25 things to do in Michigan before the 'polar coaster' arrives

Stroll the Cranbrook House and Gardens.

The Cranbrook House and Gardens in Bloomfield Hills combines a stunning example of Arts and Crafts architecture designed by Albert Kahn and an eclectic set of gardens laid out over 40 acres by the house’s first owner, George Booth. Highlights of the 20 distinct gardens include the Japanese garden, reflecting pool, herb garden, and sunken garden. The gardens are open May through October, and the house hosts seasonally themed tours throughout the year.

Photo via Cranbrook House and Gardens / Facebook

Go to the drive-in.

Drive-in movies are a fall staple, and luckily the Detroit area has multiple venues to choose from. Ford-Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn dates to 1951 and boasts 5 screens, while the Compuware Arena Drive-In hosts 3 screens in Plymouth. Other options include the Capri Drive-In Theater in Coldwater and the US-23 Drive-in Theater near Flint. The theaters all show first-run movies, offering the perfect opportunity to catch a new release while enjoying a brisk fall evening.

  Photo via Austin Evans Eighmey

Rent a tiki boat.

What’s kitschy and relaxing and thatched all over? A ride from Aloha Tiki Tours down the Detroit River or Lake St. Clair. Bring your own food and drinks for a two-hour excursion on one of their signature round, tiki-themed boats. Captain and a bluetooth speaker provided! This Polynesian-themed adventure is unlike any other floating tour in the Detroit area.

Photo via Noah Elliott Morrison

Go hiking.

The Detroit area is packed with nature preserves and trails that explode with seasonal color come autumn. Highlights include North Bay Trail in Ypsilanti, which contains fishing areas and a boardwalk, the views of the St. Clair River from Algonac State Park in Marine City, and the floating bog at Waterloo Recreation Center in Cedar Lake. For dog owners, the Lyon Oaks County Park offers a 13-acre fenced-in park as well as six miles of trails. Rolling Hills Park in Ypsilanti is beautiful and handicap-accessible, and Bald Eagle-Blue Heron Hike is the perfect spot to go bird watching. Check out a round up of the best hiking spots here.

Photo via Photo via Instagram user @moment_capt_by_pj

Catch a sports game.

While the Tigers are approaching 2003-level losses this season, Comerica Park is still the best place to catch a baseball game. Settle in with one of the new concession offerings (Coney dog-stuffed egg roll, anyone?) and cheer on the home team. If soccer is more your speed, the Detroit City FC is playing at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck until mid-October. History buffs will find the stadium particularly interesting, since it was the first Works Progress Administration project in Michigan and was opened by former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as part of his re-election campaign in 1936.

  Photo via Jon Deboer / DCFC

Tour the murals at Eastern Market.

Of the hundreds of murals in Detroit, some of the most vibrant can be found in the Eastern Market area. In addition to fresh food, produce, and handcrafted art pieces, Eastern Market is adorned with a variety of murals by local artists. In September, Eastern Market holds the Murals in the Market festival, a week-long celebration of public art that includes a block party, parade, international music festival, and other cultural events. Over 25 artists will descend on the area to create new murals, display sculptures and other installation art, and discuss the importance of public art to the culture of the city.

  Photo via Courtesy of 1xRun

Go to a dog park.

  Take your dog to a park designed for maximum fun. Dearborn Dog Park is outfitted with two separate parks (one for small dogs, one for big dogs), as well as a playground just for canines. Ferndale Dog Park is equipped with urine-resistant plants and dog-accessible water fountains, while Orion Oaks Dog Park has a dog-only lake.

Photo via Shutterstock

Grab a drink (and some rooftop views).

The Monarch Club, which opened on May 11, has panoramic views of the Detroit skyline from the 13th floor of the ornate, Gothic-style Metropolitan Building. Located near Grand Circus Park, the Monarch Club has an indoor area as well as three outdoor patios looking out over Comerica Park and Woodward Avenue. The menu includes inventive twists on classic cocktails (plus the drink of the summer, an Aperol spritz) as well as beer and wine. The selection of appetizers and dishes includes thoughtfully reimagined classics such as meatballs with micro basil, cauliflower steak, and brisket sliders.

  Photo via Tom Perkins

Take a road trip.

Before the roads get icy, head out for a road trip and stop by some of Michigan’s most unusual roadside attractions. Off M-68 in Indian River is the world’s biggest crucifix, standing thirty feet tall and weighing nearly seven tons. While you’re Up North, Traverse City hosts the world’s largest pie tin, and Da Yooper Tourist Trap in the Upper Peninsula has both the world’s largest working chainsaw as well as the world’s largest working rifle. Other attractions include a replica Eiffel Tower made out of bed frames and 25.5-foot statue of Paul Bunyan.

  Photo via Daniel Morda / Facebook

Stop by a pool.

  The Detroit area has no shortage of pools to take advantage of before cold weather arrives. Waterford Oaks Waterpark in Waterford Township provides a variety of attractions, including a small faux beach, a wave pool, and an aquatic playground. For a more elegant experience, the MGM Detroit is a glassy indoor oasis with cabana-style seating. Pier Park in Grosse Pointe Farms is a well-maintained option, while the Family Aquatic Center at Chandler Woods holds the title of Wayne County’s largest waterpark.

