Discover Ann Arbor, Michigan: Arts, Culinary Delights, Nature, and University Spirit
Ann Arbor is renowned as the home of the University of Michigan, where the iconic Big House football stadium swells to become Michigan's seventh-largest city on fall Saturdays, drawing fans to cheer the Maize and Blue. Yet, this vibrant city and its surroundings offer far more than a college town experience.
Situated just 45 minutes west of Detroit and easily accessible via I-94, Ann Arbor (or A2 to locals) stands as a premier destination. Enjoy outdoor adventures, an innovative culinary landscape, a thriving arts scene, and a walkable downtown. Enhanced by one of the nation's top universities—with world-class museums, creative energy, and powerhouse sports teams—Ann Arbor makes for an ideal weekend or midweek escape.
Even if your student days are past, here's your guide to the highlights of the Ann Arbor area.
Creative Arts
For its size, Ann Arbor delivers exceptional creative outlets and output.
Start with a stroll through the city, where murals have proliferated. Highlights include the 10-story "Challenge Everything, Create Anything" on South 4th Avenue (2019) and a pandemic-era series funded by the Ann Arbor Arts Center. In the Creative District west of Main Street, a self-guided art tour reveals 15 murals, from black-eyed Susans to Korean folk legends.
Downtown, Instagram-worthy murals await: pose with Fred Astaire in David Zinn's "Singin' in the Rain," browse the Bookstore Mural (Edgar Allan Poe to Anaïs Nin), or try University of Michigan wings by Kelsey Montague's #WhatLiftsYou series.
Seek out the whimsical Urban Fairy Doors near coffee shops, bookstores, and the children's hospital.
On rainy days, visit museums like the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), among the largest university art museums with 20,000 objects, rotating exhibitions, and events. Nearby, the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology showcases Mediterranean and Middle Eastern artifacts, including a mummy with its own Twitter handle (inactive since 2019). On campus, interact with The Cube art installation or explore the Gothic Law Quad.
Campus and downtown venues host student productions and stars. U-M alumni include James Earl Jones, Darren Criss, Lucy Liu, Gilda Radner, and Madonna—save your playbill. Iconic spots like the State Theatre and Michigan Theater offer cult classics (e.g., Alien with 1927 Barton Theatre Pipe Organ), new films, or concerts (Elvis Costello, Nov. 2). For folk music, visit intimate The Ark (400 seats). In Chelsea, Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre Company reopened in January 2022 with world premieres.
Culminating annually, the Ann Arbor Art Fair—the nation's largest juried event—draws over 1,000 artists across 30 blocks (July 21-24, 2022).
Culinary Studies
Though not a U-M major, the area's dining scene covers every craving.
Begin at Zingerman's Delicatessen, Zagat's "best deli in America." Founder Ari Weinzweig authored books on service, management, and bacon. Shop for smoked fish, vinegars, and olive oils, but prioritize overstuffed sandwiches like the #2 Reuben in Kerrytown.
The Zingerman's empire includes a coffee shop, creamery, candy shop, and James Beard-nominated Zingerman's Roadhouse (mac and cheese) and Miss Kim (tteokbokki from ancient Korean recipes).
In Downtown Ann Arbor, options abound: classic Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger, vegan Detroit Street Filling Station, Spanish tapas at Aventuras, ramen at Slurping Turtle, Korean BBQ at Tomukun Noodle Bar, farm-to-table at Grange Kitchen, or spirited pub fare at The Pretzel Bell.
The international food scene spans Ethiopian, Eastern European, and Caribbean. At Frita Batidos, Top Chef alum Eve Aronoff Fernandez serves Cuban fritas (burger with egg and fries) and batidos (tropical shakes with Guernsey Dairy ice cream).
Pair meals with craft beer from nearly 20 microbreweries. HOMES Brewery specializes in sours with a patio; Jolly Pumpkin offers artisan ales and bites on its downtown rooftop.
For cocktails, visit speakeasy The Last Word for its namesake (gin, green chartreuse, Maraschino, lime—from 1920s Detroit Athletic Club).
Earth Sciences
With ~1.45 million trees, Ann Arbor earns its "Tree Town" nickname.
Parks like Gallup Park along the Huron River offer canoe/kayak rentals and the Border to Border Trail (B2B) linking Dexter, Chelsea, and Ypsilanti—ideal for hikes, jogs, or bikes.
Near campus, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (the Arb) feature free gardens, forests, and trails, exploding in fall color.
For fall fun, visit Dexter Cider Mill (Michigan's oldest since 1886) for cider, donuts, and apple treats.
Economics
Indulge in retail therapy amid boutiques, indie bookstores, and student-founded shops downtown.
State Street's Nickels Arcade evokes Europe with its mosaic tiles and glass roof: gear at Bivouac, gifts at Caravan, coffee at Comet.
Near Zingerman's and the Farmers Market, Kerrytown Market & Shops offers gourmet goods, recycled jewelry, and unique toys.
Book midweek for hotel deals; options range from interstate chains to boutique stays like Graduate Ann Arbor or Bell Tower Hotel near campus. Avoid football weekends for best rates.
Kinesiology
Stock up on U-M gear at M Den on Main Street, then join 100,000 fans for football Saturday energy at the Big House—or watch at local bars.
Beyond football, U-M's 27 varsity sports often rank nationally. Catch soccer, volleyball, basketball, or hockey; the complex is south of campus/downtown.
