Metro Detroit offers experiences beyond arts and entertainment, including aquariums and zoos, museums, parks, and more

With expansive options across the region, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo houses over 1,600 animals from 231 different species, including amphibians, mammals, birds, and reptiles. The true-to-life exhibits provide visitors with a face-to-face experience with exotic creatures that may never be seen in the wild. The zoo also features public and private events, including birthday parties, weddings, charity walks and marathons, corporate events, and more. Learn more here.

Belle Isle

The Belle Isle Conservancy is the country’s largest and oldest city island and was named Michigan’s 102nd state park in February 2014. The 1,000-acre island park features a colorful water fountain display, a conservatory, an aquarium, and a nature zoo. The island also hosts charitable marathons, youth development events, and is home to the Detroit Grand Prix. Belle Isle is currently undergoing redevelopment plans focused on recreational and commercial enhancement.

The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford offers attractions that celebrate yesterday’s traditions and today’s innovations, captivating and inspiring visitors of all ages. The museum showcases its large collection of vehicles and projects that inspired imaginations and new technologies for the automotive industry.

  • The Ford Rogue Factory Tour allows visitors to get an inside look at the making of America’s iconic truck – the Ford F-150. Visitors can learn about modern manufacturing and experience a real factory floor where ideas become realities.
  • Greenfield Village provides unforgettable sights, sounds, and settings of America’s past. Visitors can take a ride in a Model T, climb aboard a real steam-powered locomotive, pull glass with world-class artisans, visit the farm animals, and enjoy lunch from the museum’s 1830s-inspired menu.
  • The museum features a state-of-the-art 4K digital production, which showcases entertaining and enlightening stories of America’s past, present, and future. Learn more about the digital experience here.

Tours of the Auto Barons’ Homes

Detroit’s automotive industry was sparked by innovative thinkers like Henry Ford, Lawrence Fisher, and Alfred Dodge Wilson. Today, residents and visitors can tour the auto barons’ estates that are scattered throughout Metro-Detroit.

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House

The elegant, Cotswold-style home of Eleanor and Edsel Ford lives on 87 acres along Lake St. Clair in Grosse Point Shores, MI. It preserves architecture and details of the 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries, and offer visitors a look inside the past. Learn more here.

The Fisher Mansion

Lawrence P. Fisher, founder of the Fisher Body Company, created a showplace in the Fisher Mansion with a design that combines elements of the Italian Renaissance and vintage Hollywood architecture. The estate is open for tours and gourmet dining along the Detroit River.

Henry Ford Estate

The Henry Ford Estate was the magnificent final home of Henry Ford, automotive pioneer of the Ford Motor Company. The grounds house a self-sufficient powerhouse, underground tunnel and boathouse. The estate offers tours, programs, classes, and lakeside dining.

The Fair Lane Gardens and Grounds

Fair Lane was Henry and Clara Ford’s home for more than 30 years. Fair Lane is a National Historic Landmark established in 2013 as a private 501c3 non-profit organization. Visitors can explore the grounds and gardens which were designed by esteemed landscape architect Jens Jensen.

Meadow Brook Hall

Meadow Brook Hall was built by Alfred and Matilda Dodge Wilson and is listed on both the Michigan and National Registry of Historic Places. The 88,000 square-foot tudor revival-style mansion showcases authentic furnishings and priceless art treasures. The estate offers historic tours and both private and public events.

State of the Region

Learn more about living in the Detroit region.

From sporting events to historical museums, the region has something for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more.