Announcing a new resource for teams who will be attending the 2018 FIRST Championship in Detroit.
The blog website https://UnofficialDetroitChamps.wordpress.com is written by FIRSTers from the Detroit area, and will contain information that should help teams have a great experience in Detroit in 2018. If you have questions about the logistics of getting around the downtown area, hotels and restaurants, activities for your team, and other Detroit local knowledge, this site will be of interest to you!
I hope folks will find this BLOG helpful in getting a lay of the land.
For those coming in with a large group of students, and not sure what to do with them, I would highly recommend the Henry Ford Museum. Unlike a lot of the other “car” museums, this one is really more of an industrial museum with lots of exhibits throughout the industrial revolution. There are some amazing Planes, Trains, and of course automobiles. Definitely worth a tour.
Additionally, if the weather is nice Greenfield Village is on the same property and it’s another amazing thing to explore. (That may just be my history degree talking though)
And the first thing I looked for in that blog was Coney, and I highly HIGHLY recommend any of the hundreds of metro Detroit locations to out of towners. It’s the first place I take people from out of town to eat.
Let’s go Detroit folks! It’s time to make everyone feel welcome.
Here are some other ideas that are quite local to the event:
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Zoo
Detroit Science Center
Ford Rouge Tour - 5 miles away so you probably don’t want to walk there, but it’s very interesting and worth it - especially for the technologically inclined.
River Tours
Bell Isle
Greektown (primarily for food)
Mexicantown (Primarily for food)
Cranbook Science Center - better later in spring and summer.
Comerica Park Tours
Hard Rock Cafe
Campus Martius
Escape Room - If you haven’t done escape rooms, there are a number in Michigan, some allowing up to 13-15 people in one ‘room’. They are pricey though. One is within 5 minutes of the venue.
Surprisingly, you will find a huge amount of fine dining (dress-up style fine dining) around the area. You will pay $$ for the food though.
What no love for east bound 94 corridor? Some hotel/motels by Macomb mall and a few restaurants. If you going to be busing it might as well swing into Hamtramck and try the Polish Village restaurant. They got a nice small 2nd floor you may be able to use for eating and team meeting. There is also Jacoby’s in downtown Detroit. Oldest German bar/restaurant in the city I think and they also have a 2nd floor space. There are probably more bars/restaurants downtown that have 2nd floor space to reserve but I can’t think of them.
First off, thanks so much for this thread - it will help a lot of us that are very unfamiliar to the Detroit area. I will be honest, I am one of many people that are a little wary of bringing students to Detroit based upon the area’s reputation (yes, I know that a lot is hyperbole).
Can you guys provide a map of the general area and the best spots? Also the areas to avoid?
Thanks so much for doing this - I have already bookmarked the blog. I am sure that FIM will not disappoint!
Greenfield village and the Detroit Institute of art are nice, but what I’m really looking forward to is getting to ride the Q-Line. It’s kind of big deal.
Also go check out the Motown Museum, it’s a major part of Detroit.
Edit: If you like history, check out Historic Fort Wayne. It was built to defend against an invasion from Canada – working so far – and was used as the distribution hub of “the arsenal of democracy” as well as used for training during Korea and Vietnam.
I couldn’t agree more with what everyone is suggesting here. Detroit is amazing, and it’s really too bad that our guests will be here for such a short time. You haven’t experienced Michigan until you’ve been to any of the Lakes (though Lake Michigan is by far my favorite,) and if Mackinaw wasn’t ~5 hours away, the Mackinaw Bridge is a sight to behold.
Also, right next to Cobo, is an amazing river walking path. If the weather cooperates, you’ll be able to see all types of ships and freighters passing through.
And don’t forget about the Theater and Sports complex district - The FOX Theater, Comerica Park, Ford Field, the new LCA, and Motown Museum for music history lovers.
For a rather larger metropolitan area, we do lack a ton of public transportation though - so keep that in mind when planning outings.
I’m sure there will be a bunch of good info shared by the time the event occurs - and thanks for posting this on CD.
Can you guys provide a map of the general area and the best spots? Also the areas to avoid?
Within the city, you’ll be fine in the downtown area. (Though you should always have the buddy system no matter where you go IMHO) Also, I-75 should still be shut down southbound at that time (however, they are working surprisingly fast) from Detroit to “downriver” but there is more traffic typically heading north, and the detour is not too bad.
All of the tourist suggestions are great. I personally 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Henry Ford museum. It is one of the best museums I’ve ever been to.
Our team is located downriver, right where some of the hotels are, so if you have any specific questions about that area feel free to ask. I’m so looking forward to it. I’ve never been to Champs before and its kind of cool to think we’ll be able to see it no matter what.
It’s obviously not going on during Worlds, but Maker Faire is held at Henry Ford/Greenfield Village during the summer months, so if you have been to that location, it’ll be familiar to you
When it comes to pizza in Detroit, Buddy’s comes second to none. You can’t afford to visit Metro Detroit without getting Buddy’s Pizza at least once (emphasis on at least). The crust alone is just phenomenal. They also have gluten-free and dairy-free pizzas available.
