Things to do and places to shop or eat, in and around Detroit, in 2018 (Sterling Heights: fit in)

[Geo-Aggie]

Often people come here asking "What can I do in Detroit this weekend while I'm there?", and "Where should I eat?" and "Is it safe to go do stuff in Detroit while I'm visiting?", so I thought it'd be fun to have a post where we share our favorite activities to do in Detroit - all of these things on my post I've tried and never felt unsafe or experienced any issues, so give them a try if they sound fun. I also want to point out that I'm pulling this idea from another source, but the text and highlights are my own words and I've expanded this to include a few suburban highlights. It's definitely unique enough to not be "cross-posting".

Now, with that clarified, certainly this is not an all inclusive list and I'm barely scratching the surface while biasing it toward things I personally like to do, so I want to see other posters chime in with their favorites.

Entertainment, Museums, & Attractions

Detroit Institute of Arts, Midtown, Detroit - Not just an art museum. This gem is full of artifacts from civilizations spanning the globe and all of written history from the Sumerians to Medieval Europe, to Industrial America. Free for Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb county residents.
The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village, Dearborn - It's a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex and a National Historic Landmark. An absolute must for any car lover.
Belle Isle, Detroit - This is the most visited state park in the state. For years it was known as a place of decay and blight, but today it's a safe, welcoming place to have a picnic, visit the nation's oldest aquarium, and hang out in a beautiful conservatory.
Eastern Market, Eastern Market, Detroit - This is the largest open-air farmer's market in Michigan and one of the largest in the country. Seeing Eastern Market on a Saturday is a must. The worst part is finding parking.
Campus Martius, Downtown, Detroit - A beautiful downtown park, right in the center of the city. Always an event or two going on, and a great place to relax and watch the city.
Motown Museum, New Center, Detroit - The original Hitsville studios, which had produced a long string of worldwide hits and was the birthplace of Motown.
Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak - Only 2 miles north of the city, this 125 acre sprawling zoo is full of exciting exhibits, including the coolest penguin house you'll ever visit.
Michigan Science Center, Midtown, Detroit - See hands-on exhibits, IMAX Dome, Planetarium, "mad" scientists with liquid nitrogen and lightning. Great for kids and adults who are kids at heart.
Outdoor Adventure Center, Riverfront, Detroit - Experience going "up north" from the city, in case you don't actually have the time or ability to get up north.
Cranbrook Art & Science Museums, Bloomfield Hills - A beautiful sprawling campus in the most upscale part of the metro houses an art museum, science center, and a beautiful mansion with public gardens.

Shopping/Retail

Third Man Records, Midtown, Detroit - An independent record label founded in 2001. Live music, cool atmosphere, vinyl records are sold and made here.
Pure Detroit, Kind of a series of stores located throughout Detroit - You can go on free guided tours of historical Art Deco buildings such as the Guardian, New Center One, Fisher Building, and others. Also, mostly a gift shop.
Woodward Corridor, Downtown, Detroit - aruguably the nicest, most urban shopping in the area
Avenue of Fashion, Livernois and Outer Drive - shopping district off the beaten path. It's an area seeing lots of reinvestment. Check it out before it's too cool.
Suburban "Downtown" Sectors, Southeast Oakland County - Streetcar suburbs like Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Berkley all have their quaint, walkable Downtowns full of eclectic shops and restaurants catering to their respective suburbanite demographics. Worth checking out if you want a less urban and more laid back experience.
Somerset Collection, Troy - Personally, I hate malls, but as far as malls go this one is pretty nice. If upscale, luxury malls are your thing, give it a look.

Food/Beer/Coffee

Loui's Pizza, Hazel Park - If you want to try Detroit Style Pizza, this is where you need to go. Actually, even if you don't traditionally like pizza, you should go here and have a pizza. It's that good.
"Coney Islands", literally everywhere - As a relative outsider I'm still not sure how there are just so many of these restaurants, but they all sell solid Americana style food at an affordable price and they rarely disappoint.
Supino Pizzeria, Eastern Market, Detroit - Arguably the Best NY style pizza in the city, delicious fresh ingredients
Slow's BBQ, Corktown, Detroit - BBQ that made Corktown relevant again and spawned an entire neighborhood of cool hipster places to eat.
Mercury Bar, Corktown, Detroit - Burgers, beer, great atmosphere.
Jolly Pumpkin, - Pizza, beer, grungy-but-attractive industrial atmosphere.
Atwater Brewing, Riverfront, Detroit - It's on the river and they make beer. Do you really need more reason to visit?
Woodbridge Pub, Woodbridge, Detroit - A fun pub scene in a neighborhood that's a great mix of Old Detroit and New Detroit
Ready Player One, Downtown, Detroit - Play some arcade games, drink beer, eat a burger on a donut. You'll go home happy.
Great Lakes Coffee Roasting, Midtown, Detroit - Waaayy better than a Starbucks or Dunkin. Have something sweet or try one of their many handpour brews.
Atomic Coffee, Royal Oak - Fancy lattes, handpours, expensive juice concoctions, with patio seating and an open-air atmosphere 3 seasons of the year
Hudson Cafe Downtown, Detroit - The best breakfast in the city, if you ask me.
O.W.L, Royal Oak - The best breakfast in the suburbs, if you ask me. Unique and fancy, but rather affordable.
Polish Village Cafe, Hamtramck - Home cooked Polish food. If you're going to Hamtramck, go here.
Vinsetta Garage, Berkley - A converted garage serving burgers and American food with a progressive twist. My favorite place to eat in Berkley. Good luck finding parking.
Ernie’s Market, Oak Park - The sandwiches are fresh and won't fit in your mouth. Good luck!
Shatila Bakery, Dearborn - You can get a sandwich, but you're going here for the baklava.

