Detroit, Michigan

Metropolitan Detroit is an international destination for sporting events of all types; patrons enjoy their experience in world class venues. The Detroit Convention and Visitors bureau maintains the Detroit Metro Sports Commission. The city and region have state of the art facilities for major conferences and conventions.

Detroit is known as the world's "Automobile Capital" and "Motown" (for "Motor Town"), the city where Henry Ford pioneered the automotive assembly line, with the world's first mass produced car, the Model T. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt called Detroit, the "Arsenal of Democracy." Today, the region serves as the global center for the automotive world. Headquartered in metro Detroit, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler all have major corporate, manufacturing, engineering, design, and research facilities in the area. Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, among others, have a presence in the region. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is a global leader in research and development. Metro Detroit has made Michigan's economy a leader in information technology, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. Michigan ranks 4th nationally in high tech employment with 568,000 high tech workers, including 70,000 in the automotive industry. Michigan typically ranks among the top 3 states for overall Research & Development investment expenditures in the U.S. The domestic Auto Industry accounts directly and indirectly for one of every ten jobs in the U.S.

Downtown Detroit is unique -- an International Riverfront, ornate buildings, one of the nation's largest collection of pre-depression era skyscrapers, and the nation's third largest theater district. Many historic buildings have been converted into loft apartments, and over 60 new businesses have opened in the Central Business District over the past two years. Surrounding neighborhoods such as Corktown, home to Detroit's early Irish population, New Center,Midtown, and Eastern Market (the nation's largest open air market), are experiencing a revival. Detroit has a rich architectural heritage, from the restoration of the historic Book-Cadillac Hotel downtown to the Westin Detroit Hotel surrounded by the golden towers of the ulta-contemporary Southfield Town Center. Nearby, explore Somerset Collection in Troy, Metro Detroit's premier shopping mall with an award winning skywalk. Downtown Detroit features the Renaissance Center, including the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere, the Detroit Marriott, with the largest rooftop restaurant, the Coach Insignia. In 2005, Detroit's architecture was heralded as some of America's finest; many of the city's architecturally significant buildings are listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as among America's most endangered landmarks.

Get in

By plane

• Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) - This is the largest airport in the area and located in Romulus, about 20 minutes west of the city proper located at the junction between I-275 and I-94. It is a Northwest hub and features the recently opened McNamara Terminal.

By car

Several interstates converge in downtown Detroit. I-75 North/South runs from Toledo, Ohio up through to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-94 East/West comes from Chicago, Illinois and continues up to Sarnia. I-96 East/West heads to Lansing, Michigan. I-696 runs along the northern edge of the city, connecting the eastern suburbs (e.g. St. Clair Shores) to Southfield.

All of the interstates have gone through major overhauls in preparation for Detroit hosting the 2006 National Football League Super Bowl XL. Prior to this, the highways were in poor condition, but since 2004, the road conditions has improved.

As with any major city, traffic during rush hour can make travel really slow. This is especially aggravated during shift changes at the local automotive plants.

For smaller streets, the Detroit area is laid out in both grid and wheel-and-spoke configuration. This was due to first French development (wheel and spoke), followed by British development (grid). Mile roads run east-west, starting at downtown Detroit and increasing as you travel north. These mile roads may change name in different cities, so pay attention. There are also several spoke roads, including Woodward Ave, Michigan Ave, Gratiot Ave, and Grand River Ave.

Automobiles are virtually a necessity for travel in the Detroit area. Public transportation is practically non-existent when compared to other metropolitan areas of similar size.

By bus

• Greyhound
• Megabus from Chicago hub

By train

• Amtrak Train station is located at 11 W. Baltimore at the corner of Woodward Ave., Detroit.

Get around

Detroit suburbs spread over a large area, and getting around may prove to be difficult without a car. Nonetheless, an extensive highway system and ample parking make the region one of the most auto-friendly in North America.

Driving in Detroit can be confusing, especially downtown. The street plan of downtown Detroit, designed by Judge Augustus Woodward in the early 1800's, is patterned after Washington, D.C. and abandons the traditional grid design that dominates most American cities. Detroit has one of America's most modern freeway systems. See the Michigan Department of Transportation website for a current listing of downtown road closures and construction projects. The Detroit Department of Transportation also has a website.

Detroit has an abundance of taxi, limo, and shuttle services. Car rental prices are reasonable. Ask your auto insurance agent for a complementary Canadian insurance ID card, if you plan to drive to Windsor. When buying extra rental car insurance, you can ask for coverage to drive in Windsor.

SMART bus (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) provides a large number of transportation options.

In downtown, you can hop on the People Mover, an elevated rail system that runs a three mile loop between center-city attractions. Detroit Trolley travels along Jefferson Avenue and Washington Boulevard.

Transit Windsor travels back and forth through the tunnel with selected stops, call (519)944-4111 for fares. Some downtown hotels may offer shuttles to Windsor.

See

Detroit's historic mansions, neighborhoods, landmarks, and tours are too numerous to list.

