The Value of a Road Trip
When a destination is less than 5 hours away, we almost always prefer to drive. You can leave and start your trip whenever it is convenient and you can bring as much as you would like. Love that special Posturepedic pillow? Bring it no problem. There is also something so freeing about driving away from home and heading somewhere new. I know, we are not explorers but it does give you a little tinge of what it may feel like to discover a new place. Warning: this is a very addictive feeling!
Places we visited:
Mishaps
The Henry Ford Museum is an all-day affair. There are 3 main attractions, a indoor museum, a plant tour, and a historic village. If Disney made an American History park, this would be it! It covers every facet of American life, from historical memorabilia to pop culture items. This is a classic stop on anyone’s Detroit vacation. During the Ford Plant tour, you can watch the assembly line that started it all! However, make sure that you do not visit during their off-season (the holidays and their production switch). Marc’s Grandfather, who worked as an electrician at a local Ford plant in Ohio tried to warn us but we still missed it. I highly recommend you call ahead if this is something you definitely want to see!
Greenfield Village is an American utopian town that celebrates American ingenuity all in one place. The Ford company was able to recreate a small town ‘Main Street” with exceptional buildings that revolutionized American life. For example, they have the Wright Brother’s home and bicycle shop, Ford’s childhood home, Thomas Edison’s laboratory, and the original Heinz food bottling shop. I am not sure how they acquired or transported all these older buildings but they were all there, fully intact. Unfortunately, during extremely warm weather, there is no refuge from the heat. Most of the buildings are kept just the way they were (without AC) and there are not many trees to shade the streets. On a positive note, there are many ice creams stands along the way to keep you cool.
Detroit River- Kayaking with Detroit River Sports
Mishaps
This was such a unique way to see and learn about a city. The water views and information about the bootlegging that happened during the Prohibition Era on the Detroit River was fascinating. However, on windy days, the water is super choppy. The guides are great and will help you stay with the group but it is a little bit of a struggle!
Hotel
No frills, casual hotel. It was surprisingly modern inside. Breakfast was decent and had your average American breakfast staples like Oatmeal, pancakes, omelet, etc. The bar was nice and simple- you can catch a local game.