• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • TravelingDad

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE USA
    • ROAD TRIP PLANNER
    • ILLINOIS ROAD TRIPS
    • TEXAS ROAD TRIPS
    • GEORGIA ROAD TRIPS
    • CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS
    • NORTHEAST ROAD TRIPS
    • MIDWEST ROAD TRIPS
  • Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
    • US Cities
      • New York City
      • Chicago
      • Los Angeles
      • Orlando
      • San Diego
      • San Francisco
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Outdoors
    • Skiing
    • National Parks
    • RV/Camping
    • Beaches
  • Travel Resources
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Free Things to Do
    • Packing
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Ticket
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Grandparents
    • Cruising
    • TravelingDad
  • Search
  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • Road Trips Across the USA
    • Road Trip Planner
    • Illinois Road Trips
    • Texas Road Trips
    • Georgia Road Trips
    • California Road Trips
    • Northeast Road Trips
    • Midwest Road Trips
  • US National Parks
  • RV and Camping
  • Beaches
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Cruises
  • Skiing
  • Free Things to Do
  • Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
  • Traveling Grandparents
  • TravelingDad
  • US Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
  • US Cities
    • NYC
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Orlando
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • International
  • Travel Resources
    • Book A Trip
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Packing
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Family Vacation Ideas / Midwest Family Vacation Ideas / Celebrate the Resurgence of Downtown Detroit at the Lovely DoubleTree Suites
DoubleTree Suites downtown Detroit.
DoubleTree Suites downtown Detroit. Photo: Wikipedia

Celebrate the Resurgence of Downtown Detroit at the Lovely DoubleTree Suites

October 18, 2017 //  by Cindy Richards//  1 Comment

Facebook5TweetPin4LinkedInShares9

Disclosure: All or part of this trip was provided free or at a reduced cost for review purposes, but the opinions are solely that of the writer. A TravelingMom cannot be bought.

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Downtown Detroit and Daym Drops
  • History of the DoubleTree Suites in Downtown Detroit
  • Family Friendly Hotel
  • Family Friendly Suites Make the Difference 
  • Dining at the DoubleTree

If you haven’t been to Detroit in the last five years, you haven’t been to Detroit. Downtown Detroit is under construction as developers reclaim and rebuild its most beautiful buildings, like the historic high rise that now houses the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown – Fort Shelby. The lovely family friendly hotel was the host for a TravelingMom influencer event, #TLEDetroit, starring YouTube star and TravelingDad Daym Drops.

Daymon Patterson, AKA YouTube star Daym Drops, takes a selfies with TravelingMoms Mary Moore, Cindy Richards, Kim Orlando, and Deb Steenhagen, and TravelingDads TJ Burns and Richard Christensen at #TLEDetroit
Daymon Patterson, AKA YouTube star Daym Drops, takes a selfie with TravelingMoms Mary Moore, Cindy Richards, Kim Orlando, and Deb Steenhagen, and TravelingDads TJ Burns and Richard Christensen at #TLEDetroit
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom will get a commission. Thanks for helping support TravelingMom.

Downtown Detroit and Daym Drops

Detroit, Michigan, is a city on the rise. After years of disinvestment and decline, downtown Detroit is experiencing a renaissance—so much so that USA Today named it one of 14 places in the US to visit in 2016.

TravelingMom headed to Detroit to see for ourselves in late September, 2017. We invited Detroit area influencers to join us for a Detroit Travel + Lifestyle Event showing off the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown – Fort Shelby and TravelingDad Daymon Patterson, better known as Daym Drops, the YouTube star who also struts his stuff on the Rachel Ray Show.

DoubleTree Executive Chef Eric Hurd demonstrated how he builds a pork belly appetizer that is just as pretty as it is yummy. And Daym Drops has the review:

 

History of the DoubleTree Suites in Downtown Detroit

The building that now houses the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown – Fort Shelby sat vacant for 34 years. Surprisingly, though, some of the original marble remains and was used in the renovation and revitalization of this grand dame of a hotel.

Now a member of the Historic Hotels of America, the DoubleTree Detroit – Fort Shelby has roots that date back to 1779. It sits on the site of a colonial era fort, then called Fort Lenoult. During the War of 1812, the fort ultimately was won by American troops led by Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby. The fort was renamed in his honor.

While the fort is long gone, the hotel retains an homage to its history with the Fort Shelby in its name. The Fort Shelby Hotel was built in 1917 on the site of the former fort. Over the years, the hotel saw ups and downs before it closed completely in 1974. The building sat vacant for 34 years.

