maria travel detroit michigan

Próximamente: su vacación.

Coming soon: your vacation. .

Our Story / Nuestra Historia

Maria International Travel was founded by Maria de Lourdes Arzola, an immigrant born and raised in rural Durango, Mexico. We have a proud 20+ year history of serving the Latino community of Detroit. More than just a travel agency, we offer legal services such as translations, foreign vehicle legalization, and shipping services to Latin America as well. Despite the economic turmoil this nation, and particularly Detroit, have suffered during our history as a business, we have endured. This is all thanks to our loyal clients, and the relentless determination of Detroiters to get ahead, despite insurmountable obstacles. 

Maria International Travel fue fundada por María de Lourdes Arzola, una inmigrante nacida y criada en una zona rural de Durango, México. Tenemos más de 20 años orgullosamente sirviendo a la comunidad latina de Detroit. Además de ser una agencia de viajes, ofrecemos servicios legales como traducciones, legalización de vehículos extranjeros y servicios de envío a América Latina. A pesar de la los obstáculos dificiles económicos que esta nación, y particularmente Detroit, han sufrido durante nuestra historia como negocio, hemos perseverado. Todo esto es gracias a nuestros clientes leales, y la implacable determinación de la comunidad colectiva de Detroit de salir adelante, a pesar de que enfrentamos obstáculos insuperables.

Travel Services / Servicios de Viaje

Flights / Vuelos

Domestic and international 

Doméstico e internacional

Bus Travel / Viajes de autobús

Via Torando Bus Company A través de autobuses Tornado

Vacation Packages / Planificación de vacaciones

Detailed reservations Reservaciones completas

Other Services / Otros Servicios

Translations,

Public Notary

Other Legal Services

Traducciones, notario publico y otros servicios legales

International Money Transfers

Envios de dinero internacionales

International Shipping to Latin America

Paqueteria a Latino America

Copies, Fax, Miscellaneous

Copias, Fax, Miscelaneo

Other Services / Otros Servicios

Translations, Public Notary and other legal services

Traducciones, notario público y otros servicios legales.

international Money Transfers

Envíos de dinero internacionales.

Copias, Fax, Misceláneo

Contact us / comuniquese con nosotros.

We are located inin Southwest Detroit. Visit or call today. 

Estamos ubicados en el suroeste de Detroit. Visita o llama hoy.

(313) 849-1330

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1938 Campbell St

Detroit, MI 48209

Southwest Detroit

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Maria Travel

1938 Campbell St, Detroit , Michigan 48209 USA

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Best Travel Agencies In Detroit

August 29, 2015 / 8:00 AM EDT / CBS Detroit

The Joan Anderson Travel Service will get you anywhere you want to go. This agency's focus is on both domestic and international travel, and they can plan a trip based specifically on your interests. Jet off to the Caribbean without a care, experience a trek to New Zealand or head off to Uzbekistan for the adventure of a lifetime — the professionals at this highly-regarded agency will take care of all the details. If plans to sip on wine at a vineyard in Sonoma is on your list, or an autumn excursion to view Vermont's flaming foliage is on the agenda, Joan Anderson Travel is the place that can make it happen.

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Greatways Travel is where your next adventure begins. The professionals are experts in luxury travel and cater to their clients with the utmost professionalism. This travel agency is the premiere place to book a dream trip to a faraway locale. Imagine viewing the wildlife on an African safari, exploring the unique culture of Morocco or experiencing the breathtaking wonders of India.

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Maria International Tours features a wide range of different types of trips while specializing in travel to Latin America. Book an ecological or cultural journey or step into your own adventure. If rest and relaxation is more your style, a luxurious getaway is the way to go. This agency takes the planning to another level, even catering to those interested in visiting another country for a health-related trip. The agents at Maria International also handle money transfers, mailing services and coordinating vehicle entry into Mexico. Those seeking travel services in places such as Guadalajara, Mexico and Columbia will appreciate the attention to detail and expertise at this agency.

Cadillac Travel Group specializes in both corporate business and leisure travel. With over 30 years of experience planning everything from destination wedding itineraries, spring break vacations and group travel, this agency takes the guesswork out of traveling and gives clients the chance to actually enjoy the vacation. This agency enjoys a solid reputation that has spanned three decades as one of the best agencies around due to its knowledgeable agents and expert recommendations.

The Manara Travel Agency's focus is on Middle Eastern leisure and business travel. The agents are experts in orchestrating travel for companies and will fine-tune plans to suit individual needs. This agency also specializes in Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, and Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia that occurs at any time of year.

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Is it safe to drive during the solar eclipse?

The upcoming solar eclipse will mean lots of folks looking to the skies on Monday.

That might raise a key question for you, especially if you expect to be on the road that day.

