Ovation Yacht Motown Dinner Cruise

Start with the Detroit River.  Add a beautiful summer evening and throw in the luxurious Ovation yacht with entertainment and lovely food stations with a sold out eclectic mix of dancing aficionados and you've got one phenomenal evening floating around Belle Isle and under the Ambassador Bridge. We were part of the dynamic Motown Dinner Cruise this week that featured all those old familiar tunes on each deck with either a DJ or a live band. This 3-decker paradise leaves from the Port Authority, just a short stroll from the RenCen Towers. They have other themed cruises scheduled throughout the year as well as bookings for weddings, birthdays and all the other special events in our lives. We made great new friendships mingling with other guests.  Yes, it's a venue to show off your wabo and bikers shuffle dance steps, too!

GM Plaza and Promenade on Detroit's Riverwalk

The headquarters for General Motors is in the Renaissance Towers on Jefferson downtown adjacent to the Detroit River. The beautiful GM Plaza and Promenade are part of Detroit's Riverwalk and were donated by GM. The fountains are cool and refreshing and irresistible for children on a day like today! There is a free walking tour of the Riverfront sponsored by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and meets every Monday at 1pm at the GM Plaza. You will learn about the buildings, architecture and public art as well as Detroit's History and how Cadillac landed here in 1701.

Joe Muer Seafood in Detroit

Yesterday was deliriously beautiful with sunny skies and warm temps. Al fresco dining was de rigueur. What better spot or better food than Joe Muer Seafood overlooking the Detroit River? This new venue within the Renaissance Center for the 1929 flagship eatery is absolutely superb and voted the restaurant of the year in 2012. Mother's Day dinners are served between 5-9pm in Sunday. Those pillars of fire outside are pretty dramatic in the evening!

J.W. Westcott II--Detroit's Boat Post Office

The only floating post office in the world is located in Detroit--the J.W. Westcott II with its own zip code of 48222. It anchors on 24th Street in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge. The delivery is called "mail in the pail" as the little diesel motor boat snugs up to a big freighter which then lowers a bucket with mail and messages to be sent/exchanged with the Westcott. Captain J.W. Westcott began this service back in the 1800's. Today, Captain Sam says he'll take visitors on his boat to show you just how it is done.

Rockin' on the Riverfront in Detroit

We hope you have not been missing the free classic Rockin' n the Riverfront concerts this summer downtown on the riverfront at the GM Rencen. Last night you could feel the energy and excitement in the crowd sandwiched between the skyscraper and the Detroit River as the drummer flailed in a frenzy. The music plays from 8-10pm and parking on the surface lot at St Antoine and Atwater is $5. The view is gorgeous. The last concert is this coming Friday, August 17th.

Urban Lighthouse in Detroit

Being the first urban state park created in Michigan, millions of people have easy access to it.  Created in 2004, the 30 acre Milliken State Park and Harbor parallels the Detroit River giving dynamic views of the water, the GM Renaissance Center, various works of sculpture and this new lighthouse.  It is a 63 foot replica of Tawas Point lighthouse built in 1876. This scaled down version marks the entrance to the harbor with spaces for 52 boats come Spring time.

Peter Stroh on the Detroit Riverwalk

There were a lot of people out enjoying Detroit's Riverwalk on New Year's Day as the freighters glided by under cloudy and windy skies. The guy with the binoculars is Peter Stroh, an important business leader in local history and great grandson of the Stroh Brewery founder who began making beer in Detroit in 1850. This philanthropic leader was also a huge conservationist who believed the riverfront should be open to the public and a habitat for wildlife, too.  The Riverwalk is a culmination of his awesome vision.

Roberts Riverwalk Hotel in Detroit

The Roberts Riverwalk Hotel proudly stands adjacent to the city's premier 5 and a half mile boardwalk along the Detroit River. Part of the Stroh complex, it used to be the Park Davis building's research lab that was built in 1902 and desginated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. This boutique hotel has 107 elegant rooms, many of which overlook the water.  Roberts Bistro and Bar is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. If you just want to come down and check it out, happy hour specials occur Mon-Friday.

Detroit Princess Riverboat Cruise

Traveling on the Detroit River on the Detroit Princess Riverboat can be a lot of fun no matter what the time of year.  Holiday cruises are running on the weekends in December with a large bash on New Year's Eve. Originally from Louisiana, the Detroit Princess has been plying our Detroit River offering wonderful cruises, food and entertainment for five years now.  The boat can carry over 1500 people and travels at 10 miles per hour.    

Chene Park in Detroit

Chene Park is a unique outdoor venue holding 5,000 seats with the Detroit River as a backdrop. Mary J Blige was here earlier in the summer. September 5th they are hosting the Return of the Legends. Known for jazz, R&B and soul music, some of the musicians playing on that Sunday are Doug E Fresh, Whodini, FatBoys, Slick Rick and Big Daddy Kane. Originally built in 1984 to hold 1400, it was replaced in 1990 with what we see today.

Diamond Jack Boat Tours of Detroit River

The Diamond Jack boat tours have been around a long time now giving great views of Canada, river traffic and our beautiful city of Detroit. You learn a lot during their two hour narrated tour on the busiest international waterway of the world. There are 2 different departure points: one is from the Rivard Plaza in downtown Detroit which offers views of the upper Detroit River and the other leaves from Wyandotte on two different scenic routes. Captain Bill Hoey from Grosse Ile is the owner. He purchased former Arnold Line Mackinac ferries and converted them into the sightseeing ships they use today. They will be celebrating 20 years next year. Let's hear a big freighter toot for that!

Belle Isle in the Detroit River

Catch the view from Coach Insignia on top of the

Renaissance Towers. The bridge over the Detroit River

leads to the Belle Isle. The white awning in the foreground

depicts Chene Park where some great summer concerts

take place. Coach Insignia is a great bar/restaurant

experience when visiting Detroit. The views are gorgeous

and totally unique.