Detroit, MI

Start downtown at the very center of the city and find a relaxing spot on the lawn at Campus Martius Park overlooking the fountain, or sink into the sand at its urban beach during the summer. Need more greenery? Take the bridge over to Belle Isle Park and head directly to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory for a look at all things lush and green. Sports fans should check schedules and grab a stadium seat at Comerica Park,  Ford Field or Little Caesar’s Arena. Love live theater? See a show at the historic Fox Theatre, or capture the art deco design at The Fisher Theatre. Movie-goers can take in a classic flick at the historic Redford Theatre, with its fully-restored pipe organ and décor that includes a starry night sky with floating clouds. Watch a current movie at Cinema Detroit, or in the open air when possible at New Center Park. Detroit’s rich musical history ranges from Motown to R&B, garage rock to techno. Find your groove at  Cliff Bell’s or Baker’s Keyboard Lounge for jazz fans, at El Club or UFO Factory for indie rock, or try Marble Bar or TV Lounge for electronic music.

No matter what you’re craving, Detroiters will serve it up with style. Greektown gives way to Saganaki, AKA Greek flaming cheese, while Southwest Detroit has a wealth of Mexican choices to choose from and Polish delicacies like pierogi or Dill Pickle Soup reign supreme in nearby Hamtramck. Pasta fans can dive deep into Detroit history with Italian food at Andiamo Detroit Riverfront or Giovanni’s Ristorante. Farm-to-table and inventive fare can be found at Selden Standard or Chartreuse Kitchen and Cocktails. Still, a few Detroit-only dishes need to make their way onto your must-eat list. Find out what all the fuss is about and bite into Detroit-style pizza, in the place where it all began, Buddy’s Pizza. Take the Coney dog challenge and pick a side – at side-by-side rivals Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island. For dessert, indulge in chocolate creations by Bon Bon Bon. Dig into decadent dessert at Sister Pie or order up a classic hot fudge sundae topped with Sanders hot fudge.

Detroit’s premier art museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts is a must-see from its outstanding permanent collection, special exhibitions to the architecture of the museum itself. Make a weekend of it by planning stops at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, The Henry Ford, and of course, the Motown Museum. Find modern and up-and-coming local artists featured at Red Bull House of Art or MOCAD.

Detroit delivers when it comes to shopping options. Just pick a neighborhood. Go downtown for high-fashion finds at John Varvatos or Detroit is the New Black, and get sporty gear from Nike. In Midtown, don’t miss Nest or Hugh for home goods. In Corktown, one-of-a-kind finds fill Eldorado General Store and only locally-made food and finds have a place at The Farmer’s Hand. Don’t miss a visit to Eastern Market. From murals to shops like Signal Return, there’s more to this historic spot than just the mouth-watering array of vendors who serve up fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and more every Saturday. It’s also the place to wander for the latest street art, thanks to Murals in the Market.

The weather in Detroit varies from season to season, but easily changes on a whim.

Generally the hottest months are June through August, averaging about 84ºF. Summer graces the D with blue skies and sunshine. Autumn colors are a spectacular view in late September and October. Winter weather can range from rain, sleet and snow on any given day. The annual average snowfall is 41.1 inches or 102 centimeters.