Corktown is Popping!

Highlights / General details

Explore the diverse sites of this Irish enclave, from the awesome modern-era “ruins” of Michigan Central Station to the colorful Victorian homes, and learn why everyone is coming to Corktown these days. Along the way, find out where to go for some of Detroit’s best brews, BBQs, burgers, bagels, and more!

Explore the city’s best-kept secret: the distinctly Irish flavor of Detroit’s oldest neighborhood.

Drool over Corktown’s best pubs and grubs, including a stop at the oh-so-official Detroit Institute of Bagels.

Grab yourself a bit of the ole Irish luck at the Gaelic League.

Take in ‘ruin chic’ at the abandoned Michigan Central Railroad Station.

Check out the home of the former Tiger Stadium in Ernie Hallwell Park, a true Detroit landmark.

Inclusion

Local English-speaking guide; Half-pint of draft beer or complimentary soft drink.

Exclusion

Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Food and additional beverages; Souvenirs and items of a personal nature; Gratuities for your local guide.

Hours of operation

Available Tuesday - Sunday at 1:00pm from May to November.

Duration

Approximately 2 hours.

Location

Meeting Point: In front of 2130 Michigan Ave, Detroit.

Ending Point: Gaelic League, 2068 Michigan Ave.

Itinerary

Strap on your walking shoes for what’s sure to be the most epic tour of Detroit’s historic Corktown this side of Michigan Avenue.

We’ll start on a block that has been key to Corktown’s revival, where BBQ, burgers, coffee, and craft cocktails beckon crowds of hungry and thirsty Detroiters.

From here, you’ll take in the contrasting views of Detroit’s highs and lows. We’ll walk toward the massive Michigan Central Railroad Station, left for ruin and a symbol of the decline of Detroit. We’ll get a good look at this hulking structure, which has been ranked as one of the “must-see” abandoned buildings in the world.

To contrast that, we’ll continue our Detroit walking tour past the charming, colorful Victorian houses of residential Corktown. This is Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Your guide will point out some local favorites, like a charming Irish tavern, an indie record store, a great deli, and a popular new brewpub. We’ll also hear about the new microbrewery, start-up hub, and technology center that are helping to define Corktown as the neighborhood to know. Along the way, your local guide will point out an early 19th-century church that’s one of oldest churches in Detroit.

Hopefully by this point you’ve worked up an appetite for a visit to the new Detroit Institute of Bagels — yes, it’s as official as it sounds and for you bagel snobs out there (we see you, New York), they take traditional bagel-making seriously.

Start your seventh-inning stretch as we return to Michigan Avenue for a mile-long stroll past The Greening of Detroit office (and learn a little about their tree-planting and beautification efforts), and to Ernie Harwell Park, the gone-but-not-forgotten former home of the Detroit Tigers. This was the home field for baseball greats like Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, and Al Kaline, and is where Nelson Mandela spoke shortly after his release from prison in South Africa. We’ll be sure to stop by Detroit Athletic Co. that started as a humble peanut stand and has grown to provide the best selection of sports swag.

Along our Corktown tour, you’ll hear about the local funky spot for live music and art shows, and a favorite shop where you can get a “Coney dog” without having to go to Coney Island. Your local guide will also point out where to get some crazy-good shawarma sandwiches that Detroiters absolutely love, as well as epic burgers, wine, and charcuterie.

Our colorful Detroit tour ends at a pot of gold in the Gaelic League Irish-American Club of Detroit. You may be a wee bit thirsty by the time we arrive, so we’ve got you covered with a complimentary half-pint.

After the tour has officially ended, you’re free to stay at the Gaelic League for more beer or some Irish whiskey, or maybe you’ll want to visit the tasting room at Two James Distillery, or visit Batch Brewing Co., Brew Detroit, or one of the other great bars in Corktown. If all those foodie spots we passed have your stomach rumbling, your guide can point the way. Just ask them for a recap of the local lunch-and-a-pint haunts that make Corktown pop!

Additional Information

Please wear shoes that allow you to comfortably walk a couple of miles. Please also consider a hat and/or sunscreen on sunny days, and bring a jacket on cooler days, and an umbrella if it’s calling for rain.

Participant restrictions

This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour. Children younger than 6 are permitted at no extra cost, but please make sure you inform our guides of this before you take the tour.

Policies

Cancellation: 2 days prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.

Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**