Get Moving on Woodward Avenue

Published on Jul 13, 2011 in Get Fit! Get Active: Walking Tours

Get moving on the byway where transportation is a culture -- Woodward Avenue in Metro Detroit, the birthplace of America’s automobile industry. Explore and experience the place that put the world on wheels -- but do it on foot! You'll gain a new perspective and appreciation for the city's history, character, and innovation by walking along this All-American Road. Save both money and gas, and do your heart and health some good when you amble along the Avenue in "America’s Motor City." 

Bring automotive history to life with the Auto Heritage Tour. Dip your fingers into the flowing waters of imposing Dodge Fountain at Hart Plaza, the birthplace of the Ford Motor Company, or stroll along the Detroit International RiverWalk to the soaring beauty of Michigan’s tallest building, the Renaissance Center, now world headquarters of General Motors. Or spend an afternoon immersing yourself in Motor City Culture on the Cultural Center Tour. Walk through four notable museums, several homes known for their architectural beauty, and the renowned Renaissance-style Detroit Public Library, home of the E. Azalia Hackley Collection of Negro Music, Dance, and Drama. At the elegant Cranbrook House and Gardens, take a 75-minute tour through ten stately rooms of hand-carved woodwork, century-old tapestries, and prized European heirlooms; or walk at your own pace through 40 acres of stunningly fragrant gardens, soothing fountains, and memorable outdoor art. The sports fans in your family will adore a tour of the Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park, home to the largest scoreboard in baseball. Pose beneath a giant stone Tiger for a picture and get an insider’s view from the visitor’s clubhouse and press box. If football is your sport, then hike on over to Ford Field for a behind-the-scenes tour. Let your young athletes run down the tunnel and onto the immaculate green turf just like the pros.

Check out the full list of guided walking tours on the Woodward Avenue website or just put on your headphones and take one of the self-guided audio tours offered by the city of Detroit -- tailored to match every area of interest, from history to culture to sports, and more. For an innovative tour alternative, try the Segway Downtown Detroit Tour. Learn how to ride a Segway and then spend two hours weaving around town practicing your new skill as you discover the ins and outs of the Motor City. Whether you're on foot or on a Segway, get moving on Woodward Avenue and discover the sights and sounds of this 27-mile All-American Road.

For additional information about Woodward Avenue, contact the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) at 248-288-2004 or visit WA3 online at www.woodwardavenue.org

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