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.

Updates on the Detroit Zoo Tips- June 2014

Visited Detroit Zoo on Father's Day and Royal Oak Brewery for dinner.  Good time.  Here's some tips.

• Get the full package with all of the attractions, even adults.  We enjoyed the Rio show and Journey to the Center of the Earth (well, a few of us got a little nauseous, but the kids loved it).  We rode the train to the back to start the day and walked toward the front.  Good move.  We also loved the carousel.
• You can take strollers on train, despite the signs that say otherwise.  I had to run to the back to catch up to the train and the back train station is not clearly identified.
• Canvas shoes are cool for pics.  Not cool for walking around the zoo.  Big blisters.  Will, one of my twin boys, had to take his shoes off for almost 2 hours.  A little unsanitary, but his blister was bulging.
• Wild Kratts watching enhanced the zoo experience. 
• Bring your own waters.  They are plenty of places to fill up the water.   Waters there cost $3.
• Sunscreen a must.  I suggest shades for adults and hats for kids.
• Now that the youngest in the group is 4, a lot more fun.
• Lions, peacocks, and rhinos were big hits.
• Royal Oak Brewery has good kids' food, nice bathrooms, and Korean tacos.  
• 3 hours is all you need to make the rounds.

Specific questions?  You always can email me.

Detroit Tiger Baseball Games (and more commentary about baseball)

Detroit Tiger Game- http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=det

Ages- 4 and up (I tried when Chloe was 2 and 3..pretty rough)

Cost- Lots of different options (starts around $20/kid for decent seats)…I try to go on the budget nights and sit in the bleachers.  With five people, you have to try to save every buck you can.

Location-  Comerica Park: 2100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201 (313) 962-4000

Parking- Lots of options there too…I like to buy my parking with my tickets.  We’ve done that twice now.  Very convenient.

Other attractions nearby- King’s Books, Detroit Institute of Art, GM Renaissance Center (enjoy all of the new cars, open for kids to pretend drive) on the bottom floor, LaFayette Greens Urban Garden, Fox Theater, and Belle Isle.

Places to eat nearby- LaFayette Coney Island (the original and my favorite), places to eat inside the park (there are many), Cheli’s Chili Bar, Hockeytown Café (part hockey museum, part restaurant), Bucharest Grill (Middle Eastern and European), and Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub.

Why to go there: Baseball is pure Americana.  I think so. George Will thinks so.  You should think so.  The season takes place during a time of the year (hopefully) when the pace settles down a bit and you can enjoy

it.  Through high school and college, my love of the game greatly decreased because I A.) went to school in a place with no games nearby and B.) my team (Tigers) were horrible.  Living in Chicago for six years in the shadow of Wrigley Field I liked it again; when I moved back to Michigan in 2004, the Tigers’ renaissance happened.  I go 3 or 4 times a year, and I listen to or watch many of the games.  I enjoy that the game is paced so conversation can occur, and both people won’t miss anything.  I also like that most baseball stadiums are in the core of the city.  Baseball, at least in Detroit and Chicago, draws a diverse and lively crowd.  I think those are great for my children to experience.

For Tigers’ games themselves, ownership has attempted to make it a family experience.  They are listed here.  My goal of every baseball game is for my kids to walk away and say, “baseball games are fun.”  We eat a lot of food, experience the attractions, and watch some of the game.  Chloe, who has been to games since she was 2, has a pretty strong understanding of the game.  Her favorite player, Prince Fielder, got traded last year and she was bummed.  We went about picking her new player.  Summer is fun; baseball is fun.  I feel like the best way for my kids to get this message is to go to a game.

If there is no major league baseball, I’d suggest minor league or college games.  Many minor league parks have playgrounds in the stadium.  We go to Traverse City Beach Bums games when we go to Northern Michigan.  You get many of the same benefits, with a more casual and inexpensive atmosphere.

What to do before hand: Watch games and work with baseball cards.  The games are easy.  The cards are hard.  If you have any common cards, let the kids have at them.  If not, picking up a few recent cards so work fine.  They are available in every drug store and Target across the country.  Have the kids pick out a favorite player (preferably a position player, so they’ll be sure to be able to see them)..then watch some games.  Not full games, but explain runs, scores, balls, and strikes.  All of this will allow the kids to understand the game.

Be careful:  Go home when the kids are spent.  Even if it seems like a loss of money; it is not.  Each year will allow you to increase the amount of time you spend at the game.  Walk around.  There is no rule that says the kids have to watch every inning.  Look at statues.  See how fast you can throw a baseball.  Also, it is expensive.  There are a few ways to mitigate the cost, but save up for one game and maximize the experience.

