Best Day Trips From Detroit to Take This Summer
Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan. The city is famous for its music, art, architecture, and historical automotive background. While Detroit has lots to offer, there are many interesting places to explore nearby. Summertime is the perfect season to take a day trip and explore new places. Here are a couple of day trips for your next day off from the automobile city this summer.
Port Huron
Port Huron is a little over an hour's drive from Detroit. It is a big city with a small-town charm with spacious green parks, an idyllic downtown, and miles of beautiful waterfront. The city sits on the point where Lake Huron and the St. Clair River meet. Port Huron has always been historically important as a maritime port. The city's maritime history and location earned it the title "Maritime Capital of The Great Lakes."
There are many activities in Port Huron revolving around the water. Visitors can see Michigan's oldest lighthouse, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. The lighthouse dates back to the 1820s and still operates today. Those not afraid to climb some stairs can book a tour to climb the 94 iron stairs to the top of the lighthouse. There is also a beautiful trail along the Blue Water River, starting downtown and stretching along the St. Clair River.
For those who don't want to walk much in Port Huron, there is also an hour-long trolly ride along the blue water area. Those looking to explore more of the city's history can visit one of its many museums, including Knowlton's Ice Museum, Great Lakes Maritime Center, and The Port Huron Museum.
Visit The Capital
Lansing, Michigan, is Michigan state's capital and famous as the birthplace of the Oldsmobile. Located an hour and a half from Detroit, a visit to the city is the perfect day trip. There is plenty to do in Lansing. Visitors can tour the State Capital Building, Impression 5 Science Center, and Michigan History Center. Free tours of the State Capital Building are available from Monday to Friday.
Michigan State University is also a great tourist destination and not just for students. Visitors can enjoy the Broad Art Museum, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, MSU Museum, and multiple horticultural gardens. The city also has beautiful views, with the Grand River and Lansing's 20-mile River Trail bisecting the downtown.
During the summer, Lansing is a popular destination for festival-goers. Lansing is the festival capital of Michigan and for good reason. The city hosts around 60 festivals a year, and most are free to attend. A festival known as Scrapfest focuses on repurposed and upcycled artwork. There are also many music festivals that Lansing puts on for free, including Jazzfest, HipHopfest, and Bluesfest.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is an hour's drive from Detroit. The city is famous for its arts scene. Toledo is home to many performing arts institutions, including The Toledo Opera, The Toledo Symphony Orchestra, The Toledo Jazz Orchestra, and the Toledo Ballet. The area has several theaters to explore, including the Toledo Repertoire Theatre, the Ohio Theater, and the Valentine Theatre. The internationally renowned Toledo Museum of Art is worth a visit for visual art lovers. It has more than 30,000 art pieces with 45 galleries. The museum has European and American paintings, Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian work.
Those looking to explore more than art can check out one of Toledo's many other museums. Some include the National Museum of The Great Lakes, Toledo Police Museum, and Toledo History Museum. Visitors can check out the Wabash Cannonball Trail to explore history and nature. The trail is Ohio's premier rails-to-trails project and stretches 64 miles through 4 counties. For a more quiet natural area to explore, Blue Creek Park is perfect. Blue Creek is a quiet country retreat, featuring a trail through the wetland and around a quarry pond. Bird lovers should check out Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), located at the entrance of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. The Observatory seeks to inspire appreciation of birds and conservation efforts. The BSBO also hosts a 10-day birding festival timed with the peak of spring songbird migration. This is the biggest week in American birding.
Ann Arbor
Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Ann Arbor, is a hip University town around a 45-minute drive from Detroit. The town offers everything from delicious dining to art galleries, museums, and trails. Ann Arbor's dining scene is incredibly diverse, with over 400 restaurants featuring different types of cuisine. In the summer, many restaurants have beautiful patios to dine at.
Beyond its cuisine, Ann Arbor has a bustling art scene. Ann Arbor is home to the Ann Arbor Art Center, Michigan's oldest and most respected community arts organization. There are also local art galleries to check out in the area. An art gallery called "Found" features work from local artists.
Every year in July, Ann Arbor hosts the Arbor Art Fair to celebrate local artists. It is one of the top-ranked juried art fairs in the country. For those wanting to explore the outdoors in Ann Arbor, LeFurge Woods Nature Preserve is worth a visit. The preserve is part of the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy. The nature preserve is a cross-section of southern Michigan habitat types. Trails wind through wetlands, meadows, agricultural lands, and LeFurge woods.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Around a 30-minute drive from Detroit, a visit to Matthaei Botanical Gardens makes the perfect day trip. At the Matthaei outdoor gardens, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The outdoor gardens feature bonsai, native plants, and perennials. Those exploring impressive architecture and seeing plants can check out the Matthaei Botanica Garden's conservatory. The conservatory displays plants from three major biomes from around the world. These biomes are tropical, temperate, and arid, and each has its own house. The conservatory first opened in 1964 and is the largest free-span of its style today. Beyond the main gardens and conservatory, there is also a garden created just for kids called the Gaffield Children's Garden. This is a space where kids can play and learn about nature. Those looking to spend more energy can check out the 3 miles of trails at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens to explore.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a small town with a big-city vibe. The town is a thirty-minute trip from downtown Detroit. History lovers should explore The Birmingham Historical Museum and Park, a collection of historic buildings, including the 1822 John West Hunter House.
Shopping is abundant in Birmingham, including antique stores, whimsical gift shops, and on-trend women's clothing stores. For local shopping, check out Birmingham's farmer's market. The farmer's market runs every Sunday from May to October. Sometimes live music events pop up at the market. Near the market, there are also many locally-owned shops. A local favorite to stop for a sweet treat is the mother-daughter-owned business, Dairy Mat. The ice cream shop has been serving Birmingham for 25 years.
Expectations
Whether you are a history lover or an avid hiker, there are plenty of day trip options from Detroit. From Port Huron to Birmingham, the region presents many beautiful places to visit. When planning your day trip, it is important to think about what you expect out of the trip. This might be simple advice, but it is important. Looking at your expectations can help you see what you want out of your trip and plan to make them happen.
