has slides and swings for children, plus picnic tables and a barbecue grill for a meal you bring along. Dogs are welcome, and wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance support arrival. Daily hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. leave room for morning visits or an evening outing.
Slides, swings, and space for a picnic give Birney Park its place at No. 16 among things to do in Bay City, MI. Families can combine time in the children’s play area with a meal at the picnic tables, and a barbecue grill is available. Dogs are welcome, too. The park has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking, with daily hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Its appeal rests on these practical amenities, though supplied reviews raise concerns about upkeep.
Slides and swings
Picnic tables
Dogs welcome
“The city has revamped Birney park over the years to make it look better. Just not the best area nor much to do.”
Tent sites and RV hookups give Outdoor Adventures its camping-focused place at No. 17 among things to do in Bay City, MI. Its listed facilities include electric, water and sewage connections for recreational vehicles, plus public showers, a restroom and on-site parking. Dogs are welcome, and wheelchair-accessible features include the entrance, parking and restroom. These practical provisions earn it a spot for travelers planning a camping stay. A camping fee applies, with checks and debit cards accepted.
Tent camping sites
RV utility hookups
Dogs welcome
“STOP CALLING ME. ITS BEEN YEARS. IM NOT MATTHEW. WHAT POSSIBLE MEMBERSHIP COULD YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IVE NEVER HAD ONE!!!”
Ratings and review counts shown are Google ratings, displayed with attribution.
How we ranked this list
Each thing to do is scored on a Bayesian-weighted rating (its rating adjusted for how many reviews it has compared with the Bay City category average), how recently we verified its details, and how complete its listing is. Scores and ranks are stored, so the order only changes when the underlying data changes.
Where can I browse gifts and home decor in Bay City, MI?
My Secret Garden at 600 Saginaw St, Bay City, MI sells gifts, home decor, clothing, and kitchen goods. Reviewers also mention candles, jewelry, and packaged dips. The shop occupies a former Studebaker dealership.
Which location has the higher Google rating?
Saginaw Bay Trading Company has 4.9 stars from 92 reviews. My Secret Garden has 4.7 stars from 460 reviews, giving it five times as many reviews.
Are these places open on weekends?
Both My Secret Garden and Saginaw Bay Trading Company list Saturday hours of 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday hours of 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Their Monday-through-Friday hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where can I find event updates for Saginaw Bay Trading Company?
Follow My Secret Garden on Facebook for updates about its event space, Saginaw Bay Trading Company, at 601 Washington Ave, Bay City, MI.
Do both locations offer wheelchair access?
Yes. My Secret Garden and Saginaw Bay Trading Company both list wheelchair-accessible entrances and wheelchair-accessible parking. Saginaw Bay Trading Company also lists a unisex restroom.
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