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Novi, Michigan: Where Fun and Adventure Collide – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in the Motor City!

Novi is a suburb, and most of what it offers costs money. The parks are the exception, and there are good ones: Lakeshore Park, the trails around it, Maybury State Park just down the road. Twelve Oaks Mall is free to walk through and expensive to walk out of. The axe throwing, the go-karts, the escape rooms and the trampolines all charge by the hour, and that adds up fast with a group. Budget by the day.

Planning a trip to Novi, Michigan? Adventure seeker, food lover, shopper or history buff, all four are covered here. Located in Oakland County, Michigan, Novi is a suburban city with enough activities and attractions to keep you busy for days.

Novi does well by adventure seekers. With its parks, lakes and trails, you can hike, bike, fish and kayak without leaving the city limits. Lakeshore Park is the one to visit for the outdoors. And the Emagine Theatres Novi handles the latest blockbusters in a genuinely comfortable room.

Food lovers do well in Novi too. The city runs a diverse culinary scene, Italian through to Japanese. Visit Beerhead Bar & Eatery for craft beer and good food. And Sandstone Therapeutic Massage is where you go afterward to recover from all of it.

Key Takeaways

• Novi, Michigan has something for everyone, from adventure seekers to foodies.
• You can enjoy a wide range of activities and attractions, including parks, lakes, trails, theaters, and more.
• Novi’s diverse culinary scene offers a variety of cuisines, from Italian to Japanese.

The Adventure Seeker’s Paradise

Looking for an adrenaline-pumping afternoon? Novi, Michigan has it covered. These are the best places to go and things to do for the adventure seeker:

Batl Axe Throwing

Feeling like unleashing your inner lumberjack? Head over to Batl Axe Throwing. It is a good way to shed some stress and it works with friends or family. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is laid-back, so nobody is under pressure. And it is harder work for the arms than it looks.

Go-Kart Racing

If speed is your thing, go-kart racing at Kart 2 Kart. Strap on a helmet and get round the track at proper speed. The karts are well-maintained and the track is technical enough to stay interesting. It is where the driving skills get settled.

Escape Room Novi

For a mental challenge, Escape Room Novi. You and your team get locked in a room with a series of puzzles and clues to solve before the clock runs out. It tests the problem-solving and it tests the group. And the themes change, so there is a reason to come back.

Novi, Michigan is not known for extreme sports, and there are still plenty of ways to get an adrenaline fix. Throwing axes, racing go-karts, or solving puzzles under time pressure. All three are here. So what are you waiting for?

A Foodie’s Heaven

Looking for the best places to eat in Novi, Michigan? Novi has more options than most suburbs its size. Breakfast joints through to fine dining. These are the top places to check out:

Breakfast Joints

Start the day properly at one of Novi’s top breakfast joints. These are the options:

Restaurant	Specialties
Toasted Oak Grill & Market	Farm-to-table breakfast dishes
The Breakfast Club	Classic breakfast dishes with a modern twist
Leo’s Coney Island	Traditional American breakfast dishes

Cafes and Tea Houses

For a light snack or a cup of tea, Novi has plenty of cafes and tea houses. These are our top picks:

Cafe/Tea House	Specialties
Sip Organic Juice Bar	Freshly made juices and smoothies
The Tea Haus	Wide selection of loose-leaf teas
The Proving Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream	Artisanal coffee and homemade ice cream

Fine Dining Restaurants

For a special occasion or a proper night out, Novi has real fine dining. These are our favorites:

Restaurant	Specialties
Steve & Rocky’s	Seafood and steak dishes
Diamond Jim Brady’s Bistro Bar	American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist
Novi Chophouse	Classic steakhouse dishes

Bars and Pubs

Looking for somewhere to sit with a drink at the end of a day? Novi runs a range of bars and pubs. These are our top picks:

Bar/Pub	Specialties
Ascension Brewing Company	Craft beer and pub food
Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern	American cuisine and cocktails
Bar Louie	Wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails

Whatever the food or the drink, Novi has plenty to choose from. Happy eating.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

You are in Novi, Michigan and you are ready to shop. Novi has some genuinely good options. High-end luxury or bargain deals, both are covered here.

Twelve Oaks Mall

The Twelve Oaks Mall is a super-regional shopping mall with over 185 stores and restaurants. It is big enough that a full day in it still leaves things unseen. Anchored by Macy’s, Nordstrom and JCPenney, it runs from high-end fashion through to everyday essentials.

For luxury brands, head over to the Somerset Collection section of the mall, where Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Burberry all sit. And for something more budget-friendly, H&M or Zara’s first Michigan store.

