| Detroit |
Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Sun December 5, 2004 11:33 PM UTC
Stay in one of the Residence Inns alone I-75 in either Troy or Madison Heights. In Detroit, the best place for nightlife is Greektown or one of the casinos. The reason to stay in Troy or Madison Heights is because of the proximity to Royal Oak, which has numerous restaurants and bars with live music.
There are bars and restaurants in downtown Detroit, but outside of Greektown, they are few and far between.
Royal Oak, Troy, and Madison Heights along I-75 are about 15 minutes from Ford Field, where the Lions play.
Have a good time!
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Sun December 5, 2004 11:44 PM UTC
thanks dave
are there fun places to stay in royal oak? is that a suburb or a section of downtown? much thanks
ds
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Sun December 5, 2004 11:53 PM UTC
Royal Oak is a suburb about 10 miles north of downtown.
I don't think there are any good hotels in Royal Oak. Troy and Madison Heights are probably your best bet.
I second the Greektown and Royal Oak recommendation. I'd add Birmingham (just north of Royal Oak) and Ferndale (just south of Royal Oak). Lots of good bars/clubs and a good variety of restaurants.
Let me know if you want specific recommendations.
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 12:00 AM UTC
hey thanks! i'll take some specific recommendations. i appreciate it.
should be a good trip.
any suggestions on what to do after the lions game? any good spots to hit nearby?
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 02:10 AM UTC
What's up!
After the lions game just walk over to Greektown and grab a bite to eat and maybe some drinks, its only like a block or two away. Royal Oak and Birmingham have pretty cool downtowns. They are small but plenty of things to do. They are only a few minutes from downtown Detroit but on gameday be prepared to add a few more. My suggestion: if you arrive on a Friday in the evening, go to Royal Oak and hang out there all night. Saturday check out Birmingham and if there is not much going on then you can either head back to Royal Oak or go to downtown Detroit and hit one of the bars/clubs down there but I recommend that you come up to my neighborhood in downtown Pontiac and hit one of the bar/clubs here. Pontiac is always jumping on a Saturday night. Check out Sevin...its a good place to meet some people. Its about 30 north of Detroit on I-75 only 15 min from Troy if you decide to stay there. Becareful in Troy if you are driving after a few drinks....cops everywhere.
Hope this helps a bit.
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| Detroit |
Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 03:40 AM UTC
Hello:
Well, if you plan to have a car, why not stay in Ann Arbor? Via the freeway it's not any farther than Pontiac - and the town is always hopping!
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 04:06 AM UTC
If you are only there for the weekend and going to attend the Lions game, why not just stay in a nice hotel in downtown for the weekend, visit Greektown and do some clubbing, and during the daytime visit the Detroit Institute of Arts museum. heck you wouldn't really need to rent a car.
The above mentioned towns of Royal Oak, Birmingham and Ann Arbor are good things to do too, but if you are only here for a weekend and are going to the Lions game, I'd just stay downtown and enjoy the things to see there.
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 04:24 AM UTC
Let's see, I like
Boogie Fever, The Post Bar in Ferndale
Wild Woody's, O'Tooles, 5th Avenue in Royal Oak
Dick O'Dows (I'm probably spelling that one wrong) in Birmingham
And whoever mentioned Pontiac, good call. Seven is definitely a good choice.
Ann Arbor is definitely fun too, I just don't know that area enough to give specific recommendations.
What kind of restaurants do you like?
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 05:34 PM UTC
thanks to all. here are some of my answers to your questions:
i thought about ann arbor, i've heard that is a pretty fun place. i am still considering it.
a lot of folks are suggesting staying north of downtown and hanging out in the pontiac / royal oak / Mount Clemens (?) areas as there is a lot to do, several bars/good eat. that sounds like a good time to me. ideally, i'd like to stay somewhere that i can walk around right out of my hotel.
and, several are suggesting just staying downtown for the weekend. sounds like a ton of options.
as far as types of restaurants, i am really not picky at all, i just like a place i can go into and have fun for a few hours. i like a good bar to pick from. i love to eat great food, but when i am out of town, i mostly try to find the fun + good food places.
thanks again to all and i continue to appreciate your suggestions.
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| Detroit |
Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 09:43 PM UTC
Hi dj:
Don't know if this will help you make up your mind, but here are a few more pointers. With the university, Ann Arbor is small-townish, safe and fun. Staying in the immediate downtown Detroit area, you will probably find yourself confined to a relatively few square blocks, beyond which you may not wish to proceed without a vehicle. On the up side, you're just a river away from Canada, so if you do have the car, you can easily go over to Windsor for great views of the Detroit skyline, casual strolls any and everywhere with no concerns about personal safety. Oh, and good eats. Again, if you have the car and want to ride up the Roayl Oak/Mt. Clemens corridor, you may well find the bar and clubs mentioned by others (my personal take on those areas is that they are rather more blue-collar than up-market, but maybe things have changed a bit....?) So, as you said, there are some choices to be made. Have fun!
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| Detroit |
Re: Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Mon December 6, 2004 11:17 PM UTC
dj
you've gotten some great suggestions, all of the above would be good for your visit.
I'm assuming you will be flying in to Detroit Metro airport, and you said you will be attending a Lions game, and only here for the weekend.
So how will you get to the Lions game from Metro, will you already be renting a car, at Detroit Metro? If so, then you could stay in a hotel in Royal Oak or Troy, or in Ann Arbor as above mentioned, but it would be a lot of driving around for just a weekend.
Windsor as mentioned is another sightseeing option, but be aware it takes a lot longer to cross the border since 9/11, but if you do, just say you're going to the Windsor Casino, they usually wave you through! LOL!
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| Detroit |
Re: Detroit - where to stay? Posted: Tue December 7, 2004 04:17 PM UTC
Since this is your first Detroit trip I recommend taking the time to check out Detroit (and perhaps Windsor) rather than far-flung suburbs. I suppose you could take a run up to Ferndale or Royal Oak if you so choose.
If it were me I would consider staying near Wayne State University. Perhaps at the "Inn on Ferry Street" if you like B&B type accommodations (I've never stayed there but it gets good reviews e.g. http://tinyurl.com/4ovor ). It's next to the university and there are bars and restaurants within walking distance. There may even be shuttles to/from the game so you won't have worry about parking near the stadium or drinking & driving.
Windsor is pretty cool. Go under the river and you're in an exotic country. Well maybe not but the money does look funny and the speed signs are in km. And there are lots of good clubs and restaurants there.
Also while you're researching neighborhoods don't forget to look up nearby Hamtramck. There is a night scene there as well. They are reputed to cater to a more artsy or jazz-type clientele than the other areas.
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