DoubleTree Suites downtown Detroit.
DoubleTree Suites downtown Detroit. Photo: Wikipedia

Family Friendly Hotel

Today, the beautiful Beaux-Arts building has been restored to its former glory. It’s a teeming property that boasts a great downtown Detroit location within easy walking distance of many Detroit attractions and just a block from the People Mover and a few blocks from the new QLine Streetcar that runs up and down Woodward Avenue.

Historic #ceiling at the #historic @DoubleTreeDetroit #hotel. #TLEDetroit #DoubleTreeFS #tmom #lovelyplace

A post shared by Cindy Richards (@cindy_richards) on Sep 29, 2017 at 10:17am PDT

Even more important than the gorgeous building is the quality of the service. Everyone I ran into was pleasant and helpful. And, I loved this promise from the family friendly hotel, found on cards prominently displayed around the hotel and in my room:

DoubleTree Suites downtown Detroit promise: If something isn't right, they'll fix it.

Family Friendly Suites Make the Difference 

I stayed in a 650-square-foot suite that felt bigger than some apartments I have rented. The separate sitting area with its own flat screen TV sits a long hallway from the bedroom. There’s no pool to entertain the kids, but they can stay up, watching TV and indulging in the free wifi, while us parents get our beauty rest.

And the rest I got! The DoubleTree “Sweet Dreams” bed was one of the comfiest hotel beds I have ever had the pleasure of sinking into at the end of a long day.

The huge bathroom is nicely appointed and has enough space for more than one person to get ready at the same time. It is all one room—no separate space for the toilet and or tub—so that can slow things down a bit for families that like their privacy.

The huge bathroom at the DoubleTree Suites downtown Detroit.
Photo: Cindy Richards / Empty Nest TravelingMom

Dining at the DoubleTree

The lunch we had at #TLEDetroit was a nice representation of the quality of the food Chef Eric supplies.

The famous DoubletTree chocolate chip cookie.
The famous DoubletTree chocolate chip cookie. Photo: Cindy Richards / Empty Nest TraveingMom

The foodie experience at the DoubleTree Suites in Downtown Detroit starts with the cookie. That would be the warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie you get whenever you check into a DoubleTree anywhere. This delectable treat should be savored. Wait until you get upstairs to your room, brew a cup of Wolfgang Puck coffee, settle into the sitting area and enjoy!

The hotel has two onsite restaurants: Motor City Kitchen and the Round Bar.

Motor City Kitchen offers “an urban twist on comfort food” each day for breakfast. The breakfast buffet was fresh, hot and plentiful.

For lunch and dinner, move across the hall to the Round Bar. It serves local beer and innovative cocktails along with comfort food like this bread pudding.

Daymon Patterson, AKA YouTube star Daym Drops, takes a selfies with TravelingMoms Mary Moore, Cindy Richards, Kim Orlando, and Deb Steenhagen, and TravelingDads TJ Burns and Richard Christensen at #TLEDetroit
Bread pudding at the Round Bar at DoubleTreeSuites in Downtown Detroit. #Yum Photo: Cindy Richards / Empty Nest TravelingMom

Have you been to Detroit recently?

Detroit hotels like the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton - Fort Shelby -- are housed in formerly abandoned buildings now restored to their former glory. This historic hotel is a great spot for foodies and families.

Facebook5TweetPin4LinkedInShares9

Category: Family Hotel Reviews, Midwest Family Vacation Ideas

You May Also Like

  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel: Family-Friendly Hotels in Flagstaff
  • family friendly detroit
    6 Reasons the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel Detroit is Family Friendly
  • Relax and Refuel with a Weekend Trip to Detroit
  • Book the lush Doubletree when staying in Claremont.
    8 Must Dos While Staying in Claremont at the Doubletree
  • Hear from a Colorado-based family why they like to visit Downtown Denver with kids as they share their favorite things to do, and the best places to stay.
    24+ Hours of Fun in Downtown Denver with Kids
  • Chicago for kids and adults.
    Downtown Chicago: Fun for kids and adults
Previous Post: «Traveling for the holidays - Polish and now American families have celebrated Christmas Eve together for the last 30 years. Traveling During the Holidays? You Aren’t Alone
Next Post: 6 Tips for Your First Volcano Hike with Kids Family and Friends having fun on a Volcano Hike in Guatemala.»

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1 Comment on “Celebrate the Resurgence of Downtown Detroit at the Lovely DoubleTree Suites”

  1. Cindy Richards, Empty Nest TravelingMom says:
    February 12, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    5

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Manage Push Notifications
  • Site Admin

Copyright © 2021 Traveling Mom · All Rights Reserved