Is it safe to drive during the eclipse?

“Since they are such a rare occurrence, we don’t often think about how an eclipse might impact driving conditions due to the unique challenges it brings to roadway safety,” according to Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. “As the eclipse unfolds, and visibility decreases, drivers and pedestrians should be extra cautious, patient and alert to ensure everyone makes it home safely.”

Bower noted that “we’ve heard that many Michiganders are heading to Ohio to view the eclipse and we urge everyone who will be traveling to buckle up, slow down and drive for the conditions, so we can all enjoy this rare event safely with family and friends.”

Only a very small piece of Michigan, around Luna Pier , is expected to be in the so-called path of totality, but Michiganders elsewhere will still experience varying degrees of the spectacle.

It’s not safe to look at the sun with the naked eye , and for the vast majority of us it won’t be safe to watch any part of the eclipse without protective eyewear at any point.

But what happens when you’re on the road? For starters, do not try to watch the eclipse if you're driving.

What's the advice for driving during the eclipse?

Various agencies have been offering tips. Here’s what AAA Michigan recommends:

• Keep your vehicle’s headlights on.
• Put the sun visor down to block your view of the sun.
• Don’t wear eclipse glasses while driving.
• Don’t try to photograph or video the eclipse while driving.
• Don’t pull over to the side of the road, highway or interstate to view the eclipse.
• Exit the roadway and park in a safe area away from traffic to view the eclipse.
• Be mindful of pedestrians who may be walking around with their eyes on the sky.

A group focused on rail safety even put out its own advisory for Monday warning drivers and eclipse watchers to “stay clear of railroad tracks and trains.”

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt advised in a video safety message that “this rare event may be a once in a lifetime for some but could have widespread impacts on the traveling public, so please plan ahead to arrive early and if you can, stay put to avoid traffic congestion. … Don’t have an eclipse in judgment. Be safe.”

What's the data show?

There doesn’t appear to be a ton of data on how eclipses affect road safety. The data around what for Michigan was a partial solar eclipse in August 2017 showed a decrease in crashes based on activity for the same day two weeks before and afterward, according to the state Office of Highway Safety Planning.

But circumstances elsewhere were more directly affected by the event. Places that saw a total eclipse that year attracted lots of visitors and extra road activity as evidenced by a photo from the Wyoming Department of Transportation included in a Federal Highway Administration document about eclipse preparations. That photo showed bumper-to-bumper traffic on a rural highway.

A research letter posted on the Journal of the American Medical Association website highlighted national data for the 2017 eclipse, which would include those areas that experienced a total eclipse. It found an increase in fatal crashes at that time.

“In absolute terms, this averaged to 1 extra crash-involved person every 25 minutes and 1 extra crash fatality every 95 minutes,” according to the letter.

The study cited increases in traffic, travel on unfamiliar roads, speeding to arrive on time, driver distraction, viewing from unsafe roadside locations and drug- or alcohol-induced impairment related to eclipse celebrations beyond just changes in lighting as factors.

More than 200 million people are within driving range of the upcoming eclipse the letter noted, highlighting the potential for out-of-the-ordinary traffic safety issues next week.

Free Press staff writer Kristen Jordan Shamus contributed to this report.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: [email protected].  Become a subscriber .

2024 NFL draft in Detroit: Everything you need to know before you go

The 2024 NFL draft is in Detroit on April 25-27, as you probably have heard by now. If you're traveling to Detroit for the draft , here's a guide to make your draft experience easy and unforgettable.

Information on registration, parking, travel, street closings, and draft day activities are all below.

When is the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is from April 25-27 in Detroit, spanning from Campus Martius to Hart Plaza in downtown with additional events in Beacon Park, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, Harmonie Park, and along Woodward Avenue.

2024 NFL draft registration

If you still have not signed up for the free draft day experience, there's still time to register using the NFLOnePass app or online through the website .

NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis.

Registering for the event only guarantees you the NFL draft footprint in downtown Detroit. You must buy tickets separately for the actual draft theater.

Ticket packages are available for purchase for the second and third rounds starting at $950 per person — the fourth through seventh rounds start at $550 per person as well. Please be wary of potential ticket scams .

• More: Registration to attend NFL draft in Detroit now open: What you need to know

Can I still book a hotel in Detroit for the draft?

With the NFL draft just two weeks away, options are limited if you're still looking to book a place near the NFL draft in Detroit. Here's what to know .

Downtown Detroit transportation

Detroit has multiple public transport options to get around downtown. The city has a streetcar , an elevated rail system , bike share , and bus system to get you where you need to go.

That said, plan to get downtown early and be prepared to leave late. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to travel to Detroit over the course of the draft's three days.