  Photo via Family Aquatic Center at Chandler Park / Facebook

Visit Bert’s in Eastern Market for karaoke and barbecue.

  Block off a Saturday morning and visit Bert’s for an unusual combination: karaoke and barbecue. Bert’s Market Place is a 24,000-square-foot entertainment complex consisting of a warehouse theater, Motown theater, and a jazz room located in the Eastern Market district. Two hallways are dedicated to murals about Black history in Detroit, and a museum area includes maps, memorabilia, and information about figures such as Sugar Ray Robinston, former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, and Joe Louis. Sing your heart out, stay for lunch, and budget time to explore the trove of historical content.

Photo via Berts Entertainment Warehouse / Facebook

Go to a festival.

From jazz to jousting, Detroit-area festivals are in full swing come fall. Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats provides the three key elements of a good festival (art, music, and food), while the inaugural Smoke on the River Cigar Festival offers an unusual outlet for cigar smokers to light up en masse. For fans of jazz, the 40th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival and Kerrytown Edgefest will satisfy that bebop itch. Youmacon, a celebration of all things Japanese, returns to Detroit for a Live Action Mario Party, numerous panels on everything from anime to Nintendo, and a dance competition, among much else.

  Photo via Brita Brooks

Enjoy a waterfront restaurant.

Whether it’s the Detroit River or Lake St. Clair, the Detroit area is studded with tributaries and bodies of water that are the perfect homes for waterfront restaurants. Bobby Mac’s Bayside Tavern and Grill sits beside placid waters of Anchor Bay in Lake St. Clair, providing patrons with freshly fried fare and views of the lake. Sweetwater Tavern or Joe Muer Seafood offer delicious eats and Detroit River vistas. A flashier option is Iridescence, located on the 16th floor of the MotorCity Casino Hotel, which has a selection of wines that pair well with the panoramic views of the city.

  Photo via Tom Perkins

Eat ice cream.

Grab a cone before it gets too cold to even think about ice cream. Neveria La Michoacana in Mexicantown serves up Mexican street food alongside fruit-based popsicles and ice cream, while Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store in Troy offers classic flavors along with twists such as cinnamon and honey butter cashew. For a futuristic dessert, 320 Coffee & Creamery at Detroit Shipping Company uses liquid nitrogen to whip up creamy creations like fresh strawberry basil and double stuff oreo chocolate. You can also try some of the most outrageous desserts that can be found in the Detroit area.

Photo via 320 Coffee & Creamery / Facebook

Take a trip to wine country.

  The wineries in Michigan offer a variety of activities that are best enjoyed in temperate weather. Bike rentals near Traverse City allow visitors to cycle to wineries along the Leelanau Peninsula — or take the open-air Wine-O-Wagon sponsored by Fruitful Vine Tours. For something closer to home, try Henderson Castle Bed and Breakfast and Winery in Kalamazoo. Here, indulge in the day spa or hot tub and stay for dinner (outdoor seating provides views of the orchards where fruit is grown for homemade wines and jams).

  Photo via Fruitful Vine Tours / Facebook

Explore Michigan’s hidden gems.

  Michigan is full of unusual historic sites worth a visit. Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park in Cass City contains the only petroglyphs (rock carvings attributed to Native Americans) in the state. For a look at the tragic history of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, which lies just fifteen miles from the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Mission Point Lighthouse near Traverse City is just a few feet from the 45th parallel north, meaning it’s almost exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

  Photo via Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum / Facebook

Visit The Whitney.

  Every Thursday during the summer, the Whitney holds garden parties in the lush grounds of this Gilded Age mansion-turned-restaurant in Midtown. While the gardens close after Labor Day, the upstairs Ghostbar serves up delicious food alongside speciality drinks like the Witching Hour Martini. The Whitney also hosts afternoon teas, a Halloween extravaganza, and Thanksgiving productions of The Nutcracker.

  Photo via The Whitney / Facebook

See a concert at our outdoor venues.

Detroit’s outdoor theaters range in size from small venues to huge arenas, but all offer the pleasure of listening to music in the open air. Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and DTE Energy Music Theater host huge, arena-size events with a variety of artists this fall. The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit and Wenonah Park in Bay City rock slightly smaller crowds, while New Center Park in Detroit provides an intimate, neighborly experience. From jazz to rap to rock ‘n’ roll, the Detroit area’s outdoor theaters are a fall must-do.

Photo via Josh Justice

Sleep on a boat.

  For an unusual Airbnb experience, you can camp out in a 360-foot steamship for a couple nights. The SS City of Milwaukee is equipped with a 1920 railroad car ferry, where guests can stay in the two-bunk stateroom. The ship also has a Grand Saloon, Observation Room, and deck. The ship is only a few minutes from downtown Manistee and the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan.

  Photo via Airbnb

Visit a food truck.

The Detroit area is chock-full of food trucks, with chefs serving up everything from beignets to tacos. The Spirit of Detroit Plaza is a perfect place to catch a quick bite in Midtown, offering a variety of different foods in this outdoor gathering space. In Ferndale, the Detroit Fleat Food Truck Park and Boozery offers three permanent trucks alongside a rotating mix of four-wheeled eateries. You can check out Fleat’s Oktoberfest celebration, where visitors can sample beer from eight breweries and snack on Bavarian classics.

  Photo via Fleat / Facebook