Troy (Michigan)
Understand
Troy was first settled in the early 19th century and was named after Troy, New York where the first settlers had resided. The city was incorporated out of Troy Township into the City of Troy in 1955. Much of the development in the city occurred between the 1960s and 1990s. There are several large corporations headquartered in Troy including Delphi, ArvinMeritor, Flagstar Bancorp, Budd Company, and Kelly Services. It was the world headquarters of Kmart before it was purchased by Sears Holdings, and its large headquarters complex still stands at the northwest corner of Big Beaver & Coolidge.
In 2008, Troy was ranked 22nd on a list of "Best Places to Live" in the United States by CNN Money, using criteria including housing, quality of education, economic strength, and recreational opportunities. In 2008, Troy ranked as the fourth most affordable U.S. city with a median household income of US$90,000.
Get in
By car
Troy is located along Interstate 75 a major highway and is approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Detroit.
By train
- See also: Rail travel in the United States
- 🌍 Troy Transit Center, 1201 Doyle Dr.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. Route serving Troy:
- 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.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. Route serving Troy:
By plane
Troy is about 30 miles north of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport which is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and also has international service operated by Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, and Royal Jordanian. Shuttle service to Troy is available but is expensive (roughly $30 per person) and a taxi to Troy could run as much as $60. Therefore, it may be less expensive to arrange someone to meet you at the airport, or rent a car; even if you don't intend on driving much once you are in Troy.
For those who seek a bargain, (or if you live relatively close to the area) try flying into Flint Bishop International Airport. Fares are somewhat lower than what you would expect at Metro Airport, and the drive time into Troy is about the same (about 1 hour).
For those travelling by general aviation, you can fly into the Oakland-Troy Airport, which is about a 15-minute walk from Troy Transit Center.
Get around
By bus
Public bus service is provided by SMART. Bus fares are $2.00 and there are several routes that travel to or through Troy. However, many destinations within the city are a mile or further from the closest bus route.
By car
Parking is not difficult in Troy and in fact there are no pay lots or parking meters in the city. Every destination you would want to go to should have ample parking. Traffic can be congested in certain areas during rush hours or in shopping areas on certain weekends.
Airport Shuttle Services are available by reservation. Rates from Troy to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is $69. Contact Oakland Airport Shuttle +1 248-247-6705.
See
- 🌍 Troy Museum, 60 W Wattles Rd, ☏ +1 248-524-3570. One of the few tourist attractions (if you have some extra time) in the City of Troy is the Troy Museum. It includes a village green behind a city/township hall relocated to the Troy Museum a few decades back, as well as occasional events (concerts, candle making, etc.) put on by the Museum. (As always, call ahead for more details) The village green includes a church as well as a one-room schoolhouse, a smithy, and a few other buildings moved from Troy Corners. Hours for the museum change from season to season, so do call ahead before going there.
As a side note, if you do happen to go to Troy Corners (intersection of Livernois & Square Lake Rd, Troy, Michigan) there's a historical marker near the green-and-white farm house on Livernois Road south of the BP gas station. This is mentioned because the marker includes an interesting history of the Troy area.
Do
- 🌍 Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center (Troy nature society), 6685 Coolidge Hwy, ☏ +1 248-524-3567. 100 acres of wild lands along the north branch of the Rouge River. 1.3-mile trail to walk
Buy
- 🌍 Somerset Collection, 2800 W Big Beaver Rd (at the intersection of Big Beaver Rd and Coolidge Hwy on both the northeast and southeast corners of the intersection with an enclosed pedestrian bridge connecting the two sides of the road), ☏ +1 248-643-6360. A luxury shopping mall that features one of the few Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom stores in the region as well as a Macy's in addition to dozens of smaller specialty stores.
- 🌍 Oakland Mall, 412 W 14 Mile Rd, ☏ +1 248-585-6000. A little run down at the edges mall with all the usual brand name and department stores you would expect.
- 🌍 Oakland Plaza, John R Rd (just north of 14 Mile). Collection of stores including Dick's Sporting Goods and Barnes & Noble.
- 🌍 Midtown Square, Coolidge Hwy (Just south of E Maple Rd). Collection of stores including Dunham's Sports, Kohl's, Old Navy
- 🌍 Troy Marketplace, E Big Beaver Rd (Just west of Rochester Rd). Collection of stores including REI.
