Ann Arbor—often abbreviated as AA or A²—is a city in Michigan 35 miles north of the Ohio border and 45 miles west of Detroit, near where the furthest exurban fringes give way to country and small towns. Founded in 1824, it was originally named "Annarbour" after the two founders' wives (Ann Allen and Mary Ann Rumsey) and an arbor of burr oak trees on the village site (although some have theorized that the name arose from an arbor of roses or grapes). Today the city has a population of about 115,000 people, not including the transient college students, or the thousands of visitors who come to town for football games and various festivals.
Ann Arbor is a picturesque city surrounding the University of Michigan. It has a strong bent toward the arts, and an attractive and pedestrian-friendly downtown. Visitors enjoy the city's wonderful sidewalk cafe dining, unique shops, lots of bookstores, and abundant cultural opportunities.
Ann Arbor is centered on the University of Michigan. The U of M campus intermingles with downtown, and the whole area is walkable, though day buses run between the campuses and the central business district. Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Thomson, Google, and Domino's have a major presence in the area. The University is well known for its medical school complex.
Farther out, the city fades into urban sprawl (a mall and business parks in the south), then countryside dotted with towns, and to the east, Detroit suburbs. Bus routes beyond the city limits, except in the direction of Ypsilanti, are lacking; you'll want a car or bike unless you have several hours to spare. On some autumn Saturdays, transport is difficult as 100,000-odd people pour in for university football games.
Ann Arbor, or Tree town, is, as one might expect, full of trees; they line the streets, and in summer from the air, or year-round in Google Earth, all that can be seen is a green swath with a few buildings sticking out. (In the early 20th century, after having leveled the forest that once occupied the area, the city instituted an aggressive tree-planting program that's since borne fruit.)
Like most of Michigan, summers can be hot and humid, with temperatures occasionally hitting 90 degrees, but averaging in the mid 80s. Winters are fairly normal for the lower Great Lakes region, which enjoys 4 seasons. It starts to be chilly in late October and it begins to warm up again in mid-March (but the occasional early April snowfall is not unheard of!). Average winter temperatures are generally in the range of 30°F and in January temps can dip below 20°F, or even lower if it's windy. Summers can get quite hot; in mid-July it can hit high into the 90's with high humidity.
Downtown is a solid block of restaurants and art galleries. The university hosts cultural events, and venues such as the Michigan Theater host first-run independent films and high-profile music groups. Several good independent bookshops are located here, as was the Borders flagship store until its closing in 2011, and the Ann Arbor Art Fair draws over half a million visitors each summer.
Ann Arbor is bounded by I-94 (between Detroit and Jackson) on the south and west, US-23 (between Flint and Toledo, Ohio) on the east, and M-14 (which leads to Detroit's western suburbs and I-96) on the north. From Toledo and other points south of Ann Arbor, take US-23 north; from Detroit, the airport, and points east, take I-94 west (or I-96 west to M-14 west); from Chicago and points west, take I-94 east; from the north, take US-23 south. There is ample paid parking downtown, but very little is on the curb (most is in parking garages). An option is to use the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) park and ride lots, which lie on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. There are five such lots with free parking around the city, and bus service to each.
Downtown Ann Arbor is not large, so it's easy to get around just by walking. In fact, free parking is almost nonexistent, especially when the town is full of students, so you'll probably prefer to walk anyway. Occasionally you'll find an unused parking meter; you'll have to feed it money between 8AM-6PM on weekdays and Saturdays, otherwise they're free. There are parking lots and buildings scattered around downtown; they're free on Sundays, otherwise you can generally expect to pay around 80 cents to $1 per hour.
If you want to know what's going on in town, the best guide to the entertainment scene in Washtenaw County is the Current, 212 E Huron Street, ☎ +1 734 668-4044. There's information on music, films, dance and theatre events, poetry and novel readings, lectures, art exhibits, festivals, and more, as well as restaurant reviews, general information about the town, and so much more. If you're interested in the Ann Arbor arts scene, this should be one of the first things you pick up; one easy spot to find copies is outside the Michigan Theatre on E Liberty Street.
