Pembroke - Detroit, MI Area Guide

Located in Oakland County, Pembroke shares a rich history reflecting its current draw as a haven for those seeking property and community of their own. The county became an enticing area for settlers in the early 1800s seeking land and opportunity.

Until the late 1800s, Oakland County maintained a rural, agricultural environment. The first town in the county was Pontiac, 16 miles to the north of Pembroke. The railroad moved in, as well as wagon and carriage factories. Streetcars came in the late 1890s. As the city drew more people to its hub for jobs, wealthier Michiganites built summer homes. In the 1950s, city populations headed back to settle down.

The DIY Street Fair and the Ferndale Art Fair are two art events drawing crowds during the year. Head closer to Detroit to learn about the area's rich history by visiting the Detroit and Motown Historical Museums.

Due to this being a quiet bedroom community, residents head to neighboring communities, including Royal Oak, Oak Park, and Ferndale for their food fix. Downtown Ferndale and Downtown Royal Oak both supply plenty of nightlife action for those wishing for a good time without stepping too far away from home. Between the two neighborhoods, you can find a comedy improv theatre, a wine bar, cocktail lounges, dive bars, and gastropubs.

One-Eyed Betty's, a haven for pinball machines and new American cuisine, serves up pork belly poutine and fried okra you won't forget. Order the Scotch eggs at least once at this downtown Ferndale restaurant. Open weekday afternoons until 2 a.m. and on weekend mornings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., this joint rotates an enormous selection of beer -- including Michigan craft brews -- on tap. Make sure to call in for reservations, as Betty's gets super packed on weekends.

Sandwich lines are out the door at Ernie's Market, a family-owned hole-in-the-wall in Oak Park, where sandwich fixings are sliced to order. Make sure to order the onion bread on your $4 sandwich, which is often handmade by Ernie himself. Meat fills this giant sandwich that you can hardly fit in your mouth, yet you likely won't want to share it.

To play music on the best jukebox in Royal Oak, head over to Gusoline Alley. This dive bar may become your second home because of its close-knit friendly atmosphere among a crowd of fun-loving, eclectic people. Sing along with your friends to Johnny Cash or the Ramones as you order a $2 Carling Black Label from a menu filled with affordable beer choices from the cash-only bar. Don't forget to stop into the Go Comedy Improv theatre in downtown Ferndale for improv karoake and a Nilla wafer drink, and visit M-Brew, a bar in Ferndale for even more vintage pinball, shuffleboard games, and a mellow coffee shop-style atmosphere.

Although walking in this neighborhood is fine due to ample sidewalks and shady trees, most people in the area drive -- this is, after all, the car capital of the United States. Public transportation is covered by the Detroit Department of Transportation. Eight Mile Road runs through the geographic area of this neighborhood, connecting you with Interstate 75 for travel to other parts of the city.

Hop on the 041 Schaeffer and 8 Mile bus, one of many routes covered by the Detroit Department of Transportation for travel to neighborhoods in downtown Detroit. Use the Uber app on your phone to call up a taxi or shuttle instead of trying to flag one in the neighborhood. Public parking in this neighborhood is abundant and cheap. Parking in more urban areas such as downtown Ferndale and Royal Oak can be harder to come by, although a few free spaces are available to savvy explorers. To guarantee parking in nearby Ferndale while shopping, seek out Ferndale Park Plus, with more than 1,000 park spaces located in 15 lots and on the city streets.

Although neighboring Royal Oak and Ferndale communities have both become extremely bike-friendly with new bike paths and plenty of places to chain your bike in town, Pembroke hasn't quite caught up yet. You can ride your bike here, but neighboring communities have more resources for cyclists.

Oakland County is a great place for biking, however, and many trails are easily accessible without traveling far. Print out maps of trails all over the area at a website the county maintains. These maps show you scenic routes through all of the rural and urban areas nearby, including lakes, rivers, valleys, and backcountry.

Get the best of rural and urban environments from within Pembroke. Hardstein Playground, Comstock Playground, Palmer Park, Joe Louis Park, and Van Antwerp Park can all be found close by. You can find plenty of trails to bike, hike, and walk, as well as courts for tennis, baseball, football, and other outdoor sports here.

Named after notable Michiganite Thomas Palmer, an advocate for women and immigrant rights, Palmer Park may become your main destination due to its children's play area and splash park, along with miles of walking trails, a historic cabin, and a pond. This dog-friendly park contains wooded areas, off-road trails, and even free yoga in the summer.

On the last Sunday in June, be sure to check out one of the area's favorite annual events: Log Cabin Day. Hosted in Palmer Park, this celebration involves opening the park's famous cabin for tours, music by live bands, and activities for children, as well as historians dressed in period costumes. Money earned from this event goes to maintaining and preserving this cabin for future generations to enjoy.

You can find affordable living here while still being close to enough action to keep you busy every day of the week. A one-bedroom apartment in Pembroke comes in at around $602, much lower than that of many more well-known Detroit neighborhoods closer to the city center and the Detroit River. A beer from the tap at your local pub runs you an average of $4. Gas prices are seven percent lower than average. A fare to downtown Detroit only costs you $1.50.

Most of the neighborhood's specialty boutiques sit in downtown Ferndale. Off of Livernois Avenue, visitors find one-of-a-kind home furnishing items at Fred's Antique Furniture. For additional shopping, mosey on over to Downtown Royal Oak. Downtown sidewalks spread out over five miles past 85 boutiques, high-end designer stores, salons, and retail shops.

Simply Casual, a boutique-style clothing store for men and women, is also off Livernois. Check out a variety of items, including urban wear. Stop in on chilly days or early mornings to warm up with a cappuccino, or cool off with a slushy while shopping on a hot summer day.

Visit Milieu for streamlined modern fashions, including printed long T-shirts and asymmetrical dresses created by fashion designers such as Ivan Grundahl and Krista Larson. Friendly clerks are eager to assist you in selecting items from among this expertly procured collection of high-end designer clothing.

Lost and Found Vintage serves as your go-to for all things consignment. Every decade has an item for purchase, from kitschy '50s smocks to paisley '60s blouses and '70s bell bottoms.

Check out the Royal Oak Farmers Market. Find staples along with exotic produce, baked goods, food trucks, and handmade crafts made by locals. Head over to Ferndale and Royal Oak to pick out fresh produce, meat, and bakery items at one of many grocery stores serving the area, including Metro Foodland, Fresh Approach, Natural Food Patch, Holiday Market, and the State Fair Supermarket.