Bleisure Travelers Can Find Balance While Attending a Conference at Suburban Collection Showplace

Story by Sarah Bence

Are you heading to a conference at the Suburban Collection Showplace in metro Detroit? This exposition and conference center, located in Novi, is the largest in the state, with over 55 acres of land and plenty of meeting and banquet hall space.

Stay the night at the Hyatt Place Detroit/Novi which is conveniently attached to the conference center for a stress-free commute.

Once the basics of your trip are booked, though, you may wonder what there is to do in metro Detroit beyond meetings, meetings, and more meetings. If you’re a fan of bleisure (business + leisure) travel, you will love these activities in the nearby Novi, Northville, and Farmington Hills areas to bring some balance back to your work travel.

Start the day with a specialty coffee

Begin your day with some caffeine – from a small, local specialty coffee shop rather than a generic coffee machine in your hotel room. No.VI Coffee and Tea is just two minutes away from the conference center. You can order everything from a classic cappuccino to a Kyoto cold brew, bonfire mocha, matcha latte, decadent hot chocolate, etc. Other specialty coffee shops worth visiting nearby include Moose Pastry and Tea, The Red Dot Coffee Co., and The Tuscan Café.

Eat at an old school diner

Only a three-minute drive from Suburban Collection Showcase in Novi, you will find the distinctive Grand Diner. This family-owned 1950s-era diner is a pure slice of Americana and a great place to grab breakfast before a day of meetings (they open at 7 am), or alternatively, take your colleagues for a casual lunch break. With breakfast and milkshakes served all day, what’s not to love?

Get outdoors at nearby parks

During a break in meetings, head to one of the nearby parks or hiking trails for some fresh air. In Novi, you will find Lakeshore Park, the largest park in the city with 10 miles of trails and beaches along Walled Lake. It is beautiful in all seasons. The Robert H. Long Nature Park is another good option, with a covered bridge and a wheelchair-accessible trail around Berry Lake.

Sweat it out at a local yoga studio

If you have an extra 1-2 hours, consider visiting a local yoga studio to let off some steam. Within 15 minutes drive of the conference center, you can find Empower Yoga in Northville, and Bodhi Yoga and Thrive Hot Yoga in Farmington Hills.

Indulge in retail therapy

Alternatively, spend that 1-2 hour break indulging in some well-deserved retail therapy. Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi has over 200 stores, including favorites like Nordstrom, Lululemon, Crate & Barrel, Apple Store, Coach, Kate Spade, and more. This is a shopping destination people travel across the metro area (and beyond) to visit, so well worth a stop while in Novi.

Pay your respects at the Zekelman Holocaust Center

In Farmington Hills, you will find the renowned Zekelman Holocaust Center. With an extra couple of hours in your bleisure itinerary, this is a good way to incorporate some culture and history. Tours are offered at 1 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and a Holocaust survivor speaks every Sunday at 12pm – something not to be missed. The memorial center and museum are not only educational and memorable but inspiring and sobering.

Get your game on at Paradise Park

Do you need to balance out work with some silliness and fun? Plan a team-building event at Paradise Park in Novi. This amusement center features go-karts, laser tag, mini-golf, trampolines, climbing walls, arcades, and more. They even specialize in offering corporate events – or you could opt to attend as a small group, instead.

Go out for dinner and drinks

For something a bit more refined, foodies will enjoy checking out the culinary scene in metro Detroit while in the area on business. Head out with a book for a peaceful solo dinner, or invite some colleagues for networking or rehashing the day. Check out one of these Novi area restaurants for the best experience.

Buddy's Pizza by Sarah Bence

Finally, if you decide to extend your time in Detroit, head to downtown Detroit where you can continue the bleisure adventure with plenty more restaurants, parks, museums, and experiences (in between work, of course).

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