While summer vacations can often mean big family reunions, road trips, and kid-friendly adventures, there are ample opportunities for festive adults-only travels. Take advantage of warm summer evenings for nights out enjoying rooftop bars, entertainment, fine dining, and more, and the longer days to explore the culture of these three great communities below.
Enjoy festivals and nightlife in Detroit, Michigan
Summer fun in Detroit, Michigan – courtesy of Visit Detroit
Detroit is a destination you can’t miss in the summertime. Bustling with festivals, experiences, and events, adding the Motor City to your summer list is a must. From mouthwatering Detroit-style pizza to rooftop cocktails, and outdoor adventures to world-class art, summer in the D can’t be beat.
The original Detroit-style pizza is the place to start as Buddy’s Pizza, originating in 1946, continues to serve its delicious pizza to this day. For more of a unique flavor and twist on Detroit-style, Grandma Bob’s serves up some delicious pies, such as their Sausage + Pistachio and Big Mack pizza. Launched just last year, the Detroit Pizza Pass is a free mobile-exclusive digital pass that allows you to check in at designated pizza places around town to redeem optional discounts to earn prizes as you sink your teeth into all the delicious pizza that Detroit has to offer.
Embark on the Detroit Brew Trail, a journey through the best craft breweries in Metro Detroit. This guide is designed to highlight some of the best in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County! Along the trail, notable spots include Detroit’s hometown Atwater Brewery, serving up hand-crafted brews honoring the hard-working Detroit spirit since 1997. Eastern Market Brewing Co is another notable spot, a community-focused craft brewery and taproom in the heart of Detroit’s Eastern Market. Lastly, Batch Brewing Company is essential in the local brewing community serving food, drinks, and live music throughout the summer!
Elevate your evening at Kampers, atop the Book Tower with an expansive view of the city, or descend into the urban cool of The Skip, located inside the Belt alleyway with drinks, vibes, and all the summer energy you need. For more skyline views, check out the Monarch club, with 360 panoramic views of downtown Detroit, or step into Tin Roof, a live music bar with a rooftop looking over Comerica Park! Perfect spot before or after a Tigers game.
Escape to the 982-acre urban paradise located in downtown Detroit. While there, check out The Belle Isle Aquarium (the oldest aquarium in the country!) or learn of the island’s maritime history, housed at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Or, simply soak up the sun on the island’s beaches, hang around the water, and enjoy the vast green space right in Detroit.
From July 16th to July 21st, Concert of Colors, a free annual diversity-themed music festival remains one of the few remaining large-scale, free-admission music festivals in the area, uniting metro Detroit’s diverse communities and ethnic groups through music and dance from around the world. Afro Nation, from August 17th to 18th, continues Detroit’s rich history of African American culture and its status as the birthplace of Motown. The festival offers an opportunity to celebrate the resilience and enduring legacy and to connect with Detroit’s vibrant music and artistic communities. The Detroit Jazz Festival from August 30th to September 2nd, brings jazz lovers together for four days of free swing and blues music from the community’s favorite jazz artists.
To finish out the summer season with a bang, Dally in the Alley on September 7th is a free annual music and art festival located in the Cass Corridor of Detroit featuring numerous vendors, stages for music and shopping through the streets of the Motor City.
Spend some time wandering through The Belt, a transformed alley in the heart of downtown Detroit, bursting with murals and art installations. The Detroit Institute of Arts is a must-visit, hosting a world-renowned collection of works, and voted #1 art museum by USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice in 2024. Library Street Collective features contemporary works by both renowned and emerging artists. And when exploring downtown Detroit, keep an eye peeled for the many murals that line the city’s walls. Art is a story in Detroit that all are welcome to explore.
Challenge your friends, family, or even strangers to a game of “fowling” (football + bowling) at the Fowling Warehouse. You may think throwing footballs at bowling pins may be easy, but add in the distance, some drinks, and a whole lot of laughs and it will be a tough game! For a place with endless variety, The Yard is your one stop shop for both indoor and outdoor games and excitement. A laid-back attitude, the Yard is perfect for the whole family, and all the games you can imagine. Bring your competitive spirit when you visit.
