Detroit

Car lovers will appreciate this neighborhood that’s just a short drive from downtown Detroit. Although technically its own city, Dearborn’s rich automotive history makes it feel like an extension of Detroit. The area is known as Henry Ford’s hometown — it was the site of the Ford River Rouge Plant and later became the company’s world headquarters. Today, this city is home to the largest population of Arab Americans in the United States. Don’t miss a visit to the Arab American National Museum, which sponsors food tours highlighting locally owned restaurants.

Midtown is crammed with students, artists and young professionals who frequent the neighborhood's museums, dive bars, restaurants and art galleries, making the district an epicenter of good times and creative energy.

Anchored by a huge 19th-century marketplace selling everything from food to crafts, Eastern Market is worth your time, even if you don’t feel like shopping. The district is home to some nice bars and restaurants and the awesome Dequindre Cut, a 2-mile-long, car-free paved pathway for bikers and pedestrians.

Named for its once-large Irish population, Corktown is today one of the hippest (and fastest-changing) neighborhoods in Detroit. Michigan Central Station is the axis which everything revolves around, but there are many not-to-miss spots here, including one of the largest bookshops in the United States and a ton of great bars.