Historic Mansions

• Berry Gordy House West Boston Boulevard at Third Avenue in the Boston-Edison neighborhood, Detroit.
• Cranbrook House and Gardens 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills. Public tours. Cranbrook House is part of the Cranbrook Kingswood Educational Community. The house belonged to the Booth Family, who founded the Cranbrook and Kingswood schools in the early 1900s. The house is currently used as an administrative office for the school. The gardens are extensive and open all year.
• David Whitney House, 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Now a fine restaurant.
• Edsel & Eleanor Ford House 1100 Lakeshore Dr., Grosse Pointe. Public tours.
• Grosse Pointe Historical Society Historic sites and homes.
• Grosse Pointe War Memorial, (Russell Alger Mansion) 32 Lake Shore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms. Public tours.
• Henry Ford Estate Dearborn. Often referred to as "Fairlane." Public tours.
• Colonel Frank Hecker House, 5510 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Offices.
• Meadow Brook Hall Rochester. Dodge House, located near Oakland University. Public tours.
• Lawrence P. Fisher Mansion 383 Lenox Ave., Detroit. Public tours.
• Palmer Woods Historic District A private historic neighborhood in the city of Detroit west of Woodward Ave. and north of Palmer Park.
• S.S Kresge House 70 West Boston Boulevard, Detroit.

Landmarks

• Ambassador Bridge
• Belle Isle the nation's largest island park with 983 acres designed by Frederick Olmstead, the beautiful James Scott Fountain designed by Cass Gilbert, the world's largest marble light house, a public beach, waterslide, playgrounds, tennis courts, sports fields, a 9 hole golf course and picnic areas. The Belle Isle Conservatory, the nation's oldest, houses one of the largest orchid collections, originally donated by Anna Scripps, who had saved the orchid species from the bombing of Britain during World War II. Belle Isle was used as a staging area by U.S. troops prior to Iwo Jima during World War II.
• Book Cadillac Hotel
• Cadillac Place State offices across from the Fisher Building in the historic New Center.
• Campus Martius Park
• Chene Park
• Country Club of Detroit 220 Country Club Dr., Grosse Pointe. Founded in 1897.
• Detroit International Riverfront Walk along the Riverwalk.
• Detroit Athletic Club 241 Madison Ave., Detroit. Private club.
• Detroit Zoo Royal Oak. Recognized as one of the top zoos in the nation, ride the train, walk through arctic ring of wildlife. This is a "must see."
• Fisher BuildingDetroit. Famous, beautiful lobby, a "must see" for architecture buffs.
• Fort Wayne
• Guardian Building Detroit. Famous for its beautiful lobby, it was used as headquarters for production during World War II.
• Grand Circus Park
• Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Lake Shore Dr., Grosse Pointe.
• Hart Plaza Site of the Dodge Fountain, Joe Louis Fist, and the Dock of Detroit.
• Heidelberg Project
• Historic Churches of Detroit
• Historic Tours of Detroit
• James Scott Fountain Belle Isle.
• Joe Louis Fist An inspiration to the United States
• Matthai Botanical Gardens, 1800 Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor.
• Michigan Central Station Awaiting restoration.
• Monuments of the City of Detroit, including Marshall Fredericks "The Spirit of Detroit" in front of the City-County Building, and the Soldier's and Sailor's Monument of the Civil War in Campus Martius Park.
• NextEnergy Center 461 Burroughs, Detroit. A center to develop hydrogen fuel cells and energy alternatives at Wayne State University's Tech Town.
• Old Mariner's Church of Detroit 170 E. Jefferson. The city's oldest gothic stone church.
• Renaissance Center, Detroit.
• Ruins
• St. Anne de Detroit 1000 St. Anne St. The 2nd oldest parish in the U.S.
• St. Aubins Park 1900 Atwater St. Detroit
• St. John's Episcopal Church I-75 & Woodward Ave., next to Comerica Park. Built in 1860.
• Tri-centennial State Park & Harbor, the first urban state park.
• Underground Railroad at the Second Baptist Church in Detroit
• Wayne County Building 600 Randolph St. Detroit. America's finest example of Roman Baroque architecture, built from 1896-1902. Restored.
• World's Largest Tire Built as a ferris wheel for the 19xx NYC Worlds Fair

Museums

• Automotive Hall of Fame Dearborn. Next to Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.
• Cranbrook Bloomfield Hills. Art Museum, Science Center, House & Gardens, 300 acre campus, and School.
• Charles Wright Museum of African American History 315 E Warren, Detroit. Next to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
• Chrysler Museum Auburn Hills.
• Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Avenue, 313-833-7900 CLOSED Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Currently offering free admission. Designed by Cass Gilbert. One of the top ranked art collections in America, this is a "must see." The DIA will be closed for renovations from May 28, 2007 until November 2007.
• Detroit Historical Museum 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit.
• Detroit Public Library 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Beautiful, designed by Cass Gilbert.
• Detroit Science Center & IMAX Theater 5020 John R., Detroit. Next to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
• Dossin Great Lakes Museum100 Strand, Belle Isle.
• GM Heritage Collection, 6400 Center Dr., Sterling Heights
• GM World Automotive display inside the Renaissance Center. Detroit.
• The Henry Ford(Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village with an IMAX Theater) Dearborn-- This is a "must see". A massive historical and entertainment complex, a leading attraction with a keen focus on innovations. Highlights include: Lincoln's chair, Rosa Park's bus, JFK's limos, original historic structures, nice shops, great food, and, not surprisingly, a spectacular history of the automobile collection that is a football field long. Visitors may have many entertaining experiences such as mini-shows, music, parades, train rides, and Model T rides.
• Michigan History Magazine
• Motown Historical Museum, Hitsville USA, 2648 West Grand Boulevard, 875-2264 (info@motownmuseum.com). Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM. The Motown Museum preserves the legacy of Motown Records, the record label that put Detroit on the world's music map. Located in label founder Berry Gordy, Jr.'s old home, the museum is hard to miss: Gordy's "Hitsville, USA" sign is still over the front door. $8.
• Motorsports Museum & Hall of Fame of America Novi.
• Pewabic Pottery Museum10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit. Phone: (313) 822-0954.
• Rearview Mirror from the Detroit News History of Detroit online.
• Selfridge Military Air Museum Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mt. Clemens.
• Underground Railroad at the First Congregational Church of Detroit, 33 E. Forest at Woodward Ave. Phone: (313) 831-4080.

