I was thinking of taking some extra days and going some places after the show.

It doesn't look like Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio is too far away.

What other sights or things to do are there within say 2 hours of there?

I was thinking of taking some extra days and going some places after the show.

It doesn't look like Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio is too far away.

What other sights or things to do are there within say 2 hours of there?

I've been doing some research too.

Check this for starters.
http://www.visitdetroit.com/thingstodo/attractions/?_loc=/visitors/

Pizza?

RC

If you are into cars, there's Greenfield Village, or Henry Ford's mansion, Fairlane...
which are nearby in Dearborn

There's a great pizza place around there somewhere. Sally's Pizza by the Slice I think. Well worth the search.

I hope there is more then good pizza to eat :worried:

I thought I lived in the pizza capital. I swear there is a pizza place every 2 miles it seems, where I live. Recently, I saw a place that sells Mexican and pizza. What is up with that?? The owners name is Pedro Gambino ( just kidding)

The Ford museum would be cool. I will also check out that visitors site.

Keep the suggestions coming -thanks

There are some great museums in Detroit; a short drive away. Windsor is across the river in Canada. Beautiful town to walk around. As above, some great pizza there also, but I can't remember the name.

It depends on what you're interested in, I'll 2nd The Henry Ford museum, but you really need to devote some time to something like that. The Detroit Institute of Arts, and Science centers are stellar, as well as the Cranbrook museum. I'm planning on bringing Modge to "Hitsville USA" if he returns next year. It's only a half hour/45 min drive from the hotel. Anyone interested is invited along.

http://www.recordingeq.com/2006motown/06motown24.html

Steve

The Detroit Institute of Arts recently underwent a restoration. It's one of the finest in the world, and they allow you to get up close to all sorts of masterpieces. Kind of scary, actually. Last year a kid stuck a wad of gum on a Monet. http://www.dia.org

If you want to catch some REAL Detroit jazz - Baker's Keyboard Lounge is the place to go. All the jazz greats have played there- and you won't find a better jazz club or a finer audience. People of all races and ages hang out and have a great time. It's a wonderful place to visit - and they serve a heck of catfish, too. Their website lists a calender of events. http://www.bakerskeyboardlounge.com

The Motown Museum is really special, too. It's a couple of houses that founder Barry Gordy had bought and turned into the studios for recording all those Motown hits. Kind of a dodgy area for out-of-towners, but just use the parking lot next door and you'll be fine. Very quaint tour, and an amazing story and piece of audio history. Check their website, and then call before heading over there - they're not open all the time.
http://www.motownmuseum.com

Downtown Detroit has some casinos as well - if you're a gambling man. Or, if you just want a fantastic all-you-can-eat buffet, the MGM casino's offering has some of the finest food I have ever had in a restaurant. Really.

There are many, many things to do in the Detroit area. It doesn't seem likely, but Detroit is a great place to visit.
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The Henry Ford Museum should not be missed. It'll take you the better part of a day and some sore feet to see everything but it's well worth it. Greenfield Village is right next door and another fun place to spend the day. The craftsman were willing to talk about their work and it was very interesting...and there were horses and other farm animals which I enjoyed seeing...and Thomas Edison's workshop and...

Go to downtown Detroit - and take the Megabus to Chicago.

Go to downtown Detroit - and take the Megabus to Chicago.

Oh come on now! I actually met a couple this Spring who came to Detroit from upstate NY for the Red Bull Air Races - and they fell in love with the area. They wished they had more time, and planned on coming back within the next few months to see everything they missed. The wife even talked about moving here!

Everyone's hometown is boring, Drknstrmyknight (and I grew up in Mt. Clemens!) - but the Detroit area truly has a lot of things that are interesting to out-of-towners.

There are concerts almost every night of the week in Detroit. Even a Smooth Jazz riverboat Dinner/Jazz Cruise (http://www.wvmv.com/Alexander-Zonjic-s-Smooth-Jazz-Cruise-2008/2478528) every Tuesday..

As mentioned, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (http://www.hfmgv.org/) is incredible!

Cedar Point (http://www.cedarpoint.com/) is about 2.25 Hours away from Detroit by car. It is probably the TOP amusement park in the world for roller coasters.

Mackinac Island (http://www.mackinacisland.org/) is really cool too.

On the way to/from Detroit, you'll pass right by Niagara Falls, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

On the West Coast of Michigan there are several really nice towns to visit as well.. Saugatuck (http://www.saugatuck.com/index.asp), Charlevoix (http://www.charlevoix.org/), Harbor Springs (http://www.harborspringschamber.com/) and several other towns.. The Sand Dunes are on the west coast too..

