My husband is a huge Red Wings/Tigers/Lions/Pistons fan so I'm taking him to Detroit for our 1st anniversary. We'll be there in August. I'm getting tickets for a Tigers game. I would love to take him inside Joe Louis Arena if they allow that kind of thing and also would like to go to a nice restaurant somewhere (mid-price). Tips on food, safety, typical weather, things to do and especially that Joe Louis thing above would be helpful. I think we might be staying in Ann Arbor. Thanks!

Well.....Don't expect a romantic 1st anniversary. But you're a good sport - pardon the pun. Ann Arbor is quite a ways from Joe Louis Area. JLA is in Detroit by the river, The Palace for the Pistons is way north in the burbs in Auburn Hills, and Tiger Stadium is in downtown. If I were you I wouldn't walk too much around the city, no its not safe...don't let anyone tell you different. However, Greek town is really nice - after the Tiger's game go to Fishbones, and get some Alligator Voodoo - Yes, alligator appetizer. You'll find a parking lot that's non-existant for the stadium, you'll have to park in a lot that's owned by any old Joe a block or two from the stadium..don't worry that part is safe - stay with the crowds. But the prices aren't regulated by any means $10 or so. Mid-july - Mid-August is the warmest time here, humidity is pretty low.
Don't know the Ann Arbor area very well. But it would be better to near I-75. Driving around here is easy, the cities were planned without mass transit in mind - don't expect ANY public transportation.

Hope this helps - its not a beautiful city - it once was many moons ago...to get a taste of that go to the Detroit Institute of Arts and you'll see the older buildings. The DIA is really nice. And they just opened the African American Museum - I hear that's cool too.

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!

HI, Jane-- Kate is right. Ann Arbor is about 40 miles from Detroit (45 min. on I-94). You'll need a rental car for any travel in this part of Michigan. Whether you can fit everything into your trip depends on how long you are going to stay. If you have a whole week, you can do most of it. -- Look at http://www.annarbor.org for some information about the city. It is of course the home of the University of Michigan. NOTE-- The Ann Arbor Art Fairs are in the third week of July. You would either love them or hate them. Half the streets in town are closed, and if you don't know your way around it's a nightmare. So August is a better time to come. -- It seems that if you want a pro sports week it would be better to stay in the Detroit area and just visit Ann Arbor one day as a side trip. The weather here in August is usually hot (85 F) and muggy (95%25 humidity). Consider crossing the river to Windsor, Ontario for an afternoon along the riverfront with a good view of Detroit's skyline. The Canadian exchange rate is quite favorable now, although by summer, who knows?

Try staying in Oakland county its fairly centeralized.
The Lions practice at Oakland University in Rochester. Play in the Silverdome in Pontiac. Try a concert at Pine Knob in Clarkston or The Palace in Auburn Hills. Try the many lakes and beaches in the area. Try the outdoor concerts at Meadowbrook in Rochester. Play golf at one of the many golf courses ie. Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion. Visit the Comedy Club in Royal Oak.
Shop in Birmingham. Beware of the weather it is likely to anything (except snow) so come prepared.
Hopefully you visit during a wonderous Michigan
summer. Check the Detroit Free Press on line for many activities in and around Detroit. Try Windsor
for lodgings and casinos.

You sound like one heck of a wife for a sports fan. You'll need advice on Tiger tickets -- the stadium, while beautiful and old, is full of obstructed view seats. Make sure when you purchase tickets that you don't get obstructed views. The best seats are the boxes in upper and lower deck, followed by lower deck reserve. The general admission bleacher seats are cheap ($5) and in the upper deck it is an interesting view (of both the game and the sometimes rowdy fans). You can always get in the bleachers, since tickets there don't go on sale until the day of the game. If the Tigers are playing Cleveland, New York, Boston or Baltimore, I suggest you get your tickets ASAP -- especially for Cleveland. If you want to take your man to a real sports bar before and after the game, I suggest Nemo's, which is about three blocks east (toward downtown) of the stadium on Michigan Avenue. They have parking there and it is a safe walk to the stadium. Going to Tiger Stadium is a real treat for a first timer -- I suggest getting there early, going to Nemos, then go to the stadium to soak up the atmosphere. Look out for the ushers -- they can be crabby. As for Joe Louis Arena, you may be able to get in, but again, there's a lot of security and they may be in a bad mood that day. But they may let you in. Joe Louis Arena is far from "state of the art" and is really nothing special to see. It's just a big bowl with red seats. In August, the Lions will be playing exhibition games, usually on Friday nights. Absolutely no problem getting tickets for those games -- you can probably get them for half-off from a scalper. I suggest going to downtown Pontiac and taking the shuttle from the Phoenix Center. There are also bars and restaurants near the Phoenix Center that should be able to cater to you and your sports man. Good places to hang out are Ann Arbor, Royal Oak and Birmingham. Good luck!