Performing Arts

• Baker's Keyboard Lounge The world's oldest jazz club.

• Bonstelle Theater Wayne State University, Detroit.

• The City Theater 2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

• Detroit Film Theater 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Inside the Detroit Institute of Arts.

• Detroit Opera House 1526 Broadway, Detroit. Beautifully decorated old concert hall. Home of the Michigan Opera Theater.

• Detroit Ochestra Hall Part of the recently renovated/built Max M. Fisher Music Center. Home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Civic Ensembles.

• Detroit Repertory Theatre 3103 Woodrow Wilson, Detroit. Phone (313) 868-1347.

• DTE Music Theater Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston. Formerly known as Pine Knob.

• Fisher Theater 3011 W. Grand Blvd., #F100, Detroit. The lobby is a "must see."

• Fox Theater 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. A performance at the 5,000 seat Fox is a "must see."

• Ford Community and Performing Arts Center Dearborn.

• Gem and Century Theater 333 Madison Ave., Detroit.

• Masonic Theater 500 Temple Ave., Detroit.

• Music Hall Center For The Performing Arts 250 Madison Ave., Detroit. Phone (313) 963-2366.

• Plowshares Theater Detroit. Inside Charles Wright Museum of African American History.

• State Theater 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

Major venues and convention centers

• "Big House"Ann Arbor. University of Michigan Stadium.
• Casino Windsor 100,000 sq. ft of meeting space, and a 5000 seat entertainment center.
• Cobo Hall Convention Center Detroit's premier convention and exhibit facility with 700,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, home to the North American International Auto Show in January.
• Cobo Arena Detroit. Various events.
• Comerica Park Home of the MLB Detroit Tigers, a fabulous experience.
• Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center 100,000 sq ft of meeting space.
• Ford Field Home of the NFL Detroit Lions.
• Greektown Casino Hotel 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, opening 2008.
• Hyatt Regency Dearborn 62,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
• Joe Louis Arena Home of the NHL Detroit Red Wings.
• McGregor Memorial Conference Center at WSU, 495 Ferry Mall, Detroit. (313) 577-2400.
• Michigan State Fair Grounds & Exposition Center, 1120 W. State Fair Ave., Detroit.
• MGM Grand Detroit Casino Hotel Large conferences and performances, opening 2008.
• Motor City Casino Hotel 67,000 square ft. of meeting space, opening 2008.
• Palace of Auburn Hills Home of the NBA Detroit Pistons.
• Pontiac Silver Dome. Pontiac.
• Rock Financial Show Place Novi. A state of the art exposition, conference, and banquet center with 320,000 sq ft.
• Southfield Civic Center
• Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport 25,000 sq. ft of meeting space, conferences of up to 1000 attendees.
• Westin Southfield-Detroit inside the Southfield Town Center which accomodates conferences for up to 1000 attendees.

Other attractions

• Discover Detroit TV The Detroit travel show sponsored by the Detroit Convention & Visitor's Bureau airs weekly on Mondays at 5:30 PM on Detroit Public Television.

Do

Detroit offers a array of events with some of the highlights listed.

• America's Thanksgiving Day Parade

• Beaches, Canoeing, Kayaking, and more Metro Detroit's popular destinations include Metropolitan Beach in St. Clair Shores, Stony Creek Beach, and Kensington Beach. Detroit's Huron Clinton Metro Park sytem is a great source of fun. Enjoy canoe trips on the Huron River.

• Boat rentals

• Car Racing at Flat Rock Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Milan Dragway, and Waterford Hills Race Track.

• Casinos The four major casinos include, MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City and Greektown, and Casino Windsor. Check for performances.

• CityFest Detroit. A food festival sponsored by Comerica. Traditionally held around July 4th in the New Center area near the Fisher Building.

• Concerts, and more Detroit is the birthplace of American electro/techno music, with Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick Mays all hailing from the area. Although other cities around the world have picked up Detroit's torch and carried it further in some ways, Detroit is still a great place to dance and see the masters at work.

• Cruise Ships, the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition The Dock of Detroit receives major cruise lines on the Great Lakes. Adjacent to the Renaissance Center on Hart Plaza. Chartered tours are also available. Take a cruise.

• Dave & Busters 45511 Park Avenue, Utica.(586)930-1515. Famous entertainment arcade with food and fun. (Minors need an adult, up to four minors may be accompanied by one adult).

