I didn’t expect my Detroit trip to start with a groundhog encounter, but to quote one of philosophy’s greatest sages, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Speaking of little treats, the food in Detroit didn’t disappoint. I’ll share that in a separate post.

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A Walk on Belle Isle

After arriving in the city, I decided to head straight for Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River that hosts a 982-acre park. I set out on a trail that wound along the Blue Heron Lagoon, passing a sculpture titled One World . . . Under Michigan Stars. Walking through the portal-like structure felt like entering into a secret world and set the tone for a quiet, reflective walk. The path took me past the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse (the only marble lighthouse in the U.S. if you’re collecting facts), then onward to Hipster Beach, a place that sounds like I should have been wearing a beanie and horn-rimmed glasses instead of athletic wear. On my way back, I looped back around the lagoon and had an impromptu meet-up with the largest groundhog I’ve ever seen. We gave each other a nod of mutual respect and went our separate ways.

After that, I attempted to follow an audio tour of Belle Isle using the izi.Travel app, which worked well until I ran into an abundance of construction fencing. The Belle Isle Casino was closed. The James Scott Memorial Fountain? Closed. Most of the parking lots? Also closed. I eventually found a small lot to pull into, only to realize it was the site of an active K-9 police training session. I parked, pretended I belonged there, and made a quick walk to Queen’s Bridge before heading back to my car. Jump scare, my friends. What I thought were harmlessly parked SUVs erupted into sudden barking. I skedaddled out of there immediately.

Cool Buildings

At my hotel, the Element Detroit at the Metropolitan, I encountered significantly fewer (exactly zero) startling barks. The lobby was photo worthy, with restored details that hinted at the building’s history and charm. Detroit has no shortage of phenomenal architectural views. On my way to lunch and coffee, I wandered through the lobby of the David Whitney Building to gawk at the dramatic skylight.

Later in the day, I stopped into the Fisher Building, an exceptional example of art deco design. Marble, brass, vaulted ceilings covered in frescos. It’s the kind of place that gives you a neck ache from looking up.

What Happens in Hitsville…Gets Stuck in Your Head

The true highlight of the trip was the Motown Museum.

If you ever get the chance, go. The tour takes you through Barry Gordy’s house where the unique Motown sound was built from the ground up (technically, ceiling down – they cut a hole in the attic and placed microphones inside to create that echo chamber sound that you will now listen for in every Motown song).

The tour took me to the offices, the original engineering room, and the recording studio where so many beloved hits were made. Our guide, who clearly loved his job, divided us into groups for a battle rendition of “My Girl,” and I will not be taking any questions about how enthusiastically I sang along.

There were stories tucked into every corner. A candy machine that was always stocked with Baby Ruths for Stevie Wonder. A worn patch in the linoleum floor where producers and musicians tapped their feet for hours while mixing tracks. The whole place felt special, like the life source of millions of collective memories.

I didn’t need to grab any souvenirs at the Motown Museum as I left with the parting gift of having “Dancing in the Streets” stuck in my head for the next three days. And I loved it.

From Earworms to Bookworms

The next day, I spent literal hours in a book-lover’s paradise: John K. King Used & Rare Books. This place is enormous, charmingly cluttered, and full of treasure. I left with a small but mighty stack for my home library, keeping in mind that I had to fit any purchases into my carry-on. I had to abandon any thought of hard-covers (those suckers are heavy).

Difficult choices were made, but I headed to the airport, books in tow, already plotting my next mini escape.