To say that Detroit is a sports city is an understatement. Detroit is not just about professional sports, but the city is about catering to sports fans! The casinos, the major sports franchises, the food, the cars, and of course Motown, Detroit will amaze you before or after the game.
But let’s get to some basics first. To get a feel for the place, check out our Detroit videos.
When you get to the Big D, you’ll probably be flying Northwest/Delta airlines. Detroit Wayne Airport (or DTW) is a major hub for Northwest and you’ll find many nonstop flights from New York and other major gateway cities. From the airport, you can be in the center (by taxi in about 20 minutes). That said, renting a car is appropriate if your stay is longer than two days.
Just like any other major metropolitan city, Detroit has plenty of hotel options in all price ranges. However, I would plan on staying near the ballpark, Ford Field, or Fox Theatre. A couple of suggestions include: Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Hotel St Regis and the MGM Grand.
On your visit you should definitely visit Ford Field, it is the home of the Detroit Lions and was the site of Superbowl XL. You can take a public tour (for a small fee) and see the pitch, luxury boxes, press rooms, concessions and locker rooms of this legendary complex. Additionally, Comerica Park is a must-see sports attraction. According to the site: http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=det, tours run June through September also for a small fee. Come on tigers!
In case you didn’t know, Detroit is a city of games! You’ll find the Greektown Casino and the MGM Grand (just to name a few). If you like, pull up a chair in a poker room, double down at a Blackjack table, or just kick back with the one-armed bandits. Don’t miss Greektown for delicious Greek food and you can catch a show at the Fox Theater.
I’m not saying you HAVE TO, but I did spend one of my afternoons at the Henry Ford Museum! The Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is a fascinating place to learn about automotive history. You can take a ride in a real Model T and spend the afternoon watching a baseball game where they play by the original rules! It’s pretty impressive.
Have you ever heard of Motown? It was invented here. And even if a visit to the original Motown Museum isn’t your thing, Detroit is a city FILLED with lots of live music. From rap to rock and R&B to jazz, Detroit music is alive in almost every way.
Detroit was one of the biggest surprise destinations I have visited over the years. I was expecting an unsafe, rundown, crime-infested, rust-belt city. What I found is a city full of residents who are proud of their people, an infrastructure that is being renovated and many activities to complete the program from day 1. Enjoy the Big D!
