What to Do:
Get the skinny on "The D" by taking “The Good, The Bad and The Hopeful bus tour from Feet on the Street. The three-hour adventure visits the downtrodden East Side area, but makes a stop at the beautifully bizarre Heidelberg Project—an outdoor art statement of urban plight. You’ll also learn about Detroit's history and see the city’s many revitalization efforts including the new five-mile Riverwalk project.
Visitors of all hues should head to the fascinating Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the largest of its kind in the country. It’s located in the museum heavy Cultural Center area so make a day of it and check out the Detroit Institute of Arts as well.
Saturday’s bear witness to Detroit’s melting pot scene at the huge outdoor Eastern Market, where Detroiters--from Indian to Jewish suburbanites come together to scoop up the bountiful state’s fruit and veg.
The food scene is another rainbow of flavors. Try flambéed saganaki at Greektown’s Pegasus Tavern, savor soul food for a song at Southern Fires, or pop in to Roma’s, Detroit's oldest Italian restaurant, and get a touch of Soprano-like ambiance with your pasta. But don’t leave the city without tasting a Coney, a natural casing hot dog smothered with chili, sweet onions and mustard. Many locals will steer you to American Coney Island, serving the dogs for over 90years.
Sound Sleep:
The gigantic RenCen (local speak for Renaissance Center) is General Motors’ headquarters and also houses the towering Marriott. Its downtown location is a major perk, fronting the Riverwalk and rooms offering center views of Windsor, Ontario. It’s also within walking distance of many of the cities best attractions.
Insider Tip:
Sounds silly, but in this town it doesn’t hurt to make sure your rental car is an American model, if just to blend with the crowd. Rent a Hyundai and you risk getting it smashed. Just kidding. Sorta.
Save tons on parking fees by stashing your ride in the $3-per-day GM lot near the RenCen. Use the car to explore areas like Mexican Town and Hamtramck during the day and at night park your car and use the People Mover train (only 50 cents a ride!) to hit spots such as Comerica Park (home to Detroit Tigers), the Detroit Opera House and the Grand Circus Park entertainment district.
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