Bike, stroll, or jog along the bustling Detroit Riverfront and connecting Dequindre Cut greenway. Voted #1 Riverfront by USA Today Readers 10Best for three years in a row, the riverfront provides all you need for some sunshine, great views, and miles of path to explore. To experience designated outdoor spaces throughout Michigan, look no further than the Huron Clinton Metroparks. With 13 individual properties and nearly 25,000 acres of woods, water and recreational facilities, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks are one of the nation’s premier regional park systems. For numerous outdoor festivals, visit Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill, with fun events such as the Lavendar festival from July 12th-21st, Sunflower Festival August 9th, and the Cider Dayze from August 24th-25th, plus many more.
This summer, make Detroit your playground. Whether you’re a foodie, music lover, art enthusiast, or outdoor adventurer, the city has something for you. Grab your shades, gather your crew, and get ready to make some memories in Motor City.
Take a brewery tour through Toronto, Canada
Cheers by Yutacar – Unsplash
Just in time for Summer, Destination Toronto today launched the Toronto Brew Pass, with one-day, three-day, and seven-day options and the choice of 23 distinct craft breweries throughout Downtown, Midtown, West End, East End, Don Valley and Etobicoke. The pass offers up to four tastings per day, with some breweries offering a tasting flight and others a single pour.
“Almost every neighbourhood in Toronto has a brewery, often with unique brews or compelling stories that bring the city to life through each sip,” said Andrew Weir, CEO & President at Destination Toronto. “The Toronto Brew Pass provides an opportunity for visitors and residents to sample local ingredients and brewer innovation while exploring the diversity and vibrancy of the city.”
The Toronto Brew Pass operates exclusively in a digital format with no downloading required, allowing users to explore up to four breweries per day at their leisure with three pass options:
The one-day pass ($22) for daysippers allows for tastings at four locations over a 24-hour period.The three-day pass ($32) for weekenders allows for more exploration with 16 locations over a 72-hour period.The seven-day pass ($52) for brewmasters is for the true explorer who wants to take their time and sample all 23 breweries over a seven-day period.
Upon signing up, the Toronto Brew Pass is instantly delivered to users’ phones via text and email. Brew pass users can show their phone at the brewery taproom to check-in and redeem the offer. The pass must be used within 90 days of purchase.
“Ontario’s craft brewers make some of the best beer in the world, and people are taking notice. Locally-owned Ontario craft breweries now welcome over 5 million visitors a year from the local community and around the globe; and the new Toronto Brew Pass is another exciting way we’re shining a spotlight on some of the fantastic craft breweries in our great province”, said Scott Simmons, President, Ontario Craft Brewers. “The Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) encourage everyone to grab their brew pass today to try a new craft brewery or stop in at an old favourite.”
Participating breweries include: Bellwoods Brewery, Big Rock Brewing, Black Lab Brewing, Blood Brothers Brewing, Burdock Brewery, Eastbound Brewing, Goldenfield Brewery, Granite Brewery, Great Lakes Brewery (Etobicoke), Indie Alehouse, Junction Craft Beverage Co., Left Field Brewery (Leslieville), Left Field Brewery (Liberty Village), Longslice Brewery Inc., Lost Craft x High Park Brewery, Nickel Brook Brewing Co., Old Flame Brewing Co., Rainhard Brewing, Red Tape Brewery, Saulter Street Brewery Inc., Silversmith Brewing Company Limited, Something in the Water and Steam Whistle Brewing.
Of the 23 breweries participating in the pass, at least 16 are dog-friendly and 19 have patios. Burdock Brewery and Steam Whistle Brewing are committed to sustainability, Goldenfield Brewery integrates Persian flavours into its beers, and Red Tape Brewery is Indigenous-owned. Junction Craft Beverage Co. operates in a restored 1930s art-deco incinerator, Old Flame Brewing Company is housed in a historic building in the Distillery District, and Steam Whistle Brewery is located in the historic John Street Roundhouse.
Last year, Destination Toronto launched the Toronto Museum Pass, an all-in-one pass available as a one- or three-day option ranging in price from $45 to $85. The pass provides admission to seven iconic museums including Aga Khan Museum, Bata Shoe Museum, Gardiner Museum, Little Canada, Ontario Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum and Textile Museum of Canada. To learn more about the Toronto Brew Pass or Toronto Museum Pass, please visit DestinationToronto.com.
Alcohol should be used and consumed only by those who are the legal drinking age of 19 or older. If you are going to drink, don’t drive. Please arrange for a safe means of transportation.
