20 things to do during a weird, unpredictable Detroit winter

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Winter? What winter? This season in metro Detroit has been warmer than usual with little snowfall to speak of. In fact, global temperatures reached historic highs in 2023, the warmest year on record by far. Climate scientists have long warned that greenhouse gasses are causing temperatures to warm and making weather patterns go haywire, with wildfires, severe storms, and flooding across the world. What remains to be seen is if global warming is accelerating and if these patterns will continue this year.

Given the state of the world, it feels a bit silly to be writing a winter guide, but we already committed to this, so here we are. And of course, just as we were putting this together we finally got snow — enough to make us second-guess this entire concept. As meteorologists like to remind us, you just can't predict the weather, so who knows what the rest of the season will bring. But just in case, here's our list of things to do in the Detroit area when the winter weather just won't cooperate.

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Get medieval at Royal Oak Winter Blast 
Royal Oak's annual Winter Blast is still happening, winter be damned. The free outdoor festival is set to return to Centennial Commons from Friday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb. 4 and will feature a mix of fun activities including ice skating, a zip line, ice sculptures, bonfires, live music, food trucks, and more — no snow required. New this year is a "Medieval Village" set to include activities like jousting, archery, and storytelling, because why not? See winterblast.com for the full schedule.
Courtesy photo

Get medieval at Royal Oak Winter Blast

Royal Oak's annual Winter Blast is still happening, winter be damned. The free outdoor festival is set to return to Centennial Commons from Friday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb. 4 and will feature a mix of fun activities including ice skating, a zip line, ice sculptures, bonfires, live music, food trucks, and more — no snow required. New this year is a "Medieval Village" set to include activities like jousting, archery, and storytelling, because why not? See winterblast.com for the full schedule.

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Get warm and steamy at the Schvitz 
Whether it's cold or hot outside, you can always take a spa day. When it's a little too freezing, head over to the Schvitz (8295 Oakland Ave., Detroit; schvitzdetroit.com) for steamy sauna rooms that are sure to warm you up. There's also Oasis Hot Tub Gardens (2301 S. State St., Ann Arbor; oasishottubs.com) where you can rent indoor and outdoor hot tubs in different themed rooms by the hour.
Michelle Gerard / Stock Detroit

Get warm and steamy at the Schvitz

Whether it's cold or hot outside, you can always take a spa day. When it's a little too freezing, head over to the Schvitz (8295 Oakland Ave., Detroit; schvitzdetroit.com) for steamy sauna rooms that are sure to warm you up. There's also Oasis Hot Tub Gardens (2301 S. State St., Ann Arbor; oasishottubs.com) where you can rent indoor and outdoor hot tubs in different themed rooms by the hour.

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Take a hike
Put down your phone and go outside. It might be too cold to go touch grass as the kids like to say, but taking a stroll in nature is always a great way to exercise and unplug. Metro Detroit has a number of great hiking trails — see our list of 20 places to hike within driving distance of Detroit.
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Take a hike

Put down your phone and go outside. It might be too cold to go touch grass as the kids like to say, but taking a stroll in nature is always a great way to exercise and unplug. Metro Detroit has a number of great hiking trails — see our list of 20 places to hike within driving distance of Detroit.

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Try new restaurants
In 2023, metro Detroit foodies were blessed with a bunch of new restaurant openings, like Alpino, pictured (1426 Bagley St., Detroit; alpinodetroit.com), plus more to look forward to in 2024. If there are some or many you haven’t tried yet, winter is a great time to eat some good, comforting food with friends and family.
Perry Haselden/ Courtesy photo

Try new restaurants

In 2023, metro Detroit foodies were blessed with a bunch of new restaurant openings, like Alpino, pictured (1426 Bagley St., Detroit; alpinodetroit.com), plus more to look forward to in 2024. If there are some or many you haven’t tried yet, winter is a great time to eat some good, comforting food with friends and family.

