Downtown Detroit Partnership seeks votes for Campus Martius Park in 10 Best Public Square poll
Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit has been nominated in USA Today's 10 Best Reader's Choice Award for the Best Public Square in the Country.
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is encouraging Metro Detroiters to participate in the reader poll, citing the fact that Campus Martius won the number 1 spot for the past two years.
Campus Martius Park hosts more than 4.5 million visitors annually with a schedule of events that includes the Detroit Tree Lighting, Movie Nights in the D, parties at The Beach and The Rink and its outdoor skating rink. Last year, the Downtown Detroit Partership opened Chalet 313, a two-story lounge and bar that provides views of the skating rink and Detroit's skyline. The site also was the main public venue for the 2024 NFL Draft.
"Campus Martius Park is the heartbeat of the city, providing an incredible gathering place for residents and visitors year-round, and we encourage everyone to vote to help us keep this title in Detroit," David Cowan, chief public spaces officer for the Downtown Detroit Partnership, said in the announcement.
The park was created in 2003 at the site considered to be Detroit's point of origin, where the vision for the city was originally laid out in 1805.
Nominees for 10Best are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors come up with the final nominations and readers can vote online once per category, per day.
For more information about Campus Martius Park, go to downtowndetroit.org.
10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-public-square-2025.
The video above previously aired on Dec. 14, 2024.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Apple Wallet soon to include passports, but it won't be valid for this type of travel
Apple announced that iOS users will be able to create a digital ID using their passport in Apple Wallet beginning this fall when the new iPhone operating system rolls out. An Apple spokesperson said during the event, "While not a replacement for your physical passport, digital ID can be used for domestic travel and at supported TSA checkpoints. " To be clear, that means even travelers who have a digital passport in their Apple Wallet will still need to present the physical document at customs and border checkpoints when traveling internationally. However, the Transportation Security Administration confirmed that a digital passport will be accepted by TSA officers at security screenings for domestic travel. When the REAL ID law took effect in May, many travelers had to double-check whether they had compliant driver's licenses or would need an alternative form of ID, like a passport, to board domestic flights. Apple said it is also refreshing digital boarding passes and improving the travel-centric features of its Wallet app. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can I travel with my Apple Wallet's passport feature?
USA Today
14 hours ago
- USA Today
'It's scary': Travelers caught off guard as travel ban rules come into effect
'It's scary': Travelers caught off guard as travel ban rules come into effect Show Caption Hide Caption What we know now about President Trump's new travel ban taking effect How could President Trump's travel ban or restriction of nearly 20 countries impact you? Here is what we know now. New travel restrictions from the Trump administration took effect Monday, impacting nearly 20 countries. The restrictions add limitations on visas and entry, causing anxiety for travelers at U.S. airports. Many travelers were unaware of the policy shift. NEW YORK — A new round of travel restrictions from the Trump administration quietly took effect Monday, catching many travelers off guard and sparking fresh anxiety for immigrants and visitors at U.S. airports. At New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, passengers arriving at Terminal 4 and their loved ones waiting to greet them seemed unaware of the policy shift. About a dozen people in the terminal's arrivals area told USA TODAY they were unfamiliar with the updated travel ban, which adds new limitations on visas and entry from almost 20 countries, part of the administration's continued efforts to tighten U.S. borders. The updated restrictions primarily target nationals from a select list of countries, but critics say the move sends a chilling message to immigrants and foreign visitors more broadly. 