Summer is flying by faster than we all wish it would - here’s hoping it’ll slow up a bit so we can fully enjoy it! Before the season of warmth fades away, be sure to get to checking off as many of the items here that you can. This is your ultimate Detroit Summer Bucket List. Romanticize it!
This bucket list features a top 10 treasure trove of Detroit's finest summer offerings!
10. Family Bike Ride Around Belle Isle
Bring your bicycle to Belle Isle, and bask in the glory of biking around this beautiful island. Enjoy this trip with your family, friends, or make it a special date with someone you love dearly. Whatever the case, be sure you pack sunscreen, bug repellent, and water for sipping! Stay hydrated out there - if this summer has been one thing, it’s a great big heat wave after another.
9. Raise Your Vibe at Spirit Plaza
Spirit Plaza is home to the very pulse of our heart and soul in downtown Detroit. It makes perfect sense that the space is also the center of so many amazing, free events all summer long. From Dancing in the D events to Fitology every Saturday, there is always something fun happening at Spirit Plaza. Check it out anytime!
8. Dreamy Picnic in the Parks
Detroit is home to so many incredibly beautiful parks. On July 19, we will celebrate the ribbon cutting of Marlowe Stoudamire Park—in honor and loving memory of the proud Detroiter and visionary leader, Marlowe Stoudamire.
Seven parks here are home to seasonal splash pads - Clark Park, Jayne-Lasky Park, Palmer Park, Peterson Park, Riverside Park, Rouge Park, and Williams Park from 12-8 p.m. daily.
Make it a point to pack a pretty basket full of fresh fruit, fun snacks, and refreshing drinks. Grab a great outdoor blanket to spread out on the grass under a tall, shady tree. Set up your Spotify playlist for a peaceful day in the park. Don’t forget a juicy book or two, and a great friend or family member, plus a pet if it’s not too hot! And bring water for the furry friends, too.
A picnic in the park is medicinal. This is the sweet stuff that summer is made for. Enjoy it! Revel in it. Breathe in the beauty all around us. Aside from the cost of snacks, it’s a completely free thing to do, and we should all have it at the top of our ultimate summer bucket lists for the sake of health and happiness, because we deserve to prioritize our well-being. Summer is the season of thriving vitality - so let’s be one with it.
Pro Tip: Leave your phone on Do Not Disturb. Less screen time, more sky time. Lie down on the blanket to watch the fluffy clouds float by. That is one free form of meditation that truly changes lives for the better. Give it a try!
7. Treat Yourself to a Trip to Eastern Market
Speaking of health and vitality, one major way to treat yourself this summer's with a trip to Detroit’s iconic, historic staple, Eastern Market. Support all kinds of creative, small business owners who offer incredibly fresh, local produce, delicious honey, lovely crafts and unique Detroit creations. If you are looking for a signature keepsake that is totally Detroit, Eastern Market is the place to find it. Plus, if you arrive feeling hungry, thirsty, tired, or all three, you’ll also see lots of hot and fresh food vendors, phenomenal food trucks, coffee shops, and restaurants all around Eastern Market. Enjoy!
6. Delight in the Detroit River
Plenty of restaurants are dotted along the Detroit River. Make it a special event when you dock up to dine! Rent a boat or enjoy a ride on one of the many party boats that coast along the river. From The Highlands at the tippy top of the Ren Cen for the finest of dining experiences with an incredibly spectacular view from the 72nd floor, to Andiamo on the main floor, the options are endless and positively wonderful. Enjoy eating a lovely meal on the water for an extra special summer dining experience.
5. Huddle Up! It’s Ice Cream SZN
Huddle is home to the coolest ice cream cones around town, and they have a message: It’s custard season! Go and get your swirl on with a classic chocolate and vanilla twist on a waffle cone, or whatever ice cream flavor speaks to your soul, be it mint chocolate chip or something extra special with sprinkles on top. Huddle has it on tap, at the ready, and this is the cone that will rock your world all summer long. Catch them serving up the softest of smooth ice cream at their two locations - downtown and in the West Village.
4. A Day at the Museum
Detroit is home to so many incredible museums. From the iconic DIA to the fascinating Michigan Science Center, which is right by the Wright Museum, there is no shortage of rich culture, vibrant art, and world history here in the D. Enjoy a trip to the museum on a rainy summer day, or when it’s just a tad too hot to meander outside, and you need a few hours of good quality AC. Take a day to mosey inside a museum - you’ll find it’s a dignified place to be.
Pro tip: Try all three at a discounted rate with the Detroit Culture Pass!
3. Enjoy Festivals at Hart Plaza
Detroit is home to cultural festivals all summer long - so many of which happen here at Hart Plaza. The beloved annual events include Movement Electronic Music Festival, the African World Festival, celebrating African heritage with music, dance, food, and art. The Arab & Chaldean Festival, the Ribs R&B Music Festival, and Detroit Jazz Festival are also held at Hart Plaza, along with the Arriba! Latino Festival, plus plenty more.
2. Kayak Along the Detroit River
Take a little summer joyride along the Detroit River in a kayak! This is one fun, unique way to explore Detroit and enjoy the city’s offerings by getting out on the water. Two ways to rent a kayak easily are with Detroit River Sports or Belle Isle Park. They offer plenty of rental options for various times and types of kayaks based on your needs and preferences. Have fun, and remember to wear sunscreen! The summer sun hits extra strong on the water.
1. Make Reservations for a Rooftop Rendezvous
Before the summer ends, check out the many exquisite rooftop dining options on offer here in Detroit. Make reservations to revel in a rooftop dining experience! Some of the best rooftop restaurants we have here in Detroit include The Monarch Club for world-class, exceptional fine dining. The Book Tower is home to Kamper’s, which boasts being the city’s largest upscale rooftop bar. Then there is The IO Godfrey Rooftop Lounge, which offers a chic sanctuary in the sky right in the heart of Corktown. Maybe try all three and see which one you like best!
It’s only summer here in Detroit for a short time - let’s make the most of it! We hope this ultimate Detroit summer bucket list helps you do just that. Cheers to a beautiful summer in the D. Enjoy!