Fountain Walk

For more than shopping, head over to Fountain Walk. This outdoor shopping center runs stores, restaurants and entertainment together. Catch a movie at the Emagine Novi Theater or go bowling at Lucky Strike.

Alongside the entertainment, Fountain Walk has the shops. Check out Dick’s Sporting Goods for outdoor gear, or HomeGoods for the home decor.

Shopping Malls

Beyond the Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi has other shopping to choose from. For something more unusual, check out the Novi Town Center. This outdoor center runs stores and restaurants plus a farmer’s market through the summer months.

For a more traditional trip, head to the West Oaks Shopping Center. This indoor center runs a good spread of stores, Target and Kohl’s among them.

Whatever the shopping style, Novi covers it. So go ahead and fill the car.

Nature’s Bounty

Are you a nature lover? Then Novi, Michigan will suit you. With its lakes, parks and hiking trails, there is more choice here than you expect. These are the best spots:

Lakeshore Park

For somewhere to slow down, Lakeshore Park is the destination. With the lake, the sandy beach and the greenery around it, this does not feel like a suburb at all. Swim, sit in the sun, or take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline. And you can rent a kayak or paddleboat and work the lake at your own pace.

Picnic Spots

What beats a picnic outdoors? Novi has plenty of spots for one. Lakeshore Park is the popular choice, and the ITC Community Sports Park and Pavilion Shore Park both work too. Pack a basket of favorite snacks, take a blanket, and sit in the sun for a while.

Hiking Trails

Looking for an adventure? Novi has hiking trails at every level. Seasoned hiker or complete beginner, there is a trail that fits. Check out the Lakeshore Park Trail, which winds through the woods with the lake opening up alongside it. Or head to Maybury State Park and work through its 944 acres. Keep an eye out for deer, foxes and birds.

Novi, Michigan holds more outdoors than a suburb has any right to. Lakes, parks and hiking trails, and the list does not run out. So pack the bags, put on the boots, and get into it.

The Art and History Buff’s Guide

Art and history readers have plenty in Novi, Michigan. The Novi Museum of Art through to the Handsworth Cemetery, there are several places here where the area’s history and art are on show.

Novi Museum of Art

The Novi Museum of Art is the stop for any art lover. It holds a collection of contemporary work from local and international artists, paintings through to sculptures and installations. The museum also runs events and exhibitions through the year, so check the schedule before you go.

Villa Barr Art Park

For outdoor art, head to the Villa Barr Art Park. The park holds sculptures and installations by local and international artists. Take a leisurely stroll through it, or bring a picnic and stay a while.

Handsworth Cemetery

The Handsworth Cemetery is the resting place of many of Novi’s early settlers. The graves date back to the mid-1800s. You can take a self-guided tour and read the lives of the people buried there. The cemetery also holds events through the year, including lantern tours and historical reenactments.

Art or history, Novi, Michigan has something. So grab the camera, put on walking shoes, and work through the cultural side of this charming town.

With a group, the arithmetic is the thing that matters here. Axe throwing, go-karts, escape rooms and trampolines are all priced by the head and by the hour, so an afternoon of them costs more than the drive out did. Lakeshore Park is free and it will hold a whole day if the weather cooperates at all. The mall is the wet-weather answer, and it is enormous. Do the math. Pick one paid thing and build the rest of the day around it.

Entertainment Galore

Looking for entertainment in Novi? A movie, a concert or an arcade. Novi covers all three.

Emagine Theatres Novi

First, the Emagine Theatres Novi. This state-of-the-art movie theater runs the latest blockbusters and offers luxury seating. You recline while eating popcorn and watching the latest Hollywood flick. And there is a bar if the evening calls for it.

Concert Venues

If live music is more your thing, Novi has concert venues to choose from. Rock, country or hip hop, something on the schedule will fit. Check what is booked at the Suburban Collection Showplace or the Novi Civic Center. You might find a band you did not know about.

Arcade Games

And last, arcade games. Who does not love a game of Skee-Ball or Whack-a-Mole? Head over to Airtime Trampoline & Game Park for the high-flying version. Or, for something more nostalgic, Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum. This quirky spot is full of vintage arcade games and oddities and it is genuinely strange.

So there you have it. Movies, concerts or arcade games, Novi has the entertainment to fill an evening. So grab your friends and go.

Sports and Wellness

Looking to stay active in Novi? The city’s sports and wellness options cover it. Ice hockey through to golf through to a therapeutic massage.

Novi Ice Arena

Ice hockey fans, figure skaters and anyone who simply likes to skate should head to Novi Ice Arena. This facility runs public skating sessions, lessons, and hockey leagues and tournaments. Pro or complete beginner, both work here.

