Heading to Farmington for Founders Festival? Why Not Make it a Day Trip?

We're joining Patch sites all around metro Detroit in a project called Patch Passport, a series of articles that highlight the must-see places and must-experience activities in our communities.

All summer long, we'll offer up a weekly daytrip guide to another southeast Michigan destination. 

Walk Downtown

A beautiful streetscape makes strolling through downtown Farmington a relaxing experience, especially in the spring and summer when flowers are in bloom. Parking is free, and plenty of benches provide an opportunity to relax and soak up the small town atmosphere. 

While you're walking, browse the colorful storefront windows at , , , , ,  jewelers, ,  and . Hungry? Downtown Farmington offers a variety of places to get a bite to eat. Our readers mentioned these spots: 

See a movie

Farmington-Farmington Patch readers strongly recommend seeing a show at the city-owned . The building, designed by noted architect, C. Howard Crane, opened in 1940. The Civic shows second-run movies, at the low, low price of $3.50, and you can't beat the staff or the atmosphere. 

Take a tour

The Magical History Tour of Farmington-Farmington Hills is a driving tour of 20 historic spots. Check out the guide book at the  or . Copies are available for purchase at the  or in Farmington Hills. 

Docents will lead you on a tour through the on Wednesdays and the first Sunday of each month, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. This historic mansion on Grand River in Farmington was the home of Michigan's only three-term governor, Fred M. Warner, and his family.

The on Orchard Lake in Farmington Hills also offers docent-led tours Sunday through Friday. The first freestanding Holocaust museum in America houses an array of historic pieces from the World War II era.

Shop Michigan-made

Buy Michigan produce and Michigan-made products all year long in Farmington! The Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market opens in May and runs through November in the . The Winter Market opens in December and closes in April, in the Winery/Power House building on Grand River. 

Spend a day in the park

There are 14 – yes, 14 – parks in Farmington and Farmington Hills, each with its own character and different amenities. Click the links to learn more about each one:

Farmington

Farmington Hills

•  (splash park, Spicer House, )

Play Games

Spend the afternoon enjoying the mechanical wonders at the nationally-renowned , or get more active at ,  or .

Visit the library

Locals know the Farmington Community Library is about more than books! The big tree in the lower level of the and interactive learning stations in the children's section are great spots to take the kids. The Main Library also has a coffee shop and lots of comfortable places to sit and read.

When to visit

Consider arranging your time in Farmington and Farmington Hills around one of our outdoor community events or festivals. For more information on downtown Farmington events, visit downtownfarmington.org.

• Art on the Grand, downtown Farmington - first weekend in June
• , Village Commons - Monday nights May through October
• Downtown Farmington Founders Festival - third weekend in July
• Harvest Moon, downtown Farmington - late September
• Holly Days, downtown Farmington - first weekend in December
•  - Friday nights, June-August
• , Heritage Park - Thursday nights, June-August