Just moved to West Bloomfield
Hello all, I just moved to West Bloomfield from LA. I'm still getting to know the area, so any tips about places that I should see around Michigan are welcome.
Thanks
You're Missing the Rest of the Conversation
This community has even more stories, questions, tips, and plans being shared. Join Couchsurfing to read every thread and be part of the conversation.
You should come check out the Ferndale and Royal Oak area. There are a ton of places to get drinks a few places to see bands.
I just came from Royal Oak lol It's awesome there. But I think I haven't been in Ferndale yet. Is that close to Royal Oak?
Yes it is close.
Locally I recommend Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum which is a museum of playable vintage arcade machines. Toast in Ferndale is an amazing breakfast experience. I think everyone should go to City Club once -- it's a goth club downtown Detroit. Personally, I found kayaking the Rouge River to be fascinating, but that's not for everyone. Scuba diving in Michigan is amazing as the great lakes have the oldest/best preserved ship wrecks in the world. Once it warms up, I highly suggest a trip to the U.P. to see Pictured Rocks. Also, there is a regional Burning Man event called Lakes of Fire that's great. In the fall, get tickets to Theatre Bizarre which is put on by artists and held in the Mason Temple.
Whoa! Thank you so much for all your tips! I hope I can make all of it! Thank you again!
Whoa! Thank you so much for all your tips! I hope I can make all of it! Thank you again!
I did the same move a few years ago. There are the local parks such as Stoney creek and bell isle. As the others have stated, Ferndale and royal oak are unique. I would also add downtown detroit such as eastern market and the many other places. I can show you around if you would like.
Thank you so much Asheev! I really appreciate it :) I still don't know very well the area, so I'd appreciate if you don't mind to show me around Thank you again
If you have even the remotest interest in plant life, the Belle Isle Conservatory is a gem, Great tropicals and cacti...better specimens than I've seen at more famous arboretums. Eastern Market and Warren Avenue in Dearborn (the local Arab community shopping area) are also must sees. And when, you have the chance the Leelenau peninsula and Traverse City are great weekend destinations.
I like it! Thank you so much Mike! I'm really curious to see the Belle Isle Conservatory. Thank you. :)
Hey, I too have moved to detroit last month. Lets explore the city together. Any other new couchsurfers sharing similar move? Pls club along.
Yes! That will be cool! :)
Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum are very unique.
Greenfield Village is a little fake 19th century town with real historic buildings that were actually moved here from around the country. It's loaded with artifacts and people in period costumes who demonstrate things from the olden days. The Henry Ford is packed with old cars and trains and stuff. I enjoy it as much as I did when I was little.
Thank you Dan! Thank you for explain as well what are those places. I take it :)
Thanks
I see from your profile that you like art. Detroit has a very active art community with 60+ galleries and 200+ artist studios, which have open houses. Subscribe to Art Detroit Now's mailing list to be in the loop on ~15 gallery openings each week. The Red Bull House of Art openings in Eastern Market are one of my favorites.
On 2nd Saturdays, all the galleries are open, many with special programming, music, artists' talks.
Here's a local gallery opening in W Bloomfield tomorrow. Art glass. https://www.facebook.com/events/420977948234471/
The DIA is free for residents of the 3 surrounding counties (including Oakland, where you live). Every Friday night they're open late until 10 pm with additional performances (dance, music, etc.). http://www.dia.org/calendar/friday-nights.aspx
The Inner Circle Greenway's 26 mile bike route around Detroit is nearly completed. I especially recommend the Riverwalk, Dequindre Cut, and Belle Isle. There are bike rentals at Wheelhouse Detroit and there are many more bike share locations being added this spring.
I second the recommendation for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. For camping, 12 mile beach campground. My all-time favorite location of all the places I've camped in 40 years. Kayaking along the mineral-colored cliffs is amazing.
Awesome awesome!!
Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing the websites! I took a note of all the things that you listed and I'll check it all. :)
Thank you again!
After a while of exploring Detroit, you'll want to head up north. LOTS of beautiful places in the middle of the Mitten. I recommend Houghton Lake and Clare.
Awesome! Thank you Joe!
Thank you KP! I'll check those! Thank you again :)
Greenfield Village is a working historical archive built in the 1920s and 30s by Henry Ford himself. It has many of the original buildings from US history, like Thomas Edison's laboratories. The only building somewhat out of place is the Cotswold Cottage. The buildings there are real and they have real historians cooking meals over fires, repairing roofs, working on steam locomotives etc. Belle Isle conservatory is a toasty tropical jungle good to escape from a winter storm. DIA is one of the best art museums in the country, it's the gem of Detroit. The Sleeping Bear Dunes are epic but are 4 hours north. But of course the burgeoning scene downtown is cool too and I know some folks that live in the city. If you ever feel like it I'm only a few miles from WB and can hang out.