• Detroit Golf Club 17911 Hamilton Road, Detroit.(313) 345-4400.

• Detroit International Jazz Festival Labor Day weekend.

• Detroit's Night Life includes a multitude of clubs throughout the metropolitan area.

• Detroit's Vibrant, Underground Arts Scene Detroit is home to over 80 galleries, with artists hailing from around the world. Artists are attracted to Detroit due to its abundance of raw, under-utilized industrial space and its inspiring environment of pre-depression era buildings. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" features an online tour of this arts scene.

• Detroit's Music Scene The Detroit sound is the sound of the world. It is shaped by Detroit's unique past, its cultural diversity, its energy and its future. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" features an online tour of this music scene.

• Diamond Jack's River Tours Detroit.

• Domino's Farm Ann Arbor

• Electronic Music Festival Memorial Day weekend.

• Fash Bash A cutting edge fashiion event and fundraiser coordinated by the Detroit Institute of Arts, featuring big name celebrities, traditionally held in August.

• Golf Metro Detroit has many award winning golf courses. Try Detroits Metro parks, St John's Resort in Plymouth, and more.

• Horse Racing Hazel Park Raceway, Northville Downs, and Windsor Raceway.

• International Freedom Festival Detroit. Begins the last week of June.

• The Magic Stick/The Majestic Theater at 4120-4140 Woodward Avenue combines a show space, a theater, cafe and a bowling alley. You can get up close and personal to the bands or shoot pool while listening to live music. Highly recommended for checking out some new music whether it be local or a touring band.

• Meadowbrook Concours d' Elegance Rochester. A formal occassion, traditionally held in August.

• Meadowbrook Music Festival

• Metro Parks Huron Clinton Metro Parks.

• Motown Winter Blast Held in January or February in Campus Martius park, includes ice skating, concerts, and a street party in Greektown.

• North America International Auto Show Cobo Hall, Detroit. NAIAS is held in January.

• Old Car Festival Antique and classic car collector's show in Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford in Dearborn the weekend after Labor Day.

• Palazzo di Bocce 4291 S. Lapeer Road in Orion Township, about 40 minutes north of Downtown, is the largest and most elaborate bocce facility in the United States, and perhaps the world. You can play bocce on one of 10 indoor tournament-sized courts with court hosts and hostesses to help if you don't know the game. You can have cocktails and eat courtside while playing, or later in the restaurant, which serves authentic Italian food. Palazzo was the site of the 2005 U.S. national tournament, and hosted the 2005 Singles World Bocce Championships attended by athletes from 17 nations in September. Very popular for group events; Friday and Saturday nights are more crowded.

• Rock -n- Bowl

• Sailing Races The annual Bayview Yacht club Mackinaw Island sailing race starts in Metro Detroit.
• Skiing and Snowboarding in Metro Detroit Mt. Brighton Ski Area, 4141 Bauer Rd., Brighton, MI. Near I-96 & M-23 in Metro Detroit. See also, Alpine Valley ski area, Apple Mountain Ski Resort, Baki Maountain Cross Country Ski Trails, Mt. Holly ski area, Pine Knob ski area.

• Skiing, Mt. Brighton and Mt. Holly in metropolitan Detroit feature downhill skiing.

• Spirit of Detroit Thunderfest Hydoplane races on the Detroit River. Mid-July.

• Theater See a performance, Detroit's theaters include the Fox Theater, Fisher Theater, Masonic Theater, Gem Theater & Century Club, Detroit Opera House, and Orchestral Hall.

• Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.

• Woodward Dream Cruise A car fanatic's paradise, this is an informal drive along Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac, where anything imaginable can be seen, from Vipers to vintage cruisers to tricked-out garbage trucks. Happens every August at the height of summer.

Learn

Located in Ann Arbor, about 45 miles west of Detroit, the University of Michigan ranks as one of America's best. Former alumni include President Gerald Ford and Google co-founder Larry Page. Others include Wayne State University (alumni include legendary White House Correspondent Helen Thomas and comedian/actress Lily Tomlin), University of Detroit-Mercy, Lawrence Technological University, Oakland University, Eastern Michigan University, Marygrove College, and College for Creative Studies.

The Detroit area has many civic and professional organizations. The world headquarters for the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE) is in Troy, MI and the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI. Others include the Detroit Economic Club, the Detroit Athletic Club, the Greening of Detroit to promote urban forestry (tree planting), the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit Renaissance, and Detroit Economic Growth Association (DEGA), and more.

The International Academy, an all International Baccalaureate school (a public, tuition-free consortium high school operated by Bloomfield Hills Schools which consistently ranks among the top 10 public high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine), Cranbrook Schools (an exclusive private boarding school and academy), the Eton Academy, and Henry Ford Academy are some of outstanding secondary schools that are located in the area.

Work

Some of the major companies which have headquarters or a significant presence in the metro Detroit include GM, Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen of America, Comerica, Rock Financial/Quicken Loans, Kelly Services, Borders Group, Dominos, American Axle, DTE Energy, Compuware, Covansys, TRW, BorgWarner, ArvinMeritor, United Auto Group, Pulte Homes, Taubman Centers, Guardian Glass, Lear Seating, Masco, General Dynamics Land Systems, EDS, Microsoft, IBM, Google, Verizon, National City Bank, Northwest Airlines, and Raymond James, Coopers & Lybrand, Ermst & Young, and more.

