I'm headed into Detroit this weekend with my girlfriend and another buddy to see brother for the first time since his medical residency started up there.

So far the plan is...
Friday - get in to DTW in the morning
Saturday - head to Ann Arbor for the Michigan/Penn State game
Sunday - ?
Monday until leave in evening - ?

We obviously don't have a ton of time, but any recommendations for things to do or "must take-in's while in the area" would be appreciated. I believe we would like to take a brief trip into Canada as well just for the heck of it.

Also, any help with gameday items such as parking, tailgating or other experiences...thoughts on Ann Arbor/U of M "must do's" while we are visiting would be appreciated?

the only must do in michigan is leave...as fast as you can...

I'm heading up to Ann Arbor for the game as well. Ill be sure to have some maroon on with the maize...

nice, what will you be up there for...I assume more than the game? Tailgating?

I'll try for maroon something, but also a few Michigan items, as I think it is only appropriate. It may be hard to see though, as I believe it will be upper 30's/lower40's and rainy...

I interned over the summer with a bunch of guys from U Mich, so I am going up there to visit them and catch a game. Yeah, the weather is going to be brutal.

look for me with my Aggie hat...or probably toboggan

come back in january if you want "brutal" weather.

I think I'll pass on that if I can help it.

Any thoughts on what we should do besides the game? I think we would like to head into Canada just for the heck of it at some point. Thought about Niagara Falls also...long drive but one of those "have to see once" things. Are there any spot in Detroit metro we need to check out?

Detroit is a dump, I've heard they renovated the museum there though if you are into that kind of thing. Niagara is pretty cool (it's faster to drive through Canada). You could go to the casinos in Canada but from what I hear it's full of kids that go over there because you can drink there at 19. I don't really think there is anything in Detroit that is all that amazing. You can go to the casinos there, but most of the casinos here are Indian casinos (which means you have to pay for your drinks). There are a few micro breweries around. You can find them if you just google them. Unfortunately, the other side of the state is the nicer side. There is a very large Muslim population outside of Detroit, so if you are into Mediterranean food I could probably find out the best places to go for that. I guess you could also go to a cider mill. Cider and doughnuts seem to be a pretty big thing for people here. And be prepared for bad roads.

Sounds like a great place to live! Seriosuly though...I heard microbreweries and immediately thought of a plan

What's the beer of choice up there? Best ones available (that I wouldn't get in TX)in your opinion?

A lot of people drink Oberon, but that brewery is in Kalamazoo (Bell's Brewing Co.). You're going to be a ways away from that. You can get it in just about any bar around here though. It's a wheat beer. That brewery has several other good beers but they are harder to find. You can find some other ones if you just google for Michigan brewpubs or microbreweries.

I just talked to someone that goes to Ann Arbor a lot (his gf lives there), and he said that there are a lot of breweries on Main Street in Ann Arbor with all the bars. A place called Blue Tractor BBQ brews their own beer. You're probably just going to want to hit up down town Ann Arbor and feel the place out. It should be pretty busy on a game weekend.

Just FYI Oberon is wheat beer. Very similar to Blue Moon.

I am looking forward to hitting up Main Street in Ann Arobor after the game. Right now I'm crossing my fingers my brother's friend will let us crash, as this will allow me the "true" experince instead of having to drive back to Royal Oak that evening...which of course would negate drinking.

looks like it's going to be gloomy and rainy and cold...that's really the true michigan experience

Gig'em

sitting in DTW as I type....cool and rainy as expected.

looks like you went to the wrong game in the state yesterday...msu/iowa was a way better game.

not if you're a Buckeye

I don't care what you are, it's tough to beat a game that came down to the last 2 seconds of the game. Nobody likes Michigan, but their game was boring either way.

spartan...We actually wanted to go to both but it didn't work out. If the timing was spaced better we had planned to attempt seeing both games. Unfortunately it didn't work out.