Again, I've barely scratched the surface of the great offerings in and around Detroit, so please add your own favorite attractions, shopping, and dining.

[Coldjensens]

You forgot Bucharest Grill. The best food bargain in the City.

When it is nice out, just walking through Greektown or Campus Martius is great and you can always find something cool to eat.

[Jomz]

Is there an elevator which you could take to the top of Ren-Cen and see Windsor?

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by Jomz

Is there an elevator which you could take to the top of Ren-Cen and see Windsor?

I am not sure since the restaurant closed. I think it re-opened for a time and then possibly closed again. Back in the good old days, the restaurant was a giant turntable and slowly turned while you dined. Unless you gulp your food, you would get four or more revolutions through dinner. It was really neat.

If you can no longer get to the 70th or whatever floor of the hotel, you may be able to get to the 44th floor or thereabouts just standing by the elevator for one of the office towers and asking for someone to take you up. (I would do it if I had time when people asked when I worked there, but it was only 34th floor - still a nice view of Windsor). Yo also may find yourself escorted out of the building by security, but that does not hurt you any.


If you want to find out about the elevator to the old restaurant in the center tower, call the Marriott and ask them. They should know if you can get up there. You could also come for the Firemen's run and look out the windows as you go. (Google Detroit reconnaissance center fireman's run).

[MS313]

This thread can honestly be split into 4 different season because what I do for fun in the winter is alot different from what I do for fun in the summer. I'm personally biased on things that I like to do but I think that's how it is for most people. Not to be rude but when people come on the forum asking these questions they have to be more specific on what they like to do or use google and see what's going on around the city.

Entertainment:
There are a large number of different things to do for entertainment. For example there are literally endless events that go on around the region especially in the warmer months and during the holidays. If anyone is wondering about interesting things going on look at online resources like Eventbrite, Metrotimes, VisitDetroit, Detroit Eventful, Hour Detroit, Yelp, ect and social media like Facebook (type Detroit events in on the search bar and click "see all"). New things are added to these type of sites daily. Things like festivals, concerts, club nights, parties, ect. That stuff alone will gives you a wide variety of different options.

Other places I like to go for fun:
Ready One Player, CJ Berrymore, Lucky Strikes, Fowling, Red Oaks waterpark, the number of Metroparks and beaches, Novi Putting Edge (glow in the dark golf), Revolution (largest laser tag in MI), Oasis (indoor/ outdoor hot tub place), Emagine theaters (Royal Oak and Novi locations, they have cuddle chairs which is perfect for dates and they will also deliver your food and drinks to you so you don't have to miss the movie. All locations serve alcohol and have recliner chairs as well), Belle Isle, Riverwalk, Campus Martius (right now it's an outdoor skating rink in the summer there is always stuff going on like free concerts), the casinos (which often has things going on and live bands as well), Greektown (Monroe St) on weekend nights in the summer, strip clubs, rooftop clubs/ bars, skating, ect. I honestly can't even really think of everything right now, I do new stuff all the time. It honestly might be easier to just name things that you can't do in Detroit, like I wish there was a place to go Indoor Skydiving somewhere around here (that will probably change soon though).

Shopping:
Somerset, Great Lakes Crossing, Twelve Oaks top 3. Great Lakes is a huge outlet mall but also a entertainment center, they have a bowling alley and barcade in there now, Legoland, an aquarium, and Rainforest Cafe.
Eastland and Fairlane cater more towards black fashion.
Partridge Creek, Birch Run Outlets, Village of Rochester Hills, Fountain Walk, Greek Oak Village, Frankenmuth, and Howell Premium outlets are all outdoor malls that are pretty nice. I know I left some out.
Al Wissam store in Dearborn on Michigan Ave is a homemade high end brand that sells mostly coats.
Nojo Kicks, Sneaker Legends, Burn Rubber, Bob's Classic Kicks, sell alot of exclusive sneakers (some cost over $1,000 for a pair of shoes), I know I'm leaving some out in this category as well.

Museums:
Geo covered that pretty well, I don't usually go to museums but I'll add the African American History museum to his list as well.

Food: There's a entire thread on this. I'll leave a link to it although it's a bit outdated. Edit: Can't find the thread no more, I don't remember what it's called but if anyone can find it it's a pretty good read.

[Nattering Heights]

Bicycling: Stoney Creek Metropark in Shelby Township has a Black Diamond trail and some others with easier riding. All metroparks have some sort of bike path. Metropark admission is currently $10 with a car, or free if you ride in. Bloomer Park in Rochester has trails and a velodrome. Nearby are Yates Park with more trails and Yates Cider Mill, with ride fuel. Dodge Park and Clinton River Park in Sterling Heights have a trail network, paved and unpaved, with a few obstacles for skilled riders. There is a 23 mile paved path from Richmond to Rochester, the Macomb Orchard Trail. Macomb and Wayne County are mostly flat. The hilly riding is mostly in Oakland County.

Music: The one I know is The Magic Bag in Ferndale. It's a concert venue and cinema, with wood seats and beer. Other places closed and I never went to any venues in Pontiac.

[Incant1959]

Thanks, I'm planning to visit next year, this is a great list.

[Samantha7V]

Pure Detroit offers tours of the Fisher building and Guardian building for FREE Saturdays and Sundays.