Key Dates
Convention Dates: September 10-14, 2025
Registration: Opening in May
Pricing
Members:
Actives – $850
Associate – $950
Emeritus – $950
Guest of a member* – $800
Supporter – $1,900
This category is for businesses in travel-related industries that align with and support the work of our members but are not eligible for SATW membership. Supporters receive access to all convention programming and activities as outlined below, including convention registration, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, day tours, networking events, and a table at the Marketplace.
Note: Supporters are not eligible to participate in pre or post tour.
Registration Fee Includes:
– Ground transportation to/from hotel on September 10 and September 14 only.
– Four night stay at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
– All meals (Wednesday evening through Sunday morning)
– All professional development sessions
– Marketplace
– Awards dinner
– One full-day or half day tour: Preferences should be entered in the registration form.
– Chapter and Council meetings**
– SATW business meeting**
– Opening reception
– Farewell dinner
– Tour Tips
*SATW members must register at the applicable SATW rate. A guest may share a room, but unless they register as a guest, they can not participate in any convention activities, and will be asked to leave if they attend.
** For SATW members only
Schedule
*Please note the schedule may be subject to change
Wednesday, September 10:
1:00-6:00 PM – Registration Opens
4:30-5:30 PM – First Timers reception (by invitation only)
5:30-8:30 PM – Welcome Reception
7:00-8:00 PM – Reverbs
Thursday, September 11:
8:00-9:00 AM – Chapter breakfast
9:00-10:00 AM – Breakfast & Opening Ceremony with Keynote Speaker
10:00-11:00 AM – Business meeting (SATW members only)
11:30-12:45 PM – Lunch & Lowell Thomas Awards
12:45-4:30 PM – Media Marketplace
5:00- 6:00 PM – Foundation Reception (by invitation only)
6:30 – 10:00 PM – Reception & Awards Dinner
Friday, September 12:
8:00-9:00 AM – Council breakfast
9:30-11:20 AM – Meet the Editors/Professional Development
11:30 AM- 1:00 PM – Lunch and Keynote
1:30-3:20 PM – Meet the Editors/Professional Development
6:00 – 9:00 PM – Off-Site Event
Saturday, September 13:
7:30-9:00 AM – Casual breakfast
9:00 AM-5:30 PM – Day tours
6:30 – 9:30 PM – Closing Ceremony
Sunday, September 14:
6AM – Casual Breakfast
Post Tour departures/Airport Transfers
Day Tours
Please review the day tour options for Saturday, September 13. You may indicate up to three preferences on the registration form. Tour assignments will be emailed after registration closes.
Full Day Tours
FD1– Motor City Couture: Discover Shinola, Avenue of Fashion, and Detroit Month of Design
Did you know that Detroit was the United States’ first ever UNESCO City of Design? Find out why on this full day tour that dives into Detroit’s inspired fashion scene, and the cultural heritage and local stories behind that.
You’ll start your day by going behind the scenes of Shinola, a luxury watch company that’s now a household name but whose story began in Detroit. The 12,000 square foot factory was the first watch factory to open in the country in nearly 50 years, and provides a one-of-a-kind experience.
You’ll also explore the Avenue of Fashion, one of the largest districts of Black-owned businesses in the nation. Meet with local fashion entrepreneurs, learn more about Detroit’s fashion story first-hand, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
This tour will also give you the opportunity to soak up the energy that infuses the city during Detroit Month of Design. September 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of this annual festival, which celebrates Detroit’s design legacy through events, workshops, and exhibitions.
Duration: 8 hours
Level: Level 2 – Light walking
This tour involves light walking through various spaces, primarily indoors with some street exploration.
FD2 – Detroit 101: Intro to Detroit for the First Timer
Detroit Institute of Arts, Motown Museum, Fisher Theatre, and Detroit Shipping Company
New to Detroit or just want to experience the city’s greatest hits? This tour is your perfect introduction. You’ll start your day with a short walking tour of the major downtown Detroit spots. Along the way you’ll learn about Detroit’s history, ongoing development, and what’s happening in the city now. Next, you’ll get the chance to explore two of Detroit’s best museums: the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) and Motown Museum, as well as architectural gems like the Fisher Theatre, unique food options, and more.
The DIA is frequently voted as the best art museum in the country by USA Today, and is home to over 65,000 artworks across 100 galleries. Particularly famed for Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals and being the first public museum in the United States to purchase artwork by Van Gogh, you’re sure to find something to delight you here.
The Motown Museum is another first-time visitor favorite. Detroit is the birthplace of the Motown sound, and it all began at this little blue-and-white house called Hitsville USA. Today, the Motown Museum looks a bit different. It’s undergoing a $75 million expansion, transforming it from one humble house into a multi-building museum campus. Currently in the final stage of its expansion, completion is expected in summer 2026, but you can experience the development for yourself today.