- Downtown Ann Arbor. Most of the shops and restaurants line State, Liberty, and Main streets, with the quality becoming more upscale as you approach Main. The other popular student hangouts are along South University street. A few blocks north of downtown is the historic Kerrytown district, full of remodeled old homes and pleasant shopping.
- Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty St, ☎ +1 734 668-8397, +1 734 668-TIME (8463). A restored 1928 cinema, complete with two organs, one of them a vintage 1927 pipe organ. The theater shows mainly independent and foreign films, with special classic-film showings throughout the year. The organ is often played before performances, and during the Michigan Theater's special silent-film showings. The main auditorium also hosts other events throughout the year, particular musical groups and comedy shows, many fairly well-known.
- State Theater, 233 S State St, ☎ +1 734 761-8667. An art-deco cinema from 1942, the State Theater works in conjunction with the Michigan Theater, and often plays films that have stopped showing at the Michigan.
- The Ark, 316 S Main St, ☎ +1 734 761-1451. A nonprofit, intimate music club with 400 seats, which usually hosts folk/rock performers. Private club liquor license (membership required for liquor purchase).
- University Musical Society, ☎ +1 734 764-2538. The University Musical Society annually presents a series of concerts by world-renowned artists at Hill Auditorium, the Power Center, the Michigan Theater, or Rackham Auditorium. Price varies according to performance.
- Michigan Stadium, 1201 S Main St. Nicknamed the "Big House", the U-M stadium is the largest football stadium in America, with a seating capacity of 109,901. Home games are played in autumn on the well-known "Football Saturdays", when thousands of visitors clog the Ann Arbor streets to watch the Wolverines (or their opponents) play.
- The University of Michigan Law School Quadrangle (on South University Street between State Street and Tappan Street). The Law School's "Quad", nationally renowned for its serene environment and beautiful gothic-style architecture, is situated just south of the center of campus. Built in the early twentieth century, the Quad is comprised of Hutchins Hall — the main law school building — the reading room and the U-shaped Lawyer's Club. The reading room (open to visitors) is an enormous cathedral-like building with stained glass windows featuring the colors of major universities in the US and around the world. The underground law library is naturally lit by enormous windowed shafts just beyond the Quad. The Quad itself is a grassy open space ringed by trees and seasonal flower beds. During the warmer seasons, students relax and toss the ball around, or sit and study in the Quad, making it an integral part of the Law School. Many locals consider the Law Quad to be the most beautiful part of Ann Arbor.
- University of Michigan Diag (between N University Street and S University Street). The heart of the University of Michigan's Central Campus, the Diag is the main quadrangle around which most of the key buildings on campus are arranged. Its name comes from the primary walkway that runs from the northwest to southeast corners of the Diag. In the middle of the Diag, just in front of the graduate library, is a brick courtyard with a brass M in the center; according to student legend, if you step on the M during your first semester at the university, you are doomed to fail your first exam. The Diag is often used for demonstrations, booths or student fairs, and is a popular hangout in warm weather.
- The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower, at the center of the North Campus of the University of Michigan. A 165-foot tall structure which houses an operational carillon. The tower is open to visitors when the bells are being played, with two floors accessible by elevator. The top floor allows the visitors to see the carillonneur playing, while the lower floor provides a view of the carillon bells, as well as a skyline view of the Ann Arbor area. The current operational hours are posted at the base of the tower.
- Nichols Arboretum. Located in a secluded plot just east of the University of Michigan Hospital, "the Arb" is a favorite place to enjoy peace and quiet in a setting removed from the bustle and traffic of everyday Ann Arbor. The Arb has no signage, no parking lot of its own, nor any restroom facilities. What it has is an impressive peony garden, many different species of native trees, shrubs, and grasses, and the Huron River runs through it. A gem that's worth seeking out.
- Domino's Farms, US-23 and Plymouth Rd, ☎ +1 734 930-4425. A large office park in a pastoral location, home to the world headquarters of Domino's Pizza. Visitors will go mostly for one of two attractions:
+ Ave Maria Fine Art Gallery, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr, ☎ +1 734 930-2514. Tu-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-2PM, closed Su-M. The largest art gallery in Michigan, specializing in eary 20th century and Old World art.
