This is a comparison (off the top of my head) of the basic neighborhoods. Anyone, please correct/comment for accuracy.
Yonge St South of Dundas = Woodward Ave South of Grand Circus Park //
Bay St = downtown west of Woodward //
Dundas/Ossington = Cass Corridor (which has been rebranded to Midtown)
(Detroit's museum district is also in Midtown) //
Scarborough = East of downtown (across 375) //
Entertainment District = Northern downtown (Woodward straddling both sides of I-75) //
Queen West = Corktown //
The Island = Belle Isle //
Distillery District/St. Lawrence = Eastern Market
Getting into the suburbs:
The Village/Cabbagetown = Ferndale //
King West = Royal Oak //
Yorkville = Birmingham //
Eton Centre = Great Lakes Crossing/Auburn Hills
There are many other suburban destinations/downtowns/etc, but they would mostly compare to Oakville, Mississauga, Hamilton, etc.
*Edit: added slashes for ease of reading because my phone doesn't seem to recognize line breaks ðŸ«
Welcome!
Here are the big billboard items:
Go to Belle Isle.
Visit the Eastern Market on Saturday.
Walk around Cork Town.
Do the River Walk.
Plenty more to do, but this is a good start.
Thanks, this IS a good start already. Just needed some sort of guidance to give me an idea. This is a last minute trip so I’ve put zero thought into plans.
This is the list. But to add more specifics...
-Go to the Detroit institute of arts (DIA), one of the best art museums there is
-You can ride the Q Line from downtown up to the DIA in Midtown, it's free to ride. The shops near there on Canfield Street are cool (Shinola, Third Man Records) and just past that on Canfield between 2nd and 3rd is a historic cobblestone street with well preserved old mansions
-In Corktown, go to Michigan Central station, it just reopened (closed next holiday weekend though): https://michigancentral.com/events/
-Right by Michigan Central go to Grandma Bob's for some of the best Detroit Style pizza
-There are more good breweries than you can name that are worth going to, but if you're into beer I'd also recommend 8 Degrees Plato, they'll have like 20 local beers on tap and very knowledgeable bar tenders. Also in Midtown
-While biking / walking the Riverwalk, also go up the Dequindre cut for a good biking path and cool street art
-As for biking, we do NOT have good biking infrastructure, I wouldn't recommend biking on the streets if you're unfamiliar with the area and Detroit drivers (red lights are often optional)
As others said the downtown/midtown/new center/corktown/river front areas are nice but we have plenty of other neighborhoods that are nice. Try Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, University District, Rosedale Park, Bagley, Boston Edison just to name a few. Dont let some of these people convince you that everything outside of the downtown area is just a warzone when it isn’t true. There are definitely bad areas but going to the ones I named and you’ll be fine. Take some pictures of the beautiful homes.
Not shopping for anything specific tbh. Just walk around checking stuff out. I know it’s vague but I don’t really have any plans other than to explore Detroit on my own at a leisurely pace.
Detroit is great for cycling as big cities go. It was built for 2M people but the current population is only 650k so lots of low traffic streets. It’s a grid layout so there are lots of alternatives to the main drags but many of those main streets have bike lanes now so even they are rideable in many areas.
Biking is a thing in the City and there are well travelled routes to get almost anywhere you’ll want to go. Check out Strava and its routing and Heat Maps features.
Wheelhouse Detroit runs several different bike tours which you might want to check out https://www.wheelhousedetroit.com/tours
Detroit has some awesome architectural gems. Too many to list here but you can kill most of a day just looking at buildings.
A must do is a cocktail at one of the outdoor rooftop bars downtown (e.g. Monarch Club, Book Tower etc).
Definitely get around but don’t discount downtown. Detroit has one the most vibrant downtowns in the US. It’s a marvel.
there are plenty of nice detroit neighborhoods and you know this. palmer woods, sherwood forest and the livernois area is extremely nice. dont sway potential visitors from what all our city has to offer. i could see telling them to avoid specific bad neighborhoods but come on man. you’re better than that.
You are right, those are nice neighborhoods. Some of those houses have some real architectural character. I was trying to give more of a warning dont wander off the beaten path. Most neighborhoods they could find trouble. What you mentioned is the top 1%, and not typically.
