As a family, we were highly anticipating touching down in Detroit…for several reasons. Chief among them was our chance to spend some time with Alyssa – our oldest. It had been 5 whole months since we were all together, so the littles and us parents were excited to give her big hugs and have some fun together.
Our time in the Motor City was limited because we were really just using Detroit as a fly in point, so we could road-trip into Canada. Why wouldn’t we just fly directly into Canada? Long story, short – We dropped the ball on applying for Yara’s passport in time, and the only way to get her across the border was by land, so that her birth certificate would suffice.
Turns out, though, this little snafu worked out perfectly because the kids really enjoyed their time in Detroit, and so did we.
Where to Stay in Detroit?
Surprisingly, we choose to stay downtown at the Hilton Garden Inn. I have to admit, that’s not my favorite end of the chain to stay in, but because we were only staying one night and the hotel had great reviews and even better prices to accommodate us, we took the gamble. We won!
5 Fun Things to Do in Detroit With Kids
Spend the day on Belle Isle
Belle Isle is a huge state park located on one of the many islands in the Detroit River. Once you enter the park, you feel like the urban landscape of the city is miles away, and nature takes center stage.
You’ll have the opportunity to visit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, giant slide, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the James Scott Memorial Fountain and the beach front. The Giant Slide was closed during our visit, but hopefully it will reopen soon because it looks like it would be a fun ride down for us and the kids.
We split our time on Belle Isle between the Conservatory and the beach area. The Conservatory is absolutely stunning with hundreds of different plant species on display. You’ll also get to enjoy the large open garden on the grounds of the conservatory, which my children used to practice all their running skills.
One of the best aspects of Belle Isle, other than the pure beauty, is that entrance into all the buildings are free. It’s a great way to spend a day with family.
Tip: Pack a picnic and hit the beach to enjoy the beauty up close.
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
The Detroit Riverfront is one of the most beautiful River Walks in the country. The activities are plentiful along the Riverfront as well. One of our favorites include, the Outdoor Adventure Center where you can experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators; including walking behind and touching a waterfall; climbing the roots of a massive bur oak tree; hopping aboard a real airplane; walking across a suspension bridge; stepping into a fishing boat to reel in a big fish, and much more.
Our other favorite along the Riverfront is the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, for it’s entertainment value to the area.
Speaking of entertainment, there is a free summer concert series on the Riverfront as well, which is super cool to experience some local artists that you may not otherwise get to hear.
Explore Downtown
Today’s Downtown Detroit is not the Downtown of year’s past. Before this most recent trip, I hadn’t been in Detroit since 2011, at which time the downtown was struggling and littered with abandoned buildings. However the Detroit we experienced on this trip was completely different. The city has been revitalized, and development continues to happen.
There are cool murals to chase down and get great Instagram photo. And, don’t forget the sports arenas downtown. We were able to see a Tigers game during our visit, which was pretty cool because they were playing the Rangers, so you can guess who we cheered for! (shhhh, don’t tell Daddy….the kids are only supposed to cheer for Philadelphia teams).
Motown Museum
The Motown Museum is one of the best I’ve ever visited. Its the actual location that many of Motown’s best records were recorded. As a visitor, you get to see the whole picture of one of the most famous record labels and, honestly, it also reminded me of some artists and songs I had forgotten about. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go this visit because the site is currently closed for renovation. I can’t wait to go back and experience the new updates.
The Underground Railroad Living Museum
This museum/experience is located at Detroit’s First Congregational Church. The Museum offers a very unique experience through a re-enactment tour. During the tour, visitors are shackled with wrist bands at the entrance and begin their journey by entering through the “Door of No Return.”
Along the tour, you will become a passenger on the underground railroad being led to Freedom, experiencing all that former enslaved people went through on their journey to freedom.
This is the kind of experience one doesn’t soon forget, if ever.
Where To Eat With Family In Detroit?
When you think Detroit cuisine, surely the top two things that come to mind is Coney Island and Detroit-style pizza. Or is that just me? While both are delicious and fun for a different kind of vibe from home, we skipped both this visit.
My favorite two restaurants we visited during were Yemen Café and Le Petit Dejeuner (Translation from French to English is Breakfast).
First up let’s start with breakfast. Le Petit Dejeuner is an absolutely delicious brunch spot. It’s in an unsuspecting location, and the interior is nothing fancy, but again, the food is delicious. Everything is served family style and based off the number of people in your party.
My personal favorites were the chicken wings and the Croissant French Toast, but honestly everything was fantastic.
For a delicious and unique dinner cuisine, I urge you to head to the Yemen Cafe. Oh my goodness, I’m already a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, namely Afghan being one of my favorites. Yemeni food is similar and oh so rich with flavor and soul. You have to order the Rashoosh bread with your meal to soak up all the flavor and sauce. It’s worth the carb count, trust me!
Detroit is always a good time, even if it’s for a short time. Have fun and let us know if you checked out any of the places on our list.
Happy Travels!
[…] kids made it to their fifth country – Canada!! After wrapping up our Detroit trip, we decided to road trip across the Ambassador Bridge to Ontario and set out for Niagara Falls. […]