Michigan Travel Destinations – Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is many things, including a bustling university town, culinary hotspot, and a tech hub with a walkable downtown that includes world-class arts and culture. Located in southeast Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Ann Arbor lies at the center of a greater collection of communities in Washtenaw County. With so many thriving communities nearby, Ann Arbor has become a cultural melting pot and urban oasis.
Forget its reputation as a picturesque, free-spirited college town – Ann Arbor is a forever town. As enamored of its football team as it is of its arts, it’s the kind of place that marries big city culture with the neighborly values of a small Midwestern town, with a hearty dash of intellectual energy and natural beauty thrown in. This progressive community with the collegiate atmosphere offers excellent museums, a diverse culinary scene, exciting nightlife and lots of arts events. You can kayak the Huron River, or enjoy the public art (it’s everywhere, and don’t miss the little fairy doors sprinkled throughout the city). It’s a place you won’t want to leave, even if your university days are far behind you.
John Allen and Elisha W. Rumsey founded the community in 1824, which they named for their wives (both called Ann) and the local natural groves, or arbors. The settlement developed as an agricultural trading centre after the arrival in 1839 of the Michigan Central Railroad, which connected it with Detroit.
Local Restaurants
GANDY DANCER
401 Depot St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 734-769-0592
Situated in the beautifully restored 1886 Michigan Central Depot, Gandy Dancer is both an architectural landmark and an elegant restaurant. A popular venue in Ann Arbor, the Gandy Dancer’s fine cuisine and historic atmosphere make a grand setting for rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions. Come see why diners all over Michigan choose us time and time again.
ADVENTURA
216 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 734-369-3153
Tapas, paella, wine & cocktails offered in a stylish, contemporary space with rustic and Spanish touches.
MANI OSTERIA & BAR
341 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor MI 48104, 734-769-6700
Mani Osteria & Bar, our locally owned family-friendly Italian restaurant, has been serving wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and signature antipasti since 2011.
ZINGERMANS DELICATESSEN
422 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 734-663-3354
Opened in March of 1982, by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig in a historic building near the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market. Serving up thousands of made to order deli sandwiches with ingredients like premium Black Angus corned beef and pastrami, free-range chicken, turkey, housemade chopped liver, and chicken salad. Zingerman’s Deli also stocks an exceptional array of farmhouse cheeses, unique olive oils, varietal bottles of vinegar, smoked fish, high-quality salami, locally roasted coffee, exquisite teas and locally sourced vegetables for salads. Today, Zingerman’s Delicatessen is an Ann Arbor institution, the source of great food and great experiences for thousands of visitors every year.
Accommodations
GRADUATE – ANN ARBOR
615 E Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, 734 769 2200
www.graduatehotels.com/ann-arbor
Just across the street from the University of Michigan campus at Huron and State. Enjoy a cozy club feel, a nod to the arts (graffiti included!), a wink at the Maize and Blue and a hip library vibe. Gather Wolverines for a post bite at Poindexter or host an old-school dinner at Allen Rumsey Cocktail Lounge.
WEBER’S BOUTIQUE HOTEL
3050 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, 734-769-2500
Modern rooms, elegant weddings, famous prime rib, live music nightly and family owned since 1937.
RESIDENCE INN ANN ARBOR DOWNTOWN
120 W Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 844-631-0595
The Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown is just blocks from the University of Michigan and steps from over 60 popular restaurants and shops. This Ann Arbor, MI hotel is situated in the heart of downtown and is ideal for long visits. We offer open and modern public spaces and our accommodations feature separate spaces to live, work, dine and dream in style. From fully equipped kitchens to free Wi-Fi, we have everything you need to feel right at home. Let us pick up and deliver groceries to your suite as part of our exceptional service. Fuel up in the morning at a free hot breakfast and keep active at our indoor pool or 24hr. fitness center before winding down for an evening downtown. We are connected to Zingerman’s Greyline private event space and catering. It’s all here waiting for you.
Area Attractions
U-M MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
1109 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-763-3312
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History transforms hearts and minds by promoting understanding of the natural world, our place in it, and our impact on it. They bring campus and community together in participatory and inclusive learning experiences to explore the processes of science and to address urgent global and local challenges.
The U-M Museum of Natural History opened its spectacular new facility in the Biological Sciences Building in April 2019. The building design blurs the boundaries between public and research areas, putting science on display. All-new exhibits and educational programs feature LSA’s world-class natural science collections, cutting-edge research by U-M faculty, and interdisciplinary topics of global and local concern.
THE HURON RIVER WATER TRAIL
1100 N Main Street, Suite 210, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 734-769-5123
The Huron River Water Trail is a 104-mile (167 km) inland paddling trail connecting people to the river’s natural environment, its history and the communities it touches in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. From the rapids at Delhi and Dexter to the placid flat water at the entrance to Lake Erie, a variety of paddling experiences await you. For kayaking, canoeing, fishing on a fly, and other freshwater pursuits, follow the Huron River Water Trail to learn what others already know – that Huron River is a Michigan treasure worth exploring.
URBAN FAIRY DOORS
Throughout downtown Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Urban Fairy Doors are located throughout downtown Ann Arbor. A unique attraction for kids of all ages. Tiny doors found on the front of select businesses open to reveal “fairy homes.” Go to the website for more information and to download the map.
DOMINO PETTING FARM
3001 Earhart Rd , Ann Arbor, MI 48106, 734-998-0182
In 1925, the Zeeb family built a working farm in Ann Arbor. Their property and buildings were purchased by Thomas S. Monaghan in the early 1980’s to make way for the large office complex that would be the home of his pizza empire. Mr. Monaghan named the new establishment “Domino’s Farms.”
Wanting to honor the property’s history, Mr. Monaghan hired staff to create a farm-themed activity center for families. The Petting Farm opened its doors in 1984 at Domino’s Farms. In 1989, as construction of the office complex progressed, the Zeeb barn was moved across the road to its current location. Twenty acres were allocated for the site and the Zeeb barn became a shelter for animals once more.
In 1996 The Petting Farm became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We now rely on the support of our patrons and sponsors as well as donations to keep our facility open to the public. The Petting Farm is a symbol of our appreciation and commitment to the agriculture industry and the traditional farm values that are evident in our culture. It serves as a historical tribute to the farmers who lived in the area and developed the agribusiness we have today.
NICKELS ARCADE
326 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 734-769-0941
Nickels Arcade is a covered shopping district in downtown Ann Arbor, built in 1918. The 261-foot-long mosaic-tiled corridor, houses some of Ann Arbor’s oldest specialty retail shops.
GRAFFITI ALLEY
380 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI
Tucked off East Liberty Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is an alley covered in graffiti. The original graffiti space was painted over in 1999 with an original work by artist Katherine Cost titled Infinite Possibilities, but was defaced by local graffiti artists a few weeks later and entirely painted over within a few months. The alley remains a unique place for artists and has continued to evolve as new artists leave their mark.