'It's scary. It makes me worried. It affects my decisions to go home to visit my family,' said Randy Wicaksana, 33, who has lived in the U.S. for about three years. Wicaksana, an Indonesian national, said he is preparing to return home later this month to renew his visa but is increasingly uncertain about what might await him when he comes to the U.S. again. There were no visible signs or announcements in the terminal to alert travelers to the new rules. The administration said the changes are meant to "combat terrorism" and "strengthen our borders." For travelers like Wicaksana, however, the law feels increasingly unpredictable. Which nationals are barred from entering the US? The full travel ban applies to nationals of the following 12 countries: Afghanistan Burma (Myanmar) Chad Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan Yemen Additionally, partial restrictions are imposed on nationals from: Burundi Cuba Laos Sierra Leone Togo Turkmenistan Venezuela What happens to travelers from these countries when they arrive at an airport? Travelers from the fully banned countries who attempt to enter the U.S. after the ban takes effect will likely be denied boarding by airlines or turned away upon arrival in the U.S. Those from partially restricted countries may face additional scrutiny, delays, or denial of entry, depending on their visa type and purpose of travel. What will happen to those with tickets already? Individuals from the affected countries who have already purchased tickets to travel to the U.S. should consult with their airlines and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. While some exceptions exist, most travelers from the fully banned countries are expected to be denied entry. Those from partially restricted countries may still be allowed to travel, subject to additional screening and requirements. Travelers are advised to review the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of State and consult with immigration attorneys if they have concerns about their eligibility to enter the U.S. under the new proclamation. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises Show Caption Hide Caption Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom tour on the new Disney Treasure USA TODAY took a ride on the brand new Disney Treasure cruise ship. Here's what to know about the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom. "Family travel' is a six-part series showcasing the best experiences and destinations for young families looking for an escape. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form. I've been visiting Disney parks my entire life. I thought I knew what the Disney bubble was. Disney Cruise Line blew my definition out of (or into) the water. Everything Disney fans look for in a Disney vacation is – as Disney likes to say – plussed up on their ships. Here's what I experienced on my first Disney cruise and what your family can expect on yours. What is special about a Disney cruise? Disney cruises are made for Disney fans. 'We know that when guests get on one of our ships, 40, 50% of them are saying the only reason I'm cruising today is because Disney is here,' Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro told USA TODAY last August, ahead of the cruise line's expansion announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. 'These cruise ships are ways that we can tell all of the amazing stories that we have. We bring them to life in dining; we bring them to life theatrically. We bring them to life through technology and our cast members.' Many ship venues are inspired by Disney stories. Guests who want to learn how they can take an Art of the Theme Show Tour during their sailing. Disney characters roam about regularly and unlike in the parks, never have long waits to meet them. The entertainment on board is truly Broadway quality, not only because Disney is at heart an entertainment company, but it's also produced numerous shows on Broadway. My favorite show on our Disney Treasure sailing was "Disney the Tale of Moana," which Disney developed with Broadway veterans and Polynesian cultural advisors and cast. The youth clubs, particularly for younger children, feel like stepping into Disney movies. Many kids happily spend hours there, and adults wish they could, too. The closest grown-up guests get is during open houses. Guests rotate through a variety of themed restaurants for dinner each night of their sailing, and servers rotate with you so they can get to know you and your preferences, as well as any dietary needs. The level of customer service is exactly what you'd expect from Disney. Ships are designed with families in mind. Most staterooms have split bathrooms, so multiple people can get ready at the same time, and most feature bathtubs, which are clutch with young children. You're traveling with fellow Disney families and fans, who share your enthusiasm. Non-Disney fans can still enjoy sailings, but for those who love Disney, it's the ultimate floating Disney bubble. Disney parks take to the seas: How the new Disney Treasure makes magic Is a Disney cruise all-inclusive? Disney cruises include lodging, most dining, entertainment, recreation, youth club access, and more in their standard fare. There is an additional fee for childcare for infants and toddlers under age 3 at 'it's a small world nursery.' Extra experiences like adult-exclusive dining, makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Sea, the Royal Court Royal Tea Party with Disney princess, and spa and salon services also have fees. Is all the food on a Disney cruise free? Meals at rotational dining restaurants, on-board buffets, and various food stands are included in the cruise fare, as is most