By Yasha Nazir Butt
Graduate ambassador
Ph.D. candidate in chemistry

Click! Click! The shutter noise merged into the hustle and bustle of the city as I took some test shots from my DSLR.

Excited to see what this city had to offer, I hopped off the Detroit people mover for my first stop: Grand Circus. I was at the hub of drama, performance, and sports right next to Fox Theatre, Little Caesars Arena, and Comerica Park. I was inspired by the grandeur and splendor of the architecture that makes the Fox an architectural gem. And with that, attending musicals at Fox Theatre Detroit was on my bucket-list.

As the mover shuttled towards Greektown, the Victorian-styled shops caught my attention. People enjoying ice creams, dance, and dine-in—everything in the city seemed lively, showing it has a heartbeat and rhythm.

I continued my sight-seeing journey, and my next stop was the Renaissance Center with the show-stopper skyscrapers at the Riverfront. I entered the glass entrance of GM Wintergarden and enjoyed beautiful views of the Detroit River from the first floor, a perfect place to relax after a busy week at graduate school. The Ren Cen also offered free wi-fi, car displays, and a food court, however, I saved my appetite for the portobello shroom burger from Shake Shack filled with melted cheeses.

Back on the people mover, I captured some more photos of historical landmarks including the iconic statue Spirit of Detroit and the Fist and Campus Martius Park. Heading towards Joe Louis Arena through the financial district was the best part of this ride since it gave an epic bird-eye view of the Detroit Riverfront. Below chugged the Detroit Princess Riverboat and in the distance, I could see the bridge to Canada as the sun started to set with warm colors.

With that I ended my city-exploration, self-guided tour at the final stop of Fort/Cass Station. I decided next time I’d ride my bike along the Riverfront and enjoy the fresh breeze, birds, and swashing sound of water striking the riverbank.