Buy

• Briarwood Mall Ann Arbor. Take I-94 exit 177 State Street.

• Downtown Birmingham Old Woodward. Lots of Boutiques.

• Edsel & Eleanor Ford House 1100 Lakeshore Dr., Grosse Pointe. House tours and Gift Shop.

• Great Lakes Crossing Mall 4000 Baldwin Rd., Auburn Hils. Massive indoor outlet mall, popular.

• Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Dearborn. Gift shops with wonderful souvenirs.

• John K. King Books,901 W. Lafayette, 313-961-0622 One of the best used bookstores in America with over 500,000 books in stock.

• Lakeside Mall Sterling Heights. Large suburban shopping mall with 180 stores.

• Laurel Park Place 37700 West 6 Mile Road, Livonia. Nice mall, 70 stores connected to the Livonia Marriott.

• Oakland Mall On 14 Mile, just off of I-75.

• Olde World Canterbury Village 2369 Joslyn Ct. Lake Orion. Near Auburn Hills. Specialty items, Christmas collectables, restaurant.

• Pure Detroit Detroit. Detroit Souvenirs. Stores inside the Renaissance Center, the Fisher Building, and the Guardian Building.

• Riverfront Shops Detroit. Inside the GM Renaissance Center Winter Garden.

• Somerset Collection Mall 2800 W. Big Beaver, Troy. I-75 & Big Beaver exit 69. Exclusive shopping in one of America's finest malls. More than 180 stores, very large, two upscale malls connected by a 700 foot moving skywalk. Fine restaurants and a wonderful food court. A "must see" for tourists.

• The Village, downtown Grosse Pointe Kercheval between Cadieux and Neff, Grosse Pointe.

• Twelve Oaks Mall 27500 Novi Rd. Novi. I-96 Exit 162. Large suburban shopping mall with 180 stores.

Eat

Explore Detroit's Greektown, with its Greek restaurants and shops surrounding the Greektown Casino. Detroit is home to many American classics including the Coney Island Hotdog, Saunders Bumpy Cakes, Dominos Pizza, Little Caesars Pizza, Better Made Potatoe Chips, and Vernor's Ginger Ale. (Vernor's Ginger Ale shares the distinction as America's oldest soft drink with Hire's Root Beer).

Enjoy some of Detroit's fabulous restaurants:

• American Coney Island 114 W. Lafayette. Detroit. (Hotdogs and Chili). Also, Coney Town in the Renaissance Center.

• Andiamo Italia (10 locations) 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren. Andiamo Celebrity Showroom.

• Andiamo Lake Front Bistro 24026 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores.

• Andiamo Riverfront Detroit. Inside the Renaissance Center.

• Andiamo Trattoria 20930 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods.

• Benito's Pizza - (19 locations), 1700 Rochester Rd., Royal Oak.

• Bon Vie Troy. Inside Somerset Collection mall. French-American cuisine.

• Brio Tuscan Grille Troy. Inside Somerset Collection mall.

• Buddy's Pizza (7 locations) 22148 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. Excellent square deep dish pizza. Voted the best pizza in Detroit several times.

• Capital Grille Troy. Inside Somerset Collection mall.

• Carl's Chop House 3020 Grand River, Detroit.

• Coach Insignia Detroit. +1 313 567-2622. Top floor of the Renaissance Center. Fine dining.

• Cuisine Restaurant (French). 670 Lothrop, Detroit. New Center area, behind the Fisher Theatre.

• Goldengate Cafe18700 Woodward 3 Blocks South of 7 Mile Detroit

• Greektown Detroit. Several excellent Greek restaurants. For a bustling environment, try Hellas. For something more intimate, but with amazing food, try Cyprus Taverna. Also try the various bakeries in Greektown. The Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown has some of the best desserts in town.

• Guilio & Son's Restaurant Dearborn. At the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

• Hard Rock Cafe Detroit. On Campus Martius downtown.

• Hunter House Hamburgers 351 Gratiot Ave. Detoit and 35075 Woodward Ave. Birmingham. Both have the same great burgers. The one in Birmingham has an old American diner feel and you can sit by the window and watch the cars drive by on Woodward Ave.

• The Hill - Seafood and Chop House - 123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, +1 313 886-8101. Fine dining.

• Hockey Town Cafe Detroit. Across from Comerica Park. This restaurant doubles as a museum with Detroit Red Wings history and memorabilia as well as Tigers memorabilia and motorcycles.

• J. Alexander's Troy. Inside Somerset Collection mall. Try the chocolate cake.

• Lafayette Coney Island W. Lafayette. Detroit. (Hotdogs and Chili). Bitter rival of the American Coney Island stand right next door.

• Morton's the Steakhouse One Towne Square. Southfield-Detroit.

• Mushashi International Southfield. Inside Southfield Town Center. Japanese cuisine. Also serves lunch during the week inside the Renaissance Center.

• McCormicks & Schmicks Troy. Inside the Somerset Collection mall. Seafood.

• Opus One 565 E. Larned St., Detroit. +1 313 961-7766. Fine dining. Offers theatre and sports packages.

