Do you plan to visit Detroit? We have put together a Detroit travel guide to assist you with your vacation to Detroit.
What’s going on, Island Hoppers? We’ve officially made it to the Motor City, also known as Motown: Detroit, Michigan. Let’s dive in!
In this Detroit travel guide, we’re going to show you around the downtown area and along the riverfront.
While the downtown area is popular with locals and visitors, Detroit is not usually a tourist destination, so you won’t get the same experience as you would in major metropolitan cities around America.
Detroit is a nice city with a beautiful atmosphere and environment, and that’s what we’re going to highlight in this travel guide.
The name “Detroit” is actually a French word for “the strait,” referring to the Detroit River, which connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie.
Detroit is rich in history as it was once a major industrial hub of America, particularly for automobile production in the early 1900s. It was one of America’s original boom towns in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest.
As you can see, the downtown area is being gentrified, with ongoing facelifts and renovations.
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Here we are at the intersection of Woodward and Grand River, a vibrant place in the middle of the day—about 12 o’clock in the afternoon.
Woodward Avenue is a historic area called the Theater District, built in the Roaring 20s. Here, you’ll find the Opera House and the Fox Theater.
The building we’re standing next to, built in 1915 by David Whitney, a lumber, real estate, and shipping magnate, adds to the area’s rich history.
Next, we visit Comerica Park, the home of the Tigers. Nearby is Ford Field, where the Lions play. In Grand Circus Park, you’ll find the United Methodist Church, several statues, and the Detroit People Mover (DPM), a tram system with the Grand Circus Station.
We made it to the Fox Theater, right across the street from Comerica Park. Detroit is considered Hockey Town, and you can see the Red Wings bar near their stadium, Little Caesars Arena. Another notable landmark is St. John’s Episcopal Church.
At the Michigan historic site called the Chicago Road, you can learn about the old roadway that connected fur traders and Native Americans with Chicago and Detroit.
We’re now at the Detroit Riverfront, where people ride bikes and jog. The river has a surprisingly cool blue color. Across the river is Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Behind me is the General Motors building, a symbol of Detroit’s nickname “Motor City” due to its history with automobile manufacturing.
Although the industry has slowed down, Detroit still holds the name Motown. Did you know that the Detroit Riverwalk was rated number one in America for 10 years in a row according to USA Today?
In the river, you’ll find fish like walleye, smallmouth bass, muskalunge, yellow perch, and white bass. Detroit is at the center of the Great Lakes industrial region, made possible by shipping.
The area has a history of Great Lake schooners, steam engine boats, and freighters, making it a powerful industrial engine for the United States.
Detroit has a population of 670,000, making it the second-largest city in the Great Lakes Midwest region, just behind Chicago. Including the metropolitan area, 4.3 million people live here, making it the 14th most populated metro area in America.
The riverfront is undergoing gentrification, with new homes being built.
A good way to get around town is by using Bird scooters; just download the app and ride as long as you need to. The waterfront area is a pleasant place for a stroll, jog, or bike ride.
We’re at the Greening, an organic garden in the heart of the financial district on Shelby and Lafayette Street.
There are two museums I recommend: the Henry Ford Museum and the Heidelberg Project. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit them this time, but they are worth checking out.
I got some lamb chops at Stella. As I mentioned earlier, there’s an urban revitalization happening, evident from the City Club Apartments behind me, leasing right in the heart of Detroit.
Alright, Island Hoppers, thanks for watching this episode of Detroit, Michigan. Hope you enjoyed it. Watch some of our other videos and we’ll see you on the next one!