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Go on a road trip Up North 
If you head north, you'll have a better chance of frolicking in the snow. Maybe this is a good opportunity to take a mini Michigan road trip to cozy cabins or family cottages Up North. Plus, the minimal amount of snow and ice means driving a few hours might be a little easier than it would otherwise.
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Go on a road trip Up North

If you head north, you'll have a better chance of frolicking in the snow. Maybe this is a good opportunity to take a mini Michigan road trip to cozy cabins or family cottages Up North. Plus, the minimal amount of snow and ice means driving a few hours might be a little easier than it would otherwise.

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Take the Polar Plunge
Strip down for a good cause. The annual Polar Plunge is set for Friday, March 1 at the Bayview Yacht Club (100 Clairpointe St., Detroit; classy.org). The event is presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run and encourages Polar Plungers to register and raise funds to support year-round sports training and athletic competition for the Special Olympics Michigan. Those who raise $100 or more get a sweatshirt and sliders — that should help warm you back up.
Dan Mullen, Flickr Creative Commons

Take the Polar Plunge

Strip down for a good cause. The annual Polar Plunge is set for Friday, March 1 at the Bayview Yacht Club (100 Clairpointe St., Detroit; classy.org). The event is presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run and encourages Polar Plungers to register and raise funds to support year-round sports training and athletic competition for the Special Olympics Michigan. Those who raise $100 or more get a sweatshirt and sliders — that should help warm you back up.

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Enjoy ice cream
While ice cream in the ice cold might not be the best idea, the winter is also a good time for comforting sweets. On days when it's not too freezing, head over to metro Detroit's essential ice cream shops that do business year-round.
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Enjoy ice cream

While ice cream in the ice cold might not be the best idea, the winter is also a good time for comforting sweets. On days when it's not too freezing, head over to metro Detroit's essential ice cream shops that do business year-round.

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Check out activities at Valade Park
Family-friendly events on the riverfront don't stop when it's cold outside. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosts "Winter at Valade" activities and themed weekends at Valade Park (2670 Atwater St., Detroit; detroitriverfront.org/winteratvalade). Visitors of all ages can enjoy bonfires, sledding, s'mores, games, food, warm drinks, and more. Plus, every Friday will include special programming such as open mic nights, trivia, and board games.
Facebook/Detroit Riverfront

Check out activities at Valade Park

Family-friendly events on the riverfront don't stop when it's cold outside. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosts "Winter at Valade" activities and themed weekends at Valade Park (2670 Atwater St., Detroit; detroitriverfront.org/winteratvalade). Visitors of all ages can enjoy bonfires, sledding, s'mores, games, food, warm drinks, and more. Plus, every Friday will include special programming such as open mic nights, trivia, and board games.

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Play indoor sports
This historic Cadieux Cafe on the city's east side is the only home to feather bowling in the nation, a Belgian game where you roll balls down a lane toward a feather target (4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit; cadieuxcafe.com). Another bowling alternative in metro Detroit is fowling, where you throw a football at bowling pins. There are Fowling Warehouses in Hamtramck and Ypsilanti (3901 Christopher St., Hamtramck and 3050 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; fowlingwarehouse.com), great for an after-work get-together or a day of family fun.
Michelle Gerard

Play indoor sports

This historic Cadieux Cafe on the city's east side is the only home to feather bowling in the nation, a Belgian game where you roll balls down a lane toward a feather target (4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit; cadieuxcafe.com). Another bowling alternative in metro Detroit is fowling, where you throw a football at bowling pins. There are Fowling Warehouses in Hamtramck and Ypsilanti (3901 Christopher St., Hamtramck and 3050 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; fowlingwarehouse.com), great for an after-work get-together or a day of family fun.

