Things to Do in Ferndale

Fox Theatre, originally opened in 1929, has long been established as a venue for legendary performances, earning induction into the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Domed entryways, walls lined with pastoral murals, intricate chandeliers, and a palette of brilliant gold and crimson hint at the venue's Moorish influences, which eclectically clash with the ordered lines of its Gothic exterior.

With its rotating cache of handmade accessories, including wooden picture frames, necklaces, and fuzzy scarves, Simply Creative Boutique feels more like someone’s inviting living room than an arts-and-crafts studio. A constantly changing roster of classes taught by owner Jennifer Kaczmarek encourages artists of all skill levels to try their hand at such specialties as creating a piece of jewelry or weaving a basket out of newspapers. Kaczmarek enhances her studio's community vibe with conversational blog posts, informing her customers about upcoming open houses, giveaways, and grudge matches between the warring Decoupage and Macramé families.

Modern Skate & Surf’s skate park and alternative-sports shop was founded in 1979 and has since hosted events frequented by Olympic and professional athletes—including superstar Tony Hawk—as well as earned a feature as Best Snowboard Shop in 2012 from Real Detroit Weekly. In Modern Skate & Surf’s world-class, 60,000-square-foot Royal Oak skate park—one of the largest facilities of its kind in the US—skateboards grind across rails or glide over jumps, and inline skaters whiz over obstacles and BMX bikes hang in midair. Customers can build on their extreme-sports skills in clinics and lessons or rent out the facility for parties or high-speed chases. Committed to supporting the next generation of extreme athletes, Modern Skate & Surf offers discounts to students who bring in report cards sporting A’s and B’s.

In addition to the skate park, Modern Skate & Surf also maintains a Lansing store that stocks snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding, skating, and protective gear to facilitate exciting adventures.

The crack of the bat. The roar of the crowd. The smack of a well-caught fly. For more than a century, the sounds of baseball have heralded the return of summer. For the organizers behind Detroit's Opening Day Festival, there's no better reason to celebrate. Now in its fourth year, the beer-filled bacchanalia honors the American pastime's return to the Motor City with live bands, DJs, games, and food vendors. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. in the heart of Greektown. There, guests can fuel up in heated beer and food tents, test their fastballs at a pitching sensor, or batter each other during rounds of human joust. Musical acts including Killer Flamingos, Brena, and Detroit Kyro stalk the stage during live performances, and an able crew of DJs lays down a constant barrage of beats. Once the game starts, guests can catch every pitch on the enormous viewing screens scattered around the grounds. The fun doesn't end with the last out, though; the festival keeps the party going until 2 a.m.

In 1917, famed golf-course architect Donald Ross carved New Rogell Golf Course out of an urban plot along Grand River Avenue, adding yet another gem to a portfolio of courses that also includes Pinehurst No. 2 and Oakland Hills. Today, players enjoy the fruits of Mr. Ross’s labor as they cruise over a bentgrass path that stretches to 6,075 yards from the farthest tees. Two additional tee boxes start off each hole as well, allowing golfers to tailor rounds to their skill level or forsake tees completely and start in a bunker.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course

• Total length of 6,075 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 70.2 from the back tees

• Course slope of 129 from the back tees

• Three sets of tees per hole