Detroit is more than its most famous attractions, though. It wouldn’t be a day in the D without experiencing the innovative, modern businesses that make this city so progressive. Enjoy lunch at the Detroit Shipping Company, a unique food hall made from shipping containers, featuring some of the city’s buzziest food companies.
Duration: 8 hours
Level: Level 2 – Light walking
This tour involves exploring museums and architectural sites, with breaks for food. Mostly indoor walking and between locations, with stairs involved in the Motown Museum tour.
FD3 – Detroit’s Roots: A Journey Through Three History Museums
Detroit has a complex history to say the least. From its founding in 1701 by a French military leader, to the industrial revolution, civil rights movement, bankruptcy, recovery, and beyond: Detroit has a story to tell and it’s a tale of resilience and innovation. Today you will delve into the past, and learn about Detroit’s story from different perspectives.
Begin your day at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, which is one of the world’s most renowned institutions dedicated to African American history. You’ll discover how African Americans have shaped Detroit’s legacy, as well as the wider world.
The Detroit Historical Museum offers another viewpoint of the past 300+ years of Detroit’s story. Travel back in time to the city’s Native American roots, learn how metro Detroit built cars (and vice versa), see how Detroit played a crucial role in the underground railroad, and interact with Motown and gospel music installations. “Streets of Old Detroit” is one of the museum’s most adored exhibits, where visitors can walk down a recreated Detroit street from the 1800s.
That’s not all—in the afternoon, you’ll travel to metro Detroit and experience the iconic Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, a museum dedicated to telling the story of American innovators and their most groundbreaking discoveries. You’ll also stop by Greenfield Village, an incomparable 80-acre historical village that, possibly more than anything else you’ve experienced today, will immerse you in the past. Ride in a real Model T or steam locomotive, visit with farm animals, dine in an 1800s tavern, and more before returning to your hotel (and the present day).
Duration: 9 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking and uneven surfaces
This tour includes multiple museums and exploring the large Henry Ford museum, with potential uneven surfaces.
FD4 – From Motown to Modern Vinyl: The Music of Detroit
Detroit is where music legends are made, and today you’ll be discovering how, why, and who. Begin your day at the Motown Museum on a 90-minute guided tour. This small and unassuming house is where Berry Gordy Jr. founded the Motown Records label, and recorded greats like The Supremes, the Jackson 5, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and other recognizable names. You’ll also get an inside look at the museum’s ongoing $75-million expansion project, set to conclude in summer 2026.
Ever wondered how vinyl records are made in modern times? At your next stop, Third Man Records, you’ll explore rock icon Jack White’s vinyl record pressing plant. This was the first vinyl plant to open in Detroit since 1965. Tour the facility and learn about the intricate process that makes music physical.
In the afternoon, tour the Detroit Music Hall, a historic performing arts venue that first opened its doors back in 1928, and still hosts concerts, plays, and dance shows to this day. The high note of your music-themed day will be an exclusive tour of The Rose Estate, where none other than Aretha Franklin called home.
Duration: 7.5 hours
Level: Level 2 – Light walking
This tour involves light walking through various spaces, primarily indoors with stairs involved in the Motown Museum tour.
FD5 – From Art Deco to Modernism: The Detroit Architecture Tour
Discover Detroit’s remarkable architecture – and the stories behind its most iconic buildings – on this full-day tour.
Thanks to Detroit’s history as a 1920s boomtown, it’s home to a collection of masterpieces by architects like Albert Kahn, Louis Kamper, and Minoru Yamasaki. Begin your day in downtown Detroit with an architecture-themed walking tour. You’ll see styles ranging from Italianate to Gothic, Art Deco to modern. In addition to viewing Detroit’s most celebrated buildings, you’ll learn about the city’s ongoing architectural developments that are shaping its future skyline.
Pause for lunch at a restaurant inside one of Detroit’s most recognizable buildings: Book Tower. Eat your meal surrounded by the elegant ambience of this 38-story skyscraper with a unique history. After its 1926 construction, Book Tower eventually fell into disrepair but was saved by a seven-year refurbishment by Bedrock. It reopened in 2023, and is a stunning example of Detroit’s new architectural chapter – where history is preserved but adapted for modern lifestyles.
In the afternoon, continue to marvel at Detroit’s architectural greats. You’ll tour the Fisher Building, called “Detroit’s largest art object” (you’ll find out why). Next up, discover Michigan Central, which is perhaps the city’s biggest adaptive reuse project to date – in which an abandoned train station has been transformed into a culture and tech hub by Ford Motor Company.
Duration: 7.5 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking
This tour includes an outdoor walking tour and stops for lunch and at architectural sites. There is potential for uneven surfaces.
