Royal Oak, MI Road Trips

Bike Nights. During Wednesdays you can see cruiser motorcycles and on Thursdays you can see sports bikes 1 Detroit Zoo, 8450 W 10 Mile Rd, ☏ +1 248-398-0900. Recognized as one of the top zoos in the nation, ride the train, walk through arctic ring of wildlife. This is a must see.

Affirmations, 290 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, toll-free: +1-800-398-4297. M-Th 9AM-9PM, F-Sa 9AM-Midnight. Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender community center. Brew and View at the Magic Bag (Just north of 9 Mile Rd, on the northeast side of Woodward Ave), ☏ +1 248-544-3030, [email protected]. W-Th 9:30PM. First-run movies are shown. 21+ 2.00. 1 Main Art Theatre, 118 N Main St, ☏ +1 248-263-2111. Nice and clean Independent film theater; they also have special midnight movie nights on the weekends. Motor City Pride. Gay pride festival that takes place along 9 mile in Ferndale. (Now relocated to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Ferndale still has a street festival and shuttle service is provided between the two events.) 2 Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, ☏ +1 248-399-2980. Hilton Family Billiards, 2141 Hilton, Ferndale, ☏ +1 248-541-2890. All-ages pool hall, smoking is allowed. Arts, Beats & Eats Downtown Royal Oak. Oakland county's annual festival celebrating art, music, food and community. Labor Day weekend. $3 before 3pm, $5 before 5pm, and $7 after 5pm Royal Oak has 2 Disc Golf courses, it is an inexpensive game to get into; there are liquor stores located directly across from the parks that sell individual discs ranging from $9-$18. Also, the store "In Flight" in the Oak Park/Ferndale area also sells discs and other disc golf accessories. The Throw Shop in Ypsilanti, an hour West on I-94, is the largest disc golf store in the region, well worth the trip as it also features a 28-hole disc golf course.

While a lot of fast food restaurants and chains such as Noodles & Company and Jimmy John's can be found in Royal Oak, as a visitor you shouldn't bother wasting your time eating in those establishments. 1 Beirut Palace, 205 S Main St, ☏ +1 248-399-4600. M-F 10:30AM-midnight, Sa-Su 10:30AM-2AM. Family-owned Mediterranean restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating available. Those inclined can order a hookah and partake in smoking shisha with friends. 2 Comet Burgers, 207 S Main St, ☏ +1 248-414-4567. M-W 11AM-midnight, Th-Sa 11AM-3AM, Su noon-midnight. '50s style restaurant, Sliders & Milkshakes, malt shakes, ice-cream. Known more for its pink-vinyl decor than its food. A good place to get a late night bite to eat if you can handle the crowds. $5-10. 3 Inn Season Cafe, 500 E 4th St, ☏ +1 248-547-7916. Tu-Th 11:30AM-9PM, F 11:30AM-9:30PM, Sa noon-9:30PM, Su 11AM-3PM. Vegetarian restaurant open since 1981, features assorted veggie & vegan friendly cuisine such as Mexican dishes and stir fries. $7-10 per entree. 4 Loui's Pizza, 23141 Dequindre Rd, Hazel Park (Head east on E 9 Mile Rd, Turn left at Dequindre Rd.), ☏ +1 248-547-1711. W-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Sun Noon-9PM. Tasty deep-dish pizza, A local favorite. Also has a bar. Entrees: $6.50-$18.75. 5 Peking House, 215 S Washington Ave, ☏ +1 248-545-2700. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-midnight, Su noon-10PM. Mediocre Chinese cuisine 6 Leo's Coney Island, 110 S Main St, ☏ +1 248-336-8093. 24 hours daily.

