14 Ways to Make Winter Feel Like Summer in Detroit

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 7:12 pm

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Autorama - Cobo Center, Detroit - Nothing says summer in the Motor City like classic cars and custom hotrods. From Feb. 26 to 28, Autorama brings a little slice of summer to Cobo to tide us over until cruising weather returns.

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Belle Isle Conservatory - Belle Isle State Park, Detroit - With five distinct sections, each with its own collection of exotic plants, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is the perfect place to escape the winter chill. Don’t miss the painted piano in the lobby, where visitors are welcome to play a little tune.

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Butterfly Garden and Aviary at the Detroit Zoo - 8450 W. 10 Mile, Royal Oak 248-541-5717 - Step into this sunny balmy oasis, kept at 75 degrees year-round, to enjoy the flight of hundreds of butterflies flitting about the tropical gardens. Not ready to head back out into the cold? Continue on to the zoo’s free-flight aviary to do a bit of birdwatching in tropical comfort.

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Outdoor Adventure Center - 1801 Atwater, Detroit 844-622-6367 - For generations Detroiters have ventured up north to enjoy the beauty of Michigan’s summers. The Outdoor Adventure Center brings a taste of that experience to Detroit’s riverfront with exhibits and simulators that showcase the full range of Michigan’s outdoor activities.

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Planet Rock - 82 Aprill Dr., Ann Arbor; 1103 W. 13 Mile, Madison Heights - Feel like climbing the walls? Head to either of Planet Rock’s two locations to indulge the impulse on their towering indoor rock walls, where classes for beginners ensure that even first-timers can shake off the cold with a good climb.

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Sterling Inn - 34911 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights 586-979-1400 - Come on in, the water’s fine at this indoor waterpark no matter how cold the weather outside. A lazy river, three story waterslide, and full bar service for enjoying a drink poolside are just the thing to escape from the snow.

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Oasis Hot Tub Gardens - 2301 S. State, Ann Arbor 734-663-9001 - Slip out of the cold and into the luxurious comfort of 102 degree water in a private hot tub room at Oasis Hot Tub Gardens where visitors can choose to soak in indoor or outdoor tubs decorated in themes ranging from tropical islands to rustic lodges.

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Catch a Tigers Game - One of the first signs of spring is Opening Day at Comerica Park. Nothing beats going to a Tigers game and enjoying the beautiful spring weather while reconnecting your love/hate relationship with the Tigers. Luckily for baseball fans, MLB preseason games begin in February, just as your winter blues are reaching a peak, and the Tigers have six televised spring training games in 2016. So sit back on your couch, make a hot dog, crack open a beer and pretend that you're sitting in the bleachers at Comerica Park.

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Sip Margaritas in Mexican Town - A great margarita can take you from a cold bitter Detroit day to the hot sands of Cozumel with just one sip. Check out the classic Mexican Town Restaurant for delicious lime margaritas and their famous flaming fajitas. Also check out Xochimilco for their fresh chips and salsa and jumbo margaritas.

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Hot Yoga - The best part about the return of summer and spring is the changing weather. Goodbye cold bitter days and hello hot and gorgeous sun. A great way to escape the cold during these last months of winter is to take a hot yoga class. If you're not familiar with hot yoga, it is a faster-moving yoga class that is held in a room that is heated to anywhere up to 95 degrees. Yes, it's ungodly hot, but the workout and you get is incredible.

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Brunch at Townhouse - 180 Pierce, Birmingham; 500 Woodward, Detroit - With two locations, one in Birmingham and one Downtown, Townhouse has one of a brunch menu that brings to mind sunshine and mimosas. Their menu has a mix of classic hearty breakfast staples alongside a fresh selection of salads and lighter fair that carry you away to long summer days. And if you chose the Detroit location, you can dine in their glass room with a retractable roof that looks just like a greenhouse.

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Check out a Smoothie/Juice Bar - People have been juicing for years (anyone remember those Jack Lalanne Juicer infomercials??), but the juicing fad really took off in 2015 with juice and smoothie bars opening up left and right. And why shouldn't they be popular? These tasty drinks pack tons of nutrition and taste like you should be drinking them on the beaches of Maui.

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Mad Hatter Bistro - 185 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham 248-540-0000 - The Mad Hatter Bistro Tea Room is like walking into a screenshot of the whimsical gardens of Alice in Wonderland. The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and eye-popping. Their daily tea brunch serves up bottomless tea, delicate yet delicious finger sandwiches, and homemade desserts. Having a little tea party with your closest friends will make you forget about the snowstorm raging outside and take you down the rabbit hole to a lovely afternoon in Wonderland.

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Volunteer at The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative - 7432 Brush, Detroit - Gardening is a key sign that spring has arrived. Greenhouses and farms are active with with people buying flowers, plants, and fresh produce. Volunteering at the year-round Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) is a great way to give back to the city and exercise your green thumb. MUFI uses agriculture to promote education, sustainability, and community to empower urban communities. You can volunteer every Saturday beginning at 10am. Sign up on their website, or just show up! www.mufi.org

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