FD6 – Urban Adventure Along the Detroit River
Detroit may be a metropolis, but it’s also a destination for outdoorsy travelers. Today is all about exploring the great Detroit River, a 28-mile international river bordering Michigan and Canada, which is essential to Detroit both environmentally and economically. As you gaze across the Detroit riverfront you’ll see the skyline of Windsor, Ontario!
Begin your day by exploring the thriving Detroit riverfront on wheels, with a guided bicycle tour. Detroit’s beloved riverwalk trail extends from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle, and is frequently voted the #1 riverwalk in the country. Get your fill of fresh air while discovering landmarks like the Milliken State Park and Harbor, GM Plaza, and newly opened Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park.
After enjoying lunch at a popular Detroit food truck, you’ll get to experience the Detroit River from a new perspective: the water! Board a riverboat with your group where you can sit back and relax while enjoying panoramic views of both Detroit and Windsor’s skylines. Learn more about the founding of Detroit and its unique connection to Canada, as well as Detroit’s culture and history.
Duration: 7.5 hours
Level: Level 4 – Biking 5-8 miles
This tour involves a guided bicycle tour along the riverwalk path, as well as a riverboat tour. Attendees should be able to enter and exit a boat from a dock, and comfortably bike 5-8 miles.
FD7 – Legacy & Luxury: Full-Day Tour of Detroit’s Historic Homes
Detroit is home to some of the nation’s most elegant private homes and estates, and today is all about discovering them.
Start your day at the beautiful Cranbrook House and Gardens in Bloomfield Hills, a suburb of Detroit. The Cranbrook Educational Community is an integral part of the metro Detroit community, and home to not only the original house and gardens, but also an art museum, academy of art, research center, institute of science, and day and boarding school.
On a guided tour, you’ll explore this Albert Khan designed English-Tudor estate, constructed in 1908 for George Gough Booth and Ellen Scripps, two of Detroit’s early philanthropists. Across 40-acres and 20 gardens, you’ll be enthralled by spots like the Sunken Garden, Japanese Garden, Native Plant Garden, and more. You’ll also tour the Saarinen House, home to Cranbrook’s first architect-in-residence.
Next, your tour of Detroit’s most iconic estates will take you to Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, another city in metro Detroit. To put things into perspective, Meadow Brook Hall is not only the fourth-largest historic home in the nation, but it’s also twice as big as the White House. Built in 1929 by Matilda Dodge Wilson, the remarkable woman who founded Oakland University, this is one of the country’s best examples of Tudor-revival architecture. You’re sure to be astonished by the 110-room mansion, home to 75,000 historic artifacts, beautiful grounds, and of course the story behind this architectural treasure.
Duration: 7.5 hours
Level: Level 2 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces, and stairs
This tour involves visiting multiple estates and gardens. Attendees should be prepared for moderate walking, with potential for uneven outdoor surfaces and stairs.
FD8 – African American Culture Tour: From the Underground Railroad to Afternoon Tea
Detroit is one of the United States’ largest majority Black cities. It was a crucial stop on the Underground Railroad, a centerpiece in the civil rights movement, and as a city is inseparable from the African American story. Today is all about learning how African American culture has shaped Detroit, and vice versa.
Naturally, you’ll begin your day at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. This is one of the world’s largest and most renowned centers dedicated to African American history and culture.
Your next stop is the Second Baptist Church, which may look like a normal (albeit beautiful!) church from the outside, but is so much more than that. This is the oldest African American church in Michigan and first opened in 1836. More important than that even is that the Second Baptist Church served as one of the final stops on the Underground Railroad for 29 years. Its basement is estimated to have housed over 5,000 African Americans on their journeys to escape enslavement and persecution in the United States. Today, you can tour this historic landmark and learn more about Detroit’s role in the Underground Railroad.
After lunch at a much-loved soul food restaurant, you’ll head to the Motown Museum. This small house, known as “Hitsville USA,” is where the Black-owned Motown record label was founded, and greats like Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, and more recorded. On your guided tour, you’ll discover not only how the music was created, but also the connection between Motown and the civil rights movement.
End your day with a luxurious stop at Lily’s and Elise Tea House, a Black-owned afternoon tea salon that’s quickly become a favorite for Detroiters after opening in 2024. Kimberly Elise, owner of Lily’s and Elise Tea House, is the only African American tea sommelier in Michigan. Sit back and enjoy a selection of cakes and patisseries, savory treats, and of course a wide selection of tea.
Duration: 7.5 hours
Level: Level 2 – Moderate walking
This tour involves visiting multiple museums and historical sites with a stop for afternoon tea. There will be moderate walking with stairs involved in the Motown Museum tour.
FD9 – Art in the Heart of Detroit
Detroit is a wonderful destination for art enthusiasts, and today you will discover why. Your first stop of the day is Detroit’s most iconic art destination, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Housing over 65,000 artworks from the past 6,000 years, this museum is frequently voted #1 art museum in the country. Whether you adore impressionist paintings or ancient arrowheads, there is something here for you. Some of the museum’s most famed pieces include Van Gogh’s Self Portrait, and the Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera.
