Come fun, come all - Entertainment options for the Sandwich Generation

For members of the Sandwich Generation, those who are caring for their aging parents while raising their children, finding enjoyable entertainment options can be tricky. Do you go somewhere your parents will enjoy or somewhere designed just for the kids? It can be difficult to find middle ground that is fun for everyone.

With summer in full swing and a restless household, to celebrate National Sandwich Generation month this July, Arbor Hospice suggests visiting some of these family-friendly venues for a pleasant day for the whole family:

Take me out to the ball game!

Comerica Park offers amenities suited for both ends of the age spectrum. It can be easy to catch a Detroit Tigers game, as family-friendly Comerica Park accommodates guests who are not as nimble with handicap accessible drop off zones located at Gates B & D. The Tigers also provide wheelchairs for transportation to and from seating areas and employees to escort patrons in wheelchairs to their seats.

Comerica Park offers many kid-friendly attractions, including The Carousel in the Big Cat Court and the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel in the Brushfire Grill. Kids can also test their skills at the batting cages and speed pitch located on the main concourse.

Blast from the Past

America’s greatest history destination, The Henry Ford in Dearborn, is accommodating and entertaining for guests of all ages. With its many exhibits, and the adjacent Greenfield Village and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Henry Ford brings history to life. The history may inspire conversation between generations by giving grandparents an opportunity to share life and family stories with the kids. Young and old will enjoy a ride on one of the Weiser Railroad’s historic steam or diesel locomotives, the omnibus shuttle or in a vintage Model T, all available in the Village. 

If you are not sure a museum will entice the kids, there are many kid-friendly options available to make learning fun at Tinker.Hack.Invent. Saturdays, which offer kids the opportunity to learn with hands-on and how-to workshops the last Saturday of every month. The events are completely handicap accessible with drop off zones located at the front of the Museum and the Village ticket building. Wheelchairs and motorized scooters are available for rent, as well as strollers and wagons for the kids.

Looking for other ways to spend some quality time with grandma, grandpa and the kids? Consider these great options:

·         Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum – located at 220 E. Ann St. in Ann Arbor, the museum provides more than 250 interactive exhibits designed to fuel youngsters’ imagination. Grandma and Grandpa are sure to have fun watching their grandkids’ creativity blossom.

·         Car shows & cruises – In metro Detroit, summertime is prime time for showcasing classic cars. Look no further than a local restaurant parking lot to admire rides of yesteryear or drop by Ypsilanti for Depot Town Cruise Nights where classic cars, hot rods and customs take over Cross Street (between Huron and River Streets) every Thursday night through September. To find more car shows or cruises near you, visit www.cruisnews.com.

·         Drive-ins – For dinner with a nostalgic twist, visit a local drive-in restaurant where the servers greet you car side, and dinner is served through the driver’s side window. Drive-ins are an easy and fun way to get the family out of the house. With independent drive-in locations in cities throughout metro Detroit, including Berkley, Clawson, Gibraltar, Lincoln Park and Walled Lake you’re never too far from a family dinner out. For a modern drive-n experience visit a Sonic or A&W restaurant near you. Visit www.awrestaurants.com or www.sonicdrivein.com to find the nearest location.

·         Huron-Clinton Metroparks – With 13 beautiful parks located throughout metro Detroit, featuring ponds, rivers and streams for fishing, plenty of shade and shelter for picnicking and trails perfect for a relaxing stroll, the Metroparks know no age-limit when it comes to family fun. Kids can burn off excess energy while grandparents take in the natural surroundings. For a location near you, visit www.metroparks.com.

About Arbor Hospice, The Arbor Hospice Foundation and Arbor Palliative Care
Since 1984 Arbor Hospice, headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, has been committed to providing quality, compassionate care for those experiencing life-limiting illnesses throughout southeast Michigan. Arbor Hospice is integrated into the community with the help of its experienced staff and caring volunteers through its certified hospice and palliative care services, inpatient hospice facility, grief support services and community education programs. For more information, visit www.arborhospice.org or call (888) 992-2273.

With offices in Ann Arbor, Monroe, Plymouth and Woodhaven, Arbor Hospice serves patients and families in conjunction with:

·         The Arbor Hospice Foundation, which provides financial and philanthropic support to advance the mission of Arbor Hospice. Founded in 2002, The Arbor Hospice Foundation strives to meet the ongoing needs of patients and families served by Arbor Hospice through the generosity of individual donors, corporate partners and foundation support. To make a tax-deductible contribution or for more information visit www.arborhospice.org/foundation-donation/donate-today or call (734) 794-5338.

·         Arbor Palliative Care, a consultative service of Arbor Hospice founded in 2012, is designed to provide comfort care to people who are not hospice eligible or who choose not to enroll in hospice. Physicians and nurse practitioners, who specialize in palliative or comfort care, work with patients’ physicians to assess and address pain and other distressing symptoms associated with advanced illness. Patients who are at least 18 years of age with uncontrolled symptoms are eligible for this in-home care. For more information, e-mail info@arborpalliativecare.org or call (734) 794-5678 or toll free (855) 249-5678.