• More: New service details released about Detroit public transit options

Detroit parking for 2024 NFL draft

You can pay for metered parking through Park Detroit's website or app. There are also options for private parking throughout the city.

More: Downtown Detroit parking lots to see upgrades ahead of 2024 NFL draft

Detroit road closures for 2024 NFL draft

The city will start phase three of its street closings on April 15 at midnight. This marks the halfway point of the action plan to close downtown streets to accommodate the draft day build-out.

Closed streets for phase three :

• Jefferson Avenue; Bates Street; Atwater Street
• Southbound M-10 (Lodge), full closure at West Jefferson(Exit 1A: open); Larned ramp (Exit 1B: open)

Things to do in Detroit during the 2024 NFL draft

Detroit is a city rich with museums, restaurants and activities throughout. If you're interested in exploring the area outside of the draft, you can go to the Motown Museum, the Michigan Science Center, check out golf rich southeast Michigan , and even catch a Detroit Tigers game on April 26, 27 or 28 when they host the Kansas City Royals.

Get a souvenir while you're in the city.

More: NFL draft in Detroit: Hotels, restaurants, things to do for traveling fans

Detroit NFL draft activities

Draft day activities are from noon-10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, events go from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Activities include a Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit and an autograph signing opportunity with current and former NFL players, as well as a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, deep throw accuracy challenges, and more. There will also be a collection of Detroit-based food trucks for participants who attend.

More: Detroit City Council OKs several public, private NFL draft events

Usually, the top prospects that go at the beginning of the first round will attend the draft in person, so players such as Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy could walk across the stage in the heart of downtown Detroit. There have not been any announcements yet of which prospects will be at the draft April 25.

What else is Detroit doing for the NFL draft?

Here's a list of other attractions and events planned for Detroit and the 2024 NFL draft:

• The Detroit "Hollywood-style" sign is constructed along eastbound I-94. Here's how to scope it out .
• On April 25, the first night of the draft, the Lions are hosting an event for season ticket holders at Ford Field.
• Detroit has 20 painted cleat sculptures throughout the city, in an exhibit called "DCLEATED."
• Detroit City Distillery has several NFL draft events planned .
• Country star Jelly Roll is planning an intimate "Night Before" concert at Fillmore Detroit on April 24.

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram ( @detroitfreepress ), TikTok ( @detroitfreepress ), YouTube ( @DetroitFreePress ), Twitter/X ( @freep ),   and  LinkedIn , and like us on Facebook ( @detroitfreepress ).

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Solar eclipse 2024: 'Eerie' shadows, quiet wildlife in Michigan during total coverage

Today was the Great American Eclipse, and it was quite the show for crowds in southeast Michigan.

The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse is the last of its kind to cross the United States until 2044 , giving millions of Americans a once-in-a-generation celestial show.

The eclipse's path of totality grazed Michigan as it passed through central Indiana and northern Ohio. The Free Press had journalists dispatched in Detroit, Luna Pier (which sits along the edge of the path of totality), northern Ohio and even the Austin-to-Detroit flight today , to bring the eclipse experience to you.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

See a replay of our live updates below.

5:51 p.m.: Over the moon about a totally hidden sun in Toledo

Thousands of visitors packed the Toledo Zoo to watch the eclipse. The zoo reached maximum capacity shortly after 1 p.m., forcing staff to turn away a long line of vehicles. The estimated attendance of 10,400 was busier than a normal Monday, although short of any record.

The Toledo sky was slightly overcast by midafternoon, permitting skygazers to capture the key seconds before and after the full eclipse without special eyewear.

The crowd cheered moments before the sun disappeared behind the moon, plunging the day into temporary nightfall. Several minutes later, cheers rang out again as the sun reappeared.

“People were going nuts! Everyone was just so excited to share in something together,” said Amanda Zwiren, of Royal Oak, who drove to Toledo with her brother, Kyle Zwiren, and his two young sons.

Other Michiganders in the crowd included Rachel Farley, 37, of Mount Pleasant, and her two young sons, Max and Rex.

They, too, were thrilled by the whole experience.

Although like some others in the crowd, particularly those for whom it was a first eclipse, they had expected an even deep darkness.

“I thought it would be like midnight dark,” Max Farley, 9, said.

For Joe and Nancy Trela, who traveled from their home in Allen Park, the event marked their second full eclipse.

Their first was in August 2017 in Jefferson City, Missouri.

They watched that eclipse more or less by themselves in the middle of a field. For this eclipse, they said, they wanted to be part of a big crowd.

