Day Trip to West Bloomfield: Guide You Can Share With Visitors to Our Town
We're hoping more people in metro Detroit will understand what little gems we have here in West Bloomfield. If you're planning on visiting or have a friend coming to town, point them in this direction.
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We wrote this little daytrip guide to West Bloomfield for a summer series called Patch Passport. The other Patch sites in Michigan — from St. Clair Shores to Dexter and two dozen in between — have done the same.
All summer long, we'll offer up a weekly daytrip guide to another southeast Michigan destination, so if you decide to take a short road trip with the family to one of our Patch cities, you'll know how to get there and where to go.
But to start, here's what you helped us come up with for our own daytrip guide. Have more suggestions? Add them in the comments.
Sports parks in town
Get away from the crowd by hitting Marshbank Park on Hiller Road, north of Commerce. Well before the complete renovation of the park 2009-10, Marshbank was a popular choice for outdoor activities enthusiasts and families with children alike. Now, the park offers amenities including a hill for winter sledding and summer concerts as well as a fishing pier.
Drake Sports Park is well-known by locals for its skateboarding ramps, while Community Sports Park has long been a home for soccer, tennis, and more.
Finally: no lake access, no problem. Visit the Family Aquatic Center to get your swimming fix.
As always, please contact West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation for more details on hours and availability before planning your day around parks.
'It's a scene, man'
If your athletic side favors trail blazing as opposed to competitive sports, you're in luck. As a Rails-to-Trails project, West Bloomfield's trail networks offer visitors the option to walk, bike, or ski across wetlands, woodlands, and wildflowers. The trail currently covers more than four miles, not including a trail extension project under construction which add another two miles.
The west trailhead, known as the West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve, is designated an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary.
Shopping and fun
West Bloomfield has something fun to offer fashion lovers in Closet NV, a consignment store known for its shoes, purses, jewelry and clothing. For visitors looking to relax, it sometimes seems as though you can't throw a rock on Orchard Lake Road without coming close to a spa or salon. Find your favorite and leave a comment on their Directory page.
The West Bloomfield Main Library is known as one of the top libraries in the entire country. Grandparents can bring visiting grandchildren to the youth room to play in the activity center, attend a program, play educational games on computers and enjoy other activities.
Of course, don't forget to see the Orchard Lake Fine Art Show which takes place July 27-29.
Best dinner spots
All that outdoor activity would make anyone hungry. I would suggest heading to Orchard Lake Road for dinner since there is such a wide variety of really good restaurants:
- Redcoat Tavern (save yourself a trip to Woodward Avenue for their famous burgers)
- Stage Deli (see Hollywood stars of yesteryear adorn the walls as you enjoy yourself)
- Original Romano's (great pizza)
- Yotsuba (real deal sushi)
- Shangri-La (I say it's the best Chinese food this side of the Ambassador Bridge)
Where else?
Let potential visitors know where else they should visit by posting a comment on this story.
In This article
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Marshbank Park
2805 Hiller Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
Drake Sports Park
6801 Drake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
Community Sports Park
2750 Keith Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
Family Aquatic Center
6200 Farmington Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Activities Center
4640 Walnut Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
West Bloomfield Trail
4655 Arrowhead, West Bloomfield, MI
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West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve
4655 Arrowhead, West Bloomfield, MI -
Closet NV
6889 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
West Bloomfield Township Public Library
4600 Walnut Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
Orchard Lake Fine Art Show
Powers Rd & Daly Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
Redcoat Tavern
6745 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
Stage Deli
6873 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
The Original Romano's
4139 Orchard Lake Rd, Orchard Lake, MI -
Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant
7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
The Shangri-La Chinese Restaurant
6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI
