Detroit Day Trips (Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Holland: appointed, mover, theater)

[Coldjensens]

I am trying to put together a list of potential Day trips in Detroit and the Detroit area. We are looking for family friendly trips that can be completed in one day (including driving) or less. This is both for our family and to take people who come to visit form elsewhere.

We already have the obvious attractions (Frankenmuth, Ann Arbor, Henry Ford/Greenfield, DIA, science Center, Windsor, Shipshiwana, Colon, Marshal, Hell (nothing there, but a funny place to go), Greektown, Cedar point, Kensington, Mackinac (not really a day trip). We may also include that fancy mall in troy (I am tired and cannot remember the name), but malls have no appeal to me personally. We know nothing about Canada outside Windsor and Niagra.

Can anyone make any other suggestions?

[Blue Grass Fever]

Detroit
- The Belle Isle Conservatory (good way to beat the winter blues..)
- RenCen - They offer free tours to ride the 'glass elevator' to the top (nice view)

[Blue Grass Fever]

Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.....

[azsundevil99]

Ludington sand dunes in Traverse City, Tulip Festival in Holland.

[Cherry]

Hamtramck: Ethnic restaurants (Aladdin Sweets and Cafe, Polish Village Cafe, Under the Eagle, Polonia, Bengal Masala, Gandhi, Bosnian Specialties, Lebanese Chicken, Sheba), bakeries (New Deluxe, New Palace, New Martha Washington), and grocery stores (Kopytko, Stan's, Polish Market, Bozek's, Al Haramine, Srodek's, Bengal Spices, Miron's; Polish Art Center, Pope Park, Hamtramck Disneyland, Planet Ant Theater

There is a city parking lot between Evaline and Yemans, just west of Joseph Campau, and another large parking lot on Joseph Campau at Holbrook.

[Coldjensens]

Thank you. These are great suggestions.

I did not even think of Hamtrammack. It has been so long since I have been there. Back then I spiked my hair and wore a spike dog collar and went to punk bars and got beat up (what fun! - funny what stupid things young uns will do for fun). Don't think I will take the kids to do that, but Hamtrammack would still be fun in the day time.

I did nto know that there was anything left on belle Isle except the DYC.


I will skip the Ren Cen since I work there, but it is a good suggestion for others. Not real exciting, but f you couple it with a people mover tour of downtown (or just walk around - it is faster).

[and the]

How about a tour of old Detroit churches? It's not far, you can research them before your trip and be a tour guide for your guests and if you go on the right day, many of them will be open. Plus, since you're in town already, if you get bored, or if lightening strikes someone who hasn't been to church in a while, you can always go to the casino.

There are enough old churches in the city and websites and books on them to take up whatever part of a day or three that you want.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Historic Fort Wayne!! (when they're open...such a time-warp!)

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (for kids..)

Toledo Mudhens baseball game

Port Austin, Michigan -swimming, good restaurants, canoeing, fishing...nice day-trip destination....

[Coldjensens]

Never got to fort Wayne. It is pretty close. Is it a worthwhile tour? I heard that you cannot go into the buildings.

Went to Frankenmuth today. I was pretty disappointed, but then I am not much into shopping. Not much else to do there though. Not a lot of the original architecture is left there. Nor is much left of the old businesses (breweries and farms). Zenders is ok, but not worth a two hour drive each way. We had a decent time overall, but probably could have selected a better option, especially for this time of year. The older kids liked the shopping though. We went to a mirror maze in a mall, it was hokey, but a lot of fun, probably the highlight of the trip. We also found some "ear candles". Who can guess what those are? The truth is funnier than my original assumption (candles made of ear wax - not correct).

It would be neat if the churches in Detroit got together and put out a self guided tour. I tried to visit some and found most closed and locked. (One permanently so). They sure have some magnificent church buildings though. Anyone know which ones are open when and which are the most interesting?

That was a very funny post by the way.


We went to a mudhens game once. It was far more entertaining than big league ball. The mudhens mascot ate one of the opposing players and then defecated him out with nothing on but his boxers. It was very funny.

I just learned that there is a Dodgers AA team somewhere in Michigan. My son is a dodgers nut. Does anyone know anything about this team?

Thanks for more good ideas. Someone should write a book. Not me, I am too opinionated and I do not like shopping.

[and the]

Ft. Wayne is closed until April. There will probably be something going on then. What? Who knows. As far as whether it's a worthwhile tour, most buildings are just emply hulks with broken windows. I'm sure you can't get into most of the living quarters. The stables look closed up. It might be worthwhile to see what kind of view you can get of Zug island from the shorline.....There is a Tuskegee Airman museum there, but they're looking for a new location for it. Here's what it looks like today from Jefferson:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/NormanYan007/tn_DSC_0073.jpg (broken link)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/NormanYan007/tn_DSC_0082.jpg (broken link)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/NormanYan007/tn_DSC_0059.jpg (broken link)