Southwest® flights to Detroit starting at $60

Deplane at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and get your motor running—it’s time to explore the Motor City. Whether you choose to rent a car, call a car, or take the SMART bus directly into downtown Detroit, the city awaits. With revitalization efforts that have been redeveloping this Rust Belt metropolis since the late-20th century, there are plenty of new adventures to be had amidst a cityscape dotted with historic late 19th- and early 20th-century buildings.

If you want to take a trip back in time to historic Detroit before you explore what’s new, head to the East Ferry Avenue Historic District. A Michigan State Historic Site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this area has fabulous examples of Queen Anne homes and stately mansions. If you find yourself on the way to the theatre district to take in a show, you may pass through the Grand Circus Park Historic District on the way. Another area listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the park for which this district is named is five acres of inner-city greenery that includes historic fountains, public art installations and monuments, and a dog park. Consider bringing a picnic—or a box of Detroit-style pizza—and spending an afternoon enjoying this thriving area.