Travel Guides > Detroit, MI

Detroit Travel

For decades, Detroit, Michigan has been called "The Motor City." While the title is more than appropriate - endowed upon the city because it's long been the center of the automobile industry - those who dismiss it as a mundane tourist destination could be missing out on a lot.

Admittedly, there are a lot of cool car-related things to see here. The first must-see is the Henry Ford Museum which, incidentally, houses much more than just automobiles. That said, however, the most popular exhibit in the museum is "The Automobile in American Life", where you'll find some of Ford's most stunning creations and other unique modes of transportation, such as the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, the bus that made Rosa Parks famous, and the limousine in which John F. Kennedy was shot. You'll also find other vehicles in the museum as well, such as airplanes and helicopters.

Another dream of Henry Ford's was to bring history to Detroit. In his Greenfield Village, he's transported nearly 100 homes from 17th - 19th century Europe and America to this city, including the laboratory of Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver's cabin, and the bicycle shop that belonged to the Wright Brothers.

Guests can view the modern car-making industry and the history of automobile manufacturing with a Ford Rouge Plant Tour. This new attraction includes 5 components: an historic driving tour past important Ford landmarks, the viewing of rare historic footage, a virtual reality experience, an observation deck tour, and a walking tour of the final assembly portion of the plant.

When you've garnered enough car info, it's time to turn your interests to Detroit's other claim to fame - music, namely, contemporary African-American music. Visit the Motown Historical Museum and see where it all began. The museum, one of the most-visited attractions in the city, is housed in the Detroit home where Berry Gordy, Jr. began this amazing musical empire. The goal of this museum is to inspire youth to value vision, creativity, and entrepreneurship. See original sound equipment, costumes, and the control room where musical history happened.

Share in more history of Black America at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. The largest museum of its kind in the nation, guests will be educated as to the struggles of Blacks in America, including interesting exhibits on slavery, the Civil War, and the Underground Railroad.

Throughout the city of Detroit, you'll find wonderful music of all varieties, excellent theater productions, and for sports enthusiasts, exciting professional teams like the Lions NFL franchise and the Tigers baseball team.

Casinos came to Detroit in 1999, when the city decided to allow gambling and MGM opened the first such establishment. Today, there are several casinos that stay open 24/7 and in addition to state-of-the-art gambling, provide some excellent places to eat as well as venues for concerts and sporting events.