Eat
Troy features a number of mid-high end restaurants centered around the Somerset Collection. Many of these are national chains such as Capital Grille. More unique establishments of note include Shield's (pizza), Picano's (Italian), and Mon Jin Lau (New Asian), Hour Magazine Detroit's 2008 restaurant of the year. Troy also features numerous national chain locations for casual dining, fast casual, and fast food restaurants as well as the Detroit area's regional variation on the diner, "Coney Island" restaurants.
- 🌍 Cedar Grille, 5377 Crooks Rd, ☏ +1 248-267-9100. Very good Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant.
- 🌍 Mon Jin Lau, 1515 E Maple Rd, ☏ +1 248-689-2332. Excellent Asian dishes. Top quality ingredients.
- 🌍 Orchid Cafe, 56 W Square Lake Rd, ☏ +1 248-828-4149. Thai restaurant.
- 🌍 Shield's Pizza, 1476 W Maple Rd (just west of Crooks), ☏ +1 248-637-3131.
- 🌍 Ashoka Indian Cuisine, 3642 Rochester Rd, ☏ +1 248-689-7070. Excellent Indian food.
- 🌍 Old Detroit Burger Bar, 946 Rochester Rd, ☏ +1 248 247-7962. Good burgers, friendly staff.
- 🌍 Lebanese Grill, 1600 Rochester Rd, ☏ +1 248-526-1444. Very good Middle Eastern restaurant.
- 🌍 Noble Fish, 45 E 14 Mile Rd, Clawson, ☏ +1 248-585-2314. Tu-F 11AM-2:30PM, 4:30PM-7PM, Sa 11AM-2:30PM, 3:30PM-7PM, Su 11:30AM-2:30PM, 3:30PM-6:30PM. Little Sushi bar in the back of a Japanese grocer. Noble Fish supplies all the local Sushi restaurants in the area. Limited seating. Dine-in or carry-out. Inexpensive.
Drink
Troy restricts its liquor licenses in a way that prevents much in the way of nightlife common in more urban cities. However, many restaurants have bars inside and there are a number of neighborhood bars.
For the more adventurous beer fan, Dragonmead, one of the nation's most highly acclaimed microbreweries is located in nearby Warren and has a brew-pub.
For those seeking nightlife, it is recommended you find a copy of Real Detroit Weekly and read the ads for the promoted "parties" running that week. Tough economic times in the region have forced many nightclubs to close except for days when a promoter rents the club and promotes a "party", often at his own risk. These parties are often advertised in Real Detroit. Nightclubs that are popular and even open in the Detroit area change rapidly and a recommendation of a particular club may be irrelevant in even a few months later if the club has gone "dead" and closed or changed names.
- 🌍 Black Lotus Brewing, 1 E 14 Mile Rd, Clawson (Corner of Main St). Small bar with good food and beer.
Sleep
- 🌍 Candlewood Suites, 2550 Troy Center Dr, ☏ +1 248-269-6600.
- 🌍 Courtyard Detroit Troy, 1525 E Maple Rd, ☏ +1 248-528-2800, fax: +1 248-528-0963. Good size and quality rooms. Small gym and pool. Internal courtyard. Good fast free internet. Breakfast is Starbucks style.
- 🌍 Detroit Marriott Troy, 200 W Big Beaver Rd, ☏ +1 248-680-9797.
- 🌍 Drury Inn & Suites, 575 W Big Beaver Rd, ☏ +1 248-528-3330.
- 🌍 Embassy Suites Detroit, 850 Tower Dr, ☏ +1 248-879-7500.
- 🌍 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 400 Stephenson Hwy, ☏ +1 248-583-1900.
- 🌍 Homewood Suites, 1495 Equity Dr, ☏ +1 248-816-6500.
- 🌍 Quality Inn, 2537 Rochester Court, ☏ +1 248-689-7500.
- 🌍 Somerset Inn, 2601 W Big Beaver Rd, ☏ +1 248-643-7800.
Go next
Routes through Troy |
Detroit ← Royal Oak ← | W E | → Pontiac → END |
Flint ← Bloomfield Twp ← | N S | → Royal Oak → Detroit |