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Get your game on
The quirky, old-school Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is at risk of demolition, so  if you haven't done so in a while perhaps now is a good time to pay a visit (31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; marvin3m.com) and enjoy vintage and antique arcade games and other oddities and Americana. Some other gaming options include Barcade (666 Selden St., Detroit; barcade.com) and Pinball Pete's (1214 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor; pinballpetes.org).
Dan Keck, Flickr Creative Commons

Get your game on

The quirky, old-school Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is at risk of demolition, so if you haven't done so in a while perhaps now is a good time to pay a visit (31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; marvin3m.com) and enjoy vintage and antique arcade games and other oddities and Americana. Some other gaming options include Barcade (666 Selden St., Detroit; barcade.com) and Pinball Pete's (1214 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor; pinballpetes.org).

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Enjoy the arts
When the outdoors become a sloppy, gray mess, there are other ways to appreciate beauty. The Detroit Institute of Arts is free for residents of the tri-county area (5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org). Of course, there are plenty of smaller galleries and exhibition spaces in the Detroit area, too.
Courtesy of The N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art

Enjoy the arts

When the outdoors become a sloppy, gray mess, there are other ways to appreciate beauty. The Detroit Institute of Arts is free for residents of the tri-county area (5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org). Of course, there are plenty of smaller galleries and exhibition spaces in the Detroit area, too.

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Visit a local bookstore
If you're a bookworm, winter can be the best time to cozy up and get lost in a story in the comfort of your own home. If you need something new to read, metro Detroit has plenty of great places to get a book. Some new spots include the newcomer Next Chapter Books (16555 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; nextchapterbkstore.com) and the fancy bookstore bar Flyleaf (92 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; flyleafgp.com). And of course, there's always the long-standing John K. King Used & Rare Books (901 W. Lafayette Blvd., johnkingbooksdetroit.com).
Viola Klocko

Visit a local bookstore

If you're a bookworm, winter can be the best time to cozy up and get lost in a story in the comfort of your own home. If you need something new to read, metro Detroit has plenty of great places to get a book. Some new spots include the newcomer Next Chapter Books (16555 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; nextchapterbkstore.com) and the fancy bookstore bar Flyleaf (92 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; flyleafgp.com). And of course, there's always the long-standing John K. King Used & Rare Books (901 W. Lafayette Blvd., johnkingbooksdetroit.com).

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Go ice skating downtown 
Downtown Detroit is bustling with activity all winter long. Aside from ice skating at the Rink at Campus Martius (800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; downtowndetroit.org), there's also the nearby Monroe Street Midway (22 Monroe St., Detroit; deckedoutdetroit.com/midway) with a slide, "puck putt," bumper cars, and more.
Courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Go ice skating downtown

Downtown Detroit is bustling with activity all winter long. Aside from ice skating at the Rink at Campus Martius (800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; downtowndetroit.org), there's also the nearby Monroe Street Midway (22 Monroe St., Detroit; deckedoutdetroit.com/midway) with a slide, "puck putt," bumper cars, and more.

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Enjoy botanical gardens
Belle Isle's beautiful Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is closed for much-needed repairs, but if you want to escape the winter doldrums to enjoy plants there's the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor; mbgna.umich.edu) and the Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (22314 Northline Rd., Taylor; taylorconservatory.org).
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Enjoy botanical gardens

Belle Isle's beautiful Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is closed for much-needed repairs, but if you want to escape the winter doldrums to enjoy plants there's the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor; mbgna.umich.edu) and the Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (22314 Northline Rd., Taylor; taylorconservatory.org).

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Listen to live music
If you know, you know: the Detroit area has plenty of great places to experience live music, from soulful sets at the Raven Lounge (5145 Chene St., Detroit), sweaty metal shows at Sanctuary (2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; sanctuarydetroit.com), country line dancing at District 142 (142 Maple St., Wyandotte; district142live.com), the next big thing at El Club (4144 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; elclubdetroit.com), and too many others to list here.
Joe Maroon

Listen to live music

If you know, you know: the Detroit area has plenty of great places to experience live music, from soulful sets at the Raven Lounge (5145 Chene St., Detroit), sweaty metal shows at Sanctuary (2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; sanctuarydetroit.com), country line dancing at District 142 (142 Maple St., Wyandotte; district142live.com), the next big thing at El Club (4144 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; elclubdetroit.com), and too many others to list here.