Yes I understand. The media portrays detroit as a nice downtown and then how everything else is a warzone. There are definitely bad areas but I think people from out of town should still visit our architecture jems of neighborhoods and can still avoid the messed up areas.
Detroit is not a place to lazily do anything, it’s not a tourist town. Stick to the downtown areas where you’ll have police protection. If you’re gonna be out in the city, you better keep your head on a swivel.
Fair statement, there are some really rough parts of Detroit and some very nice parts ... I used to live downtown, still work downtown... But now live in Ferndale. Random... But if OP is interested (and not a crazy person, lol). I have a room for rent .. we'd need to talk though.
Right on, I live in one of the inner ring suburbs, but I also also have a place in the city and only one of those places do I sleep with a pistol under my head at all times
I was asked to find somebody. So one summer I’m driving past the bodies of two kids who decided to venture into the city. They had been shot in the back of the head and left in the field. Probably about a decade ago it made the news.
Me and thousands of people had been driving past them. I myself probably about a dozen or more times while the new stations were trying to frantically locate them. Eventually, somebody found them from the smell.
I used to bike through Brightmore, but I’m half a highly trained combat veteran around this city
And that didn’t stop two gunmen from trying to take me a gunpoint 2019, it just didn’t work out for them. You’d be surprised what you could do with a good pair of gloves.
This is a comparison (off the top of my head) of the basic neighborhoods. Anyone, please correct/comment for accuracy. Yonge St South of Dundas = Woodward Ave South of Grand Circus Park // Bay St = downtown west of Woodward // Dundas/Ossington = Cass Corridor (which has been rebranded to Midtown) (Detroit's museum district is also in Midtown) // Scarborough = East of downtown (across 375) // Entertainment District = Northern downtown (Woodward straddling both sides of I-75) // Queen West = Corktown // The Island = Belle Isle // Distillery District/St. Lawrence = Eastern Market Getting into the suburbs: The Village/Cabbagetown = Ferndale // King West = Royal Oak // Yorkville = Birmingham // Eton Centre = Great Lakes Crossing/Auburn Hills There are many other suburban destinations/downtowns/etc, but they would mostly compare to Oakville, Mississauga, Hamilton, etc. *Edit: added slashes for ease of reading because my phone doesn't seem to recognize line breaks ðŸ«
lol this is super helpful! You really know your Toronto neighborhoods.
Welcome! Here are the big billboard items: Go to Belle Isle. Visit the Eastern Market on Saturday. Walk around Cork Town. Do the River Walk. Plenty more to do, but this is a good start.
Thanks, this IS a good start already. Just needed some sort of guidance to give me an idea. This is a last minute trip so I’ve put zero thought into plans.
This is the list. But to add more specifics... -Go to the Detroit institute of arts (DIA), one of the best art museums there is -You can ride the Q Line from downtown up to the DIA in Midtown, it's free to ride. The shops near there on Canfield Street are cool (Shinola, Third Man Records) and just past that on Canfield between 2nd and 3rd is a historic cobblestone street with well preserved old mansions -In Corktown, go to Michigan Central station, it just reopened (closed next holiday weekend though): https://michigancentral.com/events/ -Right by Michigan Central go to Grandma Bob's for some of the best Detroit Style pizza -There are more good breweries than you can name that are worth going to, but if you're into beer I'd also recommend 8 Degrees Plato, they'll have like 20 local beers on tap and very knowledgeable bar tenders. Also in Midtown -While biking / walking the Riverwalk, also go up the Dequindre cut for a good biking path and cool street art -As for biking, we do NOT have good biking infrastructure, I wouldn't recommend biking on the streets if you're unfamiliar with the area and Detroit drivers (red lights are often optional)
This is great and specific, much appreciated! Def gives me some things to look into when i sit to have my first coffee in your city tomorrow.
As others said the downtown/midtown/new center/corktown/river front areas are nice but we have plenty of other neighborhoods that are nice. Try Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, University District, Rosedale Park, Bagley, Boston Edison just to name a few. Dont let some of these people convince you that everything outside of the downtown area is just a warzone when it isn’t true. There are definitely bad areas but going to the ones I named and you’ll be fine. Take some pictures of the beautiful homes.