• Pita Cafe. 237 N. Old Woodward Ave in downtown Birmingham. Middle Eastern Cuisine. Try the crushed lentil soup, fresh juices, and Shwarmas.

• PizzaPapalis (8 locations).553 Monroe St., Greektown-Detroit.+1 313 961-8020. Famous deep dish pizza.

• Polish Village Cafe 2990 Yeamans Street in Hamtramck.+1 313 874-5726. Traditional Polish food.

• Rattlesnake Club 300 Riverplace, Detroit. (313) 567-4400.

• River Cafe Detroit. Inside the Renaissance Center.

• Roma Cafe 3401 Riopelle (Via Roma), Detroit +1 313 831-5940

• Roostertail 100 Marquette Dr., Detroit. +1 313 822-1234. Enjoy waterfront entertainment.

• Sala Thai 3400 Russell St in Eastern Market, located in an old fire house. Great food.

• Seldom Blues Detroit. Located inside the Renaissance Center. Fine dining and Jazz.

• Tango Restaurant at the Westin Southfield.

• Tribute Restaurant 31425 West Twelve Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. +1 248 848-9393. Awarding winning fine dining.

• Traffic Jam and Snug 511 W. Canfield St. Restaurant, Bakery, dairy and Brewery. This was one of the first brew pubs in Michigan.

• Union Street 4145 Woodward Ave. Very good food, great drinks. Right on Woodward, less than 1 mile from downtown.

• Valentino's Pizza. 31200 5 Mile Rd. Livonia.

• Whitney House Restaurant 4421 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Formal dress, very expensive.

Drink

Vernor's Ginger Ale, created by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor, shares the distinction as America's oldest softdrink with Hire's Rootbear. A local favorite, Detroiters pour Vernor's over ice cream. Also try Faygo soft drinks, another former Detroit based soft drink company. Detroiters enjoy Michigan Wines. A family of GM heritage, the Fisher family Coach Wines are served at the Coach Insignia Restaurant atop the GM Renaissance Center.

Sleep

Budget

• AmeriSuites Detroit/AuburnHills. 1545 North Opdyke Road. Tel: +1 248 475-9393. Fax:+1 248 475-9399 . Located 25 miles northeast of Detroit, this hotel is the closest hotel to the Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Music Theater, Meadowbrook Theater and Great Lakes Crossing Outlet Mall.

• AmeriSuites Detroit/Livonia 19300 Haggerty Road Tel:+1 734 953-9224. Easily accessible from Detroit Metropolitan International Airport and downtown Detroit. Swimming pool, fitness center, continental breakfast, Wi-Fi.

• AmeriSuites Detroit/Utica 45400 Park Ave Tel:+1 586 803-0100. Located on Macomb County`s "Million-Dollar Mile."

• Comfort Inn Downtown Detroit Hotel. 1999 E. Jefferson Ave. Tel: +1 313 567-8888. Fax: +1 313 567-5842. On Jefferson Avenue - approximately 1/2 mile east of the Renaissance Center and 1 mile from the Cobo Conference Center, Joe Louis Arena, among other downtown attractions of Detroit, Comerica Park (Tigers Baseball) and the new Ford Field (Lions Football) are only 2.5 miles from the hotel.

• Courtyard Inn by Marriott, 31525 W 12 Mile Rd. Farmington Hills.

• Courtyard Inn by Marriott, 5200 Mercury Dr., Dearborn.

• Courtyard Inn by Marriott Detroit-Southfield. 27027 Northwestern Highway, Southfield. Centrally located near I-696 and M-10.

• Courtyard Inn by Marriott. 17200 N Laurel Park Dr, Livonia. Near Laurel Park Place Mall.

• Econo Lodge Detroit Hotel. 17729 Telegraph Road. Tel: +1 313 531-2550. Fax: +1 313 531-5148. Minutes away from local restaurants, as well as shopping, businesses and the Detroit area attractions.

• Holiday Inn Southgate 17201 Northline Rd., Southgate. Large indoor swimming pool. Family oriented.

• Holiday Resort Hotel - Southfield. 26555 Telegraph Rd., Southfield. Convenient to downtown Detoit and the airport with 11,464 sq ft of meeting space. Indoor pool.

• Marriott Residence Inn. 26700 Central Park Blvd, Southfield.

Mid-range

• Courtyard Inn by Marriott. 333 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit. Prime downtown location, across from the Renaissance Center. Well appointed, full service hotel. Indoor pool, fitness center, restaurants, lounges, and meeting rooms.

• Clarion Barcelo Romulus Detroit Hotel. 8600 Merriman Road. Tel: (734) 728-7900. Fax: (734) 728-6518. Near Detroit Metropolitan Airport off the Merriman Road exit (#198) on I-94. The Ford and GM World Headquarters are just minutes away. Nearby enjoy Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, downtown Detroit, shopping malls, the University of Michigan, Greektown, the MGM Grand and other casinos.

• Crowne Plaza Hotel Detroit Metropolitan Airport. 8000 Meriman Rd., Romulus. Well appointed. Full service hotel.

• Crowne Plaza Hotel. 27000 Sheraton Dr., Novi. Next to Twelve Oaks Mall. Well appointed. Full service Hotel.