For your next stop, you’ll head to Detroit’s beloved Eastern Market, which is both a neighborhood and home to the largest open-air farmer’s market in the country (of the same name). This area is known for its street murals, thanks to being the former home of the Murals in the Market festival. On a guided mural tour, you’ll discover the hidden and not-so-hidden street art in this vibrant area of Detroit.
After lunch in the Eastern Market area, you’ll stop by Pewabic Pottery, a National Historic Landmark and one of the country’s best known and oldest continually operating ceramic studios. You may even recognize the Pewabic Pottery style, which features iridescent glazes and is featured on many of Detroit’s most well-known buildings and public spaces. During your tour you’ll learn about Pewabic Pottery’s history and modern-day operations, and even get to glaze your own tile.
Finishing your art-filled day in Detroit, your group will visit The Shepherd. This 110-year-old Romanesque church was recently renovated and transformed into an art gallery and cultural center, and has already become a staple in the Detroit art scene.
Duration: 8.5 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces
This tour involves exploring art museums, an outdoor market, and an interactive pottery glazing workshop. Attendees should be prepared for moderate indoor and outdoor surfaces, and potential for uneven surfaces.
FD10 – Driven by Innovation: A Close Up on Henry Ford’s Contributions to Detroit
Get to know the Motor City’s automotive heritage in this full-day tour. Your day will begin in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, at The Henry Ford. This massive historical and cultural complex includes three attractions: The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Rouge Factory, and Greenfield Village.
On today’s visit you’ll have time to explore two of the three. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is a huge 12-acre museum dedicated to American innovators and historic artifacts (think: the bus where Rosa Parks took a stand, the first car built by Henry Ford, and more). Greenfield Village is an 80-acre immersive historical village where you can step back in time into Thomas Edison’s lab where he created the lightbulb, the Wright brothers bicycle shop where they ideated the first airplane, a one-room schoolhouse, and so much more.
After lunch, your group will head to the Ford Piquette Plant, which is where the first Model T vehicle was invented by Henry Ford. The Model T revolutionized transportation for the average American due to its affordability and ease of use. This, therefore, changed the world. Step into history at this National Historic Landmark with a guided tour.
Your day will end with a drive past Michigan Central, which many are calling the most important development in modern-day Detroit. In 2018, Ford Motor Company purchased the abandoned Michigan Central Station in Corktown, which was formerly a busting train station before it fell into disrepair. After nearly $1 billion development, the building reopened in 2024 as a technology and cultural hub dedicated to shaping the future of transportation across the world.
Duration: 7 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces
This tour includes multiple museums and exploring the large Henry Ford museum, with potential uneven surfaces.
FD11 – Born in Detroit: Discover Detroit’s Greatest Creations
This full-day tour is sure to delight travelers whether you’re a history buff, foodie, or culture fiend. Today you’ll discover some of Detroit’s greatest creations, ranging from Motown music and the automobile, to the legendary Detroit-style pizza, and beyond.
Start your day at the Motown Museum, where the Motown sound was born. On a one-hour guided tour through the Hitsville USA house you’ll see Motown costumes and artifacts up close, the apartment of Berry Gordy Jr. and his family (founder of the Motown record label), and Studio A itself. The museum is currently undergoing a $75 million expansion which is set to finish in summer 2026, so your visit will also offer an inside look into that development.
Next up, your group will head to the Ford Piquette Plant for a guided tour. This was Henry Ford’s first purpose-built automobile factory, and operated from 1904 to 1910. It also happens to be the birthplace of the Model T vehicle, which revolutionized transportation in America. Today, the museum is a National Historic Landmark and offers a unique insight into automotive history, as well as a chance to see preserved early-era cars in person.
For some, lunch may be the highlight of your day. You’ll dine at Buddy’s Pizza, where the original Detroit-style pizza was created in 1946. While there are many styles of pizza around the world, Detroit-style has become increasingly recognized in recent years. This pizza is crispy, crunchy, with caramelized cheese and stripes of sauce. It’s also rectangular shaped – legend is that the first pizza was made in a steel pan taken from a Detroit automotive plant. Detroiters have understood the hype for years, and now you will, too.
End your tour with a lesser-known Detroit creation: fowling. This unusual sport combines football and bowling, and was created by Detroiters while tailgating at the Indy 500 in 2001. The first Fowling Warehouse opened in Hamtramck (a city within Detroit) in 2014, and over the past decade has spread nationwide. Try fowling for yourself this afternoon.
Duration: 7.5 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces
This tour involves moderate indoor walking during guided museum tours, and interactive games of fowling (football-bowling, which primarily involves throwing motions). Stairs will be involved at the Motown Museum.
