The Magnificent Views of Motor City
After informing people of my upcoming trip to Detroit, Michigan, I always got the same, “But why?” response. Detroit may have a bad reputation, but I was determined to discover the truth for myself. So I packed my bags and prepared a bucket list tour of America’s most dangerous city. I soon realized that Detroit is an innovative city in the midst of a transformative rejuvenation. Here’s the top 10 best things I experienced on my solo-travel adventure to the Motor City.
Is Detroit Dangerous?
Time to answer everyone’s number one burning question, is Detroit actually safe to visit? With the highest crime ratings amongst all US cities, it’s hard to blame anyone for the negative perception. From my experience in downtown, I can say that I felt completely safe during my visit. Honestly it felt like any other big city, but less crowded and slightly quieter. There weren’t many other people walking around the streets and I never felt like I was wandering through any sketchy neighborhoods. However like any other big city, there are bad areas and a higher possibility of crimes. But for anyone staying within the downtown region, the stigma of danger is greatly overexaggerated. Detroit is an underrated city with a lot of beautiful architecture, trendy restaurants, and iconic attractions to see. Of course, you’ll want to visit during the summer months to avoid the treacherous freezing weather.
Where to Stay in Detroit?
As long as you stay within the downtown area, you will be perfectly fine to walk around and enjoy the scenery. The Dearborn area is home to the eclectic Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum and is a quiet neighborhood to stay in. For downtown Detroit, we stayed at the Sonder Gabriel Richard Airbnb and had an excellent experience. It’s centrally located to many popular attractions and provided an easy no contact check-in by using a numeric code to enter the building and room. There was also the added benefit of a 24 hour security guard in the lobby for extra safety. Here’s a few other areas that are also okay to explore by yourself:
- Greektown
- Corktown
- Dearborn
- Downtown Detroit
- Belle Isle
- Midtown
Unfortunately there are more bad neighborhoods to avoid than good ones. The parts with abandoned dilapidated buildings won’t have any reasons for tourists to visit so are easy to miss. Here’s a few areas you should stay away from:
- Belmont
- Brush Park
- Greensbriar
- Weatherby
- Fishkorn
- Carbon Works
- Petosky-Otsego
- VanSteuban
- Warrendale
- Franklin Park
- Barton McFarland
- Fitzgerald
- Riverdale
Getting Around Detroit
For getting around downtown, it’s pretty easy to just walk between all the iconic tourist spots. There are also tons of electric scooters around. If you want to go to the Detroit Institute of Arts or Motown Museum, the inexpensive bus will take you there. The People Mover is an elevated train that is super cheap to ride and has some great views. For most instances I would recommend calling an Uber. Renting a car is also an option to consider since everything outside of the downtown area is quite far.
10. Fox Theater Detroit
This stylish theater is a vestige from the 1920s cinema scene where tons of legendary musicians performed. The venue is located in the heart of downtown Detroit and can host over 5,000 people at a time. Check out current performances and book your tickets here.
9. Guardian Building
Among the modern marvels of architecture in the Detroit skyline shines the ornate Guardian Building. Constructed in 1928, the vivid prismatic design of the inner edifice is a spectacular sight to see and free to enter. Just keep in mind it is primarily an office space so videos are not allowed inside. If you’re seeking more architectural wonders in the city, check out the Fisher Building, Detroit Masonic Temple, and the GM Renaissance Center.
8. Comerica Park
If you’re into baseball and giant saber-toothed tigers, then Comerica Park is the place for you. Catch a ball game in the heart of downtown at the home of the Detroit Tigers major league baseball team. You can also sign up for tour on their website here.
7. The BELT
Every city has their go-to street for amazing bar hopping. Ocean Drive in Miami, Bourbon Street in New Orleans, or The Strip in Las Vegas. The Belt is Detroit’s hot spot for an eclectic group of trendy bars, restaurants, and innovative art installations. For some interesting cocktail fusions, check out the Skip, Standby, or Deluxx Fluxx.
6. Spirit of Detroit
The Spirit of Detroit is a symbolic monument to the city that represents hope, progress, and the spirit of man. The bronze statue was created in Oslo, Norway in 1955 by Marshall Fredericks. It is located in a plaza downtown, across from the serene Detroit Riverwalk, where Canada rests on the horizon. Bring a Passport if you wish to cross the bridge over!
5. GM Renaissance Center
Dominating the coastal skyline is the cluster of 7 cylindrical towers and the world headquarters for General Motors. Also colloquially known as the Ren Cen, this complex of building boasts automobile, galleries, restaurants, business centers, and even a shopping mall. It may be difficult to navigate, so just remember the touristy shopping center is located in tower 4. Keep in mind it closes relatively early (around 6 or 7pm) so plan accordingly.
4. Mom’s Spaghetti
If you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you’ve ever wanted, would you capture it or just let it slip? Eminem fans will be ecstatic to find that his infamous Mom’s Spaghetti pop-up shop is now a permanent restaurant right in Downtown Detroit. Stop by to get your fix of a huge serving of spaghetti & meatballs or the inventive spaghetti sandwich. Order in that sketchy alleyway drive-thru and then head upstairs to check out The Trailer for various, highly priced Slim Shady merchandise.
3. Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Head 18 mins from downtown to Dearborn in the suburbs of Detroit for this eclectic emporium of historical relics from the beginning of the automobile industry. The famous Henry Ford began the revolution in 1886, and this museum is dedicated to the technological progression of society’s transportation methods. Inside you’ll find the bus Rosa Parks got arrested on, the first helicopter and airplane, plus a plethora of classic cars. Purchase a combo ticket to the museum, factory, or village for savings on admission prices.
2. Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the most extensive art museums in the country. Located in midtown, this gallery contains over 100 exhibitions and over 65,000 works of art. The displays include diverse international pieces from across the globe that will captivate any art enthusiast. One of the exhibit’s highlight is a blue tile from the legendary Ishtar Gate in ancient Babylon, which you can find in Berlin’s Pergamon museum. The collection is massive so be sure to arrive early and spend a few hours browsing the content. Hours are from 9AM to 4PM most days but closed on Mondays.
1. Greenfield Village
Step back in time as you wander through 80 acres of land that includes working farmlands, industrial workshops, and significant historic monuments in Henry Ford’s synthetic village. Experience 100 years of preserved American history in Thomas Edison’s workshop, The original Wright Brother’s house & store, Henry Ford’s childhood home, and even more famous buildings all reconstructed brick by brick on the property. Buy your ticket to ride in a Model T and cruise down centuries old historic areas in a replica of the world’s first ever automobile! The site is enormous, so it’s easy to spend an entire day exploring the 7 districts and still not see everything.
The negative portrayal of Detroit is a distortion of reality propagated by the media. Sure there is an extremely high crime rate, but there are also incredible sights, historical attractions, and an innovative art scene. The city is in the midst of an architectural revival, back to the heights of former glory. Detroit was once renowned as the richest city in the world in the 1950s. Despite the turbulent past, I believe the city can become one of the greatest tourist attractions in the US. With an innovative food scene, a vast quantity of historical sites, and very friendly locals, I hope everyone considers visiting Detroit for themselves. Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Check out our Detroit travel vlog for some of the best things to experience in the Motor City!
1 Comment
Divya Rana · October 15, 2022 at 5:38 am
Best blog dear. I have also made a blog.
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