So you planned a weekend in Detroit, packed your favorite outfits, made a list of places you wanted to see and then it started raining.
It happens.
And honestly, I don't think rain means you have to give up on your plans. Some of my favorite days in Detroit have been slower rainy days where I grab a coffee, wander around a neighborhood, find somewhere new to eat and eventually head home and get cozy.
I'm Hope, the Operations Coordinator at Great Stays, and I live in Detroit. Since I spend my days working behind the scenes to make sure our properties are ready for guests I also spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a stay feel comfortable and personal.
So if you're staying with Great Stays and wake up to a rainy day I have a few ideas for you.
Start Your Day in Corktown
First things first. Sleep in a little.
You're on a vacation!
Once you're ready to get out of the house I would head to Corktown for coffee and breakfast.
Haraz Coffee House is a great place to start. They have Middle Eastern inspired coffee, pastries and a really cozy atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can sit for a while instead of grabbing your coffee and immediately rushing off to the next thing.
Another place I really like is Sip N Read. It's a book bar where you can browse books while enjoying a drink. I love recommending places like this because they feel a little more like a local discovery than a typical tourist stop. Plus I have been an avid reader since I was a kid.
You can grab a book, find a seat and just hang out for a bit.
Sometimes that is the whole plan.
Spend the Afternoon in West Village
If you want to explore a neighborhood that you might not find on every Detroit tourist list, head over to West Village.
I always tell people to grab coffee (if you haven’t already) at The Red Hook then browse around Van Dyke Books. If you have a sweet tooth, stop at Sister Pie and grab something to take with you. When you're ready for lunch, Norm's is a great neighborhood spot (I always sit at the bar and order a burrito here).
The nice thing about a rainy day is that you don't have to rush through any of it.
Duck into a shop when it starts pouring. Find a fun shop and stay a little longer. Take your time with lunch. There are so many hidden gems here.
And if you brought your dog with you, check out Barkside Detroit. It's a dog friendly spot in West Village where you can grab a drink while your dog gets some energy out. This place is too cute.
These are the spots that I like sharing with guests because you get to see a side of Detroit that feels a little more local.
Go To Belle Isle
This one might sound strange because I'm sending you to an island when it's raining.
But hear me out.
Grab an umbrella for the walk from the parking lot and go to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle.
Once you're inside the conservatory you're surrounded by tropical plants and warm humid air. It honestly feels like you've left Detroit for a little while.
It's especially nice on a gray day when you want to get out and see something beautiful but don't necessarily want to spend your entire afternoon inside a museum.
If the rain lets up you can explore a little bit of Belle Isle too.
Stay Home and Have a Movie Day
Now for one of my favorite rainy day activities.
Do nothing.
I know you came to Detroit to explore but you don't have to be out all day every day. That's one of the things I love about staying in a short term rental instead of a traditional hotel.
You actually have somewhere comfortable to hang out.
All Great Stays units have smart TVs so you can sign into your favorite streaming services and put on a movie. Many of our properties also have reading material and some have family board games.
Grab some local takeout. Put on sweatpants. Make some coffee. Pick up a book. Play a board game.
Just enjoy the space you're staying in.
I think people sometimes forget that staying somewhere nice can be part of the vacation too.
A rainy night with good food and a movie might end up being one of your favorite memories from the trip.
Get Dessert
I don't really think you need an explanation for this one.
It's raining. Get dessert.
If you're in Corktown you can find something sweet to go with your coffee. Momento Gelato & Coffee is another great option if you're looking for gelato and coffee and somewhere to sit for a while.
If you're near downtown and the rain has you looking for somewhere warm, make a stop at Cannelle near Capitol Park. The pastries are beautiful and there is always something that catches my eye. Cannelle has everything from macarons and éclairs to more elaborate pastries and their signature canelés.
You don't need a special occasion for dessert when you're on vacation.
The rain is enough of an excuse for me.
Go See a Movie That Isn't at a Regular Movie Theater
If you want to get out of your rental but still want a movie night check out the Detroit Film Theatre inside the Detroit Institute of Arts.
They show independent films, international films, documentaries, classics and other films you probably won't find at your average movie theater.
It's a fun option for a rainy afternoon or a date night and you can always grab dinner afterward.
Pick A Museum (or two)
Of course there are plenty of museums in Detroit if you're looking for something indoors.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is an obvious choice but you can also check out the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History or the Detroit Historical Museum.
If you want something more interactive, head over to the Museum of Illusions on Woodward Avenue.
This is a great option if you're traveling with kids, with friends or even just looking for something different to do on a date. The museum has more than 50 interactive exhibits, optical illusions, holograms and rooms that mess with your sense of perspective.
It's also not an activity that takes up your entire day. When I went during a busy day, the entire experience took a little less than an hour so it's easy to fit into a downtown afternoon before grabbing dinner or finding somewhere else to explore.
And because it's completely indoors, you don't have to worry about checking the weather every five minutes.
My advice is not to try to do everything.
Pick one place that actually interests you and spend a few hours there.
You don't have to turn your vacation into a checklist.
Your Great Stays Rental Ties Everything Together
One of the things I have learned working at Great Stays is that a rental isn't just the place where you sleep.
It's part of the experience.
As the Operations Coordinator I spend a lot of time behind the scenes making sure our properties are clean, comfortable, stocked and ready when guests arrive.
A lot of the work we do isn't something guests ever see and that's actually the point.
You should be able to walk through the door and feel comfortable.
You should be able to kick off your shoes and relax.
You should be able to turn on the TV, make yourself something to eat and feel like you have a little home base while you're visiting Detroit.
So if it rains during your trip don't feel like you have to squeeze in every activity you planned.
Slow down.
Go find a coffee shop you've never been to. Explore a neighborhood you didn't know about. Get something sweet. Come back to your Great Stays unit and have a movie night.
Detroit is still worth exploring when the sun isn't out.
And sometimes a rainy day is exactly what you need to enjoy it a little differently.
Hope
Operations Coordinator
Great Stays