Corktown is Popping!
Detroit, USA
From USD 29.00
Office phone number: + 1 313 701 1900
Corktown is Popping!
Detroit, USA
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Discover what makes Corktown pop on this epic tour chocked full of the best historic landmarks and local haunts. Explore the diverse sites of this Irish enclave, from the awesome modern-era “ruins” of Michigan Central Station to the colorful Victorian homes, and learn why everyone is coming to Corktown these days. Along the way, find out where to go for some of Detroit’s best brews, BBQs, burgers, bagels, and more!
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Highlights
- Explore the city’s best-kept secret: the distinctly Irish flavor of Detroit’s oldest neighborhood
- Drool over Corktown’s best pubs and grubs, including a stop at the oh-so-official Detroit Institute of Bagels
- Grab yourself a bit of the ole Irish luck at the Gaelic League
- Take in ‘ruin chic’ at the abandoned Michigan Central Railroad Station
- Check out the home of the former Tiger Stadium in Ernie Hallwell Park, a true Detroit landmark
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Schedule details
- Duration: 2 hours
- Meeting point:
Outside of 2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit where “Mercury Burger & Bar” is located.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 1.00 PM
- Ending point:
Gaelic League, 2068 Michigan Ave
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, half-pint of draft beer or complimentary soft drink
Exclusions: Food and additional drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide
Strap on your walking shoes for what’s sure to be the most epic tour of Detroit’s historic Corktown this side of Michigan Avenue.
We’ll start on a block that has been key to Corktown’s revival, where BBQ, burgers, coffee, and craft cocktails beckon crowds of hungry and thirsty Detroiters.
From here, you’ll take in the contrasting views of Detroit’s highs and lows. We’ll walk toward the massive Michigan Central Railroad Station, left for ruin and a symbol of the decline of Detroit. We’ll get a good look at this hulking structure, which has been ranked as one of the “must-see” abandoned buildings in the world.
To contrast that, we’ll continue our Detroit walking tour past the charming, colorful Victorian houses of residential Corktown. This is Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Your guide will point out some local faves, like a charming Irish tavern, an indie record store, a great deli, and a popular new brewpub. We’ll also hear about the new microbrewery, start-up hub, and technology center that are helping to define Corktown as the neighborhood to know. Along the way, your local guide will point out an early 19th-century church that’s one of oldest churches in Detroit.
Hopefully by this point you’ve worked up an appetite for a visit to the new Detroit Institute of Bagels — yes, it’s as official as it sounds and for you bagel snobs out there (we see you, New York), they take traditional bagel-making seriously.
Start your seventh-inning stretch as we return to Michigan Avenue for a mile-long stroll past The Greening of Detroit office (and learn a little about their tree-planting and beautification efforts), and to Ernie Harwell Park, the gone-but-not-forgotten former home of the Detroit Tigers. This was the home field for baseball greats like Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, and Al Kaline, and is where Nelson Mandela spoke shortly after his release from prison in South Africa. We’ll be sure to stop by Detroit Athletic Co. that started as a humble peanut stand and has grown to provide the best selection of sports swag.
Along our Corktown tour, you’ll hear about the local funky spot for live music and art shows, and a favorite shop where you can get a “Coney dog” without having to go to Coney Island. Your local guide will also point out where to get some crazy-good shawarma sandwiches that Detroiters absolutely love, as well as epic burgers, wine, and charcuterie.
Our colorful Detroit tour ends at a pot of gold in the Gaelic League Irish-American Club of Detroit. You may be a wee bit thirsty by the time we arrive, so we’ve got you covered with a complimentary half-pint.
After the tour has officially ended, you’re free to stay at the Gaelic League for more beer or some Irish whiskey, or maybe you’ll want to visit the tasting room at Two James Distillery, or visit Batch Brewing Co., Brew Detroit, or one of the other great bars in Corktown. If all those foodie spots we passed have your stomach rumbling, your guide can point the way. Just ask them for a recap of the local lunch-and-a-pint haunts that make Corktown pop!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, half-pint of draft beer or complimentary soft drink
Exclusions: Food and additional drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide
Dress standard: Please wear shoes that allow you to comfortably walk a couple of miles. Please also consider a hat and/or sunscreen on sunny days, and bring a jacket on cooler days, and an umbrella if it’s calling for rain
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the meeting point. But please get in touch with us via the e-mail address or the phone number on your voucher if you have any questions of if you need any additional information.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: + 1 313 701 1900
Email address: info@detroiturbanadventures.com
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