My dad is receiving an honorary membership in a national engineering association at the end of March in Detroit. He is flying my husband and me there for the event. After the conference, we will have a couple of days to explore the area, but I’m not sure what there is to see! If anyone familiar with Detroit could give me some ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.
Depends what you like and what days you are there.
- Eastern Market. https://www.easternmarket.com/
- Greenfield Village/Henry Food Museum https://www.thehenryford.org/
- Cranbrook (art, science, museum) http://www.cranbrook.edu/
- Look for shows at The Fox Theater http://www.olympiaentertainment.com/fox-theatre
- Greektown! http://greektowndetroit.org/ https://www.greektowncasino.com/
- Bring your passport and head over the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor
- Worthwhile to drive 30-40 minutes to Ann Arbor/U of M!
- EAT! http://detroit.eater.com/maps/best-detroit-food-dishes
What else do you like to do?
@MaineLonghorn I know you like running - here are a couple of known running paths. Keep in mind, end of March you could have mild weather or a snow or ice storm!!!
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-scenic-running-paths-in-the-detroit-area/
http://www.dailydetroit.com/2016/06/29/6-places-run-around-detroit/
I haven’t run any of these myself (I’m about an hour south of Detroit but grew up downriver).
I would second the Henry Ford Museum (it’s actually in Dearborn, but it’s close.) You’re an engineer yourself, right? The Museum would be interesting for an engineering family, I think (the cars! the machines!) but it’s also full of history (Rosa Parks’ bus, for example). I personally prefer Greenfield Village over the Museum but the Village will still be closed at the end of March, I think.
@abasket’s list is great. Detroit has an amazing food scene, actually, with lots of new restaurants – if you’re a foodie you should have many choices. Nat Geo just named Detroit as one of its “unexpected food cities”: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/best-food-cities-2017/
I’m a fan of Selden Standard (http://www.seldenstandard.com/ ) and Slows ( https://slowsbarbq.com/ ) but there are so many places I haven’t even tried yet.
I also grew up downriver and love @abasket’s list. I’ve been gone from MI for 28 years so don’t have anything new to add, but will give a big thumbs up for Greenfield Village (DH and I were married in the Martha-Mary Chapel there) and, of course, Ann Arbor (Go Blue!). This is not a great time of year for outdoor activities in MI, but you can easily spend an entire day in the Henry Ford Museum if it’s too cold or nasty to walk the village.
The Red Wings are in town at the end of March, if you’re a hockey fan. They need all the fans they can get right now!
Adding The Motown Museum.
DIA!
If you like classical music check what concerts the Detroit Symphony and Michigan Opera Theater have going at that time.
Motown Museum
As others have said there are so many good places to eat that have opened in recent years. What kinds of food/ dining do you like? I have been to many detroit restaurants in recent years if you want specific recommendations. Selden Standard is fun as is Gold Cash Gold.
This website lists cool things to do, but they don’t update the list until right before each weekend.
If you go to Dearborn, you can also find the largest mosque in North America.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Center_of_America
Add another vote for Greenfield Village. Also, go to the Detroit Institute of Arts and see the Diego Rivera murals. They are spectacular.
Wow, I’ve been gone all morning and came back to all these great replies! I think you’ve given me more than enough things to do!
Since we’ll be with my parents, we are looking for fairly upscale restaurants. Anything other than Asian, I would say.
Where are you going to be? Downtown or somewhere else? How many days are you in the area?
I have had really good meals, nice dining experiences at Roast and Angelina’s Italian Bistro.
We are staying at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. We’ll be there Saturday, March 25 through Thursday, March 30.
Congrats to your Dad. I just wanted to second @Bromfield2’s suggestion of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Truly one of the great US art museum collections and close to Renaissance Center. I could spend hours in the Diego Rivera mural room alone.
Roast is owned by Michael Symon, an upscale steakhouse is how’s it’s billed. I love going to Greektown when downtown. Opa! Lol!
I too am more fond of Greenfield Village than Henry Ford Museum. You could see if there are any plays at the Fisher, beautiful old theater.
Looks like “Rent” is at the Fisher for that weekend…
The DIA is a must-see … it is truly a world-class museum. I also really like the Detroit Historical Museum, across from the DIA (it’s small, but it’s neat). If you like contemporary art, MOCAD is good museum to visit. There are lots of great restaurants in the city, and I second the suggestions above (although I actually think Slow’s is overrated - but I like BBQ in the south). The Whitney is not new or hip, but it is a very elegant dining experience. A visit to Pewabic Pottery might be something you’d enjoy (http://www.pewabic.org/). The Marriott is on the Detroit River, so you will be able to take advantage of the River Walk, if it happens to be nice while you are in town (that time of year is a bit fickle - but it could be absolutely amazing weather, because that is how Michigan rolls). I have never been to the Motown Museum (http://www.motownmuseum.org/), but I have heard it’s a good stop.
I’ll assume you are renting a car, because it’s not easy to get to/from the airport or anywhere else without one (it’s the Motor City, after all). Dearborn is not far from Detroit, and The Henry Ford Museum is a great choice (the American Style and Spirit Exhibit will be there). I do like Greenfield Village a lot, but it’s closed until April 15th. How about the Ford Rouge Factory Tour (https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/ford-rouge-factory-tour/) for a real Motor City experience?
I definitely encourage a visit to beautiful Cranbrook (cranbrook.edu) in Bloomfield Hills. Take one of the guided tours - tour schedule: http://www.cranbrookartmuseum.org/tours/ - the Art Museum will be winding down exhibits a bit as they prepare for the graduate school’s degree exhibition, which you’ll just miss, but there are tours of other spaces (architecture, Cranbrook House & Gardens, Saarinen House). There is also an excellent science museum on the campus that will have a Tutankhamun exhibit while you are here (https://science.cranbrook.edu/explore/exhibits/tutankhamun-wonderful-things) - they have an awesome planetarium, too. Detroit is surrounded by some very nice suburbs, with Bloomfield Hills being one of the nicest - you’ll pass through Birmingham on the way, which has upscale restaurant choices.
Agree on DIA. I too like spending a night eating in Greektown. Midtown has picked up nicely also. Ditto on Cranbrook for a drive as a great place to visit. FinaIly, I can easily spend an afternoon and dinner in Birmingham, or Royal Oak or crossing over to Windsor, or a day trip to Ann Arbor. I also always take one loop on the People Mover just for the heck of it when I have to be downtown. If you are real adventuresome I like going through the neighborhoods…Brush Park, Indian Village etc…I love looking at the huge old homes and they are slowly, slowly getting renovated especially in Indian Village. The mansion collection in Detroit is pretty amazing if you are into that kind of thing.