3 Unforgettable Day Trips You Can Take Near Detroit, MI

October 15, 2021 · 3 min read

As the largest and most populous city in the state of Michigan and one of the major cultural and economic hubs of the midwestern United States, the city of Detroit, MI, features numerous local attractions that attract visitors from all over the country. Those wanting to get away from the urban bustle, on the other hand, can go on easy and memorable day trips to some great destinations that can be reached in less than a couple of hours.

1. Ann Arbor

Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is the fifth-largest urban area in the state and a charming day trip destination known for its beautiful downtown area, its growing arts scene, and its many restaurants and local cafés. This beautiful city is located along the banks of the Huron River, just over 40 miles west of downtown Detroit. Getting here takes about 45 minutes by car along route M-14. Once you get to the Ann Arbor downtown area, the best way to start exploring this charming city is by going for a walk along Liberty Street, which starts just north of the University of Michigan campus and is lined with some of the most popular cafés and restaurants of the area. Some tourist attractions you should check out while in town include the Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and Ann Arbor Art Center.

2. Frankenmuth

Home to one of the largest German communities in the state of Michigan, Frankenmuth is referred to by locals as “Little Bavaria”. This small city of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants is located a little over 90 miles northwest of downtown Detroit, making it possible to reach it in about an hour and 20 minutes by car along route I-75. Each year, Frankenmuth celebrates a lively Oktoberfest, showcasing the culture, food, and drinks of the Bavarian region. The best way to explore Frankenmuth is to simply walk along its charming streets, stopping by the many Franconian-style buildings that will make you feel as if you were visiting a small town in southern Germany. Some of the local attractions you should not miss while in town include the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, the Frankenmuth Aerial Park, and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, considered the largest Christmas store in the entire world.

3. Grand Rapids

Located along the banks of the Grand River, Grand Rapids is the second-most populous city in the state of Michigan, and a great urban destination that attracts visitors from all over the country each year. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest, Grand Rapids features an excellent gastronomic scene, vibrant nightlife, and several interesting museums and landmarks. Some spots you should check out include the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and the Meyer May House. Before you start planning your next trip to these amazing spots, visit us at Pat Milliken Ford. Our dealership has over 1,000 new and pre-owned vehicles available, as well as an expert team of sales agents who will be happy to help you find the best deal for your individual needs. Image Courtesy of Pixabay

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Mar 25, 2022 in Local

7 Things to Love About Detroit, MI

We've got so much love for the Detroit, MI area that it's hard to fit it all into one list. Check out our top reasons for loving this city so much, and feel free to add any of your own that we missed. 1. Music-Lover's Paradise Anyone who loves music will feel right at home in our city, which is known as the home of Motown. So many iconic artists got their start here, from Stevie Wonder to Aretha Franklin. More modern acts like Eminem or The White Stripes also come from Detroit roots, giving our city a tradition for music that continues into modern times. more 2. Loyal Sports Fanbases You haven't had the true Detroit experience until you see our city on a day that the Lions, Red Wings, or Tigers game. Whether you're a football, hockey, or baseball fan, you'll be able to have a hometown proud team to root for in our city. Basketball fans can also catch the Detroit Pistons playing in our town, a franchise with three NBA championships to their name. 3. Great Place to Travel From While there's plenty to do in our city, Detroit also makes a great base to plan your travels from. We're just a stone's throw from the Canadian border, letting you cross the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor to visit another country in just a day trip. 4. Diverse and Rich Culture You can experience another country with just a short journey outside of our city, but there's plenty of vibrant culture to be found within the city limits, too. Detroit culture is an eclectic mix of many different inspirations, from the strong African-American community that has been here for generations to the unique and welcoming atmosphere of the Mexicantown neighborhood. 5. Mouthwatering Food All of the different cultures that come together in our city result in a culinary scene that serves up dishes unlike anything you've ever tasted before. Amazing BBQ, hot dogs, and Mexican food are some of the cuisines that we're best known for. And if you ask us, Detroit-style pizza beats the more widely-known New York-style pizza any day of the week. 6. History of Industry They don't call Detroit the Motor City for nothing; this town has a long history of being the heart of America's automobile industry. Ford, GM, and Chrysler, known as the ‘Big Three' of American automotive manufacturing, all have close connections to our city. There's a good chance that the car you're driving has its roots here in the area. 7. The Local Attitude One thing that Detroit has that nowhere else does is an attitude that every local knows, but that is hard to explain to outsiders. We're no strangers to facing adversity of all kinds here in our city. That's what makes the people here so uniquely tough; we're ready to take on any challenge and come out on the other side better off for the trials we faced. The deep roots we have in our local community help us to provide an exceptional experience to all of our neighbors who stop in at our dealership. Visit Pat Milliken Ford today!