Sip fine wines in Sonoma County, California
A woman enjoys the wine and wildflowers of Sonoma County – courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
As the summer sun graces the Sonoma County sky, it ushers in longer days, and the landscape bursts to life as it shines on our coast, rivers, redwoods, vineyards, and valleys. Combined, they offer visitors a wide variety of unique experiences to enjoy. From the musical rhythms of the Country Summer Music Festival to the melodies heard at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, throughout the summer season, visitors can delight their senses at events like Taste of Sonoma, toast to good times at Gay Wine Weekend, or immerse themselves in the joy of the Gravenstein Apple Fair. Every day, all year around, Sonoma County extends a warm invitation to visitors to create their own unforgettable moments in a destination where Life Opens Up.
Transcendence Theatre Company has been the epitome of entertainment in Sonoma Wine Country for over thirteen years. Each season, the Transcendence Company presents a series of original outdoor musical revues, featuring talent direct from Broadway, Las Vegas, and beyond. For the 2024 summer season, Transcendence moved their performance venue to Sonoma’s Field of Dreams, located within Fazio Field, a short walk from the Sonoma Plaza. The new location near downtown Sonoma provides Transcendence Theatre patrons with easy access to Sonoma’s cultural amenities including local cuisine, boutique shopping, and wine tastings. Transcendence will host four weekends of Broadway musical revues with the summer series kicking running through September 22nd. Each show will highlight unique musical styles and performances ranging from Broadway and the American song catalog to pop and rock hits, R&B, and more. Featuring Broadway performers from such acclaimed musicals as Hamilton, Wicked, and Les Misérables. A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Field of Dreams to help upkeep the fields and support youth sports and recreation.
Renowned for its exceptional climate and ideal growing conditions, the Russian River Valley stands as a beacon of Pinot Noir excellence. The influence of Pacific Ocean fog with ancient soil nurtures heritage vines tended by a dedicated farming community, ensuring the production of wines of unparalleled quality. The Russian River Valley Wine Weekend (August 2nd to 4th) offers attendees a three-day experience tailored to diverse preferences. From the vibrant atmosphere of live music and food trucks to the refined elegance of family-style dining among fellow wine enthusiasts, there is something to delight every palate. The Russian River Wine Weekend promises an immersive journey into exceptional wine, gastronomy, and camaraderie. Guests can partake in the enchanting Sunset Soirée at Paradise Ridge Winery, indulge in the exquisite offerings of the Russian River Paulée presented by Secret Supper, and the Russian River Récolte Celebration at Hop Kiln Estate by Landmark Vineyard. Many other experiences are also available.
Tonti Family Wines opened its doors last December on the Windsor Town Green and features live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a jazz trio on Sundays. Musicians are sourced from all over Sonoma County including the Jed Moffitt Jazz Trio. Tonti Family Wines operates as a tasting lounge on other days of the week, with other events like “Paint & Sip” evenings with local professional artists.
On July 13th, an elegant Starlight Supper dinner party is planned at the Jordan Winery Chateau, in support of an important cause with the John Jordan Foundation. Smile Train, the largest cleft-focused organization globally, receives aid from this event, enabling local medical professionals in over 70 countries to provide free cleft surgeries and care. The evening begins with a reception featuring Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble, followed by a three-course meal on the newly renovated Jordan Winery Terrace. The chef’s cuisine highlights ingredients from the garden, paired with Jordan Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Guests can participate in a silent auction offering exclusive experiences, wines, and travel packages. Proceeds from ticket sales and auction items directly support Smile Train, through the John Jordan Foundation.
Finally, take advantage of the “Wine Travels Free” Program by Avelo Airlines when your trip is over. As part of their checked baggage allowance, Avelo Airlines passengers who are 21 years of age or older departing from STS can transport up to one case of wine per person at no additional cost. Avelo defines one case of wine as a single box or case containing up to 12 bottles, weighing 50 lbs. or less. Avelo operates nonstop flights from STS to Portland/Salem (via SLE), Bend/Redmond (RDM), Boise (BOI), Kalispell (via FCA), Las Vegas (via LAS), Los Angeles (via BUR) and Palm Springs (via PSP). Avelo Airlines joins Alaska Airlines as the second major carrier serving STS to offer this complimentary service.
Source link
