One-Day Itinerary
You’re spending the day in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood, so start with breakfast at Avalon International Bakery (422 W. Willis St.), well-known for its amazing artisan and largely organic baked goods, and just west of the major attractions.
The Detroit Institute of Arts (5200 Woodward Ave.), The New Detroit Science Center (5020 John R), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (315 E. Warren), the Detroit Film Theatre and the Detroit Historical Museum (5401 Woodward Ave.) are all in Midtown and each could satisfy a full-day’s visit. Choose whichever one grabs you, and get ready to be wowed.
Afterward, head to American Masala (51 W. Hancock) for an authentic Indian lunch. It’s on the campus of Wayne State University, so you’ll also have a chance to walk through the grounds of one of America’s leading universities.
Take a ride north on Jefferson Avenue to Pewabic Pottery (10125 E. Jefferson Ave.), a world-renowned ceramics studio in a charming Arts and Crafts building that is also a National Historic Landmark. If you’ve got the time, continue north on Jefferson Ave. as it winds along the shores of sparkling Lake St. Clair and past the stately mansions of the Grosse Pointes, one of the country’s wealthiest enclaves.
 | Detroit has the best gaming outside of Las Vegas, so head back toward downtown to either Greektown (555 E. Lafayette), MGM Grand Detroit (1300 John C. Lodge) or MotorCity (2901 Grand River Ave.) casinos. All three have ample free parking and non-stop action. Each casino also boasts a high-end restaurant and plenty of entertainment. |
End your night with a stein of beer at Dakota Inn Rathskeller (17324 John R) the city’s only authentic German bar and a Detroit institution since 1928. The Dakota Inn is at its best on weekends when a piano player belts out tunes that usually inspire raucous sing-a-longs.
Two-Day Itinerary
Drive west to Dearborn — home of the largest population of Arab Americans outside the Middle East — for a visit to The Henry Ford (20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn), a mammoth history destination that encompasses five distinct attractions: Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center, and The Henry Ford IMAX Theater.
Have lunch at one of the restaurants on the Henry Fords’ grounds (the Wienermobile Café at Henry Ford Museum is a favorite) or take a trip to Miller’s Bar (23700 Michigan Ave., Dearborn), whose burger was named by GQ magazine “one of the 20 burgers you must eat before you die.”
Drive back downtown and take a power nap before hitting historic Woodward Avenue, which stretches 27 miles from downtown Detroit to Pontiac (south to north) with lots of great attractions along the way. Heading north, stop at Garden Bowl (4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit), the home of Rock ‘n’ Bowl in Detroit and the nation’s oldest bowling center. It’s actually in a complex that also houses a restaurant, live music venue and pizza joint, so feel free to wander. About 10 miles down, hang a left on 9 Mile Road to explore small but action-packed downtown Ferndale with its eclectic, quirky shops and restaurants.
Another two miles north on Woodward Avenue you’ll hit downtown Royal Oak, one of Detroit’s hottest nightlife spots. (Most of the action is on Main Street, a few blocks east of Woodward). If you visit on a Wednesday in the summer — Harley Night — don’t be surprised to see Main Street lined with hogs and their leather-decked owners.
Grab a coffee or house-brewed tea from Sweetwater’s Café (108 S. Main St., Royal Oak) and stroll down Main Street and Washington Street to its west popping into the independent boutiques, shoe shops, record stores, and vintage shops that line the streets. Unwind with a handcrafted beer at Royal Oak Brewery (215 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak), which has a happening patio scene in the summer. If wine’s more your thing, don’t miss Vinotecca (417 S. Main St., Royal Oak) a stylish wine bar with lots of wine by the glass, shareable small plates and a friendly staff that’s knowledgeable enough to help you navigate it all.
Save room for dinner at Andiamo Italia (129 S. Main St., Royal Oak), the Royal Oak outpost of the area’s most popular local chain of family-owned, mid-scale Italian restaurants. You can’t go wrong with Andiamo’s cozy atmosphere and fantastic menu of homemade pastas, seafood and meat dishes.
