Metro Detroit is an area with a rich history and legacy. Known as the Motor City, Detroit is home to the big three American auto makers and was the birthplace of the automobile. The city has seen tough times for several decades, yet remains the home of several cultural gems. The surrounding suburbs are lovely, many even affluent, and also play host to cultural attractions for families.
The Detroit Science Center opened in downtown in 1978, following a donation from the Ferry family to build a science center in the city. The center has permanent exhibits for all ages. A children's hands-on area hosts exhibits on topics like space and the solar system, the human body, robotics and even a small, 80-foot replica of the Mackinac Bridge, which connect the two peninsulas in northern Michigan. Kids' Town is an area of exhibits and activities for children under 5, and the whole family will love the giant Imax Dome Theatre, which shows amazing 3-D movies, as well as the planetarium and other live shows and demonstrations. The Science Center is open Wednesday through Sunday during the winter months, and seven days a week during summer.
The Detroit Institute of Arts, or DIA as its known around town, is one of the truly treasured cultural gems of downtown. Located across from the historic public library, the white, pillared building houses art pieces by some of the world's most celebrated artists. The first painting was acquired by the DIA in 1883, and the collection is now more that 60,000 pieces. Art from every continent and age is represented, including pieces by masters such as Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Degas, Gougin and Picasso, to name only a few. In addition to the permanent collection and traveling exhibits, there are classes for children and adults. Other family activities include family tours and art-making workshops.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are located in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, the world headquarters of Ford Motor Company. Dearborn is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Detroit. The museum is dedicated not only to the automobile and to Ford himself, but to inventors throughout American history. People like George Washington Carver and the Wright brothers are celebrated, and the museum also houses items belonging to presidents. Greenfield Village, adjacent to the museum, is a working village from the mid-1800s. Costumed villagers will lead the whole family through over 80 structures, including Edison's workshop, one-room schoolhouses and blacksmith shops. The museum is open daily, year-round, while Greenfield Village is outdoors and only open April through November.
The Detroit Zoo serves all of Metro Detroit, and is located in Royal Oak, about 10 minutes north of the city. The zoo is Michigan's largest family attraction and sees over a million visitors annually. It spans 125 acres and includes permanent exhibits of over 1,500 animals. Some of the zoo's best known exhibits include the glass-enclosed Butterfly House, the Penguinarium and the Arctic Ring of Life. This exhibit is home to seals and polar bears and is both above ground and underground, allowing visitors to walk through a glass tunnel under a pool, in which the bears swim directly overhead. Families may also ride the railroad throughout the zoo and watch movies in the 3-D/4-D Wild Adventure Theatre.