Jan 14, 2022 in Local

The Best Pizza in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a college town that's packed with awesome pizza places. Whether you're looking for thin crust, deep-dish, vegetarian, or lots of toppings, you can find a pie you'll love. Here are some of the best pizza restaurants in the area. The Pizza House At The Pizza House, you can enjoy deep-dish Chicago-style pizza, great entrees, and mouthwatering appetizers. Thin crust pizza is also available, and you can choose a butter, garlic butter, or butter parmesan and whole wheat crust. The menu features square, deep-dish Sicilian pizzas with sesame seed crusts, as well. The Chicago stuffed pizza has two layers of dough. It's filled with cheese and the toppings you choose, and it has tomato sauce on top. You can even get a salad pizza with lettuce, Italian dressing instead of sauce, tomato, mozzarella, mayonnaise, and ham. If you don't feel like pizza, try the burgers, Buffalo wings, hot dogs, subs, or sandwiches. Visit any day from 10:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. more Anthony's Gourmet Pizza Anthony's bakes its pizzas, including its signature Chicago-style deep-dish pies, in stone ovens with homemade ingredients. You can also try meatballs, Cajun potato wedges, Buffalo chicken wings, or calzones. Other menu items include deep-dish personal pizzas, pizza slices, baked subs, and homemade desserts. Order a Take And Bake pizza to enjoy the same gourmet meal from the comfort of home. Anthony's has been serving Ann Arbor since 1988 and is open most days from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Buddy's Pizza Buddy's started in Detroit and specializes in Detroit-style square pizza. Try the Greektown with Wisconsin cheese, spinach, feta cheese, garlic, diced tomatoes, red onions, fresh dill, and Buddy's original garlic parmesan dressing. You can also choose the Cadillac with Wisconsin cheese, Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, seasoned ground beef, and bacon. The Lasagna Mac & Cheese comes with meatballs, mushrooms, spinach, a variety of cheeses, and marinara and Alfredo sauce. Other options include Italian pasta, burgers, sandwiches, subs, and salads. Buddy's is open for pickup or delivery every day from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. If you don't feel like cooking dinner or you need a quick meal, save time and treat yourself by visiting one of these delicious restaurants. No matter what type of pizza you love most, you can find it in Ann Arbor.

Sep 24, 2021 in Local

7 Favorite Local Bakeries in Redford Charter Township and Detroit, MI

With a friendly, dynamic community, fifteen very pleasant parks, and a multitude of fine restaurants and eateries, Redford Charter Township, MI is one of the most popular neighboring locales to Detroit, MI. Both Detroit and this pleasant little township are packed with enough wonderful bakeries and cake shops to make your mouth water. If you're looking for a delicious, still-warm, freshly baked treat, you're in the right place. more Beirut Bakery This popular Lebanese bakery serves tasty khoubiz, a special kind of loaf from Beirut, and also yummy wholemeal bread, with plenty of other salads and super-healthy gluten-free dishes. All the food is home-cooked in style, with traditional dishes refined for over 40 years since they first opened in 1979. Their baked dessert, Baklava, is a must-try for anyone who loves sweet pastries. Sweet Potato Sensations The specialty pies, cakes, cobblers, and cookies served up at this locally famous bakery in Detroit are something to remember. The owners, Jeffrey and Cassandra, are masters of all-American favorites, such as pecan pie, cheesecake, lemon pound cake, chocolate cake, peach and apple cobblers, and chocolate chip cookies, all baked with their own particular style. Ackroyd's Scottish Bakery If you're looking for something a little meatier, be sure to visit Ackroyd's Scottish Bakery, where you can try all kinds of delicious savory pastry meals and snacks, such as sausage rolls, meat pies, and birdies. For dessert, grab yourself a slice of rich Scottish shortbread, fern cake, or if it's tea time, scones and jam. Sheila's Bakery This elegant patisserie in downtown Springwells offers the most mouth-watering range of European-style baked treats. The tempting chocolate-dipped orejas on display in the window are always enough to draw in passersby. The amazing tres leches cake is another goody not to be missed. Dutch Girl Donuts For some of the best donuts in Detroit, pay a visit to Dutch Girl Donuts. Their range of glazed donuts are baked to a wonderfully soft texture and consistency, which simply melts in your mouth. Their crullers and sourdough donuts are also a treat to remember. If you buy a box, be sure to share them with friends, or you won't be able to resist eating them all yourself. Sweet 220 Pastry & Specialty Cakes For wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and cakes for any occasion, the best place in town is Sweet 220 Pastry & Specialty Cakes. They say the first bite is with the eye, and this friendly cake shop proves the truth of this saying, with such beautiful cakes, you almost don't want to ruin them by eating them. The quality of service makes ordering and discussing cake design an easy, stress-free process. Treat yourself to one of these fantastic eateries, and once you're finished, visit Pat Milliken Ford, one of the largest Ford dealerships in the nation, and winner of Ford's President's Award for Excellence for 23 years running. Here, you can have any Ford purchasing, servicing, or financing need met, safe in the knowledge that you're in good hands. Image Courtesy of Pixabay

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