Summer Attractions & Things to Do

Overview

All four seasons are great in Michigan, but it's hard to argue that Summer is one of the best. An almost limitless number of options exist for those looking to enjoy the warm daytime temperatures and mild nights. The most public golf courses in the country, hundreds of inland lakes, and great outdoor concert venues are just a few of the highlights. Summer is a great time in Detroit!

Concerts

Detroit is the place to see a concert during the summer, offering a number of outdoor Music Venues for your enjoyment. No need to travel far, because riverfront Chene Park and Hart Plaza have cool breezes and great music all in one. Or try Campus Martius for some local entertainment in a pleasant park setting. A short drive north of the City brings you to the DTE Energy Music Theatre, metro Detroit's premier outdoor concert venue. Those that prefer a more intimate outdoor setting will enjoy the Meadow Brook Music Festival or the Jerome Duncan Amphitheatre in Freedom Hill County Park. Great music in a number of comfortable venues!

Golf

World-class golf in Detroit? You'd better believe it! Just ask the professionals who battled the laser-fast greens of prestigious Oakland Hills at the 2004 Ryder Cup. Of course, only a select few get the opportunity to play there. The good news for the rest of us mere mortals is that Michigan has plenty of other links to play. A golf course count of nearly 1,000 ranks behind that of only California and Florida. And over 700 of these are public courses, ranking first in the nation. Dozens of fine public and private courses are scattered throughout Southeastern Michigan. Check the State of Michigan website to locate a course of interest!

Parks

As Downtown Detroit Revitalization continues, green spaces are being added as quickly as brick and mortar. The recently-completed Campus Martius Park is a prime example of a well-planned combination of commercial development and park setting. However, with the exception of the beautiful and expansive Belle Isle, a short drive outside of the city to one of many area Parks is necessary if you're looking for wide open spaces. The 13 Huron-Clinton MetroParks cover over 24,000 acres along the Huron and Clinton Rivers and offer a huge variety of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, canoeing, golf, and cross-country skiing. A number of Michigan State Parks and County Parks are located in metropolitan Detroit as well. Here visitors can find great camping, swimming, and fishing along with miles of trails for both beginner and advanced hikers and mountain bikers. Summer is the best time of year to take advantage of all of these fantastic Detroit parks and recreation areas.

Riverfront

The dawn of a vibrant Riverfront is one of the most exciting initiatives under way in Detroit today. And there is no better time of year to enjoy it than during Summer. The City commands nearly 14 miles of frontage along the fascinating Detroit River, three miles of which are the focus of massive development investment. Early stages of the revitalization are complete and open to the public, with plans for future developments to include a continuous RiverWalk with green spaces, outdoor dining, children’s playscapes, art fairs, fishing areas, and historical markers. All of this and awe-inspiring views of Belle Isle, Windsor (Canada) and the occasional ocean freighter!

Water Fun

Simply put, summertime in Detroit means fun on the water! This is easily explained when you consider Michigan has over 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, over 11,000 inland lakes, and nearly a million registered boats, rivaling that of California and Florida. Detroiters take full advantage of the warm summer weather with water sport and sightseeing activities both in Downtown Detroit and across the entire Southeastern Region. Check out our Lakes Area Tour for a sampling of Detroit's more exclusive lakes!