Hive & Seek

In honor of 313 day, here is a BREAKDOWN of my recent work trip to Detroit.

Recently, I had the opportunity to take a few Northern Michigan high school marketing students to Detroit for the DECA State Career Development Conference. DECA is a student organization for those who are interested in business careers. This group wrote a business plan for a start-up. While the process of planning and pitching a new idea to judges is a wonderful and beneficial experience, taking students out of their rural communities to an urban setting is eye-opening and just as beneficial for them. Although it can be a bit stressful for their teachers and chaperones.

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where did we stay?

We stayed at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. This is where we always stay because there is a People Mover station conveniently located here. Rooms have a great view of the Detroit River and Canada. I also liked the fact that there was a food court on the lower level. The food court, originally home to multiple fast-food restaurants, was an affordable place for students to get a quick meal, which can be difficult in Detroit. If you didn’t already know, GM has moved its headquarters out of the Ren Cen. With the move, the Ren Cen has been closed to the general public, and the food court has been shut down.

The service at the Ren Cen was exceptional this year. The front desk staff was super friendly and professional. They even gave me two free drink tickets, which, unfortunately, I could not use on a school trip, but it was a nice gesture. Since the building is now closed to the general public, there was more security, making us feel more secure. They were also extremely friendly. One of the security guards even competed in DECA during the 1970s, which my students got a kick out of. The rooms were clean, and the hotel was quiet at night. Security, clean, and quiet, what more can you ask for out of a hotel?

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Where did we eat?

Our first night in Detroit traditionally begins with a meal at my favorite Greek restaurant, Pegasus. The food is ALWAYS delicious, and the service impeccable. I was so eager to taste my food that I didn’t get a good picture of my meal. Sorry, not sorry, their gyros and rice are soooooo….. good! The atmosphere outside of the restaurant is not exactly conducive to touring teenagers around, though, so we limited ourselves to a quick walk to and from the People Mover this year.

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Day two was our competition day, so we opted for an early breakfast at the IHOP across the street before preparing for our presentation. After competing, we decided to celebrate with a special dinner at the Sugar Factory. The Sugar Factory food was REALLY delicious, and although we didn’t dare push our daily meal budget limits, the desserts people were getting around us looked phenomenal! I will definitely go back when I’m not on a school budget limit and indulge in one of their shakes. The really great thing about the Sugar Factory is the opportunity for some really awesome photos. There are lots of fun backdrops around the restaurant ready for your social media pages. The restaurant staff was extremely friendly, although the manager did think we were trying to pull one over on him when we asked for a tax exemption on our bill.

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Day three of our trip, our last day, started with a search for a breakfast/brunch place along Woodward Avenue. We lucked out when we found Avalon.

The mission at Avalon is to: Eat Well. Do Good. Simple, direct, and true. I like the rustic charm of Avalon. The food was delicious, especially the bread. The prices were reasonable as well. Below are some pics of our menu choices.

A trip to Detroit would not be complete without at least one meal at Buddy’s Pizza. You can’t beat their Detroit-style pizza. They even offer gluten-free options.

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Detroit seemed a bit rougher than it has in recent years. Just a bit more open drug use in public areas, and more people with mental disorders roaming around. I’m not sure that this is different than any other big city at this point in time. If you stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary risks, you should be able to avoid scary situations. Overall, we had a great trip to Detroit. We stayed in a wonderful hotel and never had a bad meal. Our students worked hard, earned a medal, and gained valuable experience.

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What you need to bring when you travel with students on an overnight trip:

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