THESE ARE THE TOP Five cities in michIGAN!!!
Detroit is king. And it’s not even close.
I asked our staff at Woodward Sports what their five favorite Michigan cities were and Detroit with its ballparks, watering holes and restaurants won in a landslide over second place Grand Rapids with its minor league ballparks, microbrews and open spaces.
Detroit is about to get even better when Cosm opens near Campus Martius in the fall. One of the highlights of Cosm is its 87-foot screen where fans can enjoy Lions, Tigers and Red Wings games as if they were in the arena.
Here are the top five Michigan cities in a poll of our Woodward crew. Two cities were head and shoulders above the rest. Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Royal Oak and Munising tied for third.
- Detroit (population 649.100): The neighborhoods are still a mess. Downtown Detroit is not. The New York Times listed Detroit as a go-to spot for its readers. Folks from Philadelphia recently sent out a text that said its four professional sports teams are the only ones that play within a mile of each other. Did no one check out Detroit? Ford Field (Lions), Comerica Park (Tigers) and Little Caesars Arena (Pistons and Red Wings) are within blocks of each other. My favorite haunts are Eastern Market on a Saturday, East African restaurant Baobab Fare, sandwich hotspot Madgie’s and Detroit City Distillery.
- GRAND RAPIDS (202,188): On cool fall days you can sit in a downtown city park and watch the annual salmon run as they leap up a make-shift water fall in the Grand River. This city is also full of culture and beer. Founders, City Built, Vivant and Brass Ring breweries make this a top-notch beer town. The Gerald Ford presidential library is a must stop also along with the BOB which stands for Big Old Building.
- ANN ARBOR (121,651): Home to the University of Michigan and the Big House. I had the pleasure of touring Ann Arbor with former Fab Five standout Jimmy King. He took me to Graffiti Alley, Zingerman’s and some of his favorite lunch spots where owners laid out a spread for top athletes. You can also tube down the Huron River, enjoy concerts and culture while soaking in UM history and culture.
- BIRMINGHAM (21,810): The former home of Woodward Sports features a walkable downtown filled with shops, high-end restaurants, a river and waterfall. It is also home to the Birmingham Pub where I shared a few lunches and bourbons with the talented and unflappable Neal Ruhl.
- (tie) ROYAL OAK (58,358): The new home of Woodward Sports also has a walkable downtown with a smaller price tag. There are great outdoor cafes, good shopping and breweries to enjoy. Looking to check out a first-run movie? Emagine is the spot. Are you a vegetarian? Royal Oak has got you.
T-5. MUNISING (1,936) This was an upset placer. But when you look deeper maybe this Upper Peninsular vacation spot belongs. There is as much beauty here as anywhere in the state because of Pictured Rocks and 17 waterfalls. On my last trip I saw a black bear and a baby bald eagle. Pasties are a big thing here. Not the ones in the strip club. The beef or chicken ones you get in restaurants and roadside stands.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terry Foster is the self proclaimed Minister of Words with Woodward Sports and fills in on shows when folks need time off. He worked at the Detroit News and Free Press for 37 years and co-hosted the Valenti and Foster Show for 13 years at the Detroit Lions flagship.