Frankenmuth (http://www.frankenmuth.org/), which is a old world Bavarian village is also a pretty cool place to visit.

There are some world class golf courses if you like that too.. I love http://www.treetops.com/index.php?method=golf"]Tree Tops (http://www.treetops.com/index.php?method=golf) and Garland (http://www.garlandusa.com/)

Michigan is a GREAT state to visit.. There is a lot to do and see, the parks and lakes are great, there's many distractions and right now, with the economy the way it is in Michigan.. everyone is cutting deals.. Never accept the first quoted price on a hotel room!

I could go on and on... Connecticut is really nice, but you could fall in love with Michigan too...

Well said, Cosmos!

As much as I deplore the state of affairs economically, I still see Michigan and the Detroit area as unique destinations and definitely worth exploring. I have been many, many places in this world - but I choose to live here.

In the immediate Metro Detroit area, any corner bar has some of the finest musicians you will ever hear. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra ranks among the best in the world. All of us that live here take it for granted - but don't expect to hear this level of musicianship in any other city in the world.

And don't even get me started on the little retreats you can make Up North...

There are endless short trips in this area. I have traveled for work extensively and in the process I have seen many places... Michigan is a damn fine place to live.

You are spot on regarding the economy. However, the current situation is not exclusive to this area. We have just been hit pretty hard and it could get significantly worse...

Cedar Point usually doesn't open up till Mid May. Not sure when the fest is. If you like shopping there's 12 Oaks Mall, Great Lakes Crossing Mall, Frankenmuth, Henry Ford Museum with the large IMAX screen. Plenty to do for sure.... I think Henry Ford now has a Auto Racing Hall of Fame there now.

If Cedar Point is open, it's well worth the visit - a real roller coaster park that can't be beat - been rated best in the world over the years. If you're driving through Toledo, the city has a great art museum (I've not been to Detroit's, and wouldn't want to compare the two here anyhow). It's right of I-75 as well. A Hungarian hot dog at Tony Packo's is a great way to tide yourself over on the drive (just off I-280).

heck, that time of year we even do a little fishing in these parts. detroit river is less than a hour away...

heck, that time of year we even do a little fishing in these parts. detroit river is less than a hour away...

HOLY COW!!! I thought only catfish lurked down in there.

I heard that the Detroit River is cleaner than it's been in a hundred years. And that was on Public Radio, so it must be true!

But great catch there, Perchdog, did you eat it?

heck no !!!!!
that is a musky that was caught in 3rd week of may. those fish are not edible and actually we fish for walleye that time of year. it is not me in photo but a really good friend of mine. that fish was a mistake, taken in front of ren cen. that is just up stream from jla...i think we need to mention that a hockey game might be a good way to do time in detroit. i believe we do have a team that does a little above average...

also less than a hour away. lol

If you're inclined to bring your war clubs, there are a couple of golf courses that are almost within spitting distance of the hotel. They are both municipal courses, but they are petty nice, and relatively inexpensive:

http://www.golflivonia.com/

Fox Creek is due east from the hotel on 7 Mile Road, only about a mile or so away. They also have a nice restaurant and bar there that you can wash away a bad game over your favorite adult beverage.

Whispering Willows is north east of the hotel on Eight Mile and Newburgh Road.

I second the motion for hockey - watching a Wings game is a fantastic experience at The Joe. Just make sure you pre-party so you don't spend a wad of cash on too many $9 beers.

Come to Ann Arbor and hang out. 20 minutes away, with a walkable downtown with lots of shops and restaurants including 2 good brewpubs. A good record shop too, called Encore (http://www.encorerecordings.com/).

I once had a girlfriend from Livonia. She was QUITE interesting, but I think she has since moved west. You could always drive down to Toledo, Ohio, for lunch at the Polish restaurant that was always mentioned in the TV show MASH. I ate there once and the food was pretty good.

heck no !!!!!
that is a musky that was caught in 3rd week of may. those fish are not edible and actually we fish for walleye that time of year. it is not me in photo but a really good friend of mine. that fish was a mistake, taken in front of ren cen. that is just up stream from jla...i think we need to mention that a hockey game might be a good way to do time in detroit. i believe we do have a team that does a little above average...

Actually Muskie are VERY edible!!! They are some of the finest eating fresh water fish you can have = a very fine and delicate flavor.

