Is there any must see's besides the obvious ones in the surrounding areas? just looking for something different. doesnt have to be ford related but it would make it better for us. good attractions, good food and good people is what were out for!! any guidance is apprecieated...Jason

bigiron007

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Trust me, it is not just Ford.

The area underneath the Ambassador bridge, daytime would be best i'd say! Not so much postcard touristy but it is jawdropping if you are used to safe neighborhoods.

But if it were me i'd want to see the Henry Ford Museum too. I was by there but without enough time to stop in. Straight across the road is the Dearborn Proving Grounds and park alongside the wall and stand on the door jamb and you can watch cars going around. All around that area are Ford buildings, the World HQ building, the Experimental garage is on the far side of the proving ground.

I think there are tours of the Rouge plant. I've been to the FairLane estate though i just parked and walked around outside.

I guess you could also be a heckler outside the GM building.

If your going to be here on a Sunday this is a must see. Google Bakers of Milford or go here www.bakersofmilford.com/1252/cruisin . They have a cruise every Sunday in the Summer. Packed with cars. I have see more than 600 cars go in and out in one day.This car is there most Sundays. Also sears in allen park is loaded on friday nights

that this Sunday (May 6) is Baker's first "official" cruise/show day of the season? If so, I think I can make it - might see you there. Randy Millard (Henrysnephew)

I'm going to Baltimore for the weekend. But yes it is the first cruise of the year.. Still dusting that trophy off.LOL

(LOL). See you later this spring. Randy Millard (Henrysnephew)

isn't really in it. In the last three years, in the City of Detroit, there have a thousand people shot dead and four thousand more shot that didn't die. Compare to Afghanistan. When you factor in some of the close-by suburbs it only gets worse. I'm a firm believer in the worth of a 1911.

KS

The HF Archives.

http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/collections/Collections/library.asp

Maybe try the Salt Mine tours. Huge Caverns!

FERoadster

Never been there but check these out :

http://www.detroityes.com/index.php

http://www.detroityes.com/news/HallofFame/00-index.html


Some of the history is amazing.

Graeme

You might want to hit Duggans on Woodward and 13 Mile and if the weather is nice, check out Sam's Shell across the street. And definitely Bakers on Sunday or Dooleys, if you are on the other side of town.

Stay far away from the Ambassador Bridge. That area is pretty awful.

For museums, you can't go wrong with The Henry Ford in Dearborn. Depending on your stamina you could do it in one or two days. If you go there plan at least a couple hours for the Rouge Tour. You will need to take a bus, and if you want to see actual production, go on a week day.

The DIA on Woodward is another very nice museum you could easily spend two days at. It is worth going if you only have a few hours, but look at the map and decide what you're interested in because you will need to rush from one place to another and skip stuff to get it done. The Diego Rivera mural alone is worth the price of admission, don't miss it.

If there is something at the Fox Theater across the street from Comerica Park you would like to see, get tickets and go. You will be AMAZED at the interior.

While Detroit has a deserved reputation for high crime, the downtown area with the tall buildings is pretty safe. There are many interesting things to see down there. Contact these people if you want a walking tour: http://www.insidedetroit.org/ I've done it and it is fun.

There are three casinos in Detroit: The MGM, Motor City, and Greektown. Personally I hate casinos, I would rather spend my money on cars, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention them.

Greektown is in a cool neighborhood in downtown, worth seeing even if you don't gamble. MGM and Motor City are farther out by themselves. Motor City is near the Masonic Temple where sometimes they have Detroit Roller Derby, which is enjoyable.

If you are staying in the City, the Westin Book Cadillac is very nice with both fine and casual dining on site. The RenCen also has a hotel, and it is a self contained city within a city with restaurants and GM world headquarters. Next to the RenCen near the entrance to the tunnel to Canada is the Mariner's Cathedral made famous by the 'Edmond Fitzgerald' song. Not a lot to see, but that is where it is. I like to sit there a bit and watch the lake freighters go by. Some of Fitz's sister ships still travel up and down the River. You can read their stories at:

http://www.boatnerd.com/

Outside of the city is the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. The Polar Bear exhibit is the best there in my opinon, but my kids like the Penquin house and the Reptile house. When you are up that way make sure you walk around main street in Royal Oak. Lots of great restaurants and shops. If you are looking for somewhere to eat, but you can't decide what you want, head to Royal Oak and walk around.

Another very neat downtown area is Birmingham. It is more upscale and expensive. Near there is our best shopping mall, the Summerset Collection. World class shopping, at high prices. If you live near a big city already, you won't find anything there you can't find at home.

If you are north of the city, you should visit the Chrysler Museum. They are heavy on Chryslers, but they have a very good automotive collection. The big discount mall destination that way is called Great Lakes Crossing. The prices there are more reasonable, but unless you are already out that way, it may not be worth the trip. Many people visit on their way to Frankenmouth which is a touristy place...I've never been there.

If you are west of the city, you should visit Ann Arbor. It is a college town with lots of bookstores and good reasonably priced restaurants. The University of Michigan has a couple of museums that are free. One for modern art and another for natural history. You will need to hunt around to find them, but they are both very nice. You should also see the law campus while you are downtown. I'm not sure when you are coming, but the Ann Arbor Art Fair is in July and worth seeing.

There are also a lot of festivals and things during the summer, so let me know which week you are here and I will look to see if there is anything good going on.

