When was the last time you took a 24-hour vacation?
Last weekend, Shane and I visited Detroit, Michigan. We took the 3.5 hour drive from where we live in Ontario on Friday morning, and stayed until about noon the next day. In this post I'll take you through what we did, and what we recommend. In short, the trip was SO worth it, and we'll be doing it again soon.
What this post will be hitting:
1. The Raptors game at Little Caesars Arena
2. Detroit Institute of Arts
3. Eastern Market
4. Hotel stay: Aloft at the David Whitney Building
5. Breakfast at Dime Store
6. Dinner at The Peterboro
To Do:
1. Go to a basketball game. Detroit is a city that we had both been separately and only with large groups of friends, so we both experienced it in more of a party atmosphere than an exploratory one. This time we were able to check out more, dine where we wanted, and see more of the city than just the inside of bars (which, who are we kidding, also makes for a great vacation!).
We planned the trip initially because Shane got me tickets to see the Raptors vs Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Tickets are cheaper there than in Toronto, so we were sitting basically courtside. It was absolutely insane, I felt like a millionaire, and now I don't know if I can ever go back to watching games from the nosebleeds, like we usually do. Looks like we'll have to be taking more trips to Motor City!
Because the tickets in Detroit are so much cheaper, it was overwhelming to see how many Toronto fans there were. I almost felt guilty, or embarrassed; every time the hype guys began a Pistons cheer, the Raptors crowd would completely drown them out. The arena was essentially a sea of purple, red and black, 2019 Championship gear, and dinosaurs. It felt like a home game! I would definitely see a game here again since it's easier to get good seats, you don't feel like an outsider, and the Pistons with Derrick Rose are a fun team to watch.
2. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts. The DIA has one of the greatest art collections in the United States, with over 100 galleries and 658 000 square feet of space. It's massive, and easy to spend several hours in there. Be sure to check out the Diego Rivera murals, and the collections featuring Matisse, Picasso, Rubens, van Gogh, Copley, Caravaggio, and Gentileschi (they have "Judith and her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes", which is an eerie piece that I was so happy to see on person). I'm not typically one for modern art, however the modern and contemporary art galleries at the DIA were wonderful.
Check out Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections while you're there. We loved Kehinde Wiley's "Officer of the Hussars" and Nick Cave's piece from his Soundsuits collection.
Basically, this museum has something for everyone; even Shane, who isn't an "art guy" had a great time walking around and taking it all in.
3. Eastern Market on a Saturday morning. We took a cab to the expansive market district on a chilly Saturday morning in January. As I understand, this places gets PACKED in the warmer weather, though at 43 acres large it can handle big crowds well. It was still busy when we went. though there weren't many vendors at the outdoor "sheds". They have your typical market favourites - and lots of them - like meat, dairy, bakery, veggie and fruit vendors, along with crafts, goods, hot foods, and a massive open-air flowerbed (in the warmer months). The neighbourhood itself is amazing to walk through, especially if you're a fan of street art: there are so many amazing pieces!
Where to Stay:
4. Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney. I initially booked here because it was just down the street from Little Caesar's Arena, and looked cool architecturally. It ended up being a great choice; it was central to everything, on a main downtown street surrounded by cafe, restaurants and shops, and was more comfortable than we anticipated. We had a room with two queens, facing the street which was beautifully lit with Christmas lights. The room was spacious, comfy, and minimalist. Pretty sure the hotel is dog friendly, too. The building itself gorgeous, and is equipped with a snack and breafkast bar, a cocktail bar that serves snacks and dinner (things like wings and flatbreads), and a huge, Instagram-worthy hang-out space with lots of seating and a couple games of cornhole. If you park directly out front of the main entrance, a valet will take your car underground for the duration of your stay, which I'd definitely recommend over street parking. Would absolutely stay here again.
Where to Eat:
5. Dime Store for breakfast/brunch. Go early, if you don't want to wait, as this place gets busy fast. We arrived at 9:30am, and were the last table to be easily seated. There were a ton of people waiting by the time we left. However, it's totally worth it, as this food here is consistently top notch. On this visit, I had the brioche French toast with fruit, and Shane went with the housemade sausage omelette. Both 10/10. Good coffee, quick service, the best brunch!
6. The Peterboro for dinner. I was debating whether to go to The Peterboro, or another popular dining spot that I read about online. I asked my cousin for her expert opinion, since she's a frequent Detroit diner. "Drop all your plans and go to The Peterboro!" was her immediate response. For her, unless there's a new spot in town, she doesn't go anywhere else. We decided to trust her recommendation, and are SO glad we did. The dinner was out-of-this-world Asian fusion.
What we ordered (and you should too):
- Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns
- Cheeseburger Spring Rolls
- Sweet and Sour Cauliflower
- Pork Dumplings
- Dessert: Deep Fried Banana Spring Roll
I will just tell you that the food is insanely delicious, and leave it at that. Eat here. They even have some great alcohol-free cocktails, so that I could feel like I was keeping up with Shane even with my pregnant belly.
We had a blast in Detroit, and can't wait for our next excuse to go back; I'm trying to plan for after baby #2 arrives, so that we can check out the long list of breweries that the city has to offer.
Detroit is authentically cool, fun, affordable, and fascinating. Don't pass it up!