— JC Reindl

5:10 p.m.: Sometimes, you can't fly high enough to capture history midflight

Free Press photographer Eric Seals gamely boarded a most unique eclipse pathway flight from Austin to Detroit. Unfortunately, it didn't quite go as hoped for, but there were a few fun surprises along the way. Check out his wrapup post here:

— Eric Seals

4:20 p.m. : Local watering hole welcomes eclipse watchers

Mike Doyle, of Farmington Hills, gazed upward, his paper glasses firmly affixed to his face and exclaimed, “It’s astronomically wild. It’s the last in my lifetime and it’s spectacular.”

Doyle, 77, admired the solar eclipse as it approached 99% totality Monday afternoon. He was one of about three dozen people who came to Stella’s Black Dog Tavern in Plymouth to view the solar eclipse. The place is special to him because his brother used to own the tavern years earlier. 

As the moon crept over the sun, a parking lot full of people outside of Stella’s grew chilly, streetlights went on, silence ensued — and 3:13 p.m. looked and felt more like 8 p.m. Several pedestrians from nearby downtown Plymouth wandered over to talk to total strangers, bonding over the remarkable celestial event everyone was witnessing.

“He has a telescope if you want to look at it,” Rose Rosin said to a 30-something businessman who came to Stella’s parking lot in awe of how “wild” it suddenly felt outside.

Indeed, John Bentley, of Plymouth, had brought his powerful Celestron NexStar telescope to Stella’s. The tavern was hosting an eclipse party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering a $10 buffet and drink specials that included a “Dark and Stormy,” made with dark rum, lime juice and ginger beer, or a “Solar Eclipse,” which is tequila, simple syrup and lime juice.

Bentley set up his telescope in the parking lot. 

“I wanted everyone to be able to have a look at it, and experience it because it happens so infrequently,” Bentley said. “It’s going to be exciting today.”

Stacy and Jeff Evans both got lucky to have the day off from work and came from their home in Northville to Stella’s because they are friends with the owners and wanted to be part of the community in experiencing the eclipse, they said.

“It’s once in a lifetime and it’s pretty amazing,” Stacy Evans said.

The next solar eclipse isn’t expected for two decades, but this one had such a profound effect on Rose Rosin. She stared up at it during near totality and exclaimed, “This is just beautiful. I’ll have to drink more so I can live to 96 to see the next one.”

— Jamie L. LaReau

4:16 p.m.: Wild weather as eclipse temperatures yo-yo

Our own weather watcher here, editor Maryann Struman, reports just now that our local National Weather Service outpost says temperatures dropped 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit at their office during the solar eclipse, but have quickly rebounded back to 70 degrees. The rest of the evening? Mild and clear.

— Maryann Struman

4:10 p.m.: A day for science, and all scientists

As Michael Stafford puts it, “I’m an archaeologist. I look down.”

Monday’s solar eclipse was about looking up. But Stafford is also the director of the Cranbrook Institute of Science, so as the eclipse waned and the throngs began to drift away from metro Detroit’s largest viewing event, he was darned near starry-eyed.

“This was citizen science at its best,” he said. “We loved it.”

Stafford loved, he said, that some of the 600 or so people in attendance arrived in strollers, and some came on buses from senior centers. Loved that members of the Warren Astrological Society showed up with large telescopes and expertise to share. Loved that Cranbrook was able to demonstrate that its buildings and staffers serve more than the student body of an exclusive campus.

The 800 available tickets sold out online, so there were some no-shows. That was to be expected, he said; sometimes work can’t be swatted away on a Monday, no matter how tempting the weather or the attraction.

The sun and moon did their part, and the science center did its part. People wandered through exhibits that had nothing to do with astronomy, and maybe saw things that will bring them back even on days when TV crews stay home.

“We want to be the focal point for citizen science,” he said, and as they used to say when astronauts strolled the moon, mission accomplished.

— Neal Rubin

3:47 p.m.: And a round of clapping in Detroit, too

“Don’t look at it,” someone at the riverfront yelled about the sun, as the darkened so that the sign for Caesar’s casino across the river in Windsor glowed especially bright.

And then, when the sky reached its darkest, the crowd of hundreds, even thousands, clapped in unison.

Mary Davis applauded when the sky reached its darkest point. She marveled at the unity of those who joined in. “Wasn’t that a joy that we were all one,” she said. Davis, who is 86, is visiting family in Detroit from Portland, Oregon.

— Georgea Kovanis

3:45 p.m.: Astronomical applause inside the path of totality

The Luna Pier Beach crowd erupted in cheers as the eclipse went total and darkness descended on an otherwise sunny, nearly cloudless day.

Tom Kosek said afterward that it was worth the 12-mile drive to this site.

"The best part was that it looked like a sunset in the east" over Lake Erie, he said.

— Keith Matheny

3:41 p.m.: As sun disappeared, time to don glasses

At its peak, the sun was only a small sliver, but the sky, while remarkably more dim, never completely went dark.

