One-Tank Trip for Nov. 18-17
(c) By Jim Fox
DETROIT – You can
“spend the holidays like an auto baron” and get a taste of what life was like
at a grand estate in the 1920s.
The Detroit Metro
Convention & Visitors Bureau is sending out an invitation to tour Meadowbrook
Hall, an elegant 110-room, Tudor Revival mansion.
As well, don’t miss
the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House adorned in holiday decor and welcoming visitors
in from the cold.
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| An edible Gingerbread Village is among the seasonal decorations at Henry Ford’s historic Dearborn Inn. (Barbara Fox photo) |
The historic Meadowbrook, lavishly decorated for the
season, was built by Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of auto pioneer John Dodge,
and second husband Alfred Wilson.
It was constructed between 1926 and 1929 and
is especially renowned for its craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand
scale covering 88,000 square-feet.
Visitors
can tour the rooms of the great estate in suburban Rochester and then take the
Holiday Walk, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23, down Candy Cane Lane to the land of “Santa
& Sweets.” Details: meadowbrookhall.org
The Ford
House Holiday Tours start Nov. 24 and continue until Jan. 7 in Grosse
Pointe Shores, along Lake St. Clair.
Completed in 1927,
this auto-baron mansion is “all decked out for Christmas, including gorgeously
decorated trees, Eleanor Ford’s custom-made vintage ornaments, glowing candles,
and other holiday finery.” Details: fordhouse.org
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| Visitors can take a spin in an old Ford at Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village. (Jim Fox photo) |
Other seasonal adventures worth the drive are
Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village, part of the Henry Ford museum in
Dearborn.
“You’ll feel like
you stepped into an old-fashioned holiday card,” organizers say.
Visitors can take a
lantern-lighted journey into a living snow globe filled with live music,
skating, fireworks and winter wonder throughout December. thehenryford.org
Living the auto baron life
Completing the
baron fantasy tour is the Dearborn Inn, the grand hotel Henry Ford had built in
1931 across from his airport (now a Ford test track).
The National
Historic Site is also lavishly and tastefully decorated for the holidays and contains
historic automotive photos, artifacts and furnishings.
Part of the
Marriott chain, it also has five replica houses from 1937 in a Colonial Village
replicating the abodes of Edgar Allan Poe, Oliver Wolcott, Barbara Fritchie,
Walt Whitman and Patrick Henry. dearborninnmarriott.com
 |
| Carollers are in the spirit at Greenfield Village’s Holiday Nights. (Barbara Fox photo) |
Did someone mention shopping?
Americans haven’t
celebrated Thanksgiving yet and are already planning for shopping and
Christmas.
Celebrate Detroit
style with a trip to America’s Thanksgiving Parade on Nov. 23.
It’s called “one of
the country’s largest most spectacular parades,” a holiday tradition that dates
back to 1924.
Hundreds of
thousands of spectators line Woodward Avenue to watch huge floats, colourful helium-filled
balloons, thunderous marching bands and specialty acts. theparade.org
“Black Friday”
shopping in The D is always part of a good visit, with “can’t-beat deals around
every corner.”
 | ||
| A carousel and kids’ rides offer a break from shopping at the 1,000-seat food court at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. (Jim Fox photo) |
Shop ’til you drop
at the Mall at Partridge Creek, Somerset Collection, Great Lakes Crossing
Outlets with 185 stores and Fairlane Town Center.
For a full list of
shopping destinations throughout the metro area, accommodation and tourism
details, go to visitdetroit.com;
or call 1-800-DETROIT (338-7648).
The “Motor City”
also has lions, tigers and lights with holiday entertainment and activities at
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo.
More than
five-million LED lights illuminate trees, buildings and more than 100 animal
sculptures throughout the zoo now through Dec. 31. detroitzoo.org
The holiday classic
the Nutcracker heads to the Detroit Opera House on Nov. 25 and 26.
The show features “amazing
scenery,” stage effects and the talented Cincinnati Ballet. michiganopera.org
See Midtown Detroit
sparkle on Dec. 2 for Noel Night as more than 70 institutions feature fun activities.
This includes horse-drawn
carriage rides, holiday shopping, family craft activities and performances by some
200 area music, theatre and dance groups. midtowndetroitinc.com
Buddy's adds another yummy location
A Metro Detroit food institution – Buddy’s Pizza
– has grown again with its 12th location in Ann Arbor.
As the originator of the Detroit-style pizza, a
Sicilian square deep dish pie, the family-run operation is consistently named
one of the best pizzas in the U.S.
 |
| Buddy's Margherita and Original Veggie pizza. (Jim Fox photo) |
Buddy’s originated
its legendary square pizza in Detroit in 1946 and handcrafts and double-stretches
its dough for that light, crunchy crust.
The Sicilian style
of pepperoni under the famous Wisconsin brick cheese and sauce on top makes for
a true award-winning Detroit original.
The Ann Arbor
location is at 3153 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. buddyspizza.com;
Phone: (734) 792-9130
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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