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Belle Isle is in the middle of the Detroit River, Down stream from Lake St Clair (read: its clean). It's a beautiful green park, about 3 miles around with a great conservatory, lots of picnic areas, fishing, golf course, a water slide and even a beach. You can view the Detroit skyline and watch jet skiers and boats go by from under a shady tree or watch the barges pass on the side that faces Windsor. Be sure to visit Scott fountain which is far more beautiful than Chicago's famous Buckingham fountain. Leave a Comment Directions: 3 miles East of downtown off Jefferson Ave. Merge onto the bridge from the right lane.Website: http://www.fobi.org/
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It's a beautiful conservatory that's been around for at least 70 years. The noise of the city seems a million miles away when you visit here. All kinds of beautiful, mature plant life to get lost in. Kids like this place, too. Don't skip it if you go to Belle Isle.
Admission: FREE Leave a Comment
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For well over 100 years Belle Isle has been Detroit’s island oasis. Before air conditioning city residents would escape to the island to spend the night during the hot sticky Michigan summers. It is still a popular weekend destination for picnics, to fly a kite or maybe even take a swim.
Although many of the islands once beautiful structures have fallen into disrepair, and the Frederick Olmsted designed landscape is overgrown it is still a pleasant place to take a drive.
If you would like a little more activity there is a small golf course, a children’s playground, and the only public swimming beach in Detroit.
Indoor activities include a plant conservatory and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
Be sure and stop by the Scott Memorial Fountain which was built in 1925 and is quite beautiful.
On a summer day the island is a wonderful place to sit and watch the boats go by on the river. Leave a Comment Directions: About 3 miles east of downtown along Jefferson Ave.
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Oh Pretty Island! Belle Isle - in the Detroit River - was designed in the early 20th century by America's great landscape designer Frederick Law Olmstead. It's still a very pretty place, an excellent venue for wedding photographs - as seen here. Leave a Comment
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The island is a giant park in the middle of the Detroit River. There is a zoo, a conservatory, an aquarium, and a bunch of other stuff to do. It's a great time for kids, or that's how I remember it. Also this is where they hold the Detroit Grand Prix in the summer. Leave a Comment
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Directions: East of downtown along Jefferson Ave.
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I decided to write a separate tip about this fountain because I think its story is an interesting one.
It was built in 1925 - 15 years after the death of a guy who left $500.000 to the city of Detroit so they can build a fountain on Belle Isle.
Nice gesture, you may say. Well, the generous guy`s name was James Scott and he was a gambler and a naughty prankster despised by all who knew him. In his will the Detroit most eccentric bachelor had only one request: to build a life-size bronze statue of the donor (e.g. himself) next to the fountain. :)) Detroiters were furious... but finally agreed.
The fountain was designed by the NY architect, Cass Gilbert. Scott`s statue is there too. You may see it on the fountain`s left side - a bronze man sitting in a chair, looking at Detroit towers.
Those who knew Scott, said that he loved watching kids play. Good for him, cause till today children like to sit on his bronze lap. Directions: East of downtown along Jefferson Ave.
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- Howard Johnson Express Detroit
1999 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI - Ambassador Hotel
1020 Washington Blvd., Detroit, MI - Econo Lodge Detroit
17729 Telegraph Rd (formerly Econo Lodge), Detroit, MI - Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center
Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI - Ramada Inn Downtown Detroit
400 Bagley Avenue (formerly Ramada Inn), Detroit, MI - Omni Detroit River Place
1000 River Place, Detroit, MI - Corktown Inn
1331 Trumbull St., Detroit, MI - Milner Hotel
1538 Centre St, Detroit, MI - MGM GRAND DETROIT
1777 Third Street formerly "MGM Grand Detroit Hotel & Casino", Detroit, MI - Holiday Inn Southgate Heritage
17201 Northline Rd., Detroit, MI - Shorecrest Motor Inn
1316 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI - Omni Detroit Hotel River Place
1000 River Place, Detroit, MI - Atheneum Suites Hotel
1000 Brush Ave. Greektown, Detroit, MI - The Leland
400 Bagley Avenue (formerly Ramada Inn), Detroit, MI - Doubletree Hotel Dearborn
5801 Southfield Expressway (Formerly Holiday Inn), Detroit, MI
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