“It’s so amazing,” Kabita Gurung, 47, of Warren, said, as she held her protective glasses to her eyes. “It’s something, hopefully, I will experience with my children when they are older, too.

Around her, other spectators remarked that they felt like they were freezing and everything looked strange, including the shadows.

Gurung and her husband brought their two young daughters, age 6 and 8, to the Ford House to see the solar eclipse — and are already thinking about the next one in North America in 20 years.

— Frank Witsil

3:38 p.m.: Moon over sun over Motown? Why not.

Thanks to our very own music writer here at the Free Press:

— Brian McCollum

3:30 p.m. Take in the eclipse view from Detroit's epicenter

Here's an image captured by one of our own executive editors:

— Anjanette Delgado

3:18 p.m. So close to 100%

In Grosse Pointe Shores, eclipse totality, the science center astronomer said, is 99.4%.

“There’s a noticeable difference now, from when we started,” astronomer Paulette Epstein said. “The spots on the sun are a 1,000 degrees cooler.”

She said she had to put on a jacket. Then the birds quieted. Their behavior will change, Epstein said.

The crickets began to chirp. And the shadows began to change and, she said, will get “eerie.”

3:15 p.m.: Sure, the eclipse, but don't forget about Mercury

As a professional astrologer, Jane Pierce, watched the eclipse at the RiverWalk in Detroit, with certain trepidation. Any eclipse is disruptive, she said, but this one could be extra disruptive.

“Because it’s so visible,” Pierce, who is also known as Tarot Jane, said.

And something else: Mercury is in retrograde.

She already had an example of the eclipse’s disruption: It had taken a whopping 40 minutes for Panera to get her lunch order — a salad — together.

And to guard against any complications, 56-year-old Pierce, of Mount Clemens, has booked a refundable Airbnb reservation for her trip to the Catskills later this week.

3:05 p.m. Pint-sized astronomy fan showcases her passion, even on her boo-boo

Helen Martella is 3 ½ years old and her family went on vacation to Cape Canaveral and she met a real astronaut and she fell this morning and got a boo-boo on her knee and her Band-Aids have planets on them.

She likes astronomy.

Helen was at the Cranbrook Institute of Science on Monday, along with hundreds of other people with a particular interest in the solar eclipse. Unlike most of them, she brought her lunch, and it had a Moon Pie.

She was with her dad, Christopher, 45, who had popped over from the nearby law firm where he works, and her nanny, Katie Nitschke, who used to study physics and astrophysics.

You might think Nitschke launched Helen’s interest in space, but it was already there when Katie came to work for the family in Birmingham six months ago.

“We love science,” said Christopher, who was planning to be a paleontologist when he was not much older than Helen. “It’s near and dear to all of our hearts.”

As the moon began to track across the face of the sun Monday, Helen was being very good about only looking through her special glasses. When she wasn’t doing that, she took a seat in a gravel pathway in the museum garden and played with the pebbles, because fun is everywhere, just like science.

But she knew what was happening 93 million miles overhead.

In preschool, a few hours earlier, she said, “We made a map so we could see the moon covering the sun.”

There would, she predicted, be a shadow. We all had to be careful about looking straight at the sun. Oh, and on that trip to Florida? You know what else happened?

“I met Elsa,” she said. “From ‘Frozen.’ The real one.”

2:58 p.m.: University of Michigan astronomy buffs travel south, find clear skies

The University of Michigan Student Astronomical Society traveled to the University of Toledo to experience the total solar eclipse. They just emailed us to say they arrived safely and were welcomed by clear skies.

Sophia Davis is majoring in astrophysics and museum studies. She is serving as a NASA Eclipse Ambassador, which allows her to provide solar viewing glasses and "share eclipse knowledge with underserved communities off the central paths," according to the new NASA-funded program, Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Path.

"My primary research is actually in solar physics where I study interplanetary shockwaves from the sun. I am also passionate about scientific outreach, and I am serving my community as a NASA Eclipse Ambassador for the April 8 solar eclipse, which is a particularly special one," Davis said in a statement before the trip. "This eclipse means a lot to me as it serves as a focal point for all members of the community to come together and just be excited about science regardless of their scientific backgrounds — it's just cool."

Sanil Mittal is the president of the Student Astronomical Society and is majoring in astronomy.

"This eclipse is a unique opportunity for budding astronomers in Michigan who only have a short trip to Ohio to experience totality," Mittal said in his statement. "For this reason, I wanted to organize an effort to travel to Toledo to observe the eclipse. We aim to inspire people about astronomy and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. I eagerly await the solar corona, which can be seen with the naked eye during a total solar eclipse. As an astronomy student, I want to learn more about the universe we live in, and the eclipse provides a great opportunity to learn more about the sun."

Andrew Smedley is a physics and mathematics major, and secretary for the Student Astronomical Society.

