What are good sites to see in Detroit for a visitor? (Dearborn: mover, how much)

[brianbeach85]

I will be visiting Detroit for an overnight "excursion" during a a mini-vacation to Chicago. I am from Brooklyn, New York City and do not mind a little grit and grime. Of course I want to be safe, but please don't tell me how bad, ugly, or dangerous Detroit is. I will be staying downtown and would love to know some great things to do, places to see, and overall ideas.

I have some small ideas and would love for you to add and/or to elaborate on them:

1- Belle Isle- is this worth a visit?
2- Motown Museum
3-i want to try to get to the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn- seems far, is this worth it?
4-Greektown area siteseeing and casino

Thank you so much!

[ForStarters]

Here's what I would suggest if you will only be here for a day:

Eat lunch at Lafayette or American Coney Island- not real exciting but it is a Detroit thing to do (kind of like eating at Katz Deli if you're in Manhattan)

Take a stroll along the Riverfront and walk off your coneys- a popular access point is Hart Plaza

Take drive down to Belle Isle- kind of like Detroit's Central Park, although much different

Visit Greektown and throw $20 on black- one of Detroit's more vibrant cultural neighborhoods

Maybe go out to Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI- it's an excellent attraction but can eat up a whole day (as an alternative, look into the Rouge Factory Tour- it will take less time but is neat if you're interested in auto industry history)

Have an evening drink at:
Detroit Beer Company- great locally brewed beer off Broadway St.
Cliffe Bells- a real classic "old world" Detroit nightclub- off Park Avenue near Grand Circus Park
Or, if its Friday night, hit up D'Mongos Speakeasy in Capital Park for dinner and a drink- this place is a very ecclectic hidden Detroit gem and is only open one day a week (don't walk though, take a cab to D'mongos)

Hit up Coach Insignia around dusk- a classy bar/restaurant at the top of the Ren Cen with the best views of the city

Coming from NYC, if you've never been to Detroit, you're likely going to find downtown fascinating. You will see the shell of what Detroit was and signs of new life growing from the wreckage.

[brianbeach85]

Thank you so much ForStarters!!

I love your optimism and it made me so excited to hear that coming from NYC, I will find downtown Detroit fascinating!!

Question- We will not be driving- to get to Belle Isle- how much do you think a cab will be? Or- is there a bus? Or - looks like its a 45 minute walk- do you recommend that?

Thanks again! I'm so excited!

Would love to hear others ideas, etc...

[ForStarters]

Originally Posted by brianbeach85

Thank you so much ForStarters!!

I love your optimism and it made me so excited to hear that coming from NYC, I will find downtown Detroit fascinating!!

Question- We will not be driving- to get to Belle Isle- how much do you think a cab will be? Or- is there a bus? Or - looks like its a 45 minute walk- do you recommend that?

Thanks again! I'm so excited!

Would love to hear others ideas, etc...

Yes, there is a DDOT bus that runs down East Jefferson, which I'm sure has a stop right near Belle Isle. However, if I were coming from out-of-town, I'd take a cab. Cab fare from downtown to Belle Isle won't be much. Our buses can be pretty rough, and i don't know your background well enough to say that it won't bother you. (Edit: The walk isn't bad, I've done it a few times, just go east down the Riverwalk. Alternatively, take a cab there and walk back or visa versa.)

Everything I suggested above is in downtown except the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and the Rouge Tour, which are outside of Detroit. As you won't have a car, I would save those destinations for a return trip.

I also did not suggest Motown Museum above only because it is uptown in Detroit's "New Center" district, which is about a 3 mile hike north up Woodward from downtown. This is also why I didn't suggest Midtown to you, which is Detroit's artsy cultural district (I guess like SOHO) centered around Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies. There is a lot of cool stuff in Midtown, but I would do independent research on specific places such as art galleries, shops, bars, etc., if that's what you're interested in.

Although we Detroiters don't find much use for the Detroit People Mover, tourists find it a great as a way to see the entire downtown area. The PM is an elevated tram that circles downtown on a 3 mile circuit and has tons of stops. It costs .50 to ride and runs the whole circuit in < 20 minutes. It is not at all complicated to figure out like NYC subways. Pretty much just get on it and ride around and look out the windows. You will see a lot of abandoned highrises and skyscrapers built in the 1920s, which is still interesting to me and I live downtown.

Knowing that you're from Brooklyn (I've stayed in Brooklyn a few times), there are obviously areas of both cities that you don't want to be walking by yourself at night, just use your city instincts. If it looks real shady, then it probably is. Detroit is also not as walkable as NYC or Chicago, so have a good map and don't assume you can just walk 2 miles down a street to get where you're trying to go. Just take a cab if it is far outside of downtown, it will save you time and aggravation. What can be eerie about Detroit, especially on a weeknight, is that it is not as populated as Brooklyn. Even in some very decent areas, you might not see a soul. Don't let that get to you, just be wary or your surroundings, downtown is safe.

Have Fun! And, Welcome to Detroit City.

[Wingnatic]

If your in to history , here's a good place to check out . I went on the Underground Railroad tour myself in Canada (you need a passport ) as I have friends in the Chatham/N.Buxton area , interesting stuff . I'm betting the Prohibition tour would be as well . It's been said that Al Capone was very fearful of Detroit's '' Purple Gang '' of that era .

