The 7 best day trips from Detroit
Motor out of the Motor City of Detroit to take in Michigan’s many charms or plunge into fun at an amusement park or a national park. There’s even a train line for the car for free.
Editor's note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.
Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan
Plunge into American history, inside and out. The indoor Henry Ford Museum contains a wealth of American culture, such as the chair Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated, the limo in which Kennedy was killed and the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. The adjacent outdoor Greenfield Village features Thomas Edison’s laboratory and the Wright Brothers’ airplane workshop.
30min by car.
Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor, Michigan
While most associate the walkable and bookish Ann Arbor with the University of Michigan and its football team, there are many who think ‘art fair’ when they consider this city. For four days each, over 1000 artists display their works outside, along 30 city blocks, in America’s largest juried art fair.
Mid-July. 1hr by train.
Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada
On a peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, at Canada’s southernmost mainland point, the Point Pelee National Park features nature trails, a marsh boardwalk, forests, lovely sandy beaches and seasonal treats. The autumn migration of monarch butterflies is a spectacle of swirling black and orange. Myriad transiting bird species lure spotters in spring and autumn. And in winter, the silence amidst the trees is awesome.
1hr 20min by car.
Editor's note: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the border between the US and Canada remains closed to nonessential travel. Check the latest travel advisories before considering international travel.
Historic Sauder Village, Archbold, Ohio
At Sauder Village, you can see how hardy settlers turned Ohio’s Great Black Swamp from an ice-age-era bog into some of the Midwest’s most productive farmland. Preserved buildings spanning the years 1803 to 1928 show what life was like before the modern age. Costumed guides demonstrate how everyday items were fashioned from glass, metal, wood and clay. You can tour an old schoolhouse, farmhouse, general store and meet the farm animals, before tucking into hearty period dishes in the restaurant.
May–Oct; 2hr by car.
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Cedar Point on Lake Erie is one of the world’s top amusement parks, known for its 17 adrenaline-pumping roller coasters. Stomach-droppers include the Top Thrill Dragster, among the globe’s tallest and fastest rides. It climbs 420ft into the air before plunging and whipping around at 120mph. The Valravn is the world’s longest ‘dive’ coaster, dropping riders at a 90-degree angle for 214ft. Check the park’s opening times before planning a visit.
2hr 30min by car.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan
The 158-acre gardens feature impressive blooms and hulking works by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and others. The sculpture park offers paths and lawns bejeweled with works by artists such as Ai Weiwei, Claes Oldenburg and Anish Kapoor. The five-story glass conservatory bursts with tropical plants. The children’s garden provides lots to smell, touch and dig into. The tranquil Japanese Garden is another highlight.
2hr 30min by car.
Breweries, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo has an offbeat charm that will surprise first-time visitors. But it’s the local beer that has got people talking; over a dozen breweries produce a huge range of them. The leader is Bell’s Brewery, one of the top microbreweries in the country.
2hr 40min by train.
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