Visiting Detroit in Aug and need help (Dearborn, Cadillac: rent, mover)

[SupernovaDD]

Thanks in advance for reading and responding.

So I am visiting Detoit for the first time. I don't really have an agenda or any specific interests, and even though I've been doing some research and have been going through this forum, I'm still at a loss regarding where I should stay and what I should for sure do while there. Two things about me, I am an AA female traveling alone and I don't drive, so will be dependent on public transportation (which I understand is fairly limited) and my legs. Taxis will work as well, but some posts/people (not just on this board) are making it seem like that may be a problem as well.

My main reason for coming to the D is to just get a feel of the place. I became interested because I recently became obsessed with Eminem. I know some people feel he's not even really from Detroit and is not necessarily its most appropriate spokesperson, but he (and other local hip hop artists) put the city on the map for me. I am also attracted to the idea of the underdog city that's trying to get its feet back on the ground and where people are invested in fighting rather than give up, and if you all did not have those terrible winters I might come and help :-). But maybe after visiting, I'll find other ways to support you.

Anyway, any tips on hotels, restaurants, activities are welcome.

[detwahDJ]

I'm repetitive here, but the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn is interesting and has a flavor of Detroit & Americana.
Current Exhibits There is more than this page shows btw.
The SMART bus system has easy connections to downtown.
http://www.smartbus.org/smart/Ride%20SMART/Doc/NewSmartMap.pdf (broken link)
I can't speak to the current hip hop scene...

[strumpeace]

Do not miss the Charles Wright Museum of African American History! I went there when I visited Detroit and was stunned by the quality of the museum. It made me quite emotional and was well worth the time and the small entrance fee.

[Coldjensens]

With no trasportation, you should probably stay downtown. Can you afford the Book Cadillac or the Fort Shelby?

Take a bus or train out the Henry Ford/Greenfield Villiage for a day at least it is an all day thing.

IN the CIty you will mostly have to walk and ride the people mover. Things you ought to see include Eastern Market (preferable Saturday Morning), Greektown, Ren Cen and Riverwalk, Fisher Building, Guardian Building , the DIA, Possibly WSu campus (old main is the neatest building left there), Mowtown museum, Get a tour and learn otehr neat places that you want to visit. There are some great hole in the wall eateries. Slow's Barbque is pretty much a must. THe German place that has been there forever is rally neat (somone will post the name i cannto remember right now), Bangledesch or whatever that hole in the wall restuaruant that is so popular (someone will correct that name as well.

Nights are more problematic. Take a cab or the people mover. Cabs can be scary and gross chose carefully. Some good options are a tiger game. a show at the Gem or Fox or Fischer theater, Friday night has free concerts in fron of the Ren Cen on the waterfront. Do not go walking around at night unless you know where you are going. You might be better off taking one of the metro cars or other more expensive cab type things. Cabs here are more gross than dangerous, but I suppose that they could be risky for a young woman alone. Some of the cab drivers are downright scary, some are great people.

At some point you will want ot visit a pure Detroit store. The newish artists place wherever it is (been there twice, I have no idea where it is or what it is called though). Guided tours are a great way to find places to go back to. Look up online for guided tours with transportation.

[RingWalk]

Jacoby's.

[Utahooligan]

I lived/worked in downtown Detroit in the late 1990s/early 2000s. In fact, I lived there while they were filing the movie '8 Mile,' & I saw some of the sets & filming.

The best suggestion I can offer is to make friends on-line with other Detroit-area Eminem fans. Once you've done the best you can to ensure they're not creeps, etc. plan on meeting-up with them while you're in the area & have them show you around the area & maybe attend a concert with them at The Shelter/St Anthony's Hall, drive down 8 Mile Rd, visit Belle Isle (in the daytime only!!!), etc.

Assuming you do have a modicum of common-sense, downtown Detroit is pretty safe (in terms of violent crime) during the day, but as the song goes, the freaks come out at night, and other than the downtown area, the city has a pretty high crime-rate (violent crimes & property crimes) 24/7, with relatively slow police response.