There's the absolutely worst Thai food I've ever eaten. Ghastly. Like a bad movie, sometimes that's work an experience.

well i am not as much a fish eater as i am a fish catcher. everyone i know (and i am into local fishing scene) catches them for either photo opportunity or to weigh in at tournament. very few of these fish are taken which really hurts our other fisheries on st claire. if i am going to eat fish i may try to choke down some walleye or scarf down my personal favorite..... ummm yellow belly perch.
this is my preference, and do not mean any offense...

ps, we started jiggin those pups last fall on the detroit river. we use 10 inch soft plastic bait weighted with about a pound of lead. i cannot even begin to explain the rush when you hook one 12-20 feet directly under your feet. i have heard it called the crack cocain of fishing, after that first strike you will do anything for another...been there, done it, live it !!!!!!!!!!

I once had a girlfriend from Livonia. She was QUITE interesting, but I think she has since moved west. You could always drive down to Toledo, Ohio, for lunch at the Polish restaurant that was always mentioned in the TV show MASH. I ate there once and the food was pretty good.

There's no need to leave the state for Polish food!

There's a town called Hamtramck, surrounded, landlocked, I say, on all sides by Detroit.

There are more Polish speaking people in Hamtramck than in Warsaw, or so I am told....

You can get the most delicious Polish food you will ever eat in Hamtramck.

Nearby is the Polish Yacht Club, aka The Ivanhoe Cafe:

"The Ivanhoe Cafe was founded in Poletown by Stanislaus Grendzinski in 1909. It is the second oldest restaurant in Detroit. (The oldest is the Roma Cafe in Detroit's Eastern Market.) Most people refer to the Ivanhoe as the Polish Yacht Club."

http://hubpages.com/hub/Good_Friday_Perch_Lunch_at_the_Polish_Yacht_Club__ deedsphotos

And don't forget: you can drive downriver to Wyandotte for muskrat platters!

You could also drive up to Frankenmuth if you want some good German food, Bronner's is kind of neat if you're looking for Christmas stuff too.

Detroit has lots of concerts too, check out http://www.livenation.com/ for shows in the area.

It's funny how everybody bashes Michigan but I've lived here most of my life and still like it.

I once had a girlfriend from Livonia. She was QUITE interesting, but I think she has since moved west. You could always drive down to Toledo, Ohio, for lunch at the Polish restaurant that was always mentioned in the TV show MASH. I ate there once and the food was pretty good.
Your right, that place isnt half bad :yes:

I was in Detroit this spring. I'd enthusiastically recommend the Art Institute, great collection! And by all means check out Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Livonia. It's a blast!

I was in Detroit this spring. I'd enthusiastically recommend the Art Institute, great collection! And by all means check out Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Livonia. It's a blast!

Its actually in Farmington Hills, but only about 10 minutes or so from the Fest hotel.

While in Livonia -you could swing into Detroit and watch them FRY our dumb ass Mayor-Kwame Kilpatrick.:banana:
That would be a show in itself .........

I'm James Stewart (JHS2RT) ---and I approve this message.

I was in Detroit this spring. I'd enthusiastically recommend the Art Institute, great collection! And by all means check out Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Livonia. It's a blast!

Dang, I did not know about Marvin's, and I used to work in Livonia!

While we are on the subject of ethnic food, Greek Town in Detroit is world famous for - of all things - Greek food. I had an incredible lamb shank dinner at The Parthenon. The meat just about melts right in your mouth! You can take the People Mover right to Greek Town before or after a hockey game. For a great low-key lunch, try Louie's Coney in Livoni at the Laurel Park Mall (assuming it's still there. It's been a while. Really great dogs and grilled chicken greek salads. Also my favorite Thai food (and I've had Thai food everywhere between Germany and Orange County, CA) is in Sterling Heights. Not quite as far as Toledo, but still a bit off the beaten path.

Someone knowledgeable should come up with a list of nearby record (vinyl) stores. I know of Dr Disc in downtown Windsor...

There are a few used record/CD places here in/around downtown Ann Arbor. PJ's, Wazoo, Encore. Never been to PJ's, plan on getting there sometime. Wazoo is fairly small and the help was somewhat rude the last time I was there, but hey, it's a record store. Encore seems fairly large in my limited realm of comparison - two or three listening stations, fairly diverse selection with an array of genres.

Record Collector (Ferndale), Record Time (Roseville), Melodies and Memories (Eastpointe), Street Corner Music (Beverly Hills), and Peoples Records (Detroit), just to name a few.

