<p>I’d look here for some suggestions: [Detroit</a> Passport to the Arts](<a href=“http://dp2a.org/]Detroit”>http://dp2a.org/)
I haven’t personally done the passport but I know a handful of people who have and they all had positive things to say :)</p>
<p>Certainly Qu</p>
<p>I’ve heard and read about so many wonderful things regarding Qu</p>
<p>And thanks for the link, romani! I will definitely check that out.</p>
<p>Not a problem, opori. Have a great trip!</p>
<p>Look up youth hostels on line, in Toronto as well as elsewhere in Ontario. Get yourself to where ever Amtrak exists in your area, and connect to take the train through Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal, as well as wherever else you want to go. Stay in youth hostels, get a private room if more comfortable with that option rather than dorms. The advantage to youth hostels is the access to other travelers, for dinner, for conversation, for companionship. </p>
<p>Traveling by car, staying in hotels, you are isolated. Train travel brings you in touch with other people, as do youth hostels. To keep safe, have sufficient money for taxis if you are out on the later side and concerned about your surroundings.</p>
<p>Detroit has one of the highest crime rates in the country. Your chances of becoming a victim of crime (and they are very high on the scale of violent crime), are 1 in 47. Unless you know exactly where you’re going, or perhaps are visiting someone who knows where you can be safe…particularly as a young woman by herself, skip Detroit. There are enough amazing, interesting places to visit without taking such a chance.</p>
<p>bd, most of the crime in Detroit (and everywhere, really) does not just happen to strangers on the street.</p>
<p>Plus, if the OP does feel unsafe, get a hotel outside of Detroit (Southgate, Livonia, etc) and just drive into Detroit for the day.</p>
<p>As a parent, I don’t think that would comfort me, romani. Being tied for New Orleans with the top murder rate in the country, though apparently people are more often killing those they know…still would not make me feel better. I’ve had some layovers downtown over the years, and even as an older, experienced traveler, I’ve felt uncomfortable and that I had to watch my back. Walking around seeing groups of young men that look like gang bangers made me wonder if I’d get accidentally caught in the crossfire. I know there are some great places in Detroit to see, but she really needs to be aware of where to go, and where to stay away from. Forget just driving around.</p>
<p>Perhaps your suggestion of staying in a safe town and driving in during daylight hours would be good enough.</p>
<p>Still think the Henry Ford is a great stop (in Dearborn, actually). And it is quite safe. By the way, leave plenty of time for your border crossing. Sometimes the wait is long (both ways). Don’t assume you will zip thru in a few minutes. But honestly, Quebec is going to be a much more enjoyable city – plan your trip with a lot more time there.</p>
<p>If you go to Quebec, do go to Ile d’ Orleans. It is an island across from Quebec City and it is lovely. Rolling farms and wineries. I think it would be a wonderful place to spend some time- hopefully it wouldn’t be too quiet for a 20 year old.</p>
<p>Trains are much more social and safe than driving alone in a car. See what Amtrak or ViaCanada have to offer. As for the cities between Ohio and Quebec City, I recommend time in Toronto or Ottawa, rather than Detroit, so you have more experience in another country. Niagara Falls is also along the way, although you won’t get to practice French there particularly. It’s certainly a great half-day stop to see the Falls, if you never have done so.</p>
<p>If you find hotel or youth hostels in close distance to the train stations, you can walk or taxicab to them. Sometimes the trains have sleeping cars called Roomettes, although you might need to reserve those in advance, but it’s worth checking. It can save you a hotel night and you sleep as you travel. If you can sleep in a reclining type chair, then just book a regular seat. Roomettes cost more than regular seats, but you can sleep horizontally in them if that’s important to you.</p>
<p>You might also fly into Quebec City instead, with no road travel time but more days up there. You’d need to drive or be driven to an American airport and fly into Q City, then take taxicab or their public transport into the heart of the city itself.</p>
<p>It’s not a disaster to be without a car in Q City, if you stay downtown. To see some landscape, see if you can find some local bus tours that leave and return to Quebec City to go to a nearby rural location for a daytrip. The tourist websites for Quebec City would tell you about those types of daytrips. When your week ends, fly home (buying a roundtrip air ticket well in advance) or take a train for the different experience if you prefer. You can buy one-way tix on a plane or train.</p>
<p>Sites to compare: Amtrak, ViaCanada for train info. Kayak.com or some other search engine for comparing airlines. Happy researching!</p>
<p>Here is a link to hostel information. [url=<a href=“http://www.hihostels.ca/1091/Home/Canada-Hostels/Quebec-Hostels/index.hostel?p=qc]Qu”>HI Canada | Quebec Hostels]Qu</a></p>