If you're coming to Detroit because of an interest in Eminem, it'd seem like you're going to want to get a feel for some of the dirtier, ghetto areas and not just the usual touristy stuff like the RenCen, Fox Theater, etc. (every major city has stuff like that -- not every major city has the 'gritty' stuff that Detroit has an overabundance of).

So get with a group of savvy SE Michigan people who know Detroit & are willing to show you some of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Ideally, cross the border into Windsor Canada, or Grosse Point Michigan & be amazed by how much nicer things can be & are, just outside of Detroit city limits.

[ForStarters]

Here is my travel map of Detroit: The Detroit Map - Google Maps It is fairly comprehensive, and includes most of the things anyone would want to see while visiting Detroit.

Also, this is a list I made for a couple of British guys who may come here for a football game, but it works for you as well.

Anyways, as far as other activities, there are a quite a few, so I suppose it depends on what you're interested in.

1. If you're interested in the history of Detroit, I would recommend the Detroit Historical Museum, the Charles Wright Museum of African American History, and the Motown Museum.
   

2. If you are interested in the history of the American automotive industry, I'd highly suggest the Ford Rouge Factory Tour in Dearborn, or visiting the Ford Model-T Piquette Plant.
   

3. If you are into American history, then Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn are truly unparalleled, world-class attractions, so plan on spending 5 hours or more.
   

4. If you are interested in architecture, specifically 1920s American Art Deco and buildings designed by Detroit legend Albert Kahn, I would suggest the walking tour offered by Inside Detroit.
   

5. If you are interested in fine art and archeological artifacts, then you should visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, which is the city's flagship museum.
   

6. If you are into edgy, or contemporary art, then check out MOCAD or CPOP. The city has about a dozen independent art galleries, so I won't go through them all, but here's a list: Michigan Art Galleries and Michigan Gallery Guide
   

7. If you have refined tastes and want to see a live performance, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is one of the best in the world, or you can see what's playing at the Opera House, Music Hall, Gem and Century Theatres, or one of the other theaters in the city.
   

8. If you are interested in rare and expensive antiques, stop in and browse Dumouchelle Gallery.
   

9. If you are into live music, you might consider buying tickets in advance to a show at St. Andrew's Hall, Majestic Theatre, Fox Theater, or the Fillmore Detroit Theater.
   

10. Many bars also offer live music, including Motor City Wine, Old Shaleighleigh, Lager House, Cliff Bells, U Detroit Cafe, and Hard Rock Detroit.
    

11. If you want to see a comedy routine, check out City Theatre.
    

12. If you are a gambling man, Detroit has three first-rate casinos: Greektown Casino, MGM Grand Casino, and Motor City Casino.
    

13. If you want to spend some time outdoors, you can rent bikes from Wheelhouse Detroit and cruise the Riverwalk or spend some time on Belle Isle, the largest city park in North America. If you go to Belle Isle, you would be remissed not to visit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (http://www.bibsociety.org/images.htm - broken link), which was designed by Albert Kahn in 1902 and patterned after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Gorgeous.
    

14. If you want to spend some time on the water, consider doing a Diamond Jack's Boat Tour or spending an evening eating dinner and having drinks on the Detroit Princess Riverboat.

[accidentalhippie]

I am also visiting Detroit in August (5th, 6th and 10th), while visiting with family in Toledo. I'm seriously considering relocating to the city next year to be part of the urban homesteading and grassroots urbanism scenes there.

If anyone has any suggestions for child-friendly activities, I would love to know about those too, as I have a 16 month old.

Thanks!

[SupernovaDD]

Thanks so much guys for all of the tips.

Looking forward to just checking out the city. Even if I don't get the hip hop experience this time. I'm sure I'll be back one day for Em's next concert on home territority. I'll definitely do the AA museum. Unfortunately I get into Detroit too late on Sunday, otherwise I'd love to have gone to a church service as well. I'm looking very forward to it. Not scared off at all by all the people on this board who make Detroit seem like a city in Afghanistan or the people in Seattle who look at me like I'm crazy when I say I'm visiting.

[MICoastieMom]

Not exactly hip-hop, but where the music that inspired hip-hop was made. Hitsville USA, the Motown Museum where Barry Gordy, Smokey, Aretha, Stevie, Diana, and Marvin made that wonderful music.