"The total solar eclipse this year is an extremely rare opportunity for those in Michigan and the greater Midwest to view the phenomena" Smedley said in his statement. "As a group of mostly science students, we have had the chance to study physics, space, time and otherwise in great detail, so actually seeing those things play out in such an incredible way like an eclipse is an exceptional moment that reminds me of the wonder that first inspired me to go into this field. Sharing that moment with SAS is especially exciting, and I'm looking forward to seeing something unforgettable with everyone together."

— Matthew Dolan

2:50 p.m. Picnic-style party for Detroit eclipse

At the watch party along the Detroit RiverWalk near Cullen Plaza, eclipse enthusiasts lined the river in lawn chairs brought home. They sat on the grass. And on benches and berms.

For Janelle Ikonen, of Waterford, it was a chance to bond with her three children — Hannah, 9; Elim, 12; and Isaac, 14 — who she took out of school for the day.

“I wanted to experience a unique event with them,” said Ikonen, who is 47. “It’s one of my big deals to me, to experience things with my kids. … I hope they’ll remember spending time with me.”

2:45 p.m.: Grand Rapids drawn to bridge for partial eclipse

In Grand Rapids, dozens had gathered on the city’s “Blue Bridge” by the time the partial eclipse began just before 2 p.m. The bridge offered a view of the eclipse over the Grand River, and with no cloud cover over the city, visitors had an unobstructed scene Monday.

Through specialized eclipse glasses, visitors could peer at the eclipse as well as through a series of solar telescopes set out by the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Grand Rapids would see about 94% eclipse coverage, with max coverage taking place at 3:11 p.m.

Jill and Wes Johnson, 50 and 14, were among those awaiting max coverage Monday afternoon. Wes Johnson didn’t remember too much about the most recent eclipse in 2017, but was excited to leave school early and be among those on the bridge Monday.

They’d considered traveling from Grand Rapids to a place with total coverage, but with Michigan’s second largest city experiencing 94% coverage, Jill Johnson said it was worth staying home.

“I think people are excited to see something unique,” Jill Johnson said.

The excitement in Grand Rapids was evident hours before the eclipse began. A massive line gathered inside and outside the museum to purchase eclipse glasses when the museum’s shop opened at 10 a.m.

A museum employee said all of the remaining eclipse glasses had been sold by the time partial coverage began at 1:55 p.m.

— Arpan Lobo

2:40 p.m. It's starting! Check out this Mandi Wright image from Bloomfield Hills.

— Mandi Wright

2:31 p.m.: Temperatures begin to drop at Ford House

As the moon started to move across the sun, the temperature began to noticeably drop.

Marge Hilgendorf, 82, of Grosse Pointe Farms, said her father, who was born in the 1900s, would tell her stories about the solar eclipse, so she always wanted to witness one.

“I definitely can feel the temperature going down” she said. “We’ve heard so much about it.”

She went to the Ford House viewing party with her friend, Patricia Steele, 64, of Grosse Point Park. Steele said she was interested in science growing up and this was a special opportunity.

They both said they were pleased to see so many younger faces, especially girls, and their interest in science.

2:28 p.m.: Clouds rolling in over downtown Detroit, Toledo

Our reporters in downtown Detroit and Toledo are watching clouds beginning to cover large portions of the sky as the eclipse approaches.

2:17 p.m.: Ship has sailed on a last-minute trip to Luna Pier

Thinking of an on-the-fly jaunt from metro Detroit to catch the eclipse's path of totality in Luna Pier , a small town in southeastern-most Michigan near the Ohio border?

The sun has set on that idea.

Those arriving at the small town of just under 1,400 residents reported southbound I-75 is "a parking lot," with Waze and other navigation apps sending motorists on farm roads from Carleton, more than 30 miles to the north. The trip from metro Detroit — at 12 noon — was taking over two hours.

At Luna Pier's Water Tower Park, James Winters, of Ypsilanti, was ready — a Nikon camera with a giant lens on a tripod, pointed skyward.

"I'm an astrological buff — I had to come with the total eclipse so close," he said.

Winters had a special filter for his lens to be able to shoot the sun.

Parked next to Winters with a telescope were Rita and John Gilliam and their friend Lori Filippelli, of Canton.

When asked what compelled them to make the trip to Luna Pier, John Gilliam simply said, "Bucket list."

2:08 p.m.: Share your own post-eclipse experience with the Free Press here

Did you see the 2024 solar eclipse? Tell us about it in a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters , and we may publish your letter online and in print.

— Nancy Kaffer

2:04 p.m.: It's all happening at the Toledo Zoo

The Toledo zoo saw long traffic backups on Hippo Way, its main entrance, and reached full capacity shortly after 1 p.m. Officials began turning people away after that.

