Take A Travel Nursing Assignment in Detroit: 10 Things You’ll Love

Detroit’s no longer your mama’s Motor City. The new Detroit is revved up. Renewed. Reborn.

The area gets a bad rap, and we can’t deny that it’s still recovering from decades of decline. But it’s being reimagined in exciting ways! This renaissance makes it a great city for a travel nursing assignment. The housing’s affordable (so you keep that chicken*,) the food’s delicious, the night life’s spirited … and it’s surrounded by Michigan’s natural beauty. Hello, Great Lakes!

If you’ve never considered travel nursing jobs in Michigan, maybe now’s the time! Here’s a list of hotspots that’ll convince you to say “what up doe?”* to Detroit…

Fair warning: the following will be littered with Detroit slang. That we Googled.
*“Chicken” = money, *“What up doe” = a greeting: hi/how are you, what’s up, what’s good, etc.

Best Public Art
The Belt
Between Broadway and Library Street, linking the Gratiot and Grand Rivers

Detroit’s abundantly adorned with unique and inspiring public art. It’s a matter of taste to determine what’s “best,” but you should definitely check out “The Belt.” Named for its location in the former garment district downtown, it’s a public space home to murals and other installations by local, national and international artists. This colorful alley’s a small part of larger efforts to beautify and reimagine underutilized areas in the city. Art enthusiasts should also check out the Brightmore neighborhood, Artist Village, 8-Mile Wall and the MBAD African Bead Museum.

Best Gameday Experience
Comerica Park, Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena
Game times vary. Tours often available during off-hours!

Detroit’s a sports fan’s paradise. With four professional sports teams in the metro area, you can experience gameday excitement in any season. Why not check out the Tigers (baseball,) Lions (football,) Redwings (hockey) and Pistons (basketball) to decide which is “best” for yourself? There are only 12 cities in the entire country that have professional teams for all four major sports — and Detroit’s one of them! Non-Detroiters love to hate Detroit teams, but win or lose locals are rabid fans. Their passion makes each game an unforgettable affair!

 

Best City Escape
Belle Isle Park
Open Daily 5am-10pm

As the sun sets over the water with the city skyline in the distance, you can feel magic in the Belle Isle air. On this surprisingly large island in the middle of the Detroit River, you’ll find an aquarium, botanical garden, nature center, museum and more! The island hosts concerts, beer fests, kayak rentals … a little something for everyone. It has a storied history — the lighthouse and former casino were designed by the same landscape architect who created Central Park in New York. Belle Isle is 982 acres of can’t-miss beauty, adventure and relaxation.

Detroit travel nursing jobs sound like a dream yet? Just wait ‘till you hear about the city’s electrifying nightlife!

Best Cocktail With A View
The Monarch Club
33 John R. Street Detroit MI 48226

The Monarch Club’s classic yet innovative craft cocktails are sure to please. So is the view. Here, you can sit amongst skyscrapers with city lights twinkling on all sides. The swanky ambiance in this meticulously restored penthouse was inspired by Detroit’s mid-century rooftop bars. It’s the perfect place to sip, unwind and savor the sites of a truly iconic city.

 

Best Fancy Night Out
Detroit Opera House
1526 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226

Breathtaking frescos, sparkling crystal chandeliers and sweeping marble staircases line the Detroit Opera House. The interior has remained nearly unchanged since 1922, when the opulent building began its life as the Capitol Theater. Today, it seats 2,700 people and hosts operas, live theatre and other performances. A night at the Detroit opera is a truly unique experience. No boosting.*

*Boosting = Lying

 

Best International Jaunt
Canada!
Drive to Windsor varies 10-30 minutes

Did you know Canada is just a hop, a skip and a jump away? So, why not check it oot* on your days off, eh*? A short drive over the Ambassador Bridge, complete with gorgeous waters views on all sides, will land you in Windsor. Gaze back at Detroit from Windsor’s riverfront park, it’s a beautiful place for a picnic! Explore the sculpture garden and take advantage of wide, paved paths for strolling or bicycling. In warmer months, you’ll discover outdoor musical events at the bandstand. Continue a little further into Canada and you’ll find one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World — the CN Tower in Toronto. At 553 meters it isn’t just the tallest building in the city, it’s the tallest free-standing building on the continent.

*Oot = out. Technically not Detroit slang, just the Canadian accent. But we thought we should translate anyway.
*Eh – they just say it. We don’t get it. But we love our northern neighbors anyway.

Best Weekend Away
Upper Peninsula
Appx. 6-hour drive from downtown

Lakes, forests, waterfalls and vineyards galore … what more could want from the great outdoors? Competition is stiff for must-see sites, but we found the top contenders. Number one is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It’s stunning. Take a boat tour to get an up-close look at the rocks. Then there’s Tahquamenon Falls, where over 50,000 gallons of water combine to flow through the upper and lower falls. Paved pathways and stairs surround the falls, so it’s an easy adventure for hikers of all levels. Kitch-iti-kipi (“The Big Spring”) is 200-feet across and 40-feet deep. Known as the “Mirror of Heaven,” you can explore its reflective surface via self-operated observation raft. After a day of exploring all this natural beauty unwind with a nice glass of wine, there are lots of varietals to choose from in the area!

Pro tip: Lockdown a travel nursing assignment in Detroit and head there a few days early for a quick getaway. Or … you can always explore on your days off!

Best Detroit-Style Pizza
Buddy’s
17125 Conant St Detroit, MI 48212

If you ask ten locals where to find the best Detroit-style pizza, it’s possible you’ll get 10 different answers. But odds are that Buddy’s will come up. In 1946, Gus Guerra and Connie Piccinato borrowed blue steel pans from local automotive plants and began making the U.S.’s first square-shaped pizza. Known both for its iconic shape and crunchy, cheesy corner slices, Detroit-style pizza has become a national favorite. If you don’t think Buddy’s is the best, no need to scrap*, there’s plenty of ‘za to go around. Food & Wine Magazine once declared, “Detroit’s pizza scene is one of the most exciting in the country.”

*“Scrap” = fight, throw down, tussle, etc.

Best Bookstore
John K. King Used Books
901 W. Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226

They have a million books. On my mama.* One. Million. Books. We think that’s enough said. But if you need us to say more things … John K. King Used Books is #1 on Huffington Post’s list of best indie bookstores in the country. Visiting the store was named as one of “101 Impressive Things to do Before You Die” by the Wall Street Journal. And the New York Times insists it’s something you should experience, even if you only have 36 hours in the city. According to the store’s own website, “John K. King Used & Rare Books is a bookstore reminiscent of times past, once described by someone as a Wes Anderson movie.”

*“On my mama” = This is the truth

Best Experience You Can Only Get in Detroit
Motown Museum
2648 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208, Open 10am-6pm every day

Have you “heard it through the grapevine?” Detroit’s the ONLY place in the world where you can visit the home of Motown. Established in 1959 by Berry Gordy, Motown became one of the largest, most successful record companies of all time. The “Motown Sound” captured the hearts of young America and the world. Its influences echo through American music to this day. Thousands of visitors pass through Hitsville, U.S.A each year, a testament to the legacy of those who made it great. Photographs and memorabilia decorate the walls, and you can view Berry Gordy’s restored upper flat. Don’t forget to step into studio A, the very spot legendary artists recorded hit after hit.

Go ahead and scrap in the comments if you know of a better view, better restaurant, better drink, etc. We gotta dip* so you can browse travel nursing jobs in Detroit. See you in “the 313.”

*Dip = leave, depart