Restaurants, sporting arenas, and parks are all attractions that help people decide whether or not they want to live in a certain area, because let’s face it, nobody wants to settle in a ghost town. Rest assured that you won’t have this problem in Detroit. With three casinos, two major sporting arenas, a beautiful city park, and countless eateries, the Motor City is the perfect place to play.
Detroit Restaurants
You could literally write a book on all of the restaurants in Detroit. The neighborhoods have some great small mom and pop eateries that deserve a spot on the Food Network.
The Turkey Grill, located in Detroit’s New Center Area, serves up delicious meals without too much fat. All the recipes are centered on Turkey and the food is delicious. The menu includes deep fried Cajun turkey, turkey sausage, turkey pastrami, and Cajun turkey burgers. It’s a favorite among Detroiters and everyone leaves there saying the exact same thing: gobble-gobble.
Tucked away a few blocks away from the Turkey Grill is the Holy Grail of BBQ restaurants. Parks BBQ has been in the North End Neighborhood for over 40 years. It’s considered one of the hidden jewels, as not everyone knows about this eatery. It’s not a large building with rows of seating and professional décor aimed at drawing in visitors. With its small, outdated, and rather cramped interior, the only thing you come here to do is eat, and this is some of the best eating around. Parks sets itself apart from other BBQ joints with its sauce. No one knows the exact recipe, but you can tell it has plenty of cayenne pepper, yet it doesn’t leave too much of a burn.
Leaving the neighborhood to dine is always a treat. Downtown Detroit is littered with restaurants to satisfy even the pickiest palates. Fishbones is a popular spot for residents. They serve everything from crab cakes to club sandwiches, and is located in the historic Greektown area.
Of course, Greektown wouldn’t be complete without Greek cuisine. New Parthenon’s serves up authentic dishes including Moussaka (baked eggplant) and Yiaprakia (stuffed grape leaves). If you’re in the mood for something less traditional, there’s also a variety of salads, steaks, and sandwiches on the menu.
Southwest Detroit is home of Mexicantown, the best place to get authentic Mexican food. Armando’s is one the more popular restaurants, and rightfully so. Their tortilla chips are fresh baked, and to say the food is delicious is an understatement. It’s always a treat to dine in, but the carry out experience works fine for most residents. As long as the food is there, it doesn’t matter where you eat it.
Detroit, MI Casinos
Detroiters love to gamble, and there’s plenty of gambling going on in all three of the cities’ casinos. The Greektown, Motor City, and MGM Grand casinos are buzzing day and night with entertainment, food, drink,s and a continuous flow of money, making Downtown Detroit one of the hottest places to party. When you get tired of winning (or losing) money, you can call it a night and get a room in any one of the casinos’ luxury hotel suites. You get the benefit of taking a vacation without ever having to leave the city. Pretty cool for a place that was once considered one of the worst places to live in the U.S.
Museums and Educational Attractions of Detroit
Not everyone in Detroit hides out in the casinos. Many residents spend their time checking out the museums and educational attractions. The Detroit Institute of Arts boasts a magnificent display of art exhibits that draw in visitors from around the world. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the world’s largest institute dedicated to African American history, and hosts an array of community gatherings and media events.
Learning about Detroit can be an experience in itself, and taking a walk through the Detroit Historical Museum is an ideal way to get started. Visitors have access to exhibitions that give a snapshot of what life was like in the city over a hundred years ago. One of the more popular exhibits, The Streets of Old Detroit, features the original brick pavers that once lined every roadway.
Right next door to the Detroit Historical Museum is the Detroit Public Library Main branch. Built in 1921, it houses over 2.5 million volumes and is a true work of art. The building replicates structures built during the Italian Renaissance, complete with tons of marble and slate that give it an authentic feeling. You will kick yourself for visiting this library without taking a camera. Consider yourself forewarned.
Both kids and overworked adults with short attention spans will enjoy spending time in the Michigan Science Center. Unlike visiting other “stuffy” museums where you can’t really touch anything, this science center features several hands on galleries that encourage the type of interactivity that makes learning fun and interesting.
Detroit’s Parks
Belle Isle Park is often referred to as the “Jewel of Detroit.” It’s over 900 acres and shares a stunning view of the Detroit River with Canada. On most sunny days, you can find residents jogging, skating, bike riding, fishing or barbecuing in the park. It’s a popular spot for family reunions, weddings, parties, and any other event where a beautiful, natural backdrop is needed. There’s also a beach, golf course, atrium, nature center and giant slide on the island. You can’t have a park without a giant slide, right?
Campus Martius is located in the center of Downtown, and hosts all kinds of events throughout the year. You can ice skate there in the winter, and enjoy and mini concert in the summer. The park is surrounded by restaurants and public transportation, making it easy to get a quick meal and head home without having to pay for parking or navigate through the traffic.
Hart Plaza is steps away from Campus Martius, and home of the famous Detroit summer festivals. During most summer weekends, the plaza is a gathering place for musicians, artists, and other groups that participate in the festivities.
Detroiters love the River Walk. It offers 2.5 miles of fishing, greenery, and “chill” space right on the banks of the Detroit River. It’s a prime spot to watch the fireworks or to take a quick jog. You can even catch young couples (and old ones) smooching on the benches, exercising their rights to PDA. The walk is also home to many hustlers that sell water, art, photography services, and candy. It’s an eclectic mix of urban life that embodies everything that defines Detroit: beauty, art, strength, and determination.
From museums, to parks, to restaurants and casinos, Detroit has so much to offer. The Fox Theater, Comerica Park, and Ford field are all world class entertainment venues in the heart of the city. The Detroit Opera House, Gem Theater, and Masonic Temple host some of the best musical productions in the United States. There’s always something to do in Motown and you’re always welcome.
Image Source: Flickr User flickr4jazz & Flickr User Patricia Drury