There is a Starbucks and Bean & Leaf Cafe located in Royal Oak, both of which are on Main Street. Cafe du Marquis, 204 5th Ave, ☏ +1 248-398-4169. 11AM-midnight daily. Free Wi-Fi internet connection, one of few smoker friendly places in Royal Oak. Hookah Joe's, 734 S Washington Ave (right across from Oakland Community College). M-Th 8AM-2AM, F Sa 8AM-4AM, Su noon-midnight. Hookah Bar that attracts a young crowd. Free Wi-Fi. $1 drinks, $8 Hookahs. Java Hutt, 165 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, ☏ +1 248-542-2438. Royal Oak has a ton of bars such as Mr. B's Pub, Woody's, Duggans, O'Tooles, Rock on 3rd, Goodnite Gracie, Sky Club, Ye Olde Saloon, Norm's Field of Dreams and Luna Lounge. The Berkley Front, 3087 W 12 Mile Rd, Berkley (take 12 Mile Rd west across Woodward, the bar is located after Coolidge on your left side), ☏ +1 248-547-3331. M Tu 4PM-12:30AM, W-Th 4PM-2AM, F-Sa noon-2AM. Around 40-50 beers on tap and around 80 bottled beers available. German food, sandwiches, burgers, Tex-Mex and a few vegetarian options. Has Pool tables and a jukebox. Live music upstairs from Thursdays to Saturdays. Half off appetizers and certain pints are $2.50 on Mondays. Entrees: $5-$9, Beer $4-$6. BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon, 530 S Main St, ☏ +1 248-582-9460, fax: +1 248-582-9461. Trendy fake Irish pub chain, Happy Hour 4PM-7PM $2 Domestic Drafts, $3 Import Drafts, $3 House Wine, $4 Calls, $5 Martinis. Good place for a cheap pint of Guinness during happy hour, Drink specials on Wednesday night also. Tends to get really busy.

Palms Motel, 29806 Woodward Ave, ☏ +1 248-548-2345. Saranay Motel, 28202 Woodward Ave, ☏ +1 248-543-0351. Seville Motel, 28300 Woodward Ave, ☏ +1 248-547-2710. Travelodge Royal Oak, 30776 Woodward Ave, ☏ +1 248-549-1600, fax: +1 248-549-2870.

I-75/the Chrysler Freeway is located directly east of Royal Oak, and runs north-south. I-696/the Reuther Freeway is located directly south or Royal Oak, and runs east-west. Bordering the left-hand side of Royal Oak is Woodward Avenue, which runs northwest-southeast, and will take you southbound directly into Detroit. 1 Royal Oak, 201 S Sherman Dr. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route serving Royal Oak: Wolverine Service operates several times daily between Pontiac and Chicago including stops along the way in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Niles, and New Buffalo. There are many train connections in Chicago.

Royal Oak is a very walkable city, the downtown area is a mile long, Main Street and Washington Street are the definite downtown areas to walk around.

Royal Oak is generally considered a safe city with a low crime rate. Crime is highly uncommon during the daytime but spikes considerably during the night time. While most crime in Royal Oak affects residents, there have been many cases where travelers were victimized, especially in the case of burglaries of vehicles with out-of-state plates. While Royal Oak's downtown area is a very safe place, avoid walking into alleyways during the night time. Many strongarm robberies and rape attempts take place in the city's downtown alleyways. The sidewalks and streets of Downtown Royal Oak are otherwise safe to walk during the daytime and night. Avoid walking in any neighborhoods near or around an industrial park, railroad or apartment complex at night. Drug dealers are often present in these types of neighborhood after dark. If you choose to walk through such neighborhoods after dark remember to wear neutral-colored clothing and avoid large groups of people. In addition, try not to walk on the Eleven Mile corridor during the night-time outside of the Downtown area as it is where many robberies in the city take place. Always park in a well-lit area during the night time. Lock your doors and roll up your windows. Even during the day time, car burglaries are common, especially when an open window is involved. Take further precaution regarding your vehicle if you are the owner of a Chrysler vehicle. Chrysler and Dodge automobiles are often targeted for navigation systems and owners of such vehicles may fall victim much easier.