They have some matches coming up in May and June:

http://www.detroitrollerderby.com/schedule.html

Perfect if you are looking for the gritty downtown experience. It is near the Motor City Casino, the Fox Theater, and Comerica Park

you start selling drugs in the wrong spot. The Henry Ford is a must do. The Rouge tour as well if you've never been in an assembly plant. You like Mexican food go to Mexican town here
http://detroit.metromix.com/restaurants/mexican/xochimilco-restaurant-mexican-town/333246/content
you like Greek food go to Greek town many good restaurants. The Greek Town Casino has good food.


http://www.thehenryford.org/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g42139-Activities-Detroit_Michigan.html

http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1994456_1994357_1994238,00.html

In my experience hosting customers, vendors, and family members people visit because of the history. Whether is automotive, architectural, or blight- they want to see history. My suggestions keeping within the Detroit city limits:

Buildings/landmarks/neighborhoods
- Ford Highland Park plant. 1st automotive assembly line, Model T, $5/day started here.
- Woodward Ave. between 6 and 7 mile was the first stretch of paved concrete laid in the WORLD.
- Boston Edison neighborhood. Henry Ford, Ty Cobb, Joe Louis lived here. Check out their homes.http://www.historicbostonedison.org/history/people.shtml
- Indian Village neighborhood. The pinnacle of pre-1920s living in Detroit. http://www.historicindianvillage.org/
- Brush Park. Victorian neighborhood within walking distance from Ford Field and Comerica Park. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brush_Park_Historic_District
- Belle Isle. Island city park with excellent views of Detroit and Windsor. The park has nice fountains, nice to drive around.
- Hidelberg. Probably the place everybody remembers most. 25 years ago a local artist began decorating vacant homes in his neighborhood to draw attention to blight and the crack epidemic. http://www.heidelberg.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=54
- Eastern Market. http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com
- Riverfront promenade. Start off at the Renissance Center walk south through Hart Plaza to Joe Louis Arena.
- Urban farming. You won't see it on this scale in any other American city.
Locations are accessible along major roadways. Brush Park, Indian Village, and Boston Edison are easy to navigate and you can see a lot without straying too far from the main roads. Hidelberg is more sketchy but it's well traveled and has staff members onsite during normal hours to answer questions. Seeing the farms usually means getting deeper in the 'hood, but the areas are more desolate- they're farming afterall.

Metro Detroit consistently receives podium placement for having the most obese people in the USA- and that's an accomplishment! With that said, HOW THE DEUCE HAS NOBODY MENTIONED LAFAYETTE CONEY ISLAND OR A DAMN CONEY DOG YET?

Where to eat? As a 270# metro Detroiter (with roots going back to the Ft. Ponchatrain days) here are my recommendations.
- Lafayette Coney Island. It's right of passage. Sure American Coney Island is next door, but guess what? IT AIN'T LAFAYETTE!
- Supino Pizzera in Eastern Market.
- Russel St. Deli in Eastern Market. The wait is worth it.
- Foran's Irish Pub. Great spot downtown that only serves made in Michigan products and handcrafted beer
- Mudgie's Deli in Corktown neighborhood. Corktown is D's oldest neighborhood and is experiencing revitalization/gentrification.
- Slow's BBQ. Be prepared to wait. Received national recognition throughout various outlets. In Corktown, across from old train depot (scenes from Transformers 1 filmed there), near Tiger Stadium (unofficially known as Ernie Harwell Park)
- Pegasus (excellent Greek food) in Greektown
- Polish Village Cafe in Hamtramck, cash only.
- The Whitney ($$$$) high end dining in a 1800s lumber baron's mansion -now- restaurant. At least worth a trip for a cocktail and desert.
- Jacoby's good German food and beer
All locations, except Polish Village, are located in areas where you'll sight-see anyways. Polish Village is an experience if you have Polish or eastern European roots and long for grandmother's cooking.

At minimum you are REQUIRED to
1. drink a flavored Faygo pop. Rock & Rye are perennial favorites.
2. enjoy a bag of Better Made potato chips. I recommend 'hot'. Detroiters eat more chips than any other city. Better Made is our local low-buck favorite.
3. enjoy a coney dog. natural case hot dog, chili sauce, onions, mustard.
4. drink a Vernor's ginger pop. Don't cough. Mixes excellent with vanilla ice cream, Seagrams 7, and other liquor.

Yes, The Henry Ford (Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village) is a world-class attraction. I highly encourage a visit if that is your interest and it's raining. Otherwise, check out the city.

if you have a chance, contact the jack rousch museum as it contains lots of historic fords of all ages...his daughter susan ran the museum and does a great job with the facility...it is generally not open to the public but they do some group tours and an occasional open house....years ago i rented the facility to do a business seminar there and it is amazing to see the wide variety of ford prototype and pilot cars, dozens of rousch race cars, restored classic fords and some truly one of kind ford muscle cars.....also you gotta do the rouge tour and henry ford museum....maybe susan would allow a group of fe enthusiasts to tour the museum and the machine shop-manufacturing-dyno buildings???

my best to get around to see the things you all mentioned.. i sure want to see all things ford but at the same time i like to see the old buildings and other interesting things . also like to try different things including different types of dining establishments. thanks again ...Jason

bigiron007

I think if uou can afford to feed him, Son of Rod would make a great tour guide. I wish i'd known that before risking life and limb in the area under the Ambassador Bridge. Like a movie with almost new cars stripped bare on the side of the road, others upside down and on fire with nobody paying attention. It was just getting dark and that throttle couldn't be pushed hard enough to get me away as quick as i'd like.