I've been to some interesting places for weddings, but this one was by far the most unusual. My boyfriend and I have been getting a lot of wedding invites lately, and we have been loving it. We both haven't been to Detroit prior to our friend's wedding, but we decided it would be fun and unique. We weren't disappointed!
Detroit's weather was nice and sunny, with a cool breeze that made for a pleasant drive from the airport to our hotel. We took a cab to get there. Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable about the city; he even gave us tips on where to go during our visit.
The hotel was nice and had great views of downtown Detroit, which was lit up at night. The check-in process was easy, and the staff were very friendly. Our room was clean, as well as comfortable with a king size bed (which is what we requested).
The next day, we walked around the city and saw some of its more famous landmarks, like the Motown Museum, but also some less well-known ones. Our day started off a bit late, so we stopped by The Monarch Club for drinks and some food. It is a mid-century rooftop bar located in the penthouse of the Metropolitan Building. I got to enjoy a couple of craft cocktails and a flatbread as a light lunch before we continued our casual tour of the city.
The old abandoned houses were sad reminders of Detroit's history as an industrial town. But there are also lots of people doing amazing things here: they're rebuilding neighborhoods and turning abandoned buildings into homes again; they're helping young entrepreneurs get started; they're even starting businesses that use technology to clean up polluted water in rivers near factories.
As you walk around Detroit, you can't help but notice the signs. They're everywhere and they're often very large, painted on abandoned buildings in bright colors by people who have something to say. And that's exactly what makes them so fascinating: these are messages from people who want to leave their mark on a city that has been through so much change over the years.
Getting to the race track on the day of our friend's wedding was a bit confusing for our driver. There were security checkpoints, special permits for attendees to even enter the racetrack. But once you've cleared those hurdles, it's well worth the hassle.
The wedding was at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn, Michigan; it was an amazing venue with tons of personality and character. The people who work there are so friendly--they went above and beyond for us to feel comfortable at the wedding! Their hospitality made us feel like we have been there plenty of times before: they treated us so well that I almost didn't want to leave...almost ;)
Overall, we had a great time, and I'm so glad we went. There was something about being in Detroit that made me feel like a part of something bigger than myself. I felt like I was part of history, and it was an interesting experience to be there especially during the pandemic when the pace of everything made the city feel so much calmer.
We did get to see some pretty cool things during our trip as well! One day we went downtown for lunch and then walked around one of their big parks called Campus Martius Park (their version of Times Square). There were tons of people walking around and sitting on benches eating lunch or just hanging out with friends. It was really nice because there were lots of trees along with fountains that sprayed water into pools below them; they looked beautiful! We also visited a used books store, which is a reader's dream come true.
Another thing I noticed while visiting Detroit was how friendly everyone seemed--they would always say hello when passing someone by on the street or even wave if they saw someone else waving first! It really made me feel welcome here :)
I think that Detroit is a great city to visit, but if you want a luxury experience then I would recommend staying somewhere else. The people are friendly, but it's not as clean and safe as other cities we have visited. That being said, there are some amazing things about Detroit that make it worth visiting!