Rink at Campus Martius ranked No. 1 in US by USA TODAY readers
Michigan is proving to be a favorite place for holiday and winter fun as a handful of metro Detroit and Michigan locations were among the top 10 in the U.S. in categories ranging from best ice skating rink to best holiday historic home tour.
The USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards are chosen through a panel of experts making nominations, USA TODAY editors reviewing the choices, then the public is invited to vote for their favorites over the course of four weeks.
After a month of voting on best places for wintery activities, here's where metro Detroit places stacked up.
Best Ice Skating Rink
From hosting Olympic figure skaters for performances at the 2025 Detroit Tree Lighting to welcoming skaters of all levels throughout the season, the rink at Campus Martius Park in Detroit is the back-to-back champion for best ice skating rink in America, according to USA TODAY readers.
Olympic figure skater Polina Edmunds performs during the 22nd annual Detroit Tree Lighting event at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.
The rink is open through Jan. 4 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, according to its website. A two hour pass costs $9 for children 12 and under and seniors 59 and over. Adult tickets cost $12. Discounts are available for active military, first responders and Bank of America cardholders.
Skate rental costs $6, or shoe checks for people with their own skates cost $2.
Also joining the ranks of top rinks in the country, the Frankenmuth Ice Rink came in at No. 4. The rink at Zehnder Park, 784 South Main St., is open through Feb. 28, 2026.
General day-long admission to the outdoor rink costs $10. Skate rental for available hockey and figure skates costs an additional $3. Season passes to the park are also available for $50, according to the rink's website.
Other Midwest winners in the best ice skating rink category include Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon in Chicago at No. 3 and Riverside Crossing Park Ice Skating Rink in Dublin, Ohio, at No. 8.
Best Holiday Historic Home Tour
Michigan took two places on the lineup for holiday historic home tours.
The 110-room Tudor-revival Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester took was No. 3. The National Historic Landmark on Oakland University's campus hosts a Holiday Walk self-guided tour featuring more than 50 trees, flickering fireplaces and lights, according to its website.
Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester was among USA TODAY's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards in the Holiday Historic Home Tour category.
The house is available to visit through Dec. 30. Youth admission for ages 3-12 costs $8.50. Tickets for people 13 and older cost $21. Some discounts are available for members and military and veterans. Oakland University Students can visit for free.
The house also hosts a Winter Wonder Lights show, with ticket prices a few dollars more each.
A view of the newly built Visitor Center (right) and Administration Building at the historic Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores on May 26, 2021.
Coming in right behind at No. 4 was the Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. The historic estate of Eleanor and Edsel Ford located along the shores of Lake St. Clair hosts a tour of the home along with a 1 mile outdoor walking tour featuring lighted gardens, historic architecture and the elegantly decorated Main Residence.
Home for the Holidays at the Ford House runs until Dec. 21 with adult admission costing $22, $12 for children and children under 3 free.
The No. 1 reader's choice in the holiday historic home tour category is Graceland, Elvis Presley's home, in Memphis.
Best Zoo Lights
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak snuck on the reader's choice list at No. 10. The holiday light show displays millions of fun, wintery, LED lights.
Wild Lights is open Dec. 11-23, Dec. 26-31 and Jan. 2-4 this season. The event opens at 5 p.m. and closes at 10:30 or 9 p.m. depending on the day you attend.
According to the zoo's website, ticket prices range from $17 to $27 depending on date, time and where you purchase the tickets.
No. 1 in the best zoo light category was the PNC Festival of Light at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Toledo Zoo's Lights before Christmas made No. 3 on the Best10 list.
Best Holiday Parade
Between the Big Head Corp giant heads and floats like Captain Underpants and Elmo, America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit ranked No. 2 best holiday parade, losing only to Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade.
The parade will celebrate its 100th anniversary in November 2026.
Other categories with Michigan winners
The Upper Peninsula was voted the best destination for snow by readers. Ludington made it at No. 5 for Best New Year's Eve drop. And Enlighten at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park ranked No. 3 for best botanical garden holiday lights.
Contact Natalie Davies at [email protected].
