The People Mover to Tour Detroit

Detroit People Mover

Ages- 4 and up

Cost- $0.75/person

Locations- Station Guide (stations are in a circle; you can ride around the whole thing)

Parking- You can park at any of the stations, but parking tickets are now $45.  I’d park at the Joe or 

Cobo, easy in, easy out.

Other attractions nearby- You can access anything in downtown: Comerica/Ford Field, the museums, Wayne State, Renaissance Center, and the riverfront.

Places to eat nearby- If you click on the Station Guide, you will find all the stations.  Each station is listed with the places to eat nearby.

Why to go there: It is a great way to experience the city.  Detroit does not have any double-decker red buses cruising around, but it does have the people mover, an object of derision because of its simplicity.  It is

a little bit run down, but my kids, who have been visiting Detroit frequently over the last year, were able to point out many of the places we’d been.  There also is a tunnel.

Max and Will, both 4, love trains, so they really enjoyed just riding on one.  Compared to the $100 I spent to see Thomas the Train show, I’d say they liked the People Mover way better.

The best part of the day was the smile my son, Will, who has been saying he’d like to live in New York City since he was 2, had on his face throughout the ride.  He pointed to the Ren Cen and asked, “can we live there, Daddy?”

For a person who wants his kids to love cities, that was magic.

What to do before hand: History of Detroit, things to do there, and why cities are important.  Read up on the different sites you will see so you can talk to the kids about them.  Bring quarters and single dollars (for parking and tickets to the People Mover).

Be careful:  Park somewhere you can pay an attendant.

Summary:  Under $5 for a family of 5 to see Detroit.  One of my kids’ favorite activities this summer.