I'm flying into Detroit in Sept. to catch a Tigers game on the 7th and the Wolverines/Ducks game on the 8th. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what would be a good place to stay between the two. Need the place to be clean, somewhat reasonable in price. Plus if there are things in the area to do (the aquarium, not sure of the location of the casino's) that I can keep the old lady happy with that's a bonus. All suggestions are appreciated and I thank you all in advance for the help.

-Justin

 

Is the Wolverines/Ducks @ JLA or in AA? Anyways, here are suggestions for Downtown Detroit:

Hilton Gardens: 2 blocks from Comerica Park, 3 from People Mover, 4 north of Greektown.

Detroit Renaissance Marriott: 10? blks from Comerica, People Mover stop in complex, 4 blks south of Greektown.

Courtyard by Marriott: 9? blks from Comerica, PM stop in complex, 4 blks south of Greektown.

Athenium: 6 blks from Comerica, 1 blk from PM stop, 1 blk west of Greektown.

Can't vouch for the hotels themselves but those are the most popular. Greektown has a number of shops, restaurants and the Greektown Casino itself. The People Mover goes through downtown and stops at JLA and the closest station to Comerica is about 3 blocks.

 

The Michigan/Oregon game is @ the big house in ann arbor so I'll be looking for something somewhat central to that and Comerica. Do the aforementioned places still apply?

 

Sorry, then downtown is definitely not central. As it is DTW is roughly in the middle. You might want to check some places out in AA. Maybe some restaurant will have a shuttle to the Tigers game--unless you're driving around.

Detroit-Ann Arbor is about 45mins apart.

 

Yeah, I will probably just end up renting a car for the week that I'm there anyway. Any suggestions on decent places to stay in AA? I have family in Mt. Pleasant but that's light years away so unfortunately I'm not overly familiar with the area. Only ever been to Ann Arbor for Michigan basketball/football games

 

Sorry, don't have any suggestions for AA. You might want to check out http://www.mievo.net/talk/; a couple guys live out there.

 

There are a couple nice places to stay in the briarwood mall area. Right near 94 and state st. You might be able to take a shuttle to the game from the mall too. Give me a minute and I will find the one I really like there.

 

The one I would stay would be:
The Kensington Court
610 Hilton Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108


The Holiday Inn Express there is also very nice:
600 BRIARWOOD CIRCLE
Ann Arbor, MI, 48108


They are both right next to each other and right next to the mall. FWI, you could walk to the stadium but it is 1-2.

 

My old lady ended up wanting to stay downtown because of all the stuff in the area she wanted to do. So rather commuting 40-50 miles every day we're just going to commute to Ann Arbor for the Wolverines/Ducks game. She picked out a place called "Inn on Ferry Street". Anyone have any idea if I'll be able to sleep in this place or will I have to leave her for a midlife mistress?

 

It's on the outskirts of Wayne State U at Ferry and John R. It's near a couple freeways for quick access. It's a couple blocks from the Detroit Institute of Arts (Ansel Adams show is there now) and 5+ from the Detroit Science Center (one of the dead body exhibits is there now). Comerica is a 5-10 minute drive down Woodward.

 

Staying in (the city of) Detroit is no different than staying any major city some good parts lotsa bad ones........J

As stated The Inn on Ferry and Wooward is right near Wayne State, a fairly well policed area in the city.

Other options for entertainment during the day:

DIA (a block for the Inn)
The Herny Ford ( In Dearborn) has the car Kennedy was shot in, the chair Lincoln was killed in, first Honda built in the USA, Rosa Parks bus....)
Greenfield Village (In Dearborn) (many historic building have been transplanted here Wright bothers, Edison)
Motorsports Hall of Fame (In Dearborn)
The Detroit Zoo (In Royal Oak)
Canada (bring your passport)

Fancy Shopping:

Downtown Birmingham, Boutique crap (I'm not a shopper) 25 min n. of Detroit

Somerset Collection: (In Troy) don't bother with the other malls, about 25 minutes north of Detroit


Nightlife:

Tons of bars in and around Detroit. My favorites in the city include:

The POST bar (Hole in the wall next to Cobo hall)
5th Ave (in Tigers stadium)
The Old Shelali (sp?) Old Irish (cop) bar
The Towne Pump (2 blocks west of Tigers stadium)....There is a Martini bar directly across the street also..just can't remember the name.
Bazooki Lounge (In Greek town) Strip club

Or about 20 minutes north of Detroit go to Main Street in Royal Oak, The city has more bars per capita than any other city in Michigan all within walking distance of each other.

Second to that would be Ferdale, there are a dozen bars on woodward near 9 miles

FYI: Rule of thumb. head west or north of Detroit but don't go any further south for entertainment...IE downriver, I have been told by a New yorker that it is the same as going south into New Jersey

Hope that helps,
Mattj