Flint is an industrial city an hour northwest of Detroit in Michigan. It was the home of many General Motors factories, including the Buick World Headquarters, Flint has fallen on hard times over the past 30 years due to the decline of the American automotive industry. Despite these misfortunes, the city has an outsized history, including decisive roles in the growth of the American labor movement and community schooling and evident in a host of extensive and well-endowed cultural institutions.
Sometimes considered a suburb of Detroit, Flint is more accurately described as a "satellite" city. Like Saginaw, Pontiac, and other factory towns in Michigan, Flint's identity is often influenced and predicted by the Motor City and the peaks and valleys of the American auto industry. Because these cities and Flint have become symbols of urban blight and economic ruin, it is tempting to write them off at the worst as ghost-towns, or at the best as smaller clones of Detroit.
As the last section might suggest, Flint is easy to get to, but can be difficult to get around without a car. MTA, the public transit agency, is a reasonably priced (if time-consuming) way to reach your destination, and if you expect to stay within the Downtown area, walking is certainly an option. Mass Transportation Authority, ☏ +1 810 767-0100. Flint's MTA serves the city and inner suburbs through 14 routes that collectively cover most of Flint's 31 square miles. Buses once run twice per hour and all routes are local. Additional lines run at peak hours, and limited service to the suburbs is also available through Your Ride, a van service, for $2.50.
Downtown Flint covers approximately one square mile near the center of the city, bounded roughly by Fifth Avenue to the north, I-69 to the south, I-475 to the east, and Thread Creek to the west, with most commercial activity focused along Saginaw Street and the University of Michigan-Flint Campus. The Walking Tour of Downtown Flint is an effort sponsored by the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (see above) is intended to tout the local economy and encourage investment. This simple self-guided walking tour includes a map of the downtown district with an emphasis on local architecture.
1 Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 East Kearsley St, ☏ +1 810 234-1695. has a large collection. (updated Jun 2019) 2 Flint Institute of Music. (updated Jun 2019) Venues for taking in a show include the "New" McCree Theater, the Flint Community Players, and the University of Michigan-Flint theatre and dance program. During the summertime Flint hosts a series of lively festivals and events, usually centered downtown or at the Cultural Center.
Sagano Japanese Bistro, 2065 S Linden Rd, ☏ +1 810 230-7300. La Azteca Taco House, 1902 W Court St, ☏ +1 810 233-3104. Italia Gardens, G3273 Miller Rd., ☏ +1 810-720-4112.
501 Bar & Grill Cork on Saginaw Blackstone’s Pub & Grill Torch Bar & Grill Churchill’s Food & Spirits The Loft
Flint has long been one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, and as in most American cities, crime in Flint is heavily connected to the illegal drug trade and associated gang activity. The areas of Flint with the highest crime rates will be of little interest to visitors, but there is still enough of an overall threat that some additional precautions are warranted. Be sure to travel in groups, thoroughly plan out your travel route ahead of time, stay out of deserted or poorly-lit areas, and don't flash cash or other valuables. Additionally, walking after dark in most areas of Flint is not advisable.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Flint typically sees ~26°C daytime highs and 9 rainy days.
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