The zoo is packed with Ohio families and children, with crowds starting to gather at an outdoor amphitheater for eclipse viewing. Zoo staff still had plenty of viewing glasses available for patrons, however.

1:50 p.m. Scary moment for Free Press photographer on eclipse flight

Free Press photographer Eric Seals learned about the kindness of a stranger as he feared missing a magical moment:

1:38 p.m. Eclipse fever strikes Detroit waterfront

Sitting on a chaise lounge along the Detroit River, not too far from the city's Cullen Plaza and the carousel, Desiree Williams, of Belleville, considered impending eclipse.

She’d brought several grandchildren with her. “I wanted them to have this experience,” 61-year-old Williams said. It’s a chance to see nature at its finest.

But to Williams, the eclipse is something else, too. It’s a great unifier. “For me, it’s not local or state history,” she said, about an hour before the eclipse was to begin. “It’s one of these things that ties all of us together. It draws all of us together, not for wars, but for a positive thing.”

And that is what are hopes her grandkids remember.

Update: After the eclipse came and went, Williams said she’d wished it had gotten darker outside, but that she’d enjoyed the event nonetheless. She said she felt like she’d been part of something big and looked forward to talking about the eclipse to friends and family members across town and across the country

1:29: Delta rolls out eclipse swag for Detroit flight

1:20 p.m.: spotting the sun safely with a pricey device.

Where there is a need, science will provide. Or capitalism will. Or both.

The need Monday was to not have anyone damage their eyes staring at a near-total solar eclipse. In the garden at Cranbrook Institute of Science, as hundreds of people strolled the building, poked around exhibits and waited for the main event, museum educator Jason Kuzera was demonstrating a device called a Sunspotter.

Sold by a company called ScienceFirst in Yulee, Florida, the Sunspotter looks like a large wooden sextant, with an open-sided triangle atop an upwardly curved base. It has an objective lens on one side of the triangle, and mirrors in each interior corner that combine to diffuse the sunlight and project it on a white sheet of paper.

As the moon passes in front of the sun, its progress will show on the paper — a real-time reproduction “which you can see safely,” said Kuzera, 23.

The Sunspotter retails for $533, in case you’re interested. It’s made in China, rather than domestically, so too bad for that missed opportunity.

On the other hand, we get to watch an eclipse today, and China doesn’t.

1:12 p.m.: A generational sighting approaches Ford House

Someday, perhaps, if 6-year-old Julian Marchese one day has children of his own, he will remember this day — April 8, 2024 — when he went with his mom, Jessica; his dad, Bill; and his little sister, Junia; to the Ford House in Grosse Point Shores to see the sun disappear, and day turn into night.

At the moment though, he was more interested in crafts, making a sun visor for his eclipse glasses.

The sun, of course, won’t really disappear, as Mary Lee with the Michigan Science Center explained. The view of the sun, and its intense rays, were obscured by the moon, which will block the light, and the heat.

“We saw an ad on Facebook about the event and always wanted to check out the Ford House,” Jessica Marchese, 37, of Warren, said. “So, we wanted to do something with the kids, who are home-schooled. So, it’s an extra lesson for them.”

Lee added: “We won’t have another one for another 20 years.”

For days, weather forecasters and eclipse viewing party organizers wrung their hands wondering whether clouds would ruin the day, but as it turned out, by late morning, the sky was blue, and as clear as could be.

Julian said he wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but eager to find out as he drew a rainbow with crayons.

Just before the eclipse, an astronomer from the science center, Paulette Epstein, would give the crowd a talk about what to expect, and give them safety tips, such as not to look directly at the sun without their protective solar-viewing glasses.

As they waited for the eclipse, 5-year-old Augie Morren built a moon base — or what he imagined one would look like — out of blocks.

His mother, Stephany Morren, 55, of Grosse Pointe Shores, looked on.

Augie had been to the Ford House before, but this time, they wondered what would happen to the animals, especially the beavers. Morren wondered whether they would come out, as the sun got dark, because they might think it was nighttime. For the event, the science center set up tent stations to teach astronomy lessons.

Moreen said she expected the eclipse to be extra special because she was witnessing it with her son, and remembered as a child, seeing a partial solar eclipse. For this one, they are on the edge of what scientists call the path of totality.

Here, an estimated 99% of the sun is expected to disappear when the moon passes in front of it.

1:05 p.m. Meanwhile, back at Cranbrook....

Stacey DuFord was a morning radio host in 2017 when metro Detroit last gazed upward — carefully — at a major solar eclipse.

Now a weather forecaster at WWJ-TV (Channel 62), she is taking more of a precise and professional interest in this one. But between reports from the garden deck at the Cranbrook Institute of Science on Monday, she admitted fudging one fact, if only slightly.

