“Like Belle Isle, sits in the middle of the Detroit river, city park about 7 miles long with its own zoo at one time and beach on the Detroit river...had its own herd of deer also, don’t remember the breed, not White tail deer...beautiful arboretum, with a room for desert flora and an orchid room with a small waterfall..”
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About 6 months ago I first heard about Belle Isle so I took a Google Map “drive” all through it. I was stunned at how beautiful it was, and envied Detroit residents who were lucky enough to be able to use it.
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Belle Isle is a state park now. Another plus is the fact that it has a major Indycar race again. They started tearing up the roads this summer before the last fans had even left the island for a totally new track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxUADEaZ2VU#t=67
Throughout the island, along the road that ran next to the river, you could have a great picnic...picnic tables and bar-b-cues were all over the place. You didn’t have to bring your own bbq, just your own charcoal...I got a ticket for driving on the island without a license, my boyfriend also got a ticket for letting me drive his car...lol he ended up being my husband....i got even with him for letting me get a ticket....everyone in detroit knows about submarine races on the island..
“About 6 months ago I first heard about Belle Isle...”
More years ago than I can remember I was in Detroit several times, always over the Labor Day weekend. I lived in Iowa in those days. I do remember Belle Isle...really a great place. I also remember the hydroplanes, the big ones, racing on the Detroit River. Saw one of them flip. Detroit was a really great place to visit in those days.
Later when living in Ohio and raising a family, we went to Dearborn Village and the Ford Museum. Very educational...for me and for the kids.
I had my first taste of Vernor’s in Detroit those many years ago...draft Vernor’s! I was hooked! One time there one of those Chrysler gas turbine cars (body by Ghia) was beside me at a traffic light. Amazingly quiet. And it had acceleration. Wanted one!