Things to Do in Detroit: The Top 6 Incredible Attractions in the Motor City! 

Things to Do in Detroit: The Top 6 Incredible Attractions in the Motor City | By Sherry Trautman | Traveling Michigan

Detroit Michigan is home to stunning museums, architectural marvels, cutting edge restaurants, casinos and theaters.  Revitalization projects are in full swing and tourists are exploring the city like never before. 

See our main Detroit page for our full listing of fantastic things to see in Detroit all year round.

And like the mural says below, "This Town Ain't for Weenies!!"

Detroit Institute of Arts Will Blow Your Mind!

Did you know the Detroit Art Museum features one of the largest art collections in the United States? AND it's all housed in a beautiful architectural marvel! Definitely one of my favorite things to see in Detroit!  Read all about it and see more exciting pics!

Belle Isle Park: An Exploring, Hiking and Biking Destination

Belle Isle Park is a 2.5-mile-long, 982-acre island park, located in the Detroit River.  Almost one third of the island is a natural wooded area that is home to a wide variety of small animals and birds. 

You can spend the entire day at Belle Isle just exploring, museum hopping, playing, kayaking, biking and sitting on the beach!

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This is just one of the magical ☀️rooms inside the Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit. One of the great things (other than its beauty) is that it is free after you enter the park with your Michigan park pass! ‍♀️ . . . . #detroit #belleisleconservatory #annascrippswhitcombconservatory #exploredetroit #gardens #flowers #flowersofinstagram #gogreatlakesbay #thegreatlakesstate #michigan #puremitten #michigander #getoutsidemore #monday

A post shared by Michigan Travel+Food Adventure (@travelingmichigan) on Jun 24, 2019 at 6:11am PDT

The park features a number of historic public landmarks including:  

• Belle Isle Conservatory
• Belle Isle Aquarium
  
• James Scott Memorial Fountain
  
• Belle Isle Nature Center
• Dossin Great Lakes Museum
  
• Public Swimming and Beach
• Giant Slide
  
• Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse
• Golf Range

So grab some snacks and load up the car as Belle Isle is one of my favorite things to do in Detroit. 

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We were in awe of the Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit yesterday. So incredibly beautiful!! If you haven’t been, get to it! But go early as the island was insanely packed by 4 o’clock! We were there by 10:30 AM and it was quite peaceful. . . . . #detroit #belleislepark #belleisle #belleisleconservatory #exploredetroit #detroitmichigan #gardens #gardensofinstagram #koifish #michigander #mittenlove #midwestlife #midwest_captures #enjoymichigan #detroitcity #gogreatlakesbay #thegreatlakesstate

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Motown Museum Hitsville USA: Stand Where the Temptations, Jackson 5 and the Supremes Recorded Their Hit Songs!

Visit Hitsville U.S.A. to learn about the sound that changed America!  Visitors definitely find this one of their favorite things to do in Detroit.  It's super exciting to stand where the Temptations recorded their hits!

Shop, Eat and Relax at Eastern Market!

2934 Russell St. Detroit, Michigan 

The Eastern Market area was named for the 19th-century market that operated here, selling everything from tacos to colorful produce.

Eastern Market makes farmers market shopping fun!! You won't be able to pass by the delicious fresh produce, flowers and baked goods begging to go home with you!  

• Saturday Market: Year-round, 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
• Sunday Street Market: June – September, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
• Tuesday Market: June – September, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Wholesale Market: Monday – Friday, April – November, 12 a.m. –6 a.m. Open to the public, must buy in bulk.

Milliken State Park Wetlands and Detroit Riverwalk is Stunning!

Address: 1900 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 

The William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is located just east of downtown Detroit along the Detroit River. The park's expansive 31 acres include wetlands, paved trails, and a 52-slip harbor of refuge.  Keep your eyes open for geese, hawks, pheasants, muskrats and foxes!

Did you know it was Michigan's first urban state park? There's even a pretty lighthouse!    

The paved trails are perfect for biking, walking and rollerblading. Milliken State Park is located just east of downtown near the Outdoor Adventure Center and Belle Isle Park.

Tour the Unbelievable Ford Piquette Plant

Visit the Ford Piquette Plant to discover the birthplace of the Model T and the start of modern manufacturing!  This fun museum should definitely be on your Things to do in Detroit list!

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When we were wandering around Belle Isle, I discovered this very cool round abandoned structure. I was reading that it used to be a zoo on Belle Isle in Detroit! You can still see the gates to get into the zoo, some cages and exhibits but it now stands abandoned. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In 1947, the Belle Isle Zoo was downsized to a children’s zoo and finally closed in 2002. Bummer, huh!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #deservetopreserve #abandoned #abandonedzoo #belleisle #belleislepark #detroit #abandoneddetroit #photooftheday #michigan #michigander #michiganphotographer #detroitmi #detroitmichigan #motorcity #detroitcity #detroitdecay #detroit_igers #detroitlove #forgottenplaces #beautyindecay #urbanexploration #urbanexplorers #explore #michiganaddict #detroitgraphiti #urbanexplore #abandonedplaces #beautyindecay #deserve2preserve

A post shared by Michigan Travel+Food Adventure (@travelingmichigan) on Sep 16, 2019 at 5:15am PDT

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