The most popular park in Detroit, the gigantic Belle Isle Park is actually an entire island. Wonderful for people of all ages and activity levels, this island park has something for everybody. Visit the Dossin Great Lakes Museum; go swimming at the beach; hike along the lovely wooded trails; plan a pleasant picnic outdoors; and much, much more!
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.
Roar with the crowd in Ford Field for the Detroit Lions! This NFL football team may not have made it to the Super Bowl yet, but its sports fans are fierce. Put on your Honolulu Blue jersey and make some noise for this National Football Conference team.
Love basketball? Come by the Palace of Auburn Hills to see the Detroit Pistons rule the court. Treated like royalty by their loyal fans, this sports team has won three championships since joining the NBA in 1948, most recently in 2004, and has numerous conference and division titles under their belt. Wear a patriotic combination of red, white and blue to support this All-American team!
Watch the Detroit Red Wings soar across the ice in the Joe Louis Arena. Perhaps living so close to the Birthplace of Hockey has inspired this sports team–the Red Wings have managed to win the most Stanley Cup championships out of any NHL team in the US, and rank third internationally right behind the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Enjoy the outdoors and a lovely scenic view of the Detroit International Riverfront as you stroll, jog or bike along the Detroit River Walk. This paved pathway essentially consists of a 5.5-mile promenade that runs from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle Park. Stop along one of the plaza or pavilions for some fun at the carousel, butterfly garden or fishing piers.
Come to Comerica Park to see the Detroit Tigers play ball. Part of an All-American sports tradition, this Major League Baseball team has been in Detroit (in one incarnation or another) since 1894. Wear navy, white and orange to show your stripes and your support as you cheer on the Tigers towards victory.
Right beneath the Magic Stick, you’ll find the Garden Bowl. The oldest still-operating bowling alley in the country, this historical landmark is a blast to visit. Open until 2AM Monday through Sunday, the Garden Bowl offers an excellent alternative to the traditional bars. Enjoy drinks and the tunes from a jukebox as you show off your bowling skills.
Visit one of the best family entertainment centers in Michigan. Midway Sports & Entertainment offers a variety of sports and recreational activities suitable for all ages and guaranteed to entertain both children and children at heart. Play a round of mini-golf; challenge your buddies to a go-kart race; battle it out in water wars; get crazy with bumper cars; fly in the sky with Euro Bungy; and much more!
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.
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.
The Paint Creek Trail in Rochester, a Detroit suburb, offers guests a gorgeous landscape and a wonderfully paved recreation trail. Perfect for walking, running, biking, skating and anything in-between, this former railway bed was the first rail-to-trail project in the state. The 8-foot wide paved trail stretches for nine miles and has plenty of free parking nearby.
Learn how to really rock climb at Planet Rock Climbing Gym. This specialty recreation gym contains a unique terrain with almost 100 taped routes along its hundreds of square feet of indoor climbing surfaces. Welcoming both novices and experts, Planet Rock is a great place to get the thrill of scaling the side of a cliff with plenty of safety.
Visit the only official water park in the city. Chandler Water Park, also known as the Family Aquatic Center, offers Detroit residents and guests the perfect place to enjoy water recreation and cool down when the heat of summer rolls around. Splash around in the wave pool, go down two water slides and let the children have fun in their own special activity pool.
Formerly known as the Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor, the newly christened William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is Michigan’s first state park located in an urban area. This park covers 31 acres of natural wildlife habitat, restored wetlands and riverfront. Visit the lighthouse, fish along the shore, enjoy a picnic outdoors or head out in a boat at this beautiful park.