FD12 – Motor City Through the Camera Lens: A Detroit Photography Tour
If your goal is to get the shot in Detroit, this tour is for you. Including an optional early sunrise shoot, today is all about experiencing Detroit’s most iconic and photogenic spots through your camera lens with the guidance of a local photographer.
For the photography lovers who aren’t daunted by an early wake up call (6:30am), your first stop of the day will be Riverside Park where you’ll witness a peaceful sunrise over the Detroit River. This park has some of the best views of downtown Detroit, the Ambassador Bridge, and the brand new Gordie Howe Bridge.
Next, the early risers group will head to Southwest Detroit, which is a neighborhood known for its diversity, culture, and some of Detroit’s most recognizable street art. Take your time to explore and photograph, including a stop at The Yard Graffiti Museum. This constantly evolving outdoor art gallery is part of the Southwest Greenway, a developing pedestrian path connecting Detroit neighborhoods. If time allows, the group will stop for coffee and pastries at a local bakery.
Around 9am the official tour begins, and those who opted to sleep in will join up with the early risers group. Together you’ll explore downtown Detroit on a 90-minute guided walking tour. Keep your cameras at the ready for Detroit’s most remarkable landmarks, statues, and buildings. This will be followed by a visit to Eastern Market, a bustling district that’s home to the largest outdoor farmer’s market in the United States. Eastern Market is also known for its street art, and you’ll have plenty of time here to explore and photograph.
Switch out your lenses for lunch to get that close up shot of a cheesy, delicious Detroit-style pizza. Finally, your group will end the day at the Detroit International Riverwalk, as afternoon light falls over the river and downtown.
Duration: 7 hours, with an optional 2.5 hour add-on
Level: Level 2 – Light walking
This photography tour involves light walking through neighborhoods, parks, and paved paths. There is potential for uneven surfaces.
FD13 – Culinary Success in Detroit
Today is all about indulging in Detroit’s greatest culinary success stories. From an interactive baking workshop to taste testing James Beard Award winning foods, you’ll meet some of Detroit’s rising (or already risen!) stars in the food world.
Begin your day at Sister Pie, a beloved neighborhood bakery in the West Village. You won’t just be eating here, you’ll learn how to make their famous hand pies yourself. Next up, your group will head to Warda Patisserie in Midtown. Chef Warda Bouguettaya won Detroit’s first James Beard Award in over 30 years, back in 2022, for her astoundingly delicious pastries which you’ll get to try for yourself.
For lunch, you’ll dine at Baobob Fare. Co-owners and husband and wife duo Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere are refugees from Burundi who now call Detroit home. Thanks to their skill, hard work, and support from the Detroit community, they’ve created one of the city’s most beloved restaurants – and are four-time James Beard Award finalists as of 2025.
After, you’ll head to Saffron De Twah, Detroit’s halal modern Moroccan bistro. Here you’ll meet Chef Omar Anani, owner of Saffron De Twah, two-time James Beard Award finalist, and winner of The Food Network’s Chopped. More than just a chef and restauranteur, Anani is also community-focused: his Saffron Community Kitchen has provided over 110,000 meals to the local Detroit community since he began it in 2020. During your visit, Anani will talk to you not just about what it takes to open an award-winning restaurant, but also what it means to be a restaurant that gives back.
Finally, end your day with a late afternoon tipple. Your group will stop by one of Detroit’s craft cocktail bars to sip on some signature Detroit flavors.
Duration: 8 hours
Level: Level 1 – Light walking
This tour involves stops for food and an interactive hand pie baking workshop. Light indoor walking will be involved.
FD14 – Detroit Bites & Pizza Delights
Get to know Detroit through its most well-known foods on this full-day tour. You’ll begin your day at Eastern Market, one of the country’s longest-running and largest open-air farmer’s markets. On your food-focused tour, you’ll explore the 24-acre market and sample Michigan-grown foods from a selection of the over 225 vendors.
After eating your fill at Eastern Market, it’s time for a true Detroit staple: Detroit-style pizza, of course! Detroit is known for its signature rectangular, crispy-cornered pizza style that is becoming increasingly recognized worldwide. You’ll dine at Buddy’s, where Detroit-style pizza was first created in 1946, and learn the history behind the slice (hint: it has an unexpected link to Detroit’s automobile industry!).
In the afternoon, your group will experience two more Detroit foodie must-try’s. After stopping for a drink at Two James Distillery, which was Detroit’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition, you’ll head to Good Cakes and Bakes. This is a particularly beloved bakery, not just to Detroiters but also to famous figures like Oprah and Bill Clinton.
Duration: 8.5 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces
This tour involves moderate walking through indoor and outdoor spaces, and stops for food. There is potential for uneven surfaces.
