ESPN

Maligned as a dingy industrial city fraught with crime and poverty, Detroit is cultivating a new image for itself in the wake of its success story as the host of Super Bowl XL. The Motor City's downtown redevelopment is among the most dramatic in the country, typified by the soaring GM Renaissance Center and new sports venues like Ford Field and Comerica Park. Meanwhile, aging landmarks like Fox Theater have been restored and refurbished, and abandoned, unused buildings are being demolished.

Perhaps not surprisingly for a city built on auto manufacturing, it's easiest to explore Detroit by car, but there is public transportation available. The People Mover (50 cents) hits the major points of interest in the downtown area, including Joe Louis Arena, the Millender Center and Greektown, and SMART buses ($1.50) run throughout the greater metro area.

The Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport is approximately 20 miles southwest of Detroit, and since it lacks a variety of transportation options, getting into town is either expensive or inconvenient. A taxi will cost about $40 and SMART bus service (Route 125) will take more than an hour.

Stand in the Shadow of "The Fist"
Detroit native and former heavyweight champion Joe Louis is a hero in his hometown, and the unique monument erected in his honor -- a massive bronze forearm and fist -- has become a symbol of the city. Just blocks away, at the COBO Conference and Exhibition Center, stands another, full-bodied statue of the Brown Bomber.

Become a Citizen of Hockeytown USA
Fans are no longer allowed to chuck octopi onto the ice at Red Wings games -- a tradition that dated to 1952, when NHL teams needed eight playoff victories to win the Stanley Cup -- but Detroit is still wild about its hockey team. Catch a game live at Joe Louis Arena, or head over to Hockeytown Cafe, a sports bar and Red Wings shrine that's generally packed by face-off.

Get Raucous at The Palace of Auburn Hills
Originally famed for back-to-back NBA championships in the "Bad Boys" era, the Detroit Pistons have experienced a second golden era in the mid-2000s which has netted them a third title, and restored The Palace to its place as one of the loudest arenas in the league. Located about 30 miles north of Detroit, The Palace has the NBA's largest seating capacity, at 22,076.

Hear the Tiger Stadium Echoes on Your Way to Comerica
Less than two miles from the Tigers' gorgeous facility, Comerica Park, is the home of a century of Detroit baseball history. Debuting on "The Corner" in 1912, Tiger Stadium actually replaced Bennett Park, which had been home to the Tigers since 1896. Vacant since 1999, Tiger Stadium is scheduled to be demolished beginning the fall of 2006. The playing field will survive as a public park, to be surrounded by shops and condos.

Play Nine Holes at Belle Isle
A 983-acre island park in the middle of the Detroit River, Belle Isle offers a variety of recreational activities, including an athletic complex, fishing piers, beach and walking/biking trails, an aquarium and more. For the duffers, there's even a driving range and nine-hole golf course, with distances ranging from 130 to 300 yards.

Catch the Hydros at the APBA Gold Cup
First awarded in 1904, the American Powerboat Association Gold Cup has been held on the Detroit River since 1990. This prestigious hydroplane race draws hundreds of thousands of fans each July, and a variety of ticket plans and viewing areas are available. Though not as close to the action, you can head over to the beach on Belle Isle to watch the races for free.

Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mich. 48124, 313-982-6100
Acres and acres of Americana in suburban Detroit. Among the varied collection are a sampling of historic vehicles, including the presidential limo in which JFK was shot, the Rosa Parks bus and, of course, Model T Fords. Overall, the highlight of the Henry Ford is the Ford Rouge Factory tour. You get to watch final assembly of the Ford F-150 pick-up.
http://www.hfmgv.org

Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48202, 713-833-7900
This museum -- one of America's finest -- has more than 60,000 exhibits, ranging from antiquity to post-modern. Don't miss Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals, or the mummy exhibit. And be sure to visit the General Motors Center for African-American Art, one of the premier collections of its kind.
http://www.dia.org/the_collection/overview/index.asp?menu=thecollection&main=yes

Detroit Historical Museum
5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48202, 313-833-1805
If you want to learn the city's character, this is the place to go. The museum is dedicated to the history and culture of Detroit. Not surprisingly, the best exhibit is the transportation collection. (You'll see how a Cadillac is assembled.) There's a sports collection as well.
http://www.detroithistorical.org/collections/index.asp?ID=0

Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History
315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48201, 313-494-5800
The Charles H. Wright is where to go to celebrate the history and achievements of African-Americans in the arts, history, business, science -- and yes, sports. It is one of the nation's finest cultural museums.
http://maah-detroit.org/facts.htm

Motown Historical Museum
2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, Mich. 48208, 313-875-2264
The birth of the Motown Sound -- the soul that defined such artists as the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and the Four Tops -- began in this modest house, purchased by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959. You'll tour the control room, Studio A (where many of the label's greatest hits were recorded) and the upstairs apartment where Gordy lived. And yes, you'll hear the classic music recorded here.
http://www.motownmuseum.com/mtmpages/index.html

2008 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Pittsburgh Penguins, 4 games to 2).
2004 Detroit Pistons (defeated Los Angeles Lakers, 4 games to 1).
2002 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Carolina Hurricanes, 4 games to 1).
1998 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Washington Capitals, 4 games to 0).
1997 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Philadelphia Flyers, 4 games to 0).
1990 Detroit Pistons (defeated Portland Trail Blazers, 4 games to 1).
1989 Detroit Pistons (defeated Los Angeles Lakers, 4 games to 0).
1984 Detroit Tigers (defeated San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1).
1968 Detroit Tigers (defeated St. Louis Cardinals, 4 games to 3).
1957 Detroit Lions (defeated Cleveland Browns, 59-14).
1955 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Montreal Canadiens, 4 games to 3).
1954 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Montreal Canadiens, 4 games to 3).
1953 Detroit Lions (defeated Cleveland Browns, 17-16).
1952 Detroit Lions (defeated Cleveland Browns, 17-7).
1952 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Montreal Canadiens, 4 games to 0).
1950 Detroit Red Wings (defeated New York Rangers, 4 games to 3).
1945 Detroit Tigers (defeated Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 3).
1943 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Boston Bruins, 4 games to 0).
1937 Detroit Red Wings (defeated New York Rangers, 3 games to 2).
1936 Detroit Red Wings (defeated Toronto Maple Leafs, 3 games to 1).
1935 Detroit Lions (defeated New York Giants, 26-7).
1935 Detroit Tigers (defeated Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 2).