• ColdCruise
  • ColdCruise

Detroit - Automakers & Artists

Long weekend to check out Detroit, Henry Ford and go another round with an Artist Lue lisää
  • Matkan aloitus
    24. lokakuuta 2025
  • Now departing C-12 🤞

    24. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌙 46 °F

    Quick trip through security thanks to Precheck and we arrived at our gate. I think the only other times I’ve boarded from a C gate was for overseas flights that did not go well :

    Iceland Air 2022 - plane was held up in Boston but they kept telling us it was a slight delay … about every 20-30 minutes they announced another delay. Play Air was boarding at the next gate and scheduled to depart an hour after our Iceland Air flight. The Play flight was not full. As soon as the Play boarded and closed the gate, Iceland Air cancelled our flight. Truly believe they knew it would be cancelled but delayed announcement so people would not rightfully request Iceland Air rebook them on Play.

    Try booking a hotel in summer by BWI at 1155pm! We ended up staying in a dump (web page looked decent but nasty room) . That was after initially reserving a nice hotel only to have their site charge my card then, when we called for their shuttle, were told they don’t have room at the Inn. Took a credit card charge back to get my money back.

    We got rebooked the next day but did not get the business class experience we paid for. Arrived almost 2 days after originally scheduled, lost 2 days sightseeing, almost lost a train reservation. So glad we had insurance to cover unexpected hotel, missed hotel reservations and missed boat reservation.

    Other experience in terminal C was the last year US Airways operated before “merging” with American- 2015. My direct flight to Amsterdam was delayed due fog. They rebooked me BWI-PHL-LHR-AMS. Barely made the PHL flight (literally running through terminals) then sat more than 6 hours in LHR before arriving AMS in pitch black. Lost use of Museum tickets & arrived at my hotel just before midnight.

    Hope tonight breaks the Curse of terminal C!

    Getting a headache from the 6 teen aged girls - do hope they run out of yapping stuff before boarding … whewwww
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  • Oopsie .. strayed into Canada

    24. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌙 41 °F

    This just became an international flight- the plane crossed the border on approach to Detroit

    I never noticed before that there are a few islands in the western end of Lake Erie. Guess the maps I’ve seen didn’t have the necessary level of detail.

    Good approach to DTW from the north. Wheels down at 1145, lengthy taxi to terminal. Strong braking upon landing.

    Yeah! A good short flight enhanced by a double offering of Maui Monk twists (yum) 🥳
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  • Hilton Garden Inn

    25. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    We left the DTW terminal and were picked up by the hotel shuttle (maybe 10-15 minute wait) and dropped off at our hotel.

    Very swift check-in and we were thankfully in our room. Probably because we checked in so late, literally the next day, we probably got one of the last king rooms available. It was at the end of the hall (room 236) and right on the takeoff-path of the post-midnight flights. No matter, once asleep the noise didn’t intrude.

    Slept like the proverbial log, mattress was that nice mix of firm support but softly padded.

    Good room all-in-all
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  • Henry Ford Museum

    25. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Arrived at the Henry Ford Museum, scored a close in parking spot as someone left.

    We ended up purchasing individual annual passes once we realized we wouldn’t cover everything in a day. With various discounts, it was about $50 for a membership. Membership includes a lot of extras in addition to free entry for a year.

    The complex is broken into 2 man visitor attractions-

    The Museum of American Innovation, which houses all manner of artifacts that represent changes to how people lived, or changed how they interact with their environments. This includes trains, early cars, prototypes, bikes, etc.

    Greenfield Village, which is several recreated village-type clusters of buildings. Some buildings are original and tied to various people Henry Ford thought were change agents or great innovators. Other buildings are replicas or representations.

    Adding after the visit- both areas are worth a full day each if your brain can handle it. We spent 5-6 hours in each over 2 days, didn’t see everything and would definitely return.

    And there’s a lot of walking involved!
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  • Booked the Rouge Factory Tour

    25. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    The Ford Rouge Factory Tour

    $26 a la carte, $22 with membership, also in a couple ticket combos at varying prices.

    Bus to the tour leaves from the grand hall way every 20 minutes.

    Everyone from the ticket counter sales lady to the bus driver warned us we wouldn’t see people working because they’re not running the line today.Fair warning but we might never return so, if not now, when? I did appreciate everyone for setting expectations (also probably saved them getting complaints).

    Why is it called The Rouge Tour? It’s at the Rouge Factory, so called because it’s on the Rouge River. Guide suggested the river was named rouge because the water was reddish from pollution. 😟

    Moving
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  • Mezzanine

    25. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Overlooking the display historic cars before entering the factory floor viewing platform. No factory work on Saturday and none next week either as they are waiting parts.

