Intern at Chrysler, Stuff to do in Auburn Hills? (Detroit: apartment, rentals)

[amx390]

Hey everyone!

So i'm going to be interning in Auburn Hills this summer for Chrysler and I was wondering if y'all had any advice on things to do while I'm there. I'm 21 and my concern with this is as my friends intern in Atlanta, Richmond, DC, Charlotte, and NY, that I will be stuck with nothing to do for the summer because I'm not in a hot-spot. Really looking for where I can go to hangout and meet people my age on the weekends(bars) and any places or experiences that would be worthwhile. Also, any food I should try to get a taste of the Midwest? I'll be living in auburn hills in an apartment Chrysler is providing.


Any advice is really appreciated. I'm not from the Midwest so this whole experience is going to be new for me and I want to make it a fun one.

[animatedmartian]

The places with the most young people and bars are usually around Royal Oak, Downtown and Midtown Detroit, and Ann Arbor (about a 2 hour drive). You should also know this is a sports town, so there's a great amount of people that go to the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings games who then frequent the local bars. So it might help you a bit if you're into sports at all.

If not, there's still plenty of summer events and festivals going on in Detroit and a few other places that would keep you from getting bored. One big event that's coming up on Memorial Day weekend is the Detroit Movement festival which is a music festival for techno.

I'd should also point out that Aurburn Hills itself is pretty quiet and suburban so you likely won't spend much time there if you're out a lot. The only source of any activity would be Oakland University which is probably where the interns for Chysler are housed.

[amx390]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

The places with the most young people and bars are usually around Royal Oak, Downtown and Midtown Detroit, and Ann Arbor (about a 2 hour drive). You should also know this is a sports town, so there's a great amount of people that go to the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings games who then frequent the local bars. So it might help you a bit if you're into sports at all.

If not, there's still plenty of summer events and festivals going on in Detroit and a few other places that would keep you from getting bored. One big event that's coming up on Memorial Day weekend is the Detroit Movement festival which is a music festival for techno.

I'd should also point out that Aurburn Hills itself is pretty quiet and suburban so you likely won't spend much time there if you're out a lot. The only source of any activity would be Oakland University which is probably where the interns for Chysler are housed.

Yeah Auburn hills really seemed boring when I looked it up (Aside from a big mall and a Costco) hence my posting here.

Really appreciate it. I am a big sports guy so I was planning on going to some games during my stay. Especially a tigers game. love baseball

[belleislerunner]

Only boring people get bored. You'll have no one to blame but yourself.

Royal Oak, Ferndale, Midtown/Downtown Detroit and Pontiac will be your hot spots for activities.

Auburn Hills will be as exciting as reading your cookbook.

Check out the local weekly papers www.metrotimes.com, www.after5detroit.com, or www.realdetroitweekly.com for a listing of local bands, events. There will be plenty of live music concerts at DTE Energy Theatre up the road and weekend festivals galore - running the gamut from Arts, Beats and Eats in Royal Oak to Dally in the Alley in Detroit.

Check out Stoney Creek Metropark a few miles east - it's a good 5-6 mile loop for kayaking, running/rollerblading, frisbee golf, swimming. Congrats and good luck with the gig.

[DTWflyer]

If you are into running or biking the Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills area is excellent due to the amount of trails and parks in the area. Clinton River Trail & Paint Creek Trail are scenic rail trails. Stoney Creek Metropark as said has good trails, a beach, and lake for boat/kayak rentals.

Trust me, don't think that your friends in places like Atlanta or Richmond are going to have it any more "glamrous" Most internships are out in suburban corporate locations, just like Chrysler in Auburn Hills. Metro Detroit has a lot to offer, especially in the summer if you chose to seek it out.

[adams_aj]

Rochester and Rochester Hills area are cool. Heck, exploring them only would keep me busy for a year! Trails, parks, etc. You have a lot to choose from and do, my friend!

[one is lonely]

The trails in the Rochester area are amazing. There are several rail to trails, which means they converted an old rail line to a bike trail. There are trails from downtown Rochester that allow you to get to Lake Orion, Pontiac, and Romeo (and Armada and Richmond if you continue east), as well as Stoney Creek Park, Bloomer Park, and Yates Cider Mill, without ever having to take a public street. It's pretty impressive.

[Bimmerfanboy]

I used to live in that area, maybe just 10 minutes from the Chrysler HQ. Many of my neighbors were employees there. As others have said, Auburn/Rochester Hills are quiet nice suburbs where not a whole lot happens. But there are a few options if you're willing to drive reasonable distances.

- The Rochester area has a lot of outdoor activities. There are lots of trails for hiking and biking. There are plenty of parks including a very large one in Rochester (Stoney Creek? I don't remember if that's the one).
- There are a couple nice fitness clubs. There's a newer YMCA which is beautiful, and Lifetime Fitness which is super nice. Of course you'll have to pay for memberships.
- The Village of Rochester Hills - this is a beautiful outdoor mall with nice shopping and restaurants. It's a nice hangout. I spent plenty of summer evenings there.
- Great Lakes Crossing mall. That's the place with a Costco and a few restaurants nearby.
- Somerset Mall in Troy: this is the region's premier mall. It's super nice but is a ~30 min drive. It has the higher-end shopping like Nieman Marcus, Gucci, etc. but also has something for every budget. You'll find Apple and Microsoft stores, Macy's, and lots of good restaurants.
- Mall at Partridge Creek: this is a newer outdoor mall which is also nice but is ~30 drive away.
- Royal Oak: this place will probably interest you the most if you're looking for bars and young professionals like yourself.
- Be sure to check out the casinos in downtown Detroit if you're into that. I've heard good things about MGM.
- Greektown district in Detroit: this is Detroit only street that is filled with restaurants and bars. It gets packed on weekends and when local sports teams are playing.
- Definitely go see a Tigers game.
- If you're into history then check out Greenfield village/Henry Ford museum in Dearborn.
- Ann Arbor: nice college town filled with people your age.

As I said, you're going to have to do some driving. Most of the locations I listed are within a 30 minute drive but others like downtown and Ann Arbor will take 1 hour.

[jlawrence01]

In that you are interning with a auto manufacturer, maybe you ought to check out the following in Dearborn, MI:

Greenfield Village
Henry Ford Museum
Ford Factory Tour

You might want to research and go see some of the auto industry ruins in the city of Detroit.

If you have a passport, Windsor, ON is right across from the border. Windsor is kind of a party town to say the least.

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>>So i'm going to be interning in Auburn Hills this summer for Chrysler and I was wondering if y'all had any advice on things to do while I'm there. I'm 21 and my concern with this is as my friends intern in Atlanta, Richmond, DC, Charlotte, and NY,<<

With the EXCEPTION of NYC, I would choose the Detroit Metro area over ANY of those cities. No offense, but I transferred from Richmond to Detroit ... the only excitement in Richmond was trying to get to work without getting mugged.

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

With the EXCEPTION of NYC, I would choose the Detroit Metro area over ANY of those cities. No offense, but I transferred from Richmond to Detroit ... the only excitement in Richmond was trying to get to work without getting mugged.

I've heard Charlotte isn't all it's cracked up to be, but over DC and Atlanta? Certainly those two offer more urban amenities/living than Detroit. What do you find better about Metro Detroit over DC and Atlanta?