Things to Do in Inkster

The sage-like city prowlers of Inside Detroit lead groups of tourists and natives through Detroit's history-rich hubs, charming watering holes, and evolving cultural centers. Walking tours bring urban nomads through the major landmarks of Detroit's downtown, such as the underground railroad's Second Baptist Church and the 40-story Guardian Building, an Aztec-inspired architectural masterpiece built during the 1920s, when it was thought to guard the city from hay fever.

Named one of the city's best cultural museums by CBS Detroit, the Holocaust Memorial Center is among America’s first Holocaust museums. For more than 25 years, the HMC has memorialized the senseless murder of millions, promoting tolerance while sending out a call to action to prevent future discrimination, hate crimes, bullying, and genocide by keeping alive the memory of the Holocaust and the lives it claimed.

Starting near the museum's lobby, an illustrated timeline tracing 4,000 years of Jewish history leads into The Museum of European Jewish Heritage, which highlights Judaism through artifacts and displays. From there, a ramp descending beyond a 22-foot window display of Nazi propaganda leads into an exhibit on The Final Solution. Here, displays and audiovisual installations usher visitors toward the Survivors' Theater, where live presentations by Detroit-area survivors illuminate the atrocities' personal costs. Daily tours are led by the museum's caring, expert educators, who guide guests through the exhibits while encouraging them to internalize the lessons for use in their own lives.

New to the museum is the Weisberg Gallery, where a Holocaust-era boxcar stands as a reminder of the scale of the period's atrocities. The museum also welcomes traveling exhibits such as Where the Past Meets the Future, a collection of mixed media pieces by artist Fay Grajower that connect Jewish life in pre-Nazi Poland with contemporary examples of Jewish life and culture in the nation today.

Post-war exhibits cover the Nuremberg Trials, honor the righteous individuals who risked their lives to resist the Nazis or save Jewish lives during the war, and pay homage to those who perished with a memorial flame. The museum also houses a well-stocked library, where guests can research their genealogy with materials dedicated to European Jewish history. Beyond its core exhibits, the HMC hosts special exhibits encompassing photographs, art, and history, in addition to sending survivors to speaking engagements throughout the city and hosting the Kindertransport Memory Quilt, whose patches represent the experiences of Jewish youth rescued from Eastern Europe.

With the help of her husband, Chris, Crissi Ballas put her heart and soul into opening Wicks & Stones nearly a decade ago. Blossoming from a simple idea, the business grew into a gallery, jewelry and supply store, workshop, and candle emporium. Today, Wicks & Stones offers a wide variety of classes, from basic beading to stitching bracelets out of high-grade tennis balls. For gift-givers, the shop stocks 100% soy candles, a smattering of Swarovski crystals and other semi-precious stones, and displays packed with already-assembled jewelry.

SemSeg's Segway experts equip urban explorers to cruise through Detroit at up to 12.5 miles per hour during self-guided tours. A brief orientation covers proper techniques for turning, stopping, and impromptu jousting. Then, motorists hop aboard scooters and travel up to 24 miles on a single charge. The long battery life allows motorists to cruise down the Riverfront, circle 14-acre Hart Plaza, and crisscross the Rivard Plaza in a single trip. Though SemSeg encourages DIY tours, their guides lead weekend tours through downtown and down the Riverwalk.

Appreciation begins with understanding. PRP Wine International helps its clients become true connoisseurs by introducing them to the culture surrounding fine wines from around the world. Private and public tasting events allow guests to learn more about artisanal fermentation from the company's impassioned consultants. They pour small samples of wine from around the world while explaining each wine's general characteristics or more nuanced traits. In addition to laying a foundation that helps visitors appreciate the process of tasting new varietals, the consultants also explain how to properly pair wine with food or scratch-and-sniff stickers.

Low-stress education remains a priority at PRP Wine International, but the company also boasts a curated selection of wines from Germany, France, and Italy, as well as an assortment of bottles and glassware that customers can order with custom etching.

A lap around Skateland West’s sea-foam-green floor transports inline skaters back in time with psychedelic rainbow lights, arcade games, and music. Despite the retro-chic atmosphere, Skateland West keeps things modern with activities such as freestyle-skating sessions and inline-skating lessons. The center also has a staff of fitness instructors who run patrons through fun and challenging Zumba, kickboxing, kids’ dance classes, and yoga workouts to help patrons stay in better shape than a buff geometry teacher. The skating rink also hosts kids’ birthday parties and has a snack bar where skaters can refuel with sodas and pizza.