They all have great selections of vinyl. Google for directions and more info.

Thanks Kuma, a few on that list I wasn't aware of. I'll have to do a bit of driving when I have a free Saturday (which should hopefully be sometime this decade).

Thanks Kuma, a few on that list I wasn't aware of. I'll have to do a bit of driving when I have a free Saturday (which should hopefully be sometime this decade).

I left Melodies and Memories after 2 hours and had barely scraped the surface - so you may need more than one free Saturday!

I once had a girlfriend from Livonia. She was QUITE interesting, but I think she has since moved west. You could always drive down to Toledo, Ohio, for lunch at the Polish restaurant that was always mentioned in the TV show MASH. I ate there once and the food was pretty good.

It's a great spot - Tony Packo's. Been there since the depression and has excellent Hungarian (not Polish) food. The Front St. location, right off I-280, is the original. http://www.tonypackos.com/index.php Lots of great memories there as a kid drinking pitchers of Stroh's beer, listening to the Dixieland Jazz band that used to play there with a gang of friends.

never been to packo's but will one of these days. looking through their website i noticed they take great pride in making pickles. the market i shop carries them, the sweet hots are awesome :yes:

Flipside records in Clawson has great selection of used records & tapes. While in the area check out Royal-Oak plenty of great restaurants for your dining pleasure. Also that puts you 10 mins. from the Zoo, 20 mins. to Downtown Det., 30 mins fom Henry Ford Museum. Great area, Great State , Find anything you want except a JOB. LOL

Well - can always hit the Henry Ford Museum and have some fine Middle Eastern food!!!

Now that's funny, sad but funny!!!!!

http://akfest.com/local_guide.html

http://akfest.com/local_guide.html

Wow.

Do you guys really think you'll have time what with all the audio???


There is the worlds worst Thai food about a mile south. Nice digs, bad food.

I'll second, third or twenty-seventh Tony Packos as a definite must eat destination.

Even if not at the original location, it's been good at the other places so far for me, that's why I like it - consistently good food. I cannot say the same about other places from expensive to the usual fast food places. Packos has always been good.

The Toledo Museum of Art is well regarded and it now has a neat Glass building. It's worth a look.

http://www.toledomuseum.org/

Glass Pavilion...

http://www.toledomuseum.org/Visit_GlassPavilion.htm

Oh, the Toledo Zoo is also very well regarded as well.

I hear it's actually a darn good Zoo coming from friends/family/random people I've talked to that have been to the supposed better or "good" ones around the US/world. Their site claims it is one of the nations best zoos.

http://www.toledozoo.org/

It'll be warm so it's cool to see the africa whatever exhibit and see a big funky looking supposed bird thing napping next to one of them scary bitey things with teef that swim/lurk in the water. Funky Bird, Bitey Thing...scientific names I'm sure.


There's probably more stuff I'm forgetting...


http://www.toledo.com/index.php




http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/coasters/millennium_force/index.cfm


You can even watch a video of that ride, and most of the others too.



Libbey Glass

You may have heard of them...

They have a factory outlet - for those into shopping.


Toledo is The Glass City ya know(maybe you didn't, but you do now).



There's also Put-In-Bay

http://www.putinbay.com/

World's longest bar...

http://www.beerbarrelpib.com/aboutus.htm

Toledo would be an interesting visit, but it is an hour away. After Bangkok Quisine, I'd check out the attractions link that onepixel just posted. Then, given a lot of spare time, maybe cruise around Toledo and hit Tony's.

I plan to be down there in a couple days. (I'm kickin' back up by Traverse City right now). Maybe even tomorrow. Too bad AK Fests don't coincide with the holidays, or I'd be there as well!

If you're into all things Mopar and bought up variants through the years,visit the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills. I've seen lots of photos but need to make the time to visit! And National Coney Island Hot Dogs are the best and are located all over the Detroit area!

Some places that weren't mentioned are Shields (various locations) for pizza, The Green Lantern (pizza and libations) in Madison Heights, BD Mongolian Barbeque (oriental & bbq) and Memphis Smoke (bbq & blues) both in Royal Oak, The Ark in Ann Arbor (music), Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit, and Mexican Village and Xochimilco for mexican food both in Detroit, Seldom Blues (jazz) at the RenCen. Also the Detroit Tigers have a home stand against the Cleveland Indians on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Gary

I still love Buddy's Pizza, their Hawiian is to die for!!

Buddy's Pizza (http://www.buddyspizza.com/)

http://www.buddyspizza.com/logo-small.gif