Detroit & Michigan

Welcome to our new home city and state in The Mitten!

Scott and I moved up to the Metro Detroit area of Michigan in October 2012. Like many of you visiting this page, we weren’t quite sure what to think of Detroit before we moved here for work. While it doesn’t have the best reputation, it is a pretty cool (and safe) place to frequent. Promise!

Detroit is the largest city located on the United States-Canada border. Also known as Motown, The Motor City, Hockeytown, and The D, it’s a vibrant city with tons of fun things to do and places to visit. After taking a couple of trips downtown, Scott and I quickly realized why people from the city of Detroit love it so much. It’s got a little bit of everything for everyone.

Here are some highlights of things we’ve done so far!

 

Detroit

Things to Do:

• Midtown

• Greektown

• Fox Theatre

• Motown Museum – Hitsville U.S.A.

• Campus Martius Park (Detroit’s City Beach)

• Detroit Riverfront

• Detroit Institute of Arts Museum

Places to Eat:

• Slow’s Bar-B-Q (a must try!)

• Gold Cash Gold (used to be a pawn shop, great atmosphere)

• Green Dot Stables

• The Grille

• The Whitney (a haunted mansion!)

• Fountain Bistro (Campus Martius Park)

• Good Girls Go To Paris (crêpes)

• Pizza Papalis Chicago Pizza

• Bucharest Grille (and another visit!)

• American Coney & Lafayette Coney Island (famous restaurant rivals)

Coffee/Desserts/Drinks:

• Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company

• Astoria Bakery

• Sugar House (speakeasy)

I often receive emails and messages about what I would suggest anyone visiting the area to check out. Scott and I live in Rochester Hills, which is just about 30 minutes west of Detroit. We love exploring our area and have slowly made our way all over the state.

Below you will find some of my suggestions and highlights!

One thing Michigan is known for is cider mills.

I love visiting any that I can in the few short months they open in the fall. Any time someone comes to visit during cider mill season, you better believe we will be making a stop for hot cider, donuts, and apples!

Here are the cider mills we’ve been to:

• Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill, Haunted Blake’s Hay Ride & Haunted Houses

• Franklin Cider Mill

• Miller’s Big Red Cider Mill & Apple Orchard

• Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill & Winery

• Rochester Cider Mill

• Yates Cider Mill

 

Do you like sporting events? Might I suggest going to a:

• Detroit Tigers Game

• Detroit Red Wings Game

• Detroit Pistons Game

• Detroit Lions Game

 

Feeling adventurous?

Grab your passport and drive over the bridge or under the tunnel to Canada! Winsor, Ontario is located directly across the river  from Downtown Detroit. We have crossed the border several times since moving up here!

 

And before we dive into it, check out my very favorite restaurants for brunch in the Metro Detroit Area. If you ever come to visit us, it’s highly likely that you’ll end up at one (or several) of these places. So good!

 

Here are some of our other whereabouts and cities in Michigan we have visited that I have documented along the way!

 

Ann Arbor

Things to Do:

• U of M Football Game

Places to Eat:

• Jolly Pumpkin

• Café Zola

 

Auburn Hills

Things to Do:

• Great Lakes Crossing Outlet Mall

Places to Eat:

• Bar Louie

• Buddy’s Pizza

• Ciccarellis 22 Sports Bar

• Sweets Ice Cream, Baked Goods & Café

 

Birmingham

Things to Do:

• Somerset Collection (mall)

• Birmingham 8 Movie Theater (historic landmark built in 1927!)

• Booth Park

Places to Eat:

• Toast

• Social

• Mad Hatter Bistro, Bar & Tea Room

• Commonwealth Café

• The Bird & The Bread

• Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

• Elie’s Mediterranean Grill/Bar

• Luxe

• The Melting Pot

• The Triple Nickel

• Greek Islands Coney Island

 

Bloomfield Hills

Places to Eat:

• Mex

• Beau’s

 

Clarkston

Things to Do:

• Shopping on Main Street

Places to Eat:

• Union Woodshop

 

Dearborn

Things to Do:

• Henry Ford Museum

 

 

Farmington Hills

Places to Eat:

• Café Cortina

 

Ferndale

Places to Eat:

• Local Kitchen & Bar

• The Fly Trap

• The Oakland Speakeasy

 

Frankenmuth

Things to Do:

• Walk along Main Street

• Frankenmuth Taffy Kitchen

Places to Eat:

• Bavarian Inn Restaurant & Castle Shops

• Zendher’s

 

Holland

Things to Do: Boating on Lake Michigan

Places to Eat: The Biscuit

 

Holly

Things to Do:

• Skiing at Mt. Holly

 

 

Madison Heights & Clawson

Things to Do:

• Planet Rock Climbing Gym & Training Center

Places to Eat:

• Mojave Cantina

• Black Lotus Brewery

 

Lake Orion

Things to Do:

• Orion Oaks Park (dog park and dog dock too!)

• Canterbury Village

Places to Eat:

• Sagebrush Cantina (one of our favs!)

• Krus & Muer Roadhouse

 

Rochester/Rochester Hills

Things to Do:

• See the Downtown Rochester Lights! (November  – January)

• Meadow Brook Hall

• Main Street Billiards

Places to Eat:

• The Meeting House

• Rochester Brunch House

• Sumo Sushi & Seafood

• Hibachi House Grill & Bar

• East Side Mario’s

• Penny Black’s

• Rochester Mills Brewing Co.

• O’Connor’s Public House

Coffee/Desserts:

• Dessert Oasis (so good!)

 

Royal Oak

Things to Do:

• Shopping on Main Street

• Royal Oak Farmer’s Market

• Royal Oak Music Theatre

• The Great Escape Room (a real-life escape challenge!)

• Five 15 Drag Queen Bingo (hilarious outing for open-minded people!)

• Arts, Beats & Eats Festival (Oakland County’s favorite summer festival)

Places to Eat:

• Vinsetta Garage

• Cantina Diablo’s

• Trattoria Da Luigi

• Cocoa Tree Café (vegan)

• Lily’s Seafood

 

Shelby Township

Things to Do:

• Stoney Creek Metropark (and again)

 

Spring Hill

Things to Do:

• Camping and outdoor activities at Spring Hill

• More camping and outdoor activities at Spring Hill

 

Traverse City (and surrounding cities)

Things to Do:

• Pyramid Point (about ten minutes outside of the city, but the BEST view of Lake Michigan!)

• Leland (Historic District & Fishtown)

• Van’s Beach

• Wineries: Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, and Bowers Harbor Vineyard

Places to Eat:

• Mackinaw Brewing Company

• North Peak Brewing Company

 

Troy

Things to Do:

• Airtime Trampoline & Game Park

Places to Eat:

• Camp Ticonderoga

• Mon Jin Lau