    Pretty interesting but no photos allowed

    Key points
    1 truck produced every 53 SECONDS
    Average 650 trucks per 10 hour shift (currently 8 hours due parts shortages)
    1000 people per shift in the assembly factory which is where the tour is, 10,000 total employees at Rouge
    All electric trucks leave with a 75% charge
    They make 9 different bodies on 3 different platforms here
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  • Museum entrance & presidential cars

    25. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    After we returned from the factory tour and cut into the long (impressive) hallway, we had our cards scanned and picked up a map. The museum is immense.

    Heading towards the presidential vehicle display, we encountered a huge area that was being set up for a wedding reception tonight.

    Initially I thought the sub-theme was “presidents who were shot” as the first 2 cars were from the Reagan & Kennedy eras.
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  • Hocus Pocus

    25. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    After dinner we returned to The Henry Ford to enjoy an evening of Hocus Pocus on the giant screen. Good experience.

    Tickets were just $7, reduced further with membership.

    The popcorn smelled delicious but we were stuffed from our dinner.

    The theater screens several documentaries, several looked good, esp one about aircraft carriers and one about trains. The documentaries are included in membership or museum admission. The 3D versions have a $1 surcharge. The theatrical or commercial movies are not included but priced separately.

    Today turned out all about Ford🙃.

    Disappointingly, we didn’t do advance research so didn’t know about the Halloween event in Greenfield Village (6-10, separate admission) but apparently it’s very good, very popular. Unfortunately it sells out very quickly, one worker said after 4 years she was finally able to get tickets. The tickets go on advance sale in early September to members, who buy most of the tickets. After that, the few remaining tickets are usually sold in less than 2 days to the general population. Very high demand.

    It seemed geared mostly to younger children but there were lots parents who were definitely in the spirit judging by the hordes of costumes.

    Maybe we can try next year ?
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  • Dexter … On the way to Hell (MI)

    26. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 36 °F

    Stopped for breakfast at Dexter Brunch House

    Dexter was a pretty well-kept town, although we may have run a red light while searching for road signs to our turn onto Alice St .. they are cute retro metal on decorative posts to match the street lamps.

    Throwback town, small town charm
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  • Greenfield Village

    26. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    We spent the bulk of the afternoon in the Greenfield Village part of The Henry Ford unit they closed. This could easily fill a complete day as it was very extensive. I guess I should have made use of available technology and explored it digitally (at least look in a satellite map view to see how big this is!). However I get tired of “knowing “ all about a place before actually visiting it - reduces sense of amazement and wonder.

    The village has several buildings with docents providing tours and explanations. Henry Ford had to have been a fascinating guy with broad interests. Almost all of Tomas Edison’s Menlo Park buildings have been relocated here. A lot of buildings associated with important technological advances and the people behind them.

    Definitely worth a visit!
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  • Buddy’s for Detroit Pizza

    26. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    So when in Detroit, it seems Detroit-Style Pizza 🍕 is the way to go 🛞. We like a crispy crust and google and the locals recommend Buddy’s for its crispy crust.

    Our first stop (on our direct way) was takeout only, but called the next choice and here we are in Troy MI. After some debate over 4-square vs 8-square (and our diet), we went large and are eagerly waiting the Detroit PBR to arrive.

    Delicious

    Crispy crust from sizzling in oils, 2 types of pepperoni, zippy but slightly sweet sauce and more than enough cheese 🧀

    Nicely accompanied by a Buddy Brew - a light wheat beer with citrus. Would also be a good summer refresher!

    3rd good meal this trip
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  • Backstage

    27. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    We followed the PW COO and others through several galleries the into the “behind the scenes “ areas where art was prepared for shipping. Eventually we ended up in 1 of the 2 studios that are used for the ground breaking online art auctions. Park West quickly stood the program up within a few weeks of the Covid shutdown. They also received an Emmy for this program that they invented on the fly in 2020.

    They use 2 identical studios, 1 in MI, the other in FL, with the stated mission of being indistinguishable so they can switch between the two in case of power outages etc.

    The show must go on, or probably more realistically, keep the money rolling in!
    Forgot how much they said typically gets sold with each show but in the hundreds of thousands.

    Saw what may be the last remaining Annabelle in its box.
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  • Studio

    27. lokakuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Arrived at Tim Yankee’s creative hub and everyone was warmly greeted by Tim and his wife Niki. Also by a couple men who turned out to be his brothers, Frank and ?

    Inside half the studio had been converted to accommodate tables and chairs. Buckets of cold bevvies scattered around in addition to a well stocked bar with two tenders.

    Lots of art work throughout the space, several from Tim’s person collection, some WIP and quite a few clearly brought in to entice buyers (limited edition runs and originals).
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