Alright, so my best friend, let’s call her Jess, finally decided to tie the knot. And guess who got tasked with the bachelorette party? Yep, yours truly. Now, everyone and their mother kept pushing for the usual spots. You know, Nashville, Vegas, Miami. Some even threw Traverse City out there, saying it’s Michigan’s “best” with all its wineries and outdoorsy stuff. Sounded okay, but Jess isn’t exactly a “hike in the morning, sip chardonnay in the afternoon” kind of gal. We needed something with a bit more grit, more character, and honestly, something that wouldn’t totally break the bank for a crew of ten.
So, I threw out an idea that got a few raised eyebrows: Detroit. Yeah, Detroit. Some of the girls were like, “Detroit? Are you serious?” But I’d been hearing good things, seeing how it’s been bouncing back, and Jess actually grew up in the suburbs, so there was a bit of a nostalgic pull too.
Getting the Ball Rolling
First thing I did was create a group chat. Essential. Threw out the Detroit idea, along with a rough budget. Surprisingly, after the initial shock, most were on board, especially when I started showing them some of the cool Airbnbs I found. We snagged this awesome loft in Corktown, big enough for all of us, with exposed brick and everything. Way cheaper than a bunch of hotel rooms.
Next up, activities. I didn’t want to overschedule us. That’s the worst. You end up rushing everywhere and not enjoying anything. We decided on a few key things:
- A nice dinner out.
- Some solid bar hopping.
- Maybe something uniquely Detroit.
- Brunch, obviously.
The Execution – Boots on the Ground!
We all rolled in on a Friday afternoon. The Airbnb was even better in person. First night, we kept it relatively chill. We hit up a spot called The Sugar House for some fancy cocktails. Seriously good drinks. Then, we grabbed some Detroit-style pizza from Buddy’s. You just gotta, right? It’s like a rule. The girls who were skeptical about Detroit? They were already starting to change their tune.
Saturday was our big day. We started with brunch at Dime Store. Packed, but worth the wait. Then, we wandered around downtown, saw The Spirit of Detroit, walked along the riverfront. In the afternoon, we did something a little different – Fowling! If you don’t know, it’s football bowling. Sounds weird, is ridiculously fun, especially after a couple of local beers. We were terrible, but laughed our heads off.
For the evening, Jess wanted to feel a bit fancy, so we booked a table at Selden Standard. The food was incredible. After that, we explored The Belt, that cool alleyway with all the art and bars. Hopped into a few places there. The vibe was just so energetic and fun. No massive cover charges, no insane lines like you get in some other cities.
The Wind-Down and Final Thoughts
Sunday was a slow start, as you can imagine. We found a cute little coffee shop, grabbed some pastries, and just kind of recounted all the funny moments from the night before. We did a quick walk through Eastern Market before people started heading home. It was vibrant, tons of local vendors. Wish we had more time there, actually.
So, Detroit for a bachelorette? Absolutely. It wasn’t what people expected, and maybe that’s why it worked so well. It had great food, cool bars, unique stuff to do, and it didn’t feel like we were just another bachelorette party factory line. We actually got to experience the city. Plus, seeing Jess so happy, surrounded by her friends, in a place that had some meaning to her – that’s what it’s all about. Forget what the “guides” tell you is the “best.” Sometimes, the unexpected choice is the one that makes the best memories.
