Central Way, Belle Isle

Belle Isle is a nature preserve island in the middle of the Detroit river. Across the river you can see Windsor Canada. The Isle is one of those strange Detroit anachronisms, yes, most of the 'they talk' is true, Detroit can be a grimy, dirty and scary place to live, yet in the middle of it it is a gem like Belle Isle that so captures how nice this city used to be!

Central Ave. is one of the may streets that wind around and through the island but what makes Central special is that it's the main route through the wooded nature reserve. At 20 mph you can cruise back to the age of Lafayette. Deer and fox, rabbits and geese. Graffiti and trash are the exception here. As you get further into the woods you find pull offs and picnic areas.

I never stopped for a picnic (it's a bit isolated back here) but I have done some light hiking through the woods.

My only caution is that Central is two-way in some spots, and pedestrians walking roadside are pretty common as are deer, so you really want to stick to the speed limit for everyone's safety.