The Henry Ford Museum
Henry Ford, the son of a farmer, built his first car in Detroit
in 1896. There was nothing too amazing about this feat, because
cars had been around for some time. What was unique to Ford's
invention was the moving assembly line, which enabled him to
literally put the world on wheels. Henry Ford's legacy is found at
every turn in his hometown, Detroit, so it is unsurprising that the
city's most popular and prominent tourist attraction was founded by
him in 1929. The Henry Ford Museum is spread over more than 36
hectares (90 acres) in Dearborn, just outside of metro-Detroit, and
encompasses five different venues. Together they bring the whole
American experience to life, using exhibits, demonstrations,
programmes, and re-enactments to showcase American life and its
people. Ford amassed most of the exhibit collection, including tens
of thousands of ordinary objects, items associated with illustrious
Americans, and numerous inventions documenting technological
advances. Among the exhibits is the limousine in which John F.
Kennedy was assassinated, Edgar Allan Poe's writing desk, and
George Washington's camp bed. For lovers of Americana this
attraction is a joy.
Henry Ford Museum
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Automotive Hall of Fame
Car buffs the world over are drawn to Detroit's Automotive Hall
of Fame, close to the Henry Ford Museum in Oakwood Boulevard,
Dearborn, which is the public programme and exhibition centre for
the worldwide motor vehicle industry. The venue features
entertaining and enlightening exhibits about the people who drive
the industry. Visitors can indulge in interactive events like
designing their own car and taking part in safety demonstrations.
Even those who do not consider themselves petrol heads should enjoy
a visit to this attraction; one can hardly explore Detroit without
gaining some insight into the car manufacturing industry upon which
the city was built.
Address:
21400 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn
Automobile Hall of Fame
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Detroit Historical Museum
The Detroit Historical Museum, in downtown Detroit, allows
visitors the chance to tour the scope of the city's history, from
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac's landing on the banks of the Detroit
River through to the city's emergence as an industrial capital. In
the museum it is possible to walk through the streets of Old
Detroit and explore 19th-century shops. Visitors can also find out
about Detroit's role in the Underground Railroad that helped slaves
escape from the South. The interactive Glancy Trains toy train
exhibit delights young and old. The museum is an interesting time
travel exercise and provides a good general overview of the city's
history, with some fascinating exhibits.
Address:
Detroit's Cultural Center, 5401 Woodward Avenue
Detroit Historical Museum
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Detroit Institute of Arts
One of America's largest fine arts museums, the Detroit
Institute of Art boasts more than 100 galleries, displaying a
collection of about 65,000 works, ranging from mummies to Matisse,
and Asian antiquities to American Impressionists. The Institute of
Arts is conveniently situated in downtown Detroit, along with many
of the city's top attractions. The highlights of the permanent
exhibition include masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Bureghel the
Elder, Botticelli, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso, and Caravaggio. From
January till May the Film Theatre screens an impressive selection
of international films and shorts, and the museum hosts regular
temporary exhibitions and special events.
Address:
5200 Woodward Avenue
Institute of Arts
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Motown Historical Museum
Detroit's famous Motown sound originated in two simple buildings
on West Grand Boulevard, downtown, at Hitsville U.S.A. Visitors can
see the original control room and recording studio where stars like
the Jackson Five, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder made hit records
between 1959 and 1972. The museum also contains some costumes worn
by the stars and Motown founder Berry Gordy's apartment, still as
it was in the 1960s. This attraction is great fun for music
fanatics, particularly lovers of this particular genre, and
captures the spirit of the period in Detroit very well.
Hitsville USA
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Detroit has a humid continental climate with warm, humid summers
and very cold winters. Mid-summer average temperatures can rise as
high as 83°F (28°C), while in the coldest month, January, the
mercury usually stays well below freezing point. Rainfall is spread
fairly evenly over the year with a few inches being recorded each
month. Snow usually falls between November and April.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Location: The airport is located 20 miles (32km) southwest of
downtown Detroit.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to
November).
Transfer Between Terminals:
'Terminal-to-Terminal' vans provide a free shuttle service
between the two terminals.
Getting to the city:
SMART public buses connect to central Detroit from the lower
level near the Ground Transportation offices at the North Terminal.
Taxis and sedan services are also available. There are car hire
companies represented at the airport. It takes approximately 20-30
minutes to the city centre by car/taxi and about 45 minutes by
bus.
Car Rental:
Car hire companies represented at the airport include Alamo,
Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National.
Airport Taxis:
MetroCars and MetroCabs are available from the airport, and
should take approximately 20-30 minutes to the city centre.
Facilities:
The main concentration of restaurants, bars, cafes, and fast
food outlets are in the McNamara Terminal, although the other
terminal also has bars and eateries. There are numerous shops
located throughout the airport, including duty-free. ATMs, wireless
internet and bureaux de change are available in both terminals. The
on-site hotel offers conference and business facilities. Disabled
facilities are good; those with special needs should inform their
airline in advance.
