Outdoor Activities Near The Detroit Area
There are many activities to participate in the Detroit area. One example is the Grosse Pointe Parks. There are five parks available depending on if and where someone lives in the Grosse Pointes. Some outdoor activities available here are swimming, walking, playing on the playground, sports, sledding, biking, skating, fishing, and more. These parks are usually very close to where someone may live in the Grosse Pointes. Michigan is also known for its lakes. Lake Saint Clair borders Grosse Pointe. In the summer, this is a great place to go boating and swimming with friends and family. In the winter, it is a popular place for ice fishing.
There are also many great spots in Detroit to participate in outdoor activities. Belle Isle in Detroit offers walking, fishing, picnicking, playgrounds, biking, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Another place for outdoor activities is the Detroit Riverwalk. Here, people can walk along the river and fish. During the warmer days, Chene Park is a great place to go for entertainment. There is an outdoor theater where artists perform. Another place to visit is the Cullen Plaza. There is a popular carousel, a playground, playful fountains, bike rentals, Diamond Jack River’s tour, and lush fountains. Another park is Gabriel Richard Park which is located East of Belle Isle. This park has lush landscaping, a fountain, butterfly gardens, a labyrinth, and fishing outlooks. A large urban state park in Detroit is William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. This is 31 acres of green location in the midst of downtown Detroit. There are many picnic areas available and fishing spots. There is a wetlands demonstration area that shows how wetlands work. There is also a 63 foot light tower that marks the entrance of the harbor. Within this park is The Outdoor Adventure Center building where people sign up for fun hands-on classes about learning and experiencing the outdoors. Some examples are camping 101, let’s go fishing, and nature journaling (The Riverfront, n.d.). Campus Martius is also a great park to visit. Here, there are 2.5 acres of green space with ice skating in the winter. A great park for walking is Rogue Park. This park is located on Detroit’s far Westside and is 1,100 acres. It has seven miles of trails, 15 acres of restored prairie, a butterfly garden, and three Olympic sized swimming pools. Lastly, Beacon Park is a great gathering space. They offer many different events. Some include free yoga and cycling classes, volleyball leagues, food trucks, festivals, and markets (Amy Ervin, 2019).
There are even more great locations to participate in outdoor activities near Grosse Pointe and Detroit. Another park to participate in outdoor activities is Stoney Creek Metropark. There are 4,461 acres of land. There is a lake people can swim in or boat on during the summer. In the park, people can also fish, walk, hike, sled, cross country skiing, snowshoe, picnic, and grill. People can also play sports such as golf, baseball, volleyball, and basketball (Shelby Twp Park (MI) : Stony Creek Metropark, n.d.). There are also some apple orchards nearby such as Blake’s and Big Red, so during the fall people can have fun picking apples. Another park nearby is River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Michigan. This is a park with lots of history. This park preserves, commemorates, and interprets the battles that occurred in 1813 for the War of 1812 and their aftermath in Monroe and Wayne County. River Raisin offers many special events. For example, on January 18th there will be the 207th-anniversary commemoration battles of the River Raisin. River Raisin is the closest National Park in Michigan to Detroit. It is less than an hour away. Some trails at River Raisin National Battlefield Park are the 0.6 mile Battlefield loop that is paved, the Mason Run Loop Trail (1.0 miles), and the Heritage Trail which has eight miles of paved hike-bike trails (Michigan (U.S. National Park Service), n.d.).