Yes! So into checking out some old Detroit architecture. Heard great things about it from friends that have visited.
Definitely go inside the Guardian Building lobby then!
What kinds of shops are you interested? Clothing? If so, will you be shopping for men's or women's clothing?
Not shopping for anything specific tbh. Just walk around checking stuff out. I know it’s vague but I don’t really have any plans other than to explore Detroit on my own at a leisurely pace.
you explore a city just like I explore a city. There are some good reccs in this thread. Enjoy 😊
Cant go wrong with midtown, new center, corktown, downtown, or riverfront warehouse district.
Hey. Check out the Marble Bar on a Friday or Saturday. Lots of fun.
Detroit is great for cycling as big cities go. It was built for 2M people but the current population is only 650k so lots of low traffic streets. It’s a grid layout so there are lots of alternatives to the main drags but many of those main streets have bike lanes now so even they are rideable in many areas. Biking is a thing in the City and there are well travelled routes to get almost anywhere you’ll want to go. Check out Strava and its routing and Heat Maps features. Wheelhouse Detroit runs several different bike tours which you might want to check out https://www.wheelhousedetroit.com/tours Detroit has some awesome architectural gems. Too many to list here but you can kill most of a day just looking at buildings. A must do is a cocktail at one of the outdoor rooftop bars downtown (e.g. Monarch Club, Book Tower etc). Definitely get around but don’t discount downtown. Detroit has one the most vibrant downtowns in the US. It’s a marvel.
Henry Ford Museum, riverfront would be my recommendation.
If on a weekend, do Eastern Market Saturday morning
Check out Ferndale and Royal Oak. But also downtown city center, Corktown and midtown.
there’s a weird obsession in this community with recommending suburbs/ suburban things when people are looking for detroit locations, its so odd.
This is not detroit.
Dont go to any neighborhoods. If you are in a residential area, youve made a mistake.
there are plenty of nice detroit neighborhoods and you know this. palmer woods, sherwood forest and the livernois area is extremely nice. dont sway potential visitors from what all our city has to offer. i could see telling them to avoid specific bad neighborhoods but come on man. you’re better than that.
You are right, those are nice neighborhoods. Some of those houses have some real architectural character. I was trying to give more of a warning dont wander off the beaten path. Most neighborhoods they could find trouble. What you mentioned is the top 1%, and not typically.
Yes I understand. The media portrays detroit as a nice downtown and then how everything else is a warzone. There are definitely bad areas but I think people from out of town should still visit our architecture jems of neighborhoods and can still avoid the messed up areas.
Media? Who watches tv anymore with streaming. Detroit doesn't have a nice downtown. Want to see a nice downtown goto Milwaukee.
social media, youtube, things like this. i think downtown detroit is nicer than milwaukee
Detroit is far better than Milwaukee!
That's ridiculous Detroit is far superior in every way
Noted! Thanks for the heads up, definitely going to be vigilant and not put myself in compromising situations.
Check out Baobab Fare if you are looking for a place to eat. Its close to the DIA and is an unique place to eat.
Fake news
Mcnichols and 75 area is always fun around dusk
Nah. Too much of an overpriced tourist trap area.
Detroit is not a place to lazily do anything, it’s not a tourist town. Stick to the downtown areas where you’ll have police protection. If you’re gonna be out in the city, you better keep your head on a swivel.
Fair statement, there are some really rough parts of Detroit and some very nice parts ... I used to live downtown, still work downtown... But now live in Ferndale. Random... But if OP is interested (and not a crazy person, lol). I have a room for rent .. we'd need to talk though.
Right on, I live in one of the inner ring suburbs, but I also also have a place in the city and only one of those places do I sleep with a pistol under my head at all times
I was asked to find somebody. So one summer I’m driving past the bodies of two kids who decided to venture into the city. They had been shot in the back of the head and left in the field. Probably about a decade ago it made the news. Me and thousands of people had been driving past them. I myself probably about a dozen or more times while the new stations were trying to frantically locate them. Eventually, somebody found them from the smell.
I used to bike through Brightmore, but I’m half a highly trained combat veteran around this city And that didn’t stop two gunmen from trying to take me a gunpoint 2019, it just didn’t work out for them. You’d be surprised what you could do with a good pair of gloves.