While you're here go to Greektown for dinner, don't forget the Saganaki (Opa!!). From there you can take the people mover to Joe Louis Arena. Some places of interest are Belle Isle , there's an aquarium and other things. It's always nice to go to the observation deck in the Renaissance Center. The Detroit Institute of Arts is great or if you're not into that maybe the Motown Museum. Don't forget windsor across the river (Casinos). Have fun.

Stay in downtown Birmingham...tons of excellent restaurants, theatres & shops you can walk to. Streetside is tiny and has great fish...Townsend Hotel is ultra luxe. Downtown Detroit is trying to come back but is basically mind numbing with the exception of the Fox Theatre area, the Detroit Institute of Arts & the aformentioned Greek Town. Rent a car: this is Motown...they don't do public transportation. Other sites: Greenfield Village in Dearborn ,built and donated by Henry Ford is a living open air history somewhat like Williamsburg, but spanning American History. Cranbrook is near Birmingham and is beautiful to walk through. It is a private school and institution but they have a gorgeous house & garden open to the public. Attending an event at the Fox Theatre might be a possibility.

I have lived in the burbs of Detroit my whole life and I hate to say it, but I was having a hard time recommending anything! I agree with the others, Ann Arbor is way too far. The closest thing to AA is Joe Louis and it will take you a good 40 minutes. The palace, in Auburn Hills will probably take 1-1/2 hours. Stay in Oakland County, like Troy. The Troy Marriott is very nice and only about 2 seconds from I-75 which will take you to everything. Royal Oak is a great place to eat. Very trendy. For dinner, make sure to get there before 6, especially on the weekend. The wait at most restaurants is 2 - 3 hours! Be prepared for Tigers stadium too. Parking stinks (the front lawn of someones home) and in my experience, it is easy to get there, but getting back on the express ways can be a chore (same for JLA). The stadium is old and not in that great of a neighborhood. While you're there, hit Second City on Woodward. As for the JLA thing, I am pretty sure that the Wings pre-season is in August and I think you can get in. Call JLA for more info. If you have time, go to the UP. That is the beautiful part of the state. The falls in Paradise City are a must. Good luck!

you picked a pretty good place to take your husband for your 1st anniv. While downtown try having dinner in greektown..tons of good food and there is a small place for shopping called trappers alley right in greektown..not a lot of stores but unique items. the renaissance center downtown in detroit is also a good place to go eat they have a restr inside of the westin hotel on the top floor that revolves...at night it can be quite cozy and nice to see the city lit up if you get a table near the window. a good bar to go to downtown is called the ancor or the post both are real close to jla(joe louis arena)....acutally right across the street from cobo hall which is next door to jla...they show a lot of sports games especially the wings when they play. as for jla to see 99%25 of the time they let you go inside to buy souvineers from the stands...if the teams are not in practice try to find a security person and ask if you can see the ice...a lot of times they will let you look and take pictures because i did it during the playoffs for good pictures without people in them....they also have a box office outside the on the ground level by the people mover stataion....oh that brings me to that as well but hang on....the jla ticket box is open during normal business hours and longer during games. the people mover is like a subway but way up above ground. it circles much of downtown with stops at a lot of common sence places...like jla, cobo hall, greektown, renaissance center, millander center, and its cheap to if my memory is right its about 50 cents each time you get on. the only thing is that is closes at like 1 am. as far as a place to stay try dearborn at the Dearborn Inn by Marriott, its a historical hotel that is very up to date and henry ford museum and greenfiled village which are right across the street. dearborn is about 15 min from downtown detroit.
any more info needed please let me know.
also try to get a AAA tourbook for michigan they have lots of good stuff in there as whats what to see and do as well.
have fun while your here

I agree with many of the responders, staying in Ann Arbor will result in a lot of driving to do other things. If you decide to stay in another suburb (Troy, Birmingham etc.) be careful when you are coming in August. I believe the weekend of Aug. 15th and 16th is the Annual "Dream Cruise". Basically it's 300,000+ people decending on the suburbs for a weekend of classic car parades and partying. It's quite an experience...however, if you are not into that it will make getting around very difficult. It can take up to 1/2 hour to go one mile on Woodward, which is a major connector between many of the suburbs. Royal Oak is very trending for a dining experience, but make reservations or plan on eating dinner VERY early. Also, downtown Birmingham is very nice to walk thru on a nice summer night. You can even take a horse and carriage. As for JLA, if the wings are practicing...Good Luck seeing anything. I speak from experience on that one. Be careful exploring downtown, be well clear of detroit before dusk. Good Luck.