Detroit, Michigan 72-Hour Vacation

Motor City, Motown and Much More
Rolling Good Times

Riverfront Park in Windsor and Detroit Skyline

DAY 3

Start your final day with breakfast at Sweet Lorraine's Café and Bar, and prepare to soak up the city's architecture. Start by walking or driving half a mile to the colorful Guardian Building, a delight for Art Deco enthusiasts. From its tangerine-hued brick and pink granite to accents that include geometric, tiled windows and terra cotta flourishes, the circa 1929 building is a sight to behold. The interior is just as jaw-dropping: wonder at the collage of Pewabic Pottery tiles (made in Detroit) adorning the domed entryway and ornamentation influenced by Native American, Aztec and Arts and Craft styles. The building is now home to retail shops, including City Knits, the ultimate store for knitters, and Pure Detroit, which stocks all things Detroit—including purses made from seatbelts (don't laugh, they're much more stylish then they sound).

Pewabic Pottery

Next, drive down Woodward about two miles to the city's cultural complex where many of its finest museums are located. There, you'll encounter the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), a 1927 Beaux Arts-style building that underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation, reopening to acclaim in 2008. View its Norman Rockwell exhibit, followed by the Star Trek show at the Detroit Science Center just down the street. Motown lovers should peer in the Motown Historical Museum, which celebrates the city's musical heritage. If you can manage another stop, visit the hip, urban Museum of Contemporary Art Design (MOCAD), which is located in an old garage.

Return to the Greektown area for lunch at Fishbone's Rhythm Kitchen Café, where Cajun specialties dot the menu.

Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts

Whether or not you have children in tow, the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, about two miles north of the city limits on Woodward, is a must-stop. Ride the Tauber Family Railroad, which has serviced nearly half a million passengers annually since 1931. And do visit the polar bears at the Arctic Ring of Life, a $14.9 million, interactive facility encompassing more than four acres of outdoor and indoor exhibits. Besides showcasing a variety of fauna and flora, the exhibit also explores the relationship between Inuits and wildlife.

Finally, consider a walking tour with Preservation Wayne, or cruise down the Detroit River on Diamond Jack Cruises. Of course, you could always keep things low-key: Just grab a beer and watch a game (with a major league baseball, football, hockey and basketball team there's always a Detroit team playing) at the Detroit Beer Company. Seasonal brews are on the menu, along with staples like Detroit Lager, Steam Tunnel Stout and People Mover Porter. On a sunny day, enjoy your brewski outside.

On your way out of town, try to stop at brew-centric Zingerman's Roadhouse, which is situated right off of Interstate 94 in Ann Arbor. And—whatever you do—make plans to come back to Detroit real soon.

For more information, contact the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-DETROIT, www.visitdetroit.com.