Photo Gallery Friday: Belle Isle Park, Detroit

Photo Gallery Friday is a regular feature on Travel the Mitten that will help showcase photos from places where a few pictures just aren’t enough to show off everything.

In 2013, the state of Michigan made an excellent decision and added Belle Isle Park in Detroit to its list of state parks. This nearly-1,000 acre island in the Detroit River was for many decades the place to be for summer recreation, and while it had fallen on hard times it appears to once again be on its way back to being a can’t-miss destination. Home to Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, Belle Isle Aquarium, Belle Isle Conservatory and more, this island is reached by taking the MacArthur Bridge from E. Jefferson Ave. (about five miles northeast of Joe Louis Arena). Over the years, Belle Isle Park has hosted the Detroit Indy Grand Prix, Metallica’s Orion Music + More Festival, soccer with the Detroit Futbol League and countless other events.

We made two trips to Belle Isle Park over the last year, once on a rainy fall day and once on a sunny day in June. It was great to see the William Livingstone Memorial Light, James Scott Memorial Fountain and other architectural gems, watch Great Lakes freighters pass by, and take in the awesome views of the Detroit skyline. This was one of our favorite spots to visit as kids, when we’d head to Detroit to see lighthouses but get to make a loop around the island first – back when a herd of fallow deer roamed freely. Today we take a look at some of our favorite photos from Belle Isle – be sure to also check out our 12 Things to See and Do at Belle Isle Park post for more!

*A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to Belle Isle Park