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See a drive-in movie 
Cuddle up with your boo in the car for a double feature at the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In (10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn; forddrivein.com), a metro Detroit tradition since 1950.
Jason Tester, Flickr Creative Commons

See a drive-in movie

Cuddle up with your boo in the car for a double feature at the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In (10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn; forddrivein.com), a metro Detroit tradition since 1950.

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Tailgate for the Detroit Lions
In recent years, Detroit Lions fans have celebrated their team's home games with tailgate parties in Eastern Market's Shed 5. And the Sunday, Jan. 21 game might be the biggest one ever, following the team's first-ever home playoff win at Ford Field, where they beat ex-Lion Matthew Stafford on his new team the Los Angeles Rams. Tickets to the VIP tailgate party start at $125 for adults ($60 for children) and include food, open bar, music, and lounge seating and TVs to watch the game.
Cal Sport Media / Alamy Stock Photo

Tailgate for the Detroit Lions

In recent years, Detroit Lions fans have celebrated their team's home games with tailgate parties in Eastern Market's Shed 5. And the Sunday, Jan. 21 game might be the biggest one ever, following the team's first-ever home playoff win at Ford Field, where they beat ex-Lion Matthew Stafford on his new team the Los Angeles Rams. Tickets to the VIP tailgate party start at $125 for adults ($60 for children) and include food, open bar, music, and lounge seating and TVs to watch the game.

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Go bar hopping
Winter time is the best time to post up at the bar, knock back a few cold ones, and meet new people (or listen to the regular barfly tell the same stories over and over). Tropical-themed spots like Mutiny Bar (4654 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; mutinybar.com) and Eastern Palace Club (21509 John R Rd., Hazel Park; epchp.com) offer a make-believe getaway from Michigan, but there's nothing like a solid neighborhood dive bar.
The Detroit Optimist Society

Go bar hopping

Winter time is the best time to post up at the bar, knock back a few cold ones, and meet new people (or listen to the regular barfly tell the same stories over and over). Tropical-themed spots like Mutiny Bar (4654 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; mutinybar.com) and Eastern Palace Club (21509 John R Rd., Hazel Park; epchp.com) offer a make-believe getaway from Michigan, but there's nothing like a solid neighborhood dive bar.

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Celebrate LGBTQ+ pride at Winterfest
The Detroit Shipping Co. is hosting its first-ever Winterfest LGBTQ+ pride event. Set for noon-9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, the event will feature a DJ dance party, hot cocoa bar, drag bingo, vendors, and more. (474 Peterboro St., Detroit; detroitshippingcompany.com)
Joe Maroon

Celebrate LGBTQ+ pride at Winterfest

The Detroit Shipping Co. is hosting its first-ever Winterfest LGBTQ+ pride event. Set for noon-9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, the event will feature a DJ dance party, hot cocoa bar, drag bingo, vendors, and more. (474 Peterboro St., Detroit; detroitshippingcompany.com)

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Do some introspection
Now's the perfect time to do some soul-searching. Meditate and reflect on your life and the new year with tarot card reading at the Boston Tea Room (1220 Woodward Heights, Ferndale; bostontearoom.com), metaphysical photo portraits from Aura Aura (9226 Kercheval, Unit 2, Detroit; auraaura.co), or flotation therapy at Sirona (21510 Harper Ave., St. Claire Shores; sironamichigan.floathelm.com).
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Do some introspection

Now's the perfect time to do some soul-searching. Meditate and reflect on your life and the new year with tarot card reading at the Boston Tea Room (1220 Woodward Heights, Ferndale; bostontearoom.com), metaphysical photo portraits from Aura Aura (9226 Kercheval, Unit 2, Detroit; auraaura.co), or flotation therapy at Sirona (21510 Harper Ave., St. Claire Shores; sironamichigan.floathelm.com).

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