Summary:  Summer fun they’ll remember.  Baseball love and knowledge is lifelong.  Find a game and get to it.

Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI

Greenfield Village- http://www.thehenryford.org/village/index.aspx

Ages- 4 and up

Cost-   Members                                           Free

Adult:                                                 $24.00

Senior (62+):                                      $22.00

Youth (5-12):                                     $17.50

Children 4 & under:                            Free

Unlimited Daily Ride Pass*                 $14.00

They also have memberships detailed here.

Location- 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI   (313) 982-6001

Parking- $5 without membership

Other attractions nearby- Henry Ford Museum (right next door), Detroit Tigers, Midway Sports (go carts, games, mini golf), Arab-American Museum, and Detroit Zoo.

Places to eat nearby- Places to eat at the Village, Al Ameer (Mediterranean), Leon’s Family Dining, Hamido (Mediterranean), Buddy’s Pizza Dearborn.

Why to go there: We have a family membership to both Henry Ford and Greenfield Village.  It is a little price up front.  We went a total of 7 times last year.  They have an Imax also in the complex.  We’ve spent a day of Memorial Day weekend for the Civil War Remembrance exercises.  We are going to try the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s concert there in July also.  Established: I’ve been there a lot. 

Greenfield Village is ideal for younger kids.  They can check things out on the move.  People want to talk to them about the different districts of the village, including Henry’s Model T, an old-fashioned Main Street (grab some frozen custard), porches/parlors, and working farms.  All of them have rides and interactive exhibits that kids get.

My boys, now 4, really started to connect with some of the exhibits.  My daughter, 7, definitely connects and would like to ditch her brothers so she could read and interact with the homes and labs better.

Finally..do not miss the new playground…a solid 1 hour of fun for kids under 10.

What to do before hand: Hit the website.  It has a lot of resources.  Also, review the districts and try to get the kids some background.  The stuff is really neat and historic.  It can seem kind of limited without background, which also is available once you get there.

Also, bring water and snacks.  The snacking areas sometimes are crowded and difficult to get to.  Bring a large water container, so you can fill it up at one of the many drinking fountains.  Also, bring as many

Be careful:  Weekends crowded.  Lots of special events.  If the kids are under 5, bring the stroller.

Summary:  It’s like PBS, but hands on and live.  Kids learn something different at every age.

Detroit Zoo

Detroit Zoo- http://www.detroitzoo.org/

Ages- 2 and up

Cost- Adult, 15 years - 61 - $14
Child, 2 years - 14  - $10*
Senior, 62 years+  - $10
Active military w/ID - $10
Under 2 years - Free
Detroit Zoological Society Members - Free

*Children under 15 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Family Membership costs $79 for Macomb, Oakland, or Wayne County Residents, $89 for non residents- Members covers admission for two named adults and up to six named children 18 and under living at the same address.  There are extra rides that cost between $3 and $5.

Location-  8450 W. 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Phone- 248-541-5717

Parking- $6 on site

Other attractions nearby- Red Oaks Waterpark, Starr Jaycee Park, Royal Oak Golf Center, Oakland University, and Cranbrook Art Museum and Science Center.

Places to eat nearby- several places to eat in the zoo, Zumba Grill (Mexican), Second Street Subs, Goldfish Tea, Lockhart’s BBQ, Beirut Palace (Mediterranean), and Royal Oak Brewery.

Why to go there: I should say that I have really mixed feelings about zoos, not really because of how much fun the kids have.  They will have a lot.  They will learn.  They will ask good questions.  They will experience biology.  I just don’t like animals in captivity.  I’ve been to both the Toledo Zoo and the Detroit Zoo, and I find the Toledo Zoo to be more historic.  However, I go to the Detroit Zoo because it is closer.  I don’t really care about oldness in zoos.  I think the Detroit Zoo has a simple layout.  It is coverable in a half day, pretty easily.  They have a few special attractions, some of which are fun.  The animals though (giraffes are my kids’ favorites) really are enough.  There are lots of other things to do around Royal Oak too.

What to do before hand: Review the different types of animals (phylum, genus, species) and other characteristics on which to focus for the kids.  I think my kids also liked to think ahead of time about animals families and their relationship to our “type” of family.

Be careful:  Packed on weekends, early arrival on weekends.  Bring the stroller if they are under 4.

Summary:  Zoos are fun (if you don’t mind animals in captivity).  One of the most fun straight learning experiences I had with my kids before they turned 4.  A little on the pricey side, which is why every other year is good.