• Detroit Marriott Livonia 17100 Laurel Park Drive North, Livonia. Suburban hotel connected to Laurel Park Place Mall. Well appointed. Convenient to Metropolitan Airport, Ann Arbor, and downtown Detroit. Near I-275 & 6 Mile Rd. Indoor pool, fitness center, restaurants, full service hotel.

• Embassy Suites Hotel Livonia. Well apponted. Full service hotel.

• Fort Shelby Hotel and Conference Center Doubltree. 525 West Lafayette Blvd., Detroit. Historic hotel, opening 2009.

• Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Downtown Near stadiums, Greektown, restaurants.

• Holiday Inn Select - Auburn Hills. 1500 Opdyke Rd., Auburn Hills. Well apponted. Near the Palace of Auburn Hills, restaurants, lounges, ballroom, indoor pool, fitness center, full service hotel.

• Hotel Baronette. 27790 Novi Rd., Novi. Next to Twelve Oaks Mall. Well appointed. Indoor swimming pool, restaurants, full service hotel.

• Sheraton Detroit Novi. 21111 Haggerty Rd., Novi. Well appointed. Indoor pool, restaurants, lounges, ballrooms, meeting rooms. Full service hotel

• Sheraton Detroit Riverside Hotel. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit. Contemporary French elegance with fine restaurants. Located between Cobo Hall Convention Center and GM World Headquarters, nearby are Greektown, casinos, museums, Windsor, Ontario and area attractions. Guests have included George H.W. Bush.

Splurge

• Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest 1275 S Huron Street, Ypsilanti with 30,000 sq ft. of meeting space, championship golf, and a view of Ford Lake.

• The Atheneum Suite Hotel 1000 Brush Avenue, Detroit. +1 313 962-2323. Luxury hotel, stunning Greco-Roman contemporary in the heart of downtown's Greektown, near stadiums, accomodates large conferences.

• Caesars Windsor Casino & Resort Windsor, Ontario. Contempoary luxury resort hotel with spectacular views of the Detroit skyline, 100,000 sq. ft of meeting space and a 5000 seat performance center.

• Dearborn Inn Marriott. 20301 Oakwook Blvd., Dearborn. Historic luxury hotel, steeped in colonial elegance with fine restaurants and buffets. Across from Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Ford World Headquarters, minutes from GM World Headquarters, downtown Detroit, and shopping malls. 15 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

• Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Contemporary luxury hotel, overlooks the spectacular International Riverfront with many restaurants including Coach Insignia rooftop restaurant, shops, and 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. This is the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere, a world class facility. Near Cobo Hall Convention Center, cruise ship dock, stadiums, Greektown, casinos, museums, Windsor, and area attractions. Guests have included Ronald Reagan.

• Dobson House Bed & Breakfast 1439 Bagley Ave., Detroit. +1 313 965-1887.

• Greektown Casino & Resort. Detroit. Luxury resort hotel with 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, (2008).

• Hotel St. Regis Detroit Luxury hotel in stately European styled elegance, and fine restaurant, intimate setting, La Musique - cajun steakhouse, private fitness center, and 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in the historic New Center area with Cadillac Place, adjoins the beautiful Fisher Theatre featuring Broadway shows, behind is Cuisine (French) Restaurant. Nearby are Ford Hospital, Wayne State University, Motor City Casino, and downtown.

• Hyatt Regency 600 Town Center Dr., Dearborn. Stunning contemporary luxury hotel with fine dining, rooftop restaurant, and 62,000 sq. ft. of meeting space near Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Ford Headquarters, GM Headquarters, downtown Detroit, and shopping malls. A world class hotel with 772 rooms. 10 to 15 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

• Inn at 97 Winder. 97 Winder St., Detroit. Elegant Victorian mansion in downtown just two blocks from Comerica Park.

• Inn at Ferry Street Detroit. A collection of luxurious Victorian bed & breakfasts lining Ferry St. in a historic district downtown. Adjacent to the world renowned Detroit Institute of Arts.

• Inn at St. Johns 44045 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth. Luxury resort with a championship golf course, intimate setting in the suburbs.

• Les Soeur Maison 2449 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. +1 313 895-7814. Luxurious 1900's Victorian mansion, a bed & breakfast.

• Motor City Casino & Resort, Grand River, Detroit. Luxury resort hotel with 67,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, (2008). +1 877 777-0711.

• MGM Grand Detroit Casino & Resort. Luxury resort hotel (2007).

• Omni Detroit Hotel at Riverplace 1000 Riverplace, Detroit. Historic luxury hotel with fine restaurants, spectacular waterfront location, intimate setting, 8000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Near GM World Headquarters, Greektown, casinos, and Windsor, Ontario.

• Royal Park Hotel Rochester. Luxury hotel, rich colonial elegance in the suburbs with fine dining and over 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

• Somerset Inn Troy. I-75 and Big Beaver Rd. Contemporary hotel, boutique style, across from the upscale Somerset Collection mall, restaurants, and golf, near Birmingham. The Somerset Collection mall is one of America's finest malls, its two upscale malls joined by a 700 moving concourse, with fine restaurants and a wonderful food court.

• Townsend HotelBirmingham. Luxury hotel, intercontinental elegance with fine restaurants, award winning, intimate setting, nestled in the beautiful Detroit suburb of Birmingham. Nearby are Somerset Collection Mall, Birmingham shops, and area attractions.

