With the advent of a genuine if rudimentary theatre district and the blossoming of Greektown into a center of nightlife, at least part of downtown has become an entertainment mecca. The magnificent, restored Fox Theatre is at the center of the action, and it's worth visiting just to see the building, no matter what's on stage. The smaller, exquisitely decorated Gem Theatre is also a must-see. The nearby State Theatre is operating again after years of being shut down. The The Second City Detroit comedy club also attracts large audiences to the Theatre District. Nearby, the Detroit Opera House boasts a huge orchestra pit and excellent acoustics. The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is one of the nation's premier venues for dance, drama and jazz. It can get crowded in the area when the Detroit Tigers are playing baseball at the new Comerica Park.
Downtown Detroit
A way to see downtown is to hop on the elevated Detroit People Mover, an efficient way to loop around the city core. A 15-minute ride offers views of the good, the bad, and the ugly -- the Detroit River, Comerica Park, downtown skyscrapers, Greektown, and the ruined facades of wonderful abandoned movie theaters. You can also reach a riverside walkway via Hart Plaza. See what Detroit's urban planners could have done if they hadn't blocked so much of the riverfront with buildings.
Greektown
The best area to take your own walking tour is in and around Greektown, where there are a few historical attractions such as the Second Baptist Church and plenty of pedestrians and street life. Greektown is a popular entertainment district located at Monroe and Brush Street. The lively area consists of markets, bars, coffeehouses, shops, and restaurants serving authentic Greek food with an American flair. It is also home to Greektown Casino, owned and operated by one of the state's indigenous Native American tribes, has a Mediterranean theme and is a local favorite.
Cultural Center/New Center
This is the best place in Detroit for a walking tour. You can park your car and spend an entire day on foot visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the grand Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Science Center, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, among other attractions. It's the only place in Detroit where so many places worth visiting are all within a few blocks of one another.
Area Attractions
- Comerica Park - Detroit Tigers
- Joe Louis Arena - Detroit Red Wings
- Ford Field - Detroit Lions
- Hockeytown Cafe
- Second City
- Fox Theatre
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Detroit Science Center
- Motown Historical Museum
- Greektown Casino
- MGM Grand Casino
- Motor City Casino
- Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Quick Facts:
Population: 951,270
Elevation: 633 feet
Average Annual Rainfall: 32.3 inches
Average Annual Snowfall: 41.1 inches
Average January Temperature: 31 degrees F
Average July Temperature: 83 degrees F
Time Zone: EST
Country Dialing Code: 1
Area Codes: 313,248,734
