Detroit

March 07, 2018

Detroit

The Detroit area has a lot to offer families. We live a few hours away and try to visit the city every year. We have had some amazing times in the Motor city and know that your family will love it too.

Detroit Institute of Art - This is a world class museum. They have all the big names in art. It was the first art museum in the United States to buy a Van Gogh. It's a beautiful building and my kids love the courtyard cafe there too.

Diego Rivera's fresco

Medieval Chapel

Rodin

Tiles from the gates of Ishtar

Van Gogh

Detroit Zoo - The Detroit zoo has a lot of great exhibits. The polar bear area is a favorite and we love the free roaming peacocks. They have an area where you can walk next to uncages kangaroos. They don't have many cages it's alot of open enclosures.

Gorillas

walking around with the Kangaroo

Free roaming peacock

Sports teams- Lions, and Tigers, and Red Wings oh my! Detroit has 3 professional teams that have stadiums downtown. We love Comerica Park in the summer. They have a carousel and Ferris wheel my kids love as well as all they fun of a ball park.

Greek Town - We love hearing OPA and getting the flaming cheese when we go to Greek town. The food is so good and the casino parking garage often has free parking. The food is always so good.

Greektown restaurants

The Riverwalk - In the summer time our kids love playing in the fountains on the riverwalk. We like to watch the boats on the river and often they have concerts or other events in this area.

Outdoor Adventure Center - This place is so much fun and it only costs a few dollars to get in. The DNR wanted to have a play area to encourage kids to be curious about nature.

Getting Around downtown- We love the people mover. It only cost 75 cents and it takes you on a loop of the city. Our kids always love riding it.

Underground Railroad museum - This place is fantastic. It's a church that has a living museum in their basement. You can't take any pictures on the experience. You receive your "chains" (wristband) when you arrive and then you experience what it was like using the undergound railroad. The church was a main stop on the actual underground rail.

Detroit Historical Museum - This is a great museum to get a full picture of the history of the city of Detroit. It doesn't take long but they have some cool exhibits. It's a wonderful place to explore and leaern.

Legoland and Sea life- These are outside the city but not far away. They are both in a mall and you can get combo tickets to enjoy both. My kids love the exhibits and rides. We homeschool so we have taken advantage of their homeschool specials. Their is also a rainforest cafe in the mall too.

Greenfield Village - This is where history really comes to life. Make sure to buy the ride pass so you can ride all day in the modle T the horse pulled carriage and the train. At the village you'll find the Wright brothers bike shop, Thomas Edision's work shop, Websters' home along with tons of other exhibits. We also love the industry themed playground.

horse and carriage

industry themed playground

colonial home teaching the kids how to spin wool

Thomas Edison's workshop

A ride in the modle T

Ford Museum - Henry Ford was a collector. And this is his collection and it's amazing. Every day at the museum they build a modle T that the guests help assemble. They also have all the Ford made presidetial cars and the chair Abraham Lincoln was shot in. They have a few play areas for younger kids.