@DTownDave22: Correct on both forms of "cool." Getting far north of Houston in August is always a goal. I've wanted to see Detroit for years, and That Car Commercial raised my interest further, so when my wife had a business trip to Toronto I jumped at the chance to add Detroit & Mackinac Island to either side of the trip.

Too much of Detroit has a Pompeii feel to it, kind of shocking really. But everyone I spoke to, and there were many, was honest and forthright about the city and its past and hopeful future. Everywhere I went I got "good morning" and "hello." We stayed downtown and there were lots of bikes on the streets and the river walk. The Hub is aptly named. I got the feeling that they are doing a lot of good.

Toronto has even more bikes downtown and excellent riding areas. Definitely plan a visit there.

Northern Michigan is very different than Detroit of course, but I got the same warm reception wherever I went. Mackinac Island is a world to itself. My wife loved it, and we'll be back.

We drove through Flint on the way back to the Detroit airport. Again, another place that has seen tough times. I guess you'd say Michigan as a whole has seen tough times, but there's a real solid core there and I got the feeling that the people are going to get through it and be better. There's a certain resolve to the place. When you visit you know you've really been somewhere, and to me that's cool.