FD15 – Around the World in the D: Discover Detroit’s Diversity
Detroit is an incredibly diverse city. Not only is Detroit one of the country’s largest majority Black cities, but it’s also home to thriving Hispanic, Arab, Polish, and other communities. Today’s tour is all about discovering the world’s cultures, right here in Detroit.
Your day begins with a walking tour of Southwest Detroit, home to Mexicantown and a vibrant collection of shops, restaurants, cultural institutions, street art, and more. Along your tour you’ll pop into a local bakery, and learn the history of this inclusive neighborhood where many immigrants choose to settle in Detroit.
Next up you’ll travel to Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit that became the country’s first Arab-majority city in 2023. You’ll learn about Arab culture with a visit to the Arab American National Museum, and a lunch stop at a much-loved Middle Eastern restaurant (don’t skip the baklava!).
End your day with a visit to Hamtramck, which is actually an entirely separate city whose borders exist within Detroit city. Hamtramck is the most diverse city in the state of Michigan, and is particularly known for its history as a home for Polish immigrants. The city’s Polish roots run strong today, and you’ll have a chance to explore stalwarts like the Polish Art Center and New Palace Bakery (where thousands of Detroiters flock for packzki – a traditionally Polish pastry – each year on Fat Tuesday).
Duration: 8.5 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces
This tour involves an outdoor walking tour, exploring museums, and stops for food. There will be moderate walking and potential for uneven surfaces.
FD16 –The Path to Freedom: Explore Windsor, Detroit’s International Neighbor
Across the Detroit River you’ll notice the skyline of Detroit’s international neighbor: Windsor, Ontario. Like Detroit, Windsor played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad. After freedom seekers reached Detroit (code name: Midnight), they escaped into Canada, where slavery was outlawed. Over 30,000 freedom seekers settled throughout the region, and on today’s day trip into Ontario you will learn about their journey.
After a brief stop at the Gateway to Freedom Monument in downtown Detroit, your group will cross the international border (be sure to bring your passport!) into Windsor, Ontario. Here, you’ll stop at the mirroring Tower of Freedom Monument, which signifies the end of the underground railroad.
Your journey will continue on to Chatham, Ontario, where many freedom seekers settled. You’ll have a moving visit to the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, which shares the story of abolitionist, preacher, and author Josiah Henson. After escaping slavery to Ontario himself, Henson became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, saving 118 enslaved people. You might know him as the inspiration behind “Uncle Tom” from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Your afternoon explorations will take you to other notable sites, like the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum, the John Freeman Walls Historic Site, and Sandwich First Baptist Church. You’ll stop for an early dinner at Mamo Burger, a Windsor favorite, before returning to Detroit.
Duration: 8 hours
Level: Level 2– Light walking, uneven surfaces
This tour will involve walking in multiple sites with the potential for staircases and uneven surfaces.
Half Day Tours
HD17 – Alleyways & Art: A Detroit Discovery
Detroit’s small-business scene is sure to be right up your alley – pun intended. This tour is all about discovering the D’s small business scene, starting with its most artsy alleys.
Begin your day at Parker’s Alley, tucked behind the Shinola Hotel in downtown Detroit. This unassuming haven is a favorite among Detroit photographers for its beautiful light and brick-lined paving. It’s also packed with some of the city’s most interesting small businesses. You’ll spend an engaging morning interacting with the alley’s shops and cafes. Think: a gourmet chocolate tasting, a third-wave coffee flight, a signature perfume-making workshop, and browsing a social enterprise jewelry shop.
Next up, you’ll make your way over to The Belt, which is another favorite alley among Detroiters, known as the city’s most artistic alley. This alley gets its name from being the former home of Detroit’s garment district. Today, it’s an open-air art gallery, with artwork curated by Detroit’s Library Street Collective art gallery.
Duration: TBD hours
HD18 – Art From the Heart: Discover Detroit’s Art Scene
Discover Detroit’s art scene, from past to present, on this half day tour.
Your first stop is the famed Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), which is frequently voted the #1 art museum in the country. This is one of Detroit’s most beloved museums, featuring over 65,000 artworks with the oldest pieces dating back over 6,000 years. On your guided tour you’ll discover highlights like the Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera, which take up 27 panels around the museum’s Rivera Court and highlight Detroit’s manufacturing past.
From Detroit’s oldest and most celebrated art museum, you’ll venture to one of its newest. The Shepherd, located in the East Village neighborhood, had its grand opening in 2024 but is already an important part of Detroit’s artistic community. Notably, this unique art center is located within a transformed 110-year-old Romanesque-style church. The former church altar is now a performance space, confessionals are reading booths, and the walls are lined in groundbreaking artwork. Alongside the artwork on display, you can also explore the Black Art Library, which is an archive to Black creativity, and Legacy Park, a 3.5 acre green space with large 3D sculptures.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Level: Level 1 – Light walking
This tour involves visiting two museums, with light indoor walking.