• Ritz Carlton Dearborn. Luxury hotel with fine restaurants. Nearby are the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, downtown Detroit, and shopping malls. Beautiful hotel.

• Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel, 1114 Washington Blvd., Detroit. The city's historic flagship luxury hotel, European elegance, world-class. Guests have included Presidents Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and many celebrities. Opening in 2008.

• Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Luxury hotel inside the airport with 25,000 sq. ft of meeting space.

• Westin Southfield-Detroit 1500 Town Center, Southfield. Luxury hotel, stunning contemporary with fine restaurants and an enclosed atrium, hosts conferences for up to 1,000 attendees. 15 to 20 minutes from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Centrally located, minutes from downtown Detroit, Dearborn, and the suburbs. Near suburban shopping malls and the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. Convenient for seeing the entire metro area. A world class hotel inside the Southfield Town Center, across from Lawrence Technological University. In addition to Tangos restaurant, the atrium features Mushashi International (Japanese) Restaurant.

Contact

Detroit Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Stay safe

In Detroit, like other major cities, crime tends to occur in areas where most tourists have little reason to visit. As with most urban areas, precautions should be taken when out after dark: stay in groups; do not carry large amounts of money; and avoid seedy neighborhoods.

Contrary to some people's perceptions, downtown Detroit is generally well-policed and among the safest parts of the city.[180] Crimes can and do occur in downtown, but exercising common sense will go a long way toward keeping you and your valuables safe.

Sporting events, festivals and other large public events are always heavily policed and very safe. Sporadic crime events, mostly alcohol-related, have been reported at some of these events but they are by far the exception.

Cope

Metro Detroit has a modern freeway system that is easy to navigate. Detroit Metropolitan Airport has a conveniently attached Westin Hotel and conference center. The Airport is among the most modern in the United States with both international and domestic gates in the World Terminal. Galegroup's Hour Media LLC publishes a full color guest guide found in hotels in the metro Detroit area. Visitors may request a guest packet from the Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsors Discover Detroit TV which airs Mondays at 5:30 PM on Detroit Public Television. The city has ample parking garages, valet, and pay-to-park lots near major attractions. Somerset Collection Mall in Troy just at I-75 & Big Beaver Rd. offers valet parking and has a large parking garage behind Macy's and has the adjacent Somerset Inn. Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia has an attached Marriott Hotel. The Westin Hotel at the Southfield Town Center is centrally located for those needing access to the entire metropolitan region.

Get out

Although Detroit itself provides the majority of the region's visitor attractions, the metropolitan area is large and diverse and contains many hot spots and attractions that are also well worth visiting.

• Ann Arbor -- Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers many attractions of a self-enclosed small city. A thriving downtown, lots of culture, and plenty of students.

• Dearborn -- Detroit's suburb to the Southwest and home of Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, has a leading attraction, The Henry Ford (the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village)a large historical and entertainment complex, and the Automotive Hall of Fame. Dearborn has the second largest Middle-Eastern population in the World, with mosques being a common sight and a wide selection of Middle-Eastern food and shopping. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" has created an online tour of Dearborn's cultural scene.

• Flint -- The home of the modern labor union movement in the US. While not as tourist-friendly as Ann Arbor, Flint has a great art scene for a city of its size and is much less pretentious.

• Plymouth -- With attractive downtown, the suburb is popular with local youth. Enjoy a world class golf experience at PLymouth's luxury resort, the Inn at St. John. Each year, the Plymouth Art Fair in July is well worth a visit.

• Royal Oak -- Home to the Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak is a gentrified suburb outside of Detroit which boasts a night scene with exciting dining and a diverse avant-garde bar culture.

• Troy -- Troy contains the magnificent Somerset Collection, one of the most upscale malls in the midwest, and even the country. Visit Nordstom, Marshall Field's, Henri Bendel, Ralph Lauren/Polo, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co, Barney's New York, and more than 180 other specialty shops.

• Wyandotte -- The "Downriver Royal Oak" as it has been dubbed by locals, Wyandotte has a bustling, family-friendly downtown strip with mom-and-pop shopping, art galleries, a golf course, ice-cream parlor, a charming riverside park, and numerous dining opportunities. Come the third Friday of the month for free food, trolley and carriage rides, and themed fun events sponsored by local businesses. July of each year sees the Wyandotte Art Fair, one of the best in the country.

Other destinations outside the Metro Detroit area include:

• Canada -- specifically, Windsor, Ontario -- lies just across the Ambassador Bridge. Or through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel which is located right next to the Renaissance Center (good to use if you see traffic backed up onto I-75) This is the most heavily trafficked border crossing in the world, and it's shaped Windsor more than anything else; well-maintained, walkable streets, shops and restaurants, Casino Windsor (Canada's largest), and adult entertainment. The lower drinking age (19) draws young Americans and ensures a vibrant club scene on weekends. Windsor provides great views of the Detroit skyline.

• Lake Erie Tour Route and Lighthouses. Go back to the mainland and see the shoreline. The drive (or boat ride) around Lake Erie takes you through the Working Waterfronts around Buffalo NY, Cleveland OH, Detroit MI, Erie PA, Toledo, OH, and southern Ontario and is intermingled with beautiful preservations of flora and fauna as well as the history of North America's first westward expansion, the Old Northwest Territory.