Five years ago, I went to Novi (about 15 miles west of Detroit) for a convention and an overnight stay. Since then, friends and attractions have been added, turning a quick business trip into a weekend of fun.

This year, there were three of us, and we started with lunch at Bagger Dave’s as soon as we got to the area. They are known for their awesome burgers, including a create-your-own burger, which, for me, meant a double turkey burger with blue cheese and sauteed mushrooms. This is a lunch staple on our trips.

After lunch, we checked out the Motor City Comic Con for a few hours of pop culture exhibits, including meeting Brady Bunch kids Susan Olsen and Mike Lookinland, and then checked into the Courtyard by Marriott. We took advantage of their workout room and pool for some exercise and relaxation.

We followed that with dinner at Border Cantina, the sister location of a fantastic Mexican-American restaurant we first discovered last November on our trip to the University of Michigan. Border Cantina serves generous, incredibly flavorful portions.

On Saturday, we drove into Detroit to see the Tigers play the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. This beautiful ballpark, which opened in 2000, features a carousel, a Ferris wheel, a food court and statues of famous Tigers. It’s a beautiful park, and best of all, the Tigers won 3-0.

After the game, we enjoyed the rest of the night at the Downtown Hoedown. This is the world’s largest, free country music festival. Josh Gracin, Gloriana and many more filled the downtown air with the sounds of country. I am not a huge fan of country music, but this was a fun way to kick off the summer season.

Detroit gets a bad rap at times, but Mayor Dave Bing has worked hard to make the city more tourist-friendly. I look forward to this yearly trip. Each year, the trip gets better, and each year I see Detroit improving.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist