Since the BF lives in Dearborn, I’ve been spending a lot of time in Southeast Michigan lately. Before we started dating, I think I had Michigan as a state I would probably fly or drive by, but wouldn’t visit on my spare time or for vacation. But you know what? It’s slowly growing on me – there is actually quite a lot to do here and a lot of really good food.

At the time of this post, I would’ve spent 6 weekends in Dearborn, Michigan. We usually try to do at least one activity outside each day, although sometimes it just means grabbing lunch and seeing a movie. Most of the credit goes to X since he’s the one who plans our activities!

So what is there to do and eat in the southeast part of Michigan? Read on to find out!

One of the very first places I visited was The Henry Ford, which is Dearborn’s biggest attraction. The Henry Ford is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex. It consists of the Museum, Greenfield Village, and the Ford Rouge Factory. I have yet to do Greenfield Village, but the Museum and the Factory Tour are both stellar activities. The Museum has a little bit of everything – apparently Henry Ford liked to collect a lot of random items! The Rouge Factory Tour, however, is my favorite. You get to see how a Ford F-150 is made from the beginning to the end. It’s an actual factory that produces F-150’s, so you really get to see everything.

Dearborn is very close to Detroit proper, so a trip to the city is always a good outing for the day. There is a lot to see in Detroit – and even more great places to eat. A visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts is a great way to spend the day. In particular, I quiet liked walking down along the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. On a nice day, it’s really pretty place to go for a walk after lunch or brunch!

The Detroit Zoo, which is actually located 2 miles north of Detroit proper in Royal Oak, is another great place to spend a nice day. The Zoo is reasonably priced and very well-kept. The exhibits are pretty big for the animals and there is a lot to see. There are also a lot of picnic areas for people who want to pack a lunch and make a day of it.

Dearborn is also very close to Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan. It’s a very cute and quaint college town, with amazing restaurants. I’ve been to Ann Arbor a few times – sometimes just to eat and other times to just walk around. It’s a really cute place to just stroll through the streets. Stop by Zingerman’s Delicatessen for a delicious Reuben sandwich or Frita Batidos (in downtown Ann Arbor) for some delicious Cuban-inspired street food.

The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens is free to visit and a great place to spend the day for plant lovers – or just people who like looking at pretty things like us! The Gardens includes botanical gardens, natural areas with trails, and several research-quality habitats, which means you can spend a few solid hours here.