Parking
There is plenty of parking at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Airport, starting at $4 per half hour. Daily rates are available
for $14 in the Green Lot, the cheapest long-term option. There is a
free shuttle service from the parking lots to the terminal
buildings.
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There is not much in the way of public transport in Detroit, and
the Motor City is still geared resolutely towards the car. Driving
is not too challenging and parking is relatively easy to find, but
rush hours should be avoided. To hire a car drivers must be 21
years old and have a valid driver's license; sometimes an
International Driving Permit is also required. However, should one
choose to rely on public transport, the People Mover is an elevated
monorail that provides a quick and easy way to get around most of
the downtown area, while DOT buses operate a meagre inner-city
service and the SMART buses serve the suburbs, but service is
sparse on weekends. Taxis are a convenient form of transport and
can easily be found or ordered by phone.
Sport, the history of the automobile, the distinctive Motown
sound, and a rather unique downtown riverfront, are some of the
reasons why people choose to holiday in Detroit, the bustling major
metropolis of the state of Michigan. Motor City has fallen on
rather hard times, but efforts are being made to revitalise the
great city as a tourist destination.
Travel to Detroit to worship at the automotive shrines of the
Cadillacs and Fords, to catch a show in the renowned Woodward
Avenue theatre district, to experience the vibrancy of the Motown
legend, to watch a game at the Comerica Park Stadium, to eat, drink
and be merry in Greektown, but also to tick a major box in your
exploration of the great cities of the US, and to see one of the
most powerful industrial centres in the world. Detroit may have
become something of a symbol of urban decay in the US, but even
this dilapidation is fascinating to some visitors, with
photographers lured by the street art and the greenery that has
overgrown parts of the city.
Hordes of visitors descend on Detroit for the North American
International Auto Show, held each January, but unless you are car
obsessed or work in the industry it is more pleasant to visit the
city in the summer months, between June and August.
Ludington
Michigan boasts some wonderful sandy beaches on its western
coastline, winding along Lake Michigan. Some of the best of these,
with miles of sand and wild dunes, are near the ferry port town of
Ludington. The Ludington State Park offers 14 miles (23km) of
hiking and biking trails in beautiful virgin forests and dunes,
miles of sandy beach, and three campgrounds. There are several
other popular beach resort towns along Michigan's west coast,
within easy reach of Detroit, which are known collectively as 'The
Riviera of the Midwest'. Silver Lake resort boasts its
world-renowned living sand-dunes and the what is known fondly as
the world's smallest newspaper. Grand Haven has a magnificent
boardwalk along its spectacular beaches lined with restaurants,
marina facilities and shops. Holland, as one might expect, has a
Dutch flavour inherited from its founder, a Dutch clergyman. St
Joseph, in the south, has a famous lighthouse and a French fort to
explore.
![Ludington]()
Ludington
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Ann Arbor
The city of Ann Arbor in southeast Michigan, 45 miles (72km)
west of Detroit and just north of the Ohio border, is home to the
University of Michigan, one of the country's top universities. The
city and surroundings have a great deal to offer visitors in the
form of historic and cultural attractions. Ann Arbor's downtown
area is extremely vibrant with never a dull moment, from live music
shows to a plethora of libraries, galleries and museums,
restaurants offering everything from romantic dinners to café
society, some of the country's best bookstores, and often a street
party. Among the many museums of interest is the Ann Arbor Hands-On
Museum, housed in a 100-year-old firehouse, which features more
than 250 interactive science and technology exhibits. There are
numerous restored 19th-century houses and farms to visit for a
taste of life in days of yore, and even an original old main street
blacksmith shop still operating in the satellite town of
Manchester. Museums in the area cover everything from geology to
classic cars, early American manuscripts, dentistry, and old
fire-fighting equipment. On the university campus, the Natural
History Museum contains the state's largest collection of dinosaur
fossils and a planetarium features a 360-degree domed screen
offering weekend stargazing shows.
![Ann Arbor shopping]()
Ann Arbor shopping
Scott Kashkin
Saugatuck-Douglas
The small resort towns of Saugatuck and Douglas are close enough
together to be considered one holiday destination. Popular for
weekend getaways from Detroit and Chicago, the towns are located
along the shore of Lake Michigan, in the southwest of the state.
The area is known for its eclectic and artistic feel, with dozens
of art galleries and plenty of good restaurants and bars.
Saugatuck-Douglas offers a number of activities for visitors,
including fishing, hiking, sailing, golf, bowling, horseback
riding, kayaking, dune buggy outings, and lake cruises. There are
also some small sandy beaches that offer scenic spots for swimming
and sunbathing.
![Saugatuck, Michigan]()
Saugatuck, Michigan
Ross Graham
Henry Ford Museum
Dsdugan
Automobile Hall of Fame
Karrmann
Detroit Historical Museum
Goldnpuppy
Institute of Arts
Frankdegram
Hitsville USA
Blob4000
Ludington
Pentachlorphenol
Ann Arbor shopping
Scott Kashkin
Saugatuck, Michigan
Ross Graham
