Summer is a great time to pack up the car, pack up the family and hit the road. And since the journey is just as important as the destination lets have a wonderful journey to Toronto, Canada and Detroit, Michigan. There we can see not only the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers but also some great attractions. Remember to pack your passports!
Let’s start this road trip in Toronto. To get the lay of the land, catch a bird’s-eye view from one of the observation decks at the CN Tower. A standout among Toronto’s beautiful skyline, the 1,815-foot CN Tower is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The Blue Jays make up Toronto’s Major League Baseball team, and the Rogers Centre downtown is where they play their home games. Catch the action by the waterfront where they play their home games, and be sure not to miss out on a hot dog and a beer while cheering on the only Canadian team in the league.
As part of the journey, get a taste for authentic Torontonian suds by sampling some beer in the historic Distillery District. Back in the early 1800s, this waterfront neighborhood was home to Canada’s largest distilling company, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery. Today, this historic pedestrian-only neighborhood overflows with art galleries, performance spaces, cafes, restaurants and a brewery.
Harbourfront Centre is situated along the banks of Lake Ontario. This 10-acre attraction has transformed from a derelict shipping terminal to an upscale neighborhood bustling with hundreds of things to do. Abandoned warehouses have been transformed into theaters and an art gallery. Harbourfront Centre makes for a perfect place for a peaceful stroll.
Another great way to spend time is to visit the historic St. Lawrence Market for the best in Canadian fare. Located in Toronto’s historic Old Town the St. Lawrence Market was constructed in the 17th century. Today, the market sells items from gourmet cured meats on one end to handcrafted jewelry in the other. The St. Lawrence Market is often regarded as one of the best food markets in the world by foodie experts.
All trips to Toronto need to include a dose of hockey. You can get your fix at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Covering 65,000 square feet of space, this site is a goldmine of paraphernalia, with exhibits including the original Stanley Cup. While you’re here, check out the reproduction of the Montreal Canadiens’ locker room and the Puck Wall, which displays more than 1,000 pucks that were each collected from different tournaments around the world.
The Toronto Zoo will be a hit with the family. This sprawling facility is one of the largest zoos in the world with more than 6 miles of walking trails spread over 700 acres. With 5,000 animals (representing more than 450 species) calling this place home, there is tons to see.
Certainly, no trip to Toronto is complete without visiting Niagara Falls. Close to 750,000 gallons of water per second hurtle over the largest falls in North America, and Niagara Falls lives up to the hype. Take in the view from the top – the Table Rock site allows you to stand barely a meter from the edge of Horseshoe Falls. You can also head into the falls with the Journey Behind the Falls, descending 38 meters through solid rock in a lift to stand next to the curtain of water.
After a great game at Rogers Centre, it’s time to head to Detroit. Whether you’re a sports fan, a foodie, an amateur historian or an architecture buff, you’ll find something to capture your attention.
Comerica Park– home field for the Detroit Tigers – is a beautiful park. Enjoy some of the park’s more unusual attractions, including a carousel, a 50-foot Ferris wheel, a beer hall, a food court, plus a center field water feature that’s synchronized to music.
One of the most anticipated stops is a visit to the Motown Museum. An entire sound was born in the space of this small Detroit home. A blue and white sign, reading “Hitsville U.S.A,” hangs above the painted building. And with gold records by the Supremes, the Temptations and the Jackson 5, this former Motown recording studio became a hit-making machine from 1959 to 1972. The interior has been left much the same from those magic music-making days, but there are also instruments, costumes and more on display.
To learn more about the stories that shaped the city’s present, swing by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. This large museum, named for its founder Charles Wright, tells the story of the African American experience from the beginning of time to the presidency of Barack Obama.
Eastern Market draws history geeks and foodies alike. Open since 1891, this 43-acre district (six blocks of which are devoted to the public market) is the largest historic public market district in the United States. In 1978, the Eastern Market Historic District was added to the National Registry of Historic Places. Aside from its history, Eastern Market showcases local area farmers and merchants. Stop by during the Saturday market to see local produce and crafts before grabbing a bite to eat at one of the food trucks stationed nearby.
No trip to Detroit is complete without a visit to the Henry Ford Museum It is one of the best museums dedicated to American history and culture. A vibrant exploration of genius in all its forms, Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation allows you to experience the strides of America’s greatest minds while fully immersing yourself in their stories. Put yourself in the place of the movers and shakers who blazed the trail to where we stand today.
Enjoy the open road!