Tours dig into Detroit

Detroit may be known for making cars, but one of the best ways to see it is from a relatively newfangled conveyance: a two-wheeled Segway.

Segway tours of the city "let you cover more distance than you would walking. But you still get up close and personal," says Jeannette Pierce, co-founder of Inside Detroit, a nonprofit tour company that will offer them starting April 24. "We do the RiverWalk, and it's really fun."

Meanwhile, Stewart McMillin has one aim: to share Detroit's hidden gems and history. His Stewart McMillin Tours offers outings such as black history tours and "Hooch, Hoodlums and Hoods" about Prohibition days.

In Detroit, there are dozens of tours that anyone can take on the spur of the moment, many as cheap as $10. Most start up in early May, although some have already begun.

"We want to open the door to make people see there is tons to see and discover," says Pierce. "There is a lot of history, but new things are happening all the time." "Midtown Pub Crawl," anyone? A company called DTours is happy to oblige. Here are a host of ways to dig into Detroit, with the help of a guide:

Offers different walking tours at 1 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Wednesdays from May 1 through Oct. 30; tours leave from the Westin Book Cadillac hotel.

Popular tours: "Historic Downtown Hotels" (May 12 and June 13), "Coney Island Hot Dog Tour" (July 4 and Oct. 3); "RiverWalk" (July 7, Aug. 1 and 11, Sept. 5), "Nudes in Downtown Public Art (July 18, Aug. 18).

Preeminent architectural tour group focuses on the city's heritage. From May to October, it offers walking tours at 10 a.m. Saturdays and at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. All Tuesday tours leave from Campus Martius; Saturday tour locations vary.

Popular tours: "Eastern Market" (every Saturday), "Auto Heritage" (first and third Saturdays of the month), "Detroit Theater Tour" (Aug. 14), "Downtown Buildings of Albert Kahn" (every other Tuesday).

Cost: $10-$15; reservations required for parties of 10 or more.

Founded in 2008, it likes to show off what's new in the city. It also offers Segway tours.

Popular tours: "Opening Day Breakfast Bar Bounce" (April 9), "Downtown Highlights Walking Tour" (first three Saturdays of the month starting May 1). Segway tours start April 24, then run Saturdays, Sundays and Thursdays.

Longtime teacher and guide has been leading tours for 40 years; specializes in Underground Railroad, black history tours and more.

Popular tours: "African-American History and Culture" (May 6), "Downtown Detroit People Mover" (May 20), "Hooch, Hoodlums & Hoods" (Nov. 30).

Cost: Varies by tour; starts at $15. Call for reservation information.

Offers behind-the-scenes tours of Detroit landmarks, theaters, cemeteries and old churches.

Popular tours: "Masonic Temple" (April 17), "Palmer Woods Neighborhood" (May 22), "Woodmere Cemetery" (June 12), "Former Detroit Synagogues" (April 22), "Historic Houses of Worship" (May 3).

Offers many kinds of tours, but the most booked are its nightlife, bar and karaoke tours.

Popular tours: "Eastern Market Pub Crawl" (April 9), "Midtown Pub Crawl" (April 10), "Karaoke Pub Crawl" (April 16), "Strolling Dinner" progressive dinner at four restaurants (April 24).