The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Detroit, Michigan Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED AUGUST 2022 • 4 min read
Known as the center of the U.S. automobile industry, Detroit’s complex and multilayered history makes it a fascinating city to discover. Get ready to be amazed by the diversity, creativity, and history of this classic American city. You can visit again and again and always find something new.
Image courtesy of Visit Detroit
1. THE SHOPPING
Back in the day, Woodward Avenue was lined with specialty shops and stores, anchored by the mega-department store, Hudson’s. Woodward Avenue has been completely transformed in recent years, paying homage to the former shopping district. Recently, big-brands have opened their doors along the famous corridor drawing in shoppers. But don’t let the big names intimidate you; Detroit staples are also sprinkled along Woodward Avenue.
Image courtesy of Visit Detroit
Head north on Woodward Avenue and you’ll find yourself in Midtown—booming with boutiques. Eastern Market Stores is known for its popular farmers market, but the area is also home to several Detroit shopping staples, like the notably known circa 1887 DeVries & Co, which brings the greatest selection of cheese and specialty foods to Detroit.
2. THE ART
Located in Midtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is a massive gallery space housed in a former car dealership that features exhibits by both mainstays in the contemporary art scene as well as students and newcomers.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit stands emblazoned with murals by local street artists. Its appearance reflects its purpose; it’s urban, edgy, and constantly evolving with the rhythms of the city. A non-collecting museum, MOCAD intentionally doesn’t have a permanent display. This allows the space to transition with changing trends, consistently responding to changing aesthetics. Although Detroit may not be considered a typical cultural destination—Michigan’s largest city is actually home to stunning murals and public art.
In Detroit, a land of gilded buildings and fields of country homes; the city is a mix of southern hospitality and northern skepticism. Detroit is a city full of artists who are finding new outlets for their creative talents. In recent years, one of the most beautiful forms of creative expression used to celebrate Detroit has been through visual art in the form of murals. Home to over 1,000 public art murals, there are so many incredible details about the art in Detroit that’s fun to discover and share.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
A 2022 James Beard Restaurant & Chef Awards finalist, BARDA is the first and only authentic, wood-fired Argentinian and Latin American-inspired restaurant in Detroit. The beverage menu features Argentinian wines, South American-inspired libations, and local craft beers. Fernet, a beloved spicy spirit in Argentina, is the heart of many house cocktails. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the savory, ferocious and full-bodied Tiger's Milk—concocted with smoked onion tequila, dry curaçao, tiger milk, charred pineapple, and fresh-squeezed lime.
BARDA in Detroit, Michigan
Using ancestral methods of Patagonian cooking, an open fire is the very soul of the restaurant's dining experience. BARDA specializes in simple, yet bold dishes, combining techniques and ingredients that reach far across vast geographical terrains. Created with ingredients sourced locally, or imported from Argentina—favorite dishes include Glazed Beets with ajoblanco and raspberries, Peruvian Potatoes with huancaína sauce, cured egg yolk and olives, Pork Tomahawk with pickled green tomato salsa criolla and mint, as well as Burrata with asparagus, olives and lemon.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent desserts such as Broken Pavlova made with citrus mousse, strawberry, salmon roe and hibiscus, and Burnt Alaska with flourless cake, chocolate semifreddo and meringue. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is an exotic and rare collection of plants from around the world. Opened in 1904, the conservatory is the oldest conservatory in the United States and is divided into five distinct sections: the Palm House, the Tropical House, the Cactus House, a sunken Fernery, and the Show House. The conservatory is shared by the formal gardens and the Lily Pond, home to home to Japanese koi. On the grounds is the Levi Barbour Memorial Fountain designed by Marshall Fredericks, a Japanese Tohro donated to Detroit by the city of Toyota, Japan, and the Peacock Sundial erected in 1927.
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is divided into various “houses.” The Palm House includes tropical trees and palms, the Cactus House is home to succulents and cactus, the Fernery is sunken to provide cooler conditions and more humidity, the Tropical House is where many plants that provide food are housed including bananas, oranges, figs, and the Show House has changing displays of flowering plants. Located to the east of the conservatory building are 20 greenhouses used to care for the orchid, bromeliad, cactus, amaryllis, and other tropical plant collections.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Built circa 1928, the impeccably designed Ford House was Edsel (president of Ford Motor Company) and Eleanor Ford’s dream house. Designed by a prominent architect known for his work on several iconic structures in Detroit and industrial design in Ford Motor Co. factories, the look of the home was inspired by Cotswold-style cottages in England. You’ll find that it’s not ostentatious, despite the elegant decor and the fine art on the walls. The rooms feel intimate and comfortable. It isn’t just a house—it’s a home.
Around every corner, you can discover world-class art and design pieces collected by art-lovers Edsel and Eleanor. They displayed paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Diego Rivera, classic European portraiture, modern-style sculptures, and ancient Asian and African artifacts. With 87-acres, the Ford House grounds, gardens and lakeside landscapes offer you ample space to run, explore and bask in the natural beauty. Tiptoe through the blooms on Flower Lane, get lost in the heavenly scent of the Rose Garden, enjoy the tranquility of Bird Island, and watch the sailboats and freighters float by on Lake St. Clair.
WHERE TO STAY IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
From the moment you enter the magnificent lobby adorned with vibrant contemporary art, you will experience The Henry, an Autograph Collection Hotel. Here, you’ll discover the art of hospitality just beyond the energy of Downtown Detroit. This boutique hotel is where luxury amenities and modern features create an atmosphere that is refined and refreshing.
