Pay a visit to the Belle Isle Conservancy, the program responsible for the impeccable maintenance of the park ground from the closed Belle Isle Aquarium to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and other attractions. Thanks to BIBS staff and volunteers, the Conservatory, gardens and greenhouses in the sprawling Belle Isle Park are a delightful sight to behold.
Get a bit of an adrenaline rush while still enjoying some quality time with family and friends at the C.J. Barrymore’s Entertainment Center in Clinton. This family entertainment center and amusement park is fun for all ages. Enjoy everything from leisurely games of mini-golf and arcade games to go-karts, bumper boats, recreational rock-climbing and laser tag.
Originally a central point of early Detroit lost in the reconfiguration of roads and traffic, the famous Campus Martius Park was re-established as a Renaissance City focal point in 2003. Located in the heart of downtown, this urban park was designed to resemble New York City’s Rockefeller Center with its sculptures, monuments, fountains, bistros, patches of greenery and skating rink hemmed in by towering buildings and other downtown attractions.
The world’s largest institution dedicated to African American culture, the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History serves a dual purpose–it is both a museum of artifacts and an incubator of cultural retention and growth. View a permanent collection of over 30,000 artifacts and archived materials as you explore attractions throughout the seven exhibition areas and immerse yourself in the African American experience.
Learn about the rich history of this metro area at the Detroit Historical Society as you study 300 years worth of artifacts. Located in Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center Historic District, this 80,000-square-foot museum has been around since 1928, making it both America’s largest and oldest museum dedicated to a metropolitan history. The exhibits and attractions here are both interesting and engaging.
Just north of the city limit, the Detroit Zoo offers guests an up-close animal adventure. Observe more than 270 different species in naturalistic habitats and learn fun and fascinating facts as you explore the attractions throughout seven major exhibits: Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Outback Adventure, Great Apes of Harambee, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles, Penguinarium and Butterfly Garden!
Roll on down the Detroit River with Diamond Jack’s River Tours. Stop by the dock on Thursday-Sunday at 1:00PM or 3:30PM for a two hour cruise in this busy international waterway. Choose between three riverboats and enjoy a lovely, sunny day on the water as your guide shares fun facts and points out popular landmarks and Detroit attractions.
Learn about the role the waterways played in shaping Detroit and vice versa at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Belle Isle Park. This special interest maritime museum outlines the history of ships and water travel along the Great Lakes and the Detroit River. You’ll be able to get up close to artifacts from the 1800s as you explore this ship-themed building.
As you stand at the base of the GM Renaissance Center, you can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. These seven interlocked skyscrapers, nicknamed the Ren Cen, are the tallest buildings in the state. In addition to serving as General Motors’ world headquarters, this spectacular complex also houses the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, a shopping center, restaurants, private clubs, banks, offices, a four-screen movie theater and other Detroit attractions.
Taste a slice of Vegas nightlife without ever leaving Detroit when you go to the Greektown Casino where the motto is “play, dine and stay.” One of Motor City’s three casino resort hotels, this particular casino is located in the fun and fascinating Greektown District. Test your luck at the table games or slots, stuff yourself at the best restaurants, take advantage of weekly drink specials and spend the night in a luxurious room.
Experience art in the great outdoors when you visit the Heidelberg Project in the city’s east side. A project begun by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather, Sam Mackey, this project has drawn the interests of artists and non-artists worldwide and sparked hope in the impoverished Heidelberg Street by using bright paint and salvaged items to transform dilapidated houses into colorful works of modern art. This unique attraction is definitely one of Detroit's must-see destinations.
Drive out to Taylor for a fun day at the Heritage Park Petting Farm, where guests young and old alike can have fun meeting the friendly, domesticated animals. Head inside the big red barn to interact with all sorts of barnyard life, from goats and ponies to piglets and alpacas. Or, stroll over to the nature pond where you can admire koi fish, frogs and turtles (but don’t pet the wildlife!).
Adults can escape to their own wonderland at the MGM Grand Detroit Casino, one of three casino hotels in the city and the first major luxury casino resort outside of Las Vegas. Not a gambler? This hotel resort is also filled with first-class restaurants, lounges, bars and clubs as well as a relaxing spa and a trendy boutique.
Relax and unwind one evening at the MotorCity Casino-Hotel, one of the three resort hotel casinos in Detroit. Play at the most exciting game floor in the city, featuring classic reel games, new five-reel games, video poker and video slots. You can also join in one of the 57 table games in the casino or head to the Poker Room for a classic card game.
Stop by one of Southeastern Michigan’s most popular tourist attractions. Motown Museum preserves and cultivates Motown in its first headquarters. Located in the Hitsville U.S.A. building, this unique museum displays costumes, photos and records from Motown's successful era and shares the legacy of the record label, its artists and its music.
Become engaged with the art at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. The MOCAD leads the way in Detroit’s contemporary culture through its constantly rotating contemporary art exhibitions and attractions. Since first opening in 2006, this non-collecting museum has focused on responding to modern cultural content, promoting collaboration and fueling crucial discourse.
Lace up your roller skates or rollerblades and head on over to the Northland Roller Rink, one of Detroit’s largest roller rinks, for a fun time. Skate during the public sessions to some of your favorite oldies as well as a few of the more current songs. Or, opt for a skating class or laser tag game.
Detroit is known as the Automotive Capital of the World for a reason. The Henry Ford, also known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village or the Edison Institute, explores the city’s rich history and contributions to the world of transportation. This indoor and outdoor museum complex showcases many significant items that influenced the Industrial Revolution, shaped American history and changed the world.