Stewart McMillin, Detroit's Premiere Tour Guide | Tour Page | (http://www.mcmillintours.com/tours.html - broken link)

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by ForStarters

Here's what I would suggest if you will only be here for a day:

Eat lunch at Lafayette or American Coney Island- not real exciting but it is a Detroit thing to do (kind of like eating at Katz Deli if you're in Manhattan)

Take a stroll along the Riverfront and walk off your coneys- a popular access point is Hart Plaza

Take drive down to Belle Isle- kind of like Detroit's Central Park, although much different

Visit Greektown and throw $20 on black- one of Detroit's more vibrant cultural neighborhoods

Maybe go out to Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI- it's an excellent attraction but can eat up a whole day (as an alternative, look into the Rouge Factory Tour- it will take less time but is neat if you're interested in auto industry history)

Have an evening drink at:
Detroit Beer Company- great locally brewed beer off Broadway St.
Cliffe Bells- a real classic "old world" Detroit nightclub- off Park Avenue near Grand Circus Park
Or, if its Friday night, hit up D'Mongos Speakeasy in Capital Park for dinner and a drink- this place is a very ecclectic hidden Detroit gem and is only open one day a week (don't walk though, take a cab to D'mongos)

Hit up Coach Insignia around dusk- a classy bar/restaurant at the top of the Ren Cen with the best views of the city

Coming from NYC, if you've never been to Detroit, you're likely going to find downtown fascinating. You will see the shell of what Detroit was and signs of new life growing from the wreckage.

As ForStarters said, if you are going to be in downtown don't miss Coach Insignia on the 71st and 72nd floor of the Renaissance Center. The dinner menu is quite expensive, but you can tell the hostess that your just wanting to sit at the bar, you can be served food there as well. The views from the 72nd floor are by far the best in city.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

As ForStarters said, if you are going to be in downtown don't miss Coach Insignia on the 71st and 72nd floor of the Renaissance Center. The dinner menu is quite expensive, but you can tell the hostess that your just wanting to sit at the bar, you can be served food there as well. The views from the 72nd floor are by far the best in city.

The food is mediochre to terrible and overpriced. Do not eat there. Just get a drink and/or dessert. Desserts are not bad. THe view is awesome, just be sure it is not cloudy when you go up there.


A lot of people seem to enjoy the tour of the Rennessaince Center. I work there and sometimes at lunch I will follow the tour group around and listen. It is intersting. Not exciting, but not boring either. It really is a remarkable buidling although it should nto hav ebene build as the core of the downtown. It really belongs somewhere where there is nothing else around.

Do they still ahve play tic tac toe with a chicken at Greektown? I think that attraction comes and goes. That is the most entertaining thing there. The buffet at Greektown is reasonably good and nto too expensive.



Henry Ford/Greenfield Villiage really requires at least half a day. If you are only here for one day, save it for our next trip. You will probably be back.

The Detroit Princess is a neat dinner cruise boat trip. I have only been on a charter, I am not sure whether you cna just jump on for dinner. The food is decent, but not great.

SInbads also has a tugboat that you can go on a appetizer/dinner cruise that is neat, but again that may only be for groups on a charter basis, I am not certain.


Sweetwater Tavern downtown is suppoed to have the best chiken wings in town. I thought that they were good, but the best???

Everyone that I have brought into town has enjoyed riding the people mover. It is nothing exciting, just a slow and very noisey elevated train. However you can see a lot of downtwon just by looking out the widows.
Be sure that you have enough coins or one dollar bills. You do nto want to get stuck buying $10 or $20 worth of tokens. They do not have change machines.

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

The food is mediochre to terrible and overpriced. Do not eat there. Just get a drink and/or dessert. Desserts are not bad. THe view is awesome, just be sure it is not cloudy when you go up there.

I agree, I really don't like the food there, but Coach Insignia is really the only somewhat "public" observatory in Downtown Detroit. It's to bad that the designers of the RenCen didn't make one floor completely an observatory. I know we don't have to many tourists that come to Detroit, but hey I know many native Chicagoians that go to the Sears (now Willis) Tower observatory in Chicago. Chicago has that awesome platted glass structure that actually sticks out over the city.

I'd go to a real Greek restaurant in Greektown, other than the casino buffet. I always suggest "The Golden Fleece" out of towners. The casino buffet isn't bad, but it's not food that you can only get in Detroit.

[ForStarters]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

I agree, I really don't like the food there, but Coach Insignia is really the only somewhat "public" observatory in Downtown Detroit. It's to bad that the designers of the RenCen didn't make one floor completely an observatory. I know we don't have to many tourists that come to Detroit, but hey I know many native Chicagoians that go to the Sears (now Willis) Tower observatory in Chicago. Chicago has that awesome platted glass structure that actually sticks out over the city.

I agree with the food not being the best at the Coach, don't eat there, just grab a cocktail. Unfortunately, the Penobscot used to have a pubic observation deck similar to the Empire State Bldg, but it has been closed for years.

[Coldjensens]

If you are on a really tight budget. you can go to Potbellies in tower 200. It is only on the second floor, but they have a really nice view of the river and it is only about $8 for a mediochre to good sub. I suggest the Wreck. This is the poor man's coach insgnia.