HD19 – Discover Detroit’s Island Gem: Belle Isle Half-Day Tour
Did you know that in the heart of the Detroit River sits a 985-acre island park? Meet Belle Isle, one of Detroit’s most beloved destinations for nature, views, gardens, culture, and history. Just a stone’s throw from downtown Detroit, it offers a respite from the city with panoramic views over both downtown Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Belle Isle Park was designed in the 1880s by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York City’s Central Park. You’ll find another NYC connection in Belle Isle’s Oudolf Garden. This stunning 3-acre naturalistic garden was designed in 2021 by Piet Oudolf, who’s also behind NYC’s Highline Gardens.
During your explorations of this special island, you’ll have the opportunity to visit attractions like the Belle Isle Aquarium, which is one of the oldest aquariums in the country. The Dossin Great Lakes Museum will provide context to Detroit’s maritime history and the grandeur of the Great Lakes. And at Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, view exotic plants at the United States’ longest continually operating botanical garden.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking, uneven surfaces
This tour involves exploring an island park, conservatory, and multiple museums. There will be moderate walking with potential for uneven surfaces.
HD20 – Detroit River Serenity: Kayak Tour
Yes, Detroit is a major city, but did you know it’s also an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts? This half-day tour is ideal for urban adventurers who want to get out on the water and see Detroit from a new perspective. Today you’ll paddle your way around Detroit on a 90-minute guided kayak tour.
The Detroit River is integral to the Detroit story, from shipping and trade routes to supporting fish and wildlife habitats. But perhaps the city’s best hidden gem is the historic canals, a series of waterways that diverge from the Detroit River and weave through the charming Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood. Discover both the river and canals on your kayaking tour, followed by lunch at one of Detroit’s newest riverfront parks.
Duration: 4 hours
Level: Level 4 – Kayaking on a river that can have strong currents at times
This tour involves and 90-minute guided kayaking tour and a stop for lunch. Attendees should be capable of kayaking on a river that can have strong currents at times.
HD21 – Half Day Detroit History Tour Henry Ford Museum
On this family-friendly day out, you’ll explore The Henry Ford – a unique collection of three attractions in metro Detroit that transform American history into tangible experiences. Henry Ford was the automotive legend who founded Ford Motor Company in Detroit, and revolutionized assembly line production. Each of these attractions nods, in some way, to America’s inventors and creators past and present.
You’ll have time today to visit two out of three attractions, starting with the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. This museum began in the 1920s as Henry Ford’s personal collection of historic artifacts, and has evolved into an astoundingly large 12-acre campus (Henry Ford did not like the idea of storage rooms, preferring all items to be on display). Stop by exhibits dedicated to airplanes, automobiles, trains, and more. You’ll get a chance to see unique artifacts like the chair Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in, and even step inside the bus where Rosa Park took her stand.
Later on, your group will visit Greenfield Village. This 80-acre historical village was designed to immerse you into American work and life in the 1700s-1900s. Walk streets lined in real, relocated historic buildings. Ride in a Model T vehicle or steam locomotive. Explore working farms, eat in a tavern, and discover the workshops of Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers. From grown-up history lovers to children, there is truly something here for everyone.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Level: Level 2 – Walking focused
This tour involves exploring the large Henry Ford museum and Greenfield Village, with potential uneven surfaces.
HD22 – From Motown to Aretha: A Detroit Music Journey
Every year, thousands of music fans flock to Detroit. Detroit is synonymous with Motown. It was also home to Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. From the annual Movement Music Festival (one of the world’s longest-running electronic dance music events) to the beloved Detroit Jazz Festival, there’s no doubt that music is essential to the spirit of Detroit.
On today’s half-day tour, you’ll visit two iconic sites: the Motown Museum, where the legendary Motown sound was born, and The Rose Estate, home of Aretha Franklin.
Begin your day with a 90-minute guided tour of the Motown Museum, where record label founder Berry Gordy recorded artists like the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and more. You’ll be touched by the depth of history in this humble blue-and-white house, and intrigued to learn about the ongoing expansion project that aims to create a full museum campus for the Motown Museum.
After that, you’ll make your way to The Rose Estate where the legendary Detroiter, Aretha Franklin, once called home. There’s a fascinating backstory behind The Rose Estate: the 1927 home recently underwent a $2 million refurbishment by Detroit couple Brandon Lynum and Trevor Thomas, who now live here as their primary residence. After this refurbishment, the couple opened The Rose Estate to the public for tours only last year.
Duration: 5 hours
Level: Level 1 – Light walking, uneven surfaces, and stairs
This tour involves light walking through various spaces, primarily indoors with stairs involved in the Motown Museum tour.
