Have you ever been a tourist in your own city? Detroit has so much to offer and if you haven’t taken advantage of all the fun activities going on downtown, you’re truly missing out. I had the opportunity to host my best friend for a girls weekend in downtown Detroit and it was the best time. Here’s the full itinerary of what we did and where we went.
The Start to Girls Weekend: Lunch
She arrived just before noon on Saturday and we immediately headed downtown for lunch. Now I hate to admit it, but prior to our little staycation, I carried a large and embarrassing blemish on my native Detroiter punch card. If you’ve been around for longer than a couple of minutes, you know about the feud between Lafayette and American Coney Islands. It’s the great debate: who has the better coney dog? The honest truth is I had never been to either establishment, and I carried this burden with great shame. I didn’t know where to pledge my allegiance and it was time to make things right.
We ordered one coney with mustard and onions from each place (if you don’t know, they’re right next door to each other) and sat on a park bench outside to test them. I ended up liking Lafayette far better but my bestie was team American. 
Next we walked down the block to the Bon Bon Bon chocolate shop in the Chrysler House. They hand make all of their chocolates in Hamtramck and they are so incredibly delicious. We each chose five of their flavors and had them packed up for a treat later on in the day.
Next Up: Shopping and Exploring in Detroit
A quick drive took us to do a little shopping at Ferne Boutique and Urbanum. It was hard to not take home everything they had with so many great clothing and home decor choices.
Next stop on our girls weekend adventure was Eastern Market for their Saturday festivities. By the afternoon, it wasn’t very crowded, so we could easily walk around each shed and take a look at all the neat things the vendors were offering. We were sure to grab a treat from Canelle by Matt Kino while we browsed. We eventually ended up grabbing a beer from Eastern Market Brewing Co. and sitting outside. It was great to see so many people out and enjoying the milder weather!
The Key to Girls Weekend: Staying Overnight
After a busy afternoon, it was time to regroup and check into our hotel. We stayed at Aloft at the David Whitney building. It was a gorgeous and modern stay with an incredible view of Comerica Park and easy walking distance to the main downtown area. The best part of girls weekend is a night away from home!
Dinner in Detroit
We were able to walk to dinner at Central Kitchen, located on the edge of Campus Martius Park. We sat on their heated patio and enjoyed cocktails with our meal. I was sure to try their award-winning chicken sandwich, and I’m happy to report the accolades are well-deserved.
After dinner, we popped across the street to grab a hot chocolate from the Lumen Rinkside bar and watch the ice skaters for a while. We also strolled through Cadillac Square before heading back to the hotel to call it a night.
The Final Component to Girls Weekend: Breakfast
No girls weekend is complete without breakfast, so we picked up some incredible breakfast sandwiches from Iggy’s Eggies and brought them back to the hotel to eat. When I say this might be the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had, I am not exaggerating.
By that time we were ready to check out of the hotel and head home, just a quick 30-minute drive away. I truly can’t wait to do this again to try more new places and make great memories.
