7 Weekend Trips from Detroit

Once upon a time, Detroit had its own amusement park in Boblo, a park on an island in the Detroit River that has since gone condo. The Metro Detroit area also had the stray roller coaster in St. Clair Shores and Mt. Clemens, but they are now just historical footnotes. While Detroit is no longer home to any major amusement/theme parks, it is an easy drive to several in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada.

Between Mackinac Island and the many beach towns that border Michigan's lakes, both Great and small, there are plenty of vacation destinations here at home. Come summer, locals love to crowd the beaches in St. Joseph, Muskegon, and Grand Haven. Up north, on the border of Michigan and Canada, there's also Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is home to sandstone cliffs, thundering waterfalls, and massive dunes.

The Windy City is always a great option for a quick city escape—and no matter how many times you visit, you'll never get bored. From the Navy Pier to ​Wrigley Field, Chicago offers a bit of something for everyone for a weekend getaway or longer vacation.

The Ohio border is a hop, skip, and jump away from Detroit. In fact, Toledo is just 45 minutes away from the Metro Detroit area. Aside from Toledo, there are several Ohio destinations that are within driving distance, including  Cleveland, Cedar Point, and Kings Island.

At first glance, the idea of vacationing out of the country may seem a little intimidating, but many destinations within Canada are an easy four-to-five-hour drive from Detroit. That's right, the same distance from Detroit as Mackinac Island, that cabin up north, and Chicago. From a world-renowned Shakespeare Festival to wine tasting, Canada has a lot to offer, including​ Niagara Falls, ​Niagara on the Lake,​ Stratford, and Toronto.

Michigan City is along the coastline of Lake Michigan, just over the border in Indiana. It has an outlet mall, casinos, loads of vacation rentals, and miles of sand dunes and beaches. It is also home to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Home to Mt. Washington, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Mattress Factory (an avant-garde art gallery), Pittsburgh is so much more than a coal town. Don't miss out.