YEAR VISITED: 2020 and 2025.

FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPEREINCES: My family and I visited Michigan in 2020. We were on a month long summer road trip and decided to spend an afternoon at Warren Dunes State Park. The park is located in Southwest Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is one of Michigan’s most popular state park’s and welcomes roughly 1 million visitors per year. We were extra glad to be by the water as the day we were there temperatures soared into the mid to upper 90’s.

Because of the extreme heat we didn’t leave the beach. If we return I would love to explore the many hiking trails, including the 260 foot tall sand dune.

In 2025 my friend Jerry and I ventured to Detroit with the goal of attending a Tigers Baseball game.

While baseball brought me back to Michigan, I was also able to do a little sightseeing. Jerry’s and my adventure started with dinner. After doing a little research we made a reservation at the London Chop House and man are we glad we did. This is one of the top #2 or #3 dining experiences I have ever had, and the best steak of my life. The restaurant opened in the late 1930’s, was named one of the top restaurants in America in the 1960’s, but unfortunately closed in the early 1990’s. It reopened in 2012 and has been going strong ever since. From the very beginning of our experience to the end it felt like we were transported into a time warp. Upon entering you walk down a flight of stairs to a dark lit dining room. There was live music and the waiters were wearing black suits and ties.

Besides the fact we ate like kings, highlights of the venue were the historic bar, a working rotary phone booth, and the adjacent cigar bar.

A few celebrities I learned that have visited the restaurant are Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Alfred Hitchcock, Barbra Streisand, Bill Clinton, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Iacocca, and Henry Ford. When in Detroit, I can’t recommend this place highly enough.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS:  Before each new stadium visit, I research what to see and do. However, no matter how much I read up on a location I really don’t know what to expect until I get there. Detroit’s Comerica Park is one of those stadiums that exceeded all my expectations. Outside the stadium, there are gargoyle Tiger’s with baseballs in their mouth that are embedded into the walls. Outside the main gate there is also a massive Tiger statue.

Inside the stadium, there are statues of Tiger greats along the outfield concourse. There is also a Ferris Wheel and Carousel located in the “Big Cat Court”.

Carnival rides are something I had never seen in a Major League park before, but not only did it totally blend perfectly into the stadium’s aesthetic it provided something for fans of all ages to enjoy.

Our tickets were located behind home plate in the “Tiger Den”. The seats were oversized, padded, and rocked. We also had a mini table in between our seats and the section came with the ability to have food delivered. Between the comfy seats and food being delivered I don’t believe Jerry or I missed a pitch.

As if our seats weren’t exciting enough, the 1st place Tigers (who at the time had the best record in baseball) were playing my hometown Seattle Mariners. Mariner stars Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh hit home runs and the Mariners won the game handily.

Following the game, something we were oblivious to when we purchased our tickets, we were treated to a Jordan Davis concert. Less than an hour after the conclusion of the game the stage was set up along the right field line and we were rocking out. I rank Comerica Park in the top #10 of Major League stadiums, and definitely came away feeling like the entire Tiger organization is first rate in everyway.

ADVENTURE(S): Simply driving through a city doesn’t normally count as an adventure. However, when that city has as unique of a name as “Kal-a-ma-zoo” it counts as an adventure in my book.

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: Located at Warren Dunes State Park is the Saint Joseph Lighthouse.

It was built in 1832. The iconic lighthouse is actually a series of two lighthouses that extend into Lake Michigan. Both are connected by a concrete walkway where waves routinely lap over the sides. We walked to the first lighthouse and halfway out to the second. Again when we were there the weather was absolutely beautiful. However in the winter, waves regularly freeze as they splash up over the walkway and the lighthouse thus creating an extremely unique and beautiful landscape.

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is absolutely massive and is probably the coolest museum experience I have ever had.

Upon arrival I learned there are three main parts to a full Ford tour; the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. To adequately take in the full experience I would suggest devoting two full days. We were only able to spend a half a day and I definitely don’t feel like we saw everything it had to offer.

The museum showcased automobiles, trains, racecars, airplanes, and other unique forms of transportation and innovation throughout American history. Highlights were the limousine that President John F Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated, the bus that Rosa Parks traveling in when she refused to give up her seat, and the Ford Quadricycle which is considered Ford’s very first automobile.

The original Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the bed that George Washington used during the Revolutionary War, and the chair President Lincoln was sitting in at Fords Theater when he was killed were also on display. Wandering this portion of the museum alone could easily be a full day.

Greenfield Village is 90 acres and the museum webpage describes it as, “a living history museum showcasing 300 years of American innovation and life.” As soon as we passed through the entry gates it immediately felt like we were transported back in time. We were greeted by a replica downtown, Model T’s driving the streets, and even a full sized steam train that will transport you around the village. Highlights were Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory, the Wright Brothers bicycle shop, and Henry Ford’s boyhood home. Noah Webster’s house and Robert Frost’s home are also on display.

We learned that all the buildings are either the originals and have been moved here, or are exact replica’s. 100% you feel as if you have been transported back in history. The assembly line factory tour wasn’t available on the day we visited. After visiting for a half a day and two of the three tours, we walked 15,000 steps. Again, I would suggest a two or three day visit to adequately see and experience all this site has to offer.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• Mackinac Island
• Michigan Football game at the ‘Big House’, Ann Arbor
• The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, Detroit
• Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn
• The Motown Museum, Detroit
• Fair Lane – The Henry Ford Estate, Dearborn
• Pictured Rocks National Seashore, Munising