In 2006, Detroit was at the center of the sports universe with the hometown Tigers in the World Series and Ford Field serving as the host site of Super Bowl XL. But even without those big-ticket events, the Motor City offers plenty of reasons for you to roll into town this spring and summer.
In the heart of Detroit, you'll find Greektown, a downtown district that always seems to offer a festival-like atmosphere. Filled with a nice variety of restaurants and pubs, it's safe to say you'll have no problem finding an authentic Greek gyro and a cold drink to wash it down. One of Greektown's most popular dining destinations, though, features an all-American favorite — pizza. With its Chicago-style deep-dish delights, PizzaPapalis packs 'em in daily.
The jewel of the district is the 75,000-square-foot Greektown Casino, which is home to 2,400 slot machines and more than 80 table games. When you're ready to give the one-armed bandits a break, you can spend your winnings consuming a savory cut at the casino's elegant Alley Grille Steakhouse.
The Tigers' home, Comerica Park, is within walking distance of Greektown or you can just hop on the city's People Mover train and exit at the Broadway Station. Head to D-town on Memorial Day weekend, when you can catch the Tigers take on the Cleveland Indians in a three-game series. Single game tickets to Tigers' games range from $5 to $65 and can be purchased at www.detroittigers.com.
If you're hungry for more casino action, Detroit doesn't disappoint. In addition to the Greektown, the MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity casinos also await your arrival. Both are comparable in size to the Greektown, with more slot machines and table games for you to bet a buck or two. If you prefer gaming with an international flair, take the quick trip across the Canadian border to Casino Windsor.