One of my favorite parts of life is going somewhere I’ve never been to before. Of course, I love revisiting the sites of my favorite adventures, but there’s so much excitement that comes with discovering a brand-new place. Last month, we had the opportunity to explore Detroit, Michigan, for the first time! Despite spending many summers of my childhood visiting family just a couple of hours away, we’d never made it over to see this fantastic city.
We absolutely loved our trip there, and I would go again in a heartbeat because three days weren’t nearly enough to see all that this city had to offer!
However, we did manage to pack in quite a bit, and I’ll be sharing most of those adventures with you today! Additionally, stay tuned for more in-depth posts on several of these activities that just had way too much to summarize in a listicle like this.
Now, I got several questions about the riots while we were there, and I want to say upfront that we didn’t see a single riot or act of violence during our trip. Nor did we ever feel that we were in a dangerous situation. The city was beautiful, bustling, and vibrant. So please don’t let the shadow of past troubles keep you from adding Detroit to your list.
- 7 Amazing Activities for Any Trip to Detroit, MI
- Watch our Adventure on YouTube for Video Footage!
- Tour the DIA
- Explore Belle Isle
- Shop for Goodies at Detroit’s Eastern Market
- Stroll Along the Detroit Riverfront
- Discover the Beauty of Downtown Detroit
- Learn Something New at the Henry Ford Museum
- Relax at the Great Lakes
- Closing Thoughts on Visiting Detroit
7 Amazing Activities for Any Trip to Detroit, MI
Watch our Adventure on YouTube for Video Footage!
Tour the DIA
If you’re interested in art of any type and era, you won’t want to miss a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, one of the largest art collections in the U.S. Here, you’ll find artifacts and artwork from all around the world that span thousands of years of creation.
The museum is divided into three levels, with nearly 30 different sections to explore! You’ll want to set aside several hours if you plan to tour the entire museum because it has so much to explore, watch, and read.
I particularly loved how they mixed old artifacts with creations from modern artists to show how traditional methods had evolved yet stayed true to the culture.
While you’re studying the art, be sure to take a good look at this beautiful building as well! It has plenty of character of its own to appreciate.
Tickets are $14 per adult, and discounts are available for seniors and college students, plus local residents get free admission! The museum is practicing limited capacity right now, so I highly recommend booking tickets online so you can skip the long line and walk right in at your reserved time.
Explore Belle Isle
Be sure to schedule a day trip to the beautiful Belle Isle! Located in the Detroit River, this stunning island was highly popular back in the early 1900s when the city purchased it for a relaxation park.
Hints of 1900s luxury are still present around the island’s buildings, although many of them have sadly fallen into disrepair over the years.
Belle Island is the country’s largest city island park and is filled with unique and beautiful features.
The William Livingston Memorial Light is the only marble lighthouse in America. The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is stunningly beautiful and is America’s oldest continuously run conservatory!
Besides these, the island hosts beautiful walking trails (watch out for deer!), water views, a yacht club, golf course, picnic pavilions, beaches, an aquarium, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum!
At one point, there was also a zoo on site, although it is unfortunately one of the elements that tragically had to be shut down, and the animals transferred to the Detroit Zoo.
Some buildings and activities are closed due to COVID, but many are still open to the public and worth your time! Day passes are charged by vehicle, but entry by foot is free if you want to cross the bridge.
Shop for Goodies at Detroit’s Eastern Market
The Eastern Market is a longstanding Detroit treasure. If you have room for some hand-crafted souvenirs (or an empty stomach aching for some delicious home-baked goodies or farm-fresh produce), be sure to stop by this thriving marketplace!
The Eastern Market comprises several large buildings in the heart of the downtown sector. Here, you’ll find everything from fresh fruit and veggies to plants, home-baked everything, kabobs, jewelry, and clothes.
Masks and social distancing are required right now, so be prepared to wait in line for a few minutes while they limit capacity. But don’t worry–the market walls are still packed with vendors of all sorts!
The market is open year-round on Saturdays, as well as on Tuesdays and Sundays from June to September.
And if you’re looking for a fun photo-op, stop by these cool rainbow pillars for a unique shot!
Stroll Along the Detroit Riverfront
If you want some picturesque city views, head down to the waterfront for a gorgeous view of Canada! Nice, aye?