The peak viewing time in southeast Michigan, with just under 99% totality, will come at 3:14 p.m.

“I’ve been telling people 3:13,” she said, “because we’re Detroit.”

1:10 p.m.: Clogged highway as motorists flock to see best view of total eclipse

— Tanya Wildt

12:48 p.m. Ford House prepares for eclipse excitement

12:42: preparing to fly to detroit amid midair eclipse, 12:40: hear wedding bells south of us the 'elope at the eclipse' is coming soon.

— Ryan Garza

12 noon: Great American Eclipse, meet some great American traffic

This live stream from WXYZ shows the roads heading south from Michigan into the Path of Totality (Hi, Ohio!) are getting crowded:

11:42: a.m. Cranbrook to host hundreds for a sky-darkening day party

The head of astronomy at the Cranbrook Institute of Science had his feet firmly planted on the ground as he waited for up to a thousand guests Monday.

“We’re basically just the facilitators,” Mike Narlock said. “The universe puts on the show. We just kind of escort them to their seats.”

The institute sold out 800 tickets online for what’s believed to be the largest eclipse-watching party in metro Detroit, with another 200 available for walk-ins.

Admission was $14 for adults and $10.50 for seniors or kids, ages 2 to 12. It’s that last group he had high hopes for on a day when most everyone will be looking upward.

“An event like this raises the profile of science,” said Narlock, 53, dressed for comfort in jeans and a sweatshirt. “If it sparks a long-term interest, so much the better.”

Narlock, Cranbrook's astronomy guru, became fascinated with the stars as a kid in Arizona.

Looking at the desert sky, free from the light pollution of a city, “I had questions,” he said. “My parents didn’t have answers.”

He found them in books, and now tries to provide them with the telescopes and hands-on exhibits that guests were encouraged to explore at the Institute of Science get-together.

“Educate, excite, and make available the wonders of the universe,” he said. “That’s our goal.”

A few lumbering steps from the entrance to the Cranbrook Institute of Science stands Steggy, a life-size, tan-and-white statue of a stegosaurus.

Some 150 million years ago, he and his peers would have looked skyward during an eclipse and thought, with their walnut-sized brains, “What the heck is this?”

Monday, he was wearing oversize, squared-off sunglasses.

For those who couldn’t obtain proper eyewear, Cranbrook Head of Astronomy Mike Narlock said, “you can use the trees to see the eclipse. Or a colander. Just look at the shadow.”

11:15 a.m.: A flight for the ages

Free Press photographer Eric Seals will be on the flight from Austin to Detroit today to catch the solar eclipse from his seat. Here's the scene at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport:

10:54 a.m.: A celestial event to hit a historic home

Across North America, millions of people have been eagerly anticipating when the bright sun dims — either partially or entirely while covered by the moon — and day looks like night. For the moment, people have planned weddings, astronomy lessons and viewing parties with commemorative drinks.

Only a tiny corner of Michigan — which includes a city with the perfect name for viewing the eclipse, Luna Pier — is in the path of totality, but radiating out from there, Michiganders are expecting to witness at least a partial eclipse, depending on the cloud cover.

At the Ford House — the historic family home of Edsel Ford, the only son of Henry Ford — in Grosse Pointe Shores, a sold-out solar eclipse viewing event was set to go Monday, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Organizers promoted the experience as “an ethereal dance of light and shadow.”

In addition, the Detroit-based Michigan Science Center also is set to be on hand to explain the astronomy and help with hands on activities, making pinhole projectors; aiming solar telescopes and sunspotters; and designing a moon-based camp.

A solar eclipse is a rare thing to see, but more than that, event organizers said, whether the sky was cloudy or perfectly clear, a moment for memories, especially families. Years later, they will be able to reminisce about the day the sun went dark, like it was night.

Part of the experience, scientists say, is not just what you can see — or more accurately, don’t see — but also hear and feel. Animals, as it gets dark, become disoriented, with crickets chirping and birds stop singing. Sometimes, pets lie down, as if to go to sleep.

And the temperature drops, as the sun disappears, by 10 to 15 degrees.

The Ford estate, with is manicured grounds and gardens, opened for stargazers to look up, in part because it offers unobstructed views of the celestial phenomenon.

But as those wait for the moment of darkness — not entirely, but close, at let’s say 3:13 p.m., for the sake of geographical poetry — can also enjoy the house.

And for those willing to pay a little more — $50 or $60, instead of $7 and $5 — for tickets, in addition to protective solar eclipse glasses, patrons will receive snacks, wine glasses, and a bottle of Heron Hill’s Eclipse wine to toast the special moment.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Solar eclipse 2024: 'Eerie' shadows, quiet wildlife in Michigan during total coverage