room service. Guests may choose to pay extra for adult-exclusive dining like Remy or Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement. Treats at smoothie and sweets shops and snacks at concession stands near onboard movie theaters have à la carte fees. Specialty coffee drinks and alcohol are also extra. Do Disney cruises have good food? Yes. There are various options at each rotational restaurant. Guests are also welcome to ask for other offerings off menu, but what stuck out to me were everyday dishes like comforting congee at breakfast and a mountain of succulent crab legs during lunch at the Treasure's Marceline Market buffet. Mickey Churro Waffles and Disney Cruise Line chicken tenders are other fan favorites. So are Mickey ice cream bars, which you can order for free through room service. Italian-inspired Palo and other adult-exclusive restaurants, which cost extra, are so popular that reservations book up well ahead of sailings. Guests who miss out in advance can try to book in person upon embarkation. Is there unlimited alcohol on Disney cruises? No. There are no unlimited alcoholic beverage packages on Disney cruises. You can buy individual drinks and bottles of wine on board or pre-order bundles of hard seltzer, beer or wine. There are also deals like Drinks of the Day and the Beer Mug Savings package, which, for a one-time $15.25 fee, gets you 21-ounce beer refills for the price of 16 ounces. Upon initial embarkation and at each port, guests of legal drinking age may also carry on up to two unopened bottles of wine or champagne or six unopened beers no larger than 12 ounces. These must be brought in carry-on luggage, not checked, and may not be consumed in lounges or public spaces, aside from restaurants, where there is a corkage fee. Is there a casino on the Disney cruise? No. There are no casinos on Disney cruise ships. The closest thing to gambling is BINGO, which is extremely popular. Is there free Wi-Fi on Disney cruises? Yes. Guests can use free DCL Guest Wi-Fi to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and message fellow guests. You can also message folks back home using third-party tools like Apple Messages and WhatsApp. However, you'll need paid internet service for anything more substantive like making calls, accessing social media, browsing the internet, posting or streaming video, and more. How much does a Disney cruise cost per person? Prices vary widely by sailing (ship, dates, itinerary, cruise duration and more), stateroom category, how many guests share the same stateroom and guest age. Kids under age 3, ages 3-12, and 13-17 are charged at different rates than adults, according to Plan Disney. Limited-time promotions also impact pricing. For instance, Disney Cruise Line is currently offering up to 30% off select summer 2025 sailings from the U.S. Prospective guests can find the latest special offers on the cruise line's website. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line passengers can lock in 10% off a future cruise when they purchase a refundable placeholder reservation while onboard a ship. At last check, the lowest priced sailing for a family of four departing the U.S. with two adults and two kids between the ages of 3-12 was priced at $2,620. That works out to $655 per person in an interior cabin on the Disney Wish for a 3-night Bahamas cruise leaving Port Canaveral on Aug. 22, 2025. Three-night cruises on the new Disney Adventure, launching in Singapore this December, start even lower. Does Disney Cruise Line go to Europe? Yes. Disney sails from three European ports: Barcelona, Spain Citavecchia, Italy (outside Rome) Southampton, England Transatlantic sailings are also offered several times a year. Do adults with no kids go on Disney cruises? Yes. Even though the cruises are designed with families in mind, lots of Disney adults sail kid-free. Many enjoy getting to feel like kids again themselves. Each ship and both of Disney's private island destinations have adult-exclusive areas and experiences. What are Disney's two private islands? Disney's has two private island destinations in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Is it cheaper to go to Disney or Disney cruise? That depends on how long you plan to sail versus visit parks, as well as choice of accommodations, dining and time of year. It can go either way. What is the cheapest way to book a Disney cruise? Guests will generally find the best prices the day itineraries are released. This happens a few times a year, about 15 to 18 months in advance of sailings, according to Plan Disney. Travelers can work with travel agents to keep tabs on when the next batch will be released or sign up for Disney Cruise Line email updates and follow the cruise line on social media. Are Disney cruises worth it? They are for many fans. 'They rate us very, very highly, and they tend to want to come back,' D'Amaro said. But just like any vacation, the cruises may not be worth it for everyone. The reporter on this story received access to the ship from Disney Cruise Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.