The Riverfront is also home to various cool tour stops, including the Underground Railroad Memorial and the Renaissance Center. At sunset in warm weather, the bleacher-like steps in front of the Renaissance Center fill with people enjoying the views.
You can even catch a sunset cruise along the Detroit River if you want to maximize your riverfront and city-line views.
Discover the Beauty of Downtown Detroit
Detroit’s downtown sector is a stunning mix of old, ornate architecture and sleek, modern skyscrapers. And the gorgeous churches scattered through the downtown streets are incredible! I’ve never seen so much beautiful Gothic architecture in one American city.
The combination is a mesmerizing blend of color, styles, and character around every corner.
The Guardian Building
One of my favorite combinations is the Guardian Building, a stunning architectural gem, which is connected by a color-changing bridge to a very modern skyscraper, One Woodward.
You can pop inside and tour the Guardian Building’s interior to see some incredible Art Deco elements and mosaics. We went at night, but it’s definitely the most beautiful in the daytime.
Campus Maritus Park
If you have the time, stop to relax in Campus Maritus Park! This awesome area transforms throughout the year. We caught in filled with sand and beach chairs, but it transforms into a skating rink and winter wonderland over Christmas.
Street Art
Street art was surprisingly huge in Detroit’s downtown area. And I don’t mean graffiti–I mean full-on street art that decorates entire buildings. We even saw skyscrapers being freshly adorned with brightly-colored murals.
I loved how much color and character they added to the streets! We saw murals ranging from abstracts to celebrations of significant people. So keep your eyes peeled, and you’re sure to find some hidden gems.
Delicious Food
The downtown sector is buzzing with unique restaurants to try! I highly recommend a trip to Buddy’s Pizza (a Michigan classic) and a stop at the unassuming Huddle Soft Serve window. But you will find incredible venues around every corner if you’re looking for that “elevated experience.”
Sculptures and Statues
The city also has quite a few stunning art pieces scattered throughout the streets. This giant depiction of the Wayne County Government symbol sits across from the Guardian Building.
Just across the street (toward the riverfront), you’ll find a few more fascinating pieces, including this arch.
Learn Something New at the Henry Ford Museum
Did you know that the Ford Motor Company began in Detroit, Michigan? That’s right! Detroit has been a long-time hub for the auto industry, so it’s no surprise that Henry Ford founded his museum within its borders.
I found it interesting that Henry Ford started this museum in 1929–less than 30 years after starting his company.
But what you’ll find in the Henry Ford Museum is far beyond a collection of his automobiles. Instead, it’s a vast collaboration that tells the story of transportation, industrial breakthroughs, and science throughout history.
Roughly a fourth of the museum deals with ground transportation, including cars, buses, and even trains. Along with fascinating timelines that show the evolution of vehicles, this section also features a moving diner, several cars used to transport presidents, and even stagecoaches.
Other sections of the museum deal with the history of air travel, innovative machines that transformed all types of labor through steam engines and wind power, a vast timeline of American entertainment and lifestyle from the 1900s to now, and an extensive science section called Mathematica.
The tour is highly educational but fun and engaging at the same time. Plan to set aside several hours to tour the whole thing properly. If you have the time, be sure to visit Greenfield Village, Ford’s reassembled city of famous buildings and landmarks.
Tickets to the main museum are $25 per person, with a $6 parking fee per vehicle.
Relax at the Great Lakes
No trip to Michigan is complete without a stop by one of the Great Lakes! Lucky for you, Detroit is close to both Lake Erie and Lake Huron. We chose to visit Lake Huron, which was about an hour away but a little nicer than Lake Eerie.
Even in September, we managed to plunge in for a bit and enjoy the water. But the surrounding area also offered beautiful views across the water and along the rocky beaches.
Closing Thoughts on Visiting Detroit
Which of these activities are you adding to your Detroit bucket list? I hope that you’ll do them all if you have the time. They’re fun, mostly budget-friendly, and doable even with social distancing.
I’m already looking forward to visiting again to finish exploring this fantastic city. It has so much to offer for all tastes and ages.
Do you have questions or comments for me? Feel free to drop those in the comment section below! And be sure to save this post for your future adventures and share it with your friends to help them plan the perfect Michigan getaway.
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