Links of Novi

For golf, Links of Novi is the destination. This course runs 18 holes of genuinely challenging play with good views of the surrounding country. Seasoned pro or someone starting out, it is a good place to work on a swing.

Sandstone Therapeutic Massage

After a long day of skating or golfing, book a massage at Sandstone Therapeutic Massage. This local spa runs deep tissue, Swedish and hot stone massages. The atmosphere is calm and the therapists know what they are doing.

The ice, the links, or an hour doing nothing at all. Novi covers all three. Get out there and stay active.

Cultural Attractions

Novi, Michigan is a genuine mix of cultures and the attractions reflect it. Cultural festivals through to tech communities, there is a lot going on here.

Cultural Festivals

For anyone who wants to get into a different culture, Novi runs plenty of festivals. The city hosts them through the year, the Japanese Festival, the Polish Festival and the Indian Festival among them. They are the easy way to try new food and meet people you would not otherwise meet.

Tech Community

Novi is also home to a thriving tech community. The city holds many tech companies and there are opportunities for tech-savvy people to get involved. Coding, robotics or AI, all three have a foothold here. There are meetups and events where you can meet people working in the same area.

For more on Novi’s tech community, check out the Novi Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber runs events through the year aimed at it, hackathons and coding workshops and networking evenings among them.

Novi’s cultural attractions are a good way to see a different culture and meet people. A cultural festival or the tech community, both are open to visitors.

Uniquely Novi

Novi, Michigan holds a few experiences you will not find elsewhere. Quirky museums through to local celebrity sightings, something new turns up in this city regularly.

Detroit Selfie Museum

For something genuinely Instagram-worthy, the Detroit Selfie Museum. This interactive museum runs colorful backdrops and props built to make a good photograph. A giant ball pit through to a neon jungle, and every corner of it is a photo op. Tag them in the post afterward.

Garrett and Alyssa Adams

Fans of HGTV’s hit show “Fixer Upper” will want the chance to meet Garrett and Alyssa Adams. This local couple have become something of a celebrity in Novi through their home renovation business. Design tips or simply a hello, they are happy to talk to people who turn up. And you might come away with an idea for your own project.

Novi may be a small city, and it holds big personalities and unusual experiences. Snapping selfies at the Detroit Selfie Museum or talking to local celebrities like Garrett and Alyssa Adams, there is rarely a dull moment in this charming Michigan town.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to convince my significant other to go to Whirlyball in Novi?

The age-old problem of persuading somebody into something they are not sold on. Luckily, Whirlyball is not an average activity. It is a combination of bumper cars, lacrosse and basketball. Who would not want to try that? Just promise to let them win and to let them pick the restaurant afterward.

Are there any escape rooms in Novi that aren’t too difficult? I don’t want to be trapped forever.

We understand the fear of being trapped in an escape room forever. But there are plenty of escape rooms in Novi that run across every level of difficulty. Try Escape Room Novi, where you pick the theme and the difficulty. And if it all goes wrong, you can always ask for a hint.

What are some fun group activities to do in Novi besides arguing about where to eat?

We get it, deciding where to eat can be a real challenge. But there are plenty of other group activities in Novi. How about Paradise Park, with go-karts, mini-golf and an arcade? Or, for something more adventurous, axe throwing at Backyard Axe Throwing League. It is a lot harder than it looks.

Why is Novi called Novi? Did they run out of name ideas after naming it “Northville”?

The age-old question of how Novi got its name. According to local legend, Novi was named after the 6th tollgate on the Grand River toll road. The tollgate was called “Novi”, which means “new” in Latin. So the city got its name from a tollgate. As for Northville, that is a story for another day.

Frequently asked questions about Novi, Michigan

Which Novi park is actually worth the trip?

Lakeshore Park. It has a sandy beach, a trail through the woods, and kayaks and paddleboats available to rent by the hour from the beach itself. Maybury State Park is the bigger one, 944 acres of it, and it is a short drive south from town. Both of them are easy walking and cost nothing to enter. The beach is where a family day actually ends up going anyway.

How big is Twelve Oaks Mall really, in practice?

Over 185 stores and restaurants, anchored by Macy’s, Nordstrom and JCPenney. Enormous. That is a full day if you take it seriously, and most people never manage to see all of it in one go. High-end fashion sits alongside everyday essentials, so it works whatever the budget happens to be on the day. Park near whichever end of it you actually want.

Which Novi museum is worth the stop on a wet day?

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, if quirky is the thing you are after. It is packed with vintage arcade games and oddities and it costs almost nothing at all to walk through the whole thing. The Novi Museum of Art is the serious one, with contemporary work from local and international artists on the walls. Check the schedule before you drive over there.

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