HD23 – Rooted in Detroit: A Community Tour
Like many cities, Detroit has had its ups and downs. What sets Detroit apart is the fierce sense of community. In the D, neighbors care about neighbors and this is reflected from its small social enterprise businesses and urban gardens up to its most massive development projects. Today’s tour is all about embracing Detroit’s community spirit through the urban farming movement.
Start your day with Keep Growing Detroit, an organization aimed at creating a Detroit where the majority of fruits and vegetables are grown within the city limits, by residents themselves. Keep Growing Detroit supports urban farmers and home gardeners alike, supporting the estimated 2,000 urban gardens that already exist in Detroit. Learn more about the organization’s mission, and how it’s promoting social and economic development in the city, during this session.
Getting peckish after all this talk of home-grown food? Next, your group will head to Brooklyn Street Local which serves up breakfast, brunch, and lunch in the Corktown neighborhood (and don’t forget about their famous poutine!). This restaurant is dedicated to sustainability practices and sourcing ingredients from local Detroit and Michigan farms. Brooklyn Street Local is also a vital part of the community, with a long history of supporting other food entrepreneurs through pop ups, guest chefs, and non-profit donations.
Duration: 4 hours
Level: Level 3 – Moderate walking
This tour will involve walking on uneven surfaces in an urban garden setting and a stop for lunch.
HD24 – Into the Wild: Get Outdoors at the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge
The metro Detroit area is abundant in wildlife, thanks in large part to the Detroit River, an international river which runs between Michigan and Canada. Today’s tour will take you about 20 miles south of Detroit city limits to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Congress founded the refuge in 2001, after advocacy by both American and Canadian politicians.
Extending along the Detroit River and Lake Erie coasts, this refuge includes over 6,200 acres of habitat, including wetland, shoreline, marshes, islands, and more. Your visit today will consist of a relaxing hike through the refuge. Keep an eye out for bald eagles, hawks, and other wildlife!
After exploring the wildlife refuge by foot, you’ll transfer to a waterfront lunch. Enjoy your meal overlooking the Detroit River, and unwind after your morning explorations.
Duration: 4 hours
Level: Level 4 – Hiking approximately three miles
This tour involves extensive outdoor walking and a stop for lunch. Attendees should be prepared to hike approximately three miles.
HD25 – Into the Wind: Half-Day Sailboat Experience
Let’s set sail in Detroit! All aboard for a relaxing, four-hour sailboat tour of the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair with the team from Detroit Sails.
The Detroit River is a 32-mile international river bordering both Michigan and Ontario, Canada. It is essential to the region as both a trade route and habitat for native fish and wildlife. As you set sail from Detroit, your sailboat tour will pass Bell Isle, a 985-acre state park, and enter into Lake St. Clair. This 430-square-mile lake is sometimes called the “Heart of the Great Lakes,” and is set across both the United States and Canada. Along the lakefront you’ll see many marinas, homes, fishing spots, bars, and eateries – and you’re certain to pass Michiganders out enjoying their own boat days!
Your vessel for the day will be Dreamcatcher, an authentic, lovingly crafted and preserved 34-foot sailboat. Captain Kristian has been sailing Detroit for many years, and is known for his fun and informative guiding. You’ll learn about Detroit as well as the art of sailing itself, Don’t worry, you’ll also have plenty of moments to sit back and soak up the fresh lakeside air.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Level: Level 1 – Light to no activity
This boat tour involves light to no activity, however attendees should be able to enter and exit a sailboat from a dock.
HD26 – Born in Detroit: Discover Where Motor City and Motown Got its Name
Both Motown music and the motor vehicle were born in Detroit, and today is all about exploring these two beacons of Detroit creativity.
Begin your day with a guided tour of the Motown Museum, where the Motown sound was born. This humble house is where Detroiter Berry Gordy, Jr. founded the Motown record label in 1959 and recorded legends like the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, and so many more. The museum itself was founded by Gordy’s oldest sister, Esther, and remains family run today with Esther’s granddaughter, Robin Terry acting as chairwoman and CEO. Currently the museum is undergoing a $75 million expansion, so your visit will give you insight not just to the origins of Motown music, but also the transformation of this small home into a world-class museum campus.
After your exciting and interactive visit to the Motown Museum, you’ll transfer to the Ford Piquette Plant, which is the birthplace of the iconic Model T vehicle. This National Historic Landmark first opened in 1904 as the second Ford Motor Company automobile factory. This is where Henry Ford brought the Model T to life, which transformed not only the automotive industry but also vastly increased transportation available to everyday Americans. On your guided tour you’ll see authentic and painstakingly preserved Model T vehicles, as well as previous models in Ford’s “alphabet” system.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Level: Level 1 – Light walking
This tour involves light indoor walking at two museum visits. Stairs are involved at the Motown Museum tour.