Kensington Metropark

If you’re driving out to Milford anyway, Kensington Metropark is the reason to make a whole day of it. This is one of Southeast Michigan’s great outdoor escapes — 4,481 acres of woods and rolling fields wrapped around 1,200-acre Kent Lake, all part of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks system. The menu of things to do is almost comically deep: an 8-mile paved hike-and-bike loop around the lake, miles more of nature and horse trails, sandy beaches and a splash playground for summer, a scenic cruise aboard the Island Queen, boat and kayak rentals, a nature center, a working farm center, and cross-country skiing when the snow flies. It’s famously photogenic in every season — sunrise over Kent Lake, fall color on the trails, curious birds that’ll practically pose for you — which makes it a dream for exactly the kind of picture-taking day out it’s built for. You’ll need a Metroparks vehicle pass to get in. On our list as the outdoor anchor of a Milford visit — and one of the best all-ages days out in the region.