+ Domino's Petting Farm, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr, ☎ +1 734 998-0182. M-F 9:30AM-4PM, Sa-Su 10:30AM-5PM. 15 acres of land with farm animals from around the world, including rare and near-extinct species, like the French Poitou donkey (only 200 reportedly in existence), African watusi cow, Horned Dorset ram, and Tibetan yak. The barn was once part of a working 1925-era farm, but was opened as a petting zoo in 1984. Tours, hay rides and educational presentations available. $5 adults, $4.50 children and seniors.
- Matthei Botanical Gardens. Just east of Domino's Farms, on Dixboro Road, Matthei Botanical Gardens is operated by the University of Michigan and open to the public. There are trails to stroll, a greenhouse to visit, and plantings to enjoy. Every spring, Matthei hosts a plant sale that is very popular with gardeners.".
- Ann Arbor Alpacas, 4805 Stone School Rd, ☎ +1 734 369-3200. Visitors can watch the alpacas being shorn at the end of May, or attend the open farm days on the second Saturday of the month from April through July.
Ann Arbor has a number of public sculptures and murals that can be viewed both on campus and downtown. Of these, several are particularly well-known:
- 1 The Cube, Maynard Street and E Jefferson Street (Regents Plaza north of the Michigan Union). A 15-foot-tall, 2400-lb glossy black cube created by Tony Rosenthal; there's an identical one in the East Village of New York City. The Cube spins on its axis when pushed.
- The Wave Field, Hayward Avenue (in the courtyard outside the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud building). Created by Maya Lin, the Wave Field is an earth sculpture, 90 feet by 90 feet square, consisting of a series of fifty grass waves in eight rows.
- Alley mural, E Liberty Street, by the Liberty Square parking structure. The alley mural began as a one-man project in the 1980s and became a popular spot for graffiti artists. The city took the spot over in 1999 by hiring artist Katherine Tombeau Cost to paint over the original mural and graffiti with a new 5,000-square-foot mural. The graffiti artists haven't entirely relinquished their claim to it, meaning that Cost's mural has been partially defaced with large bubble lettering, but it's still an interesting (and out-of-the-way) sight. Be sure to seek out the "trippers'" bubble gum wall toward the back. During warmer weather, you'll often find musicians or dancers putting on solo performances in the alley entrance, hoping to glean donations.
- Bookstore mural (corner of E Liberty Street and S State Street). Painted in 1984, when the corner location was still occupied by David's Books, this mural depicts the five authorial visages of Woody Allen, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Hesse, Franz Kafka, and Anaïs Nin.
- Painted fixtures, throughout downtown. Fire hydrants and transformers, painted in bright colors by local artists and schoolchildren.
- Fairy Doors, throughout downtown. Keep your eyes near the ground for fairy doors-- miniature colorful doors through which fairies can enter local businesses. According to Jonathan B. Wright of urban-fairies.com, the doors began appearing around town in the early 1990s.
Ann Arbor Parks and gardens
Ann Arbor has 147 city parks, ranging from less than a block wide to over 100 acres. Some of the more prominent ones include:
- Nichols Arboretum, 1610 Washington Heights, ☎ +1 734 647-7600. "The Arb" comprises 123 acres of hilly woodland along the Huron River, with collections of North American plants interspersed throughout. Peony garden, prairie, constructed wetland and Appalachian plant collection. At night you can see all of Ann Arbor from the top of the hill.
- Matthei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, ☎ +1 734 647-7600. The grounds are open daily from 8AM-dusk. Conservatory and gift shop open Tu & Th-Sa 10AM-4:30PM, W 10AM-8PM, closed Mondays. A 300-acre site with outdoor display gardens, a 10,000-square-foot conservatory filled with tropical plants, and miles of nature trails. Free (gardens), $5 (conservatory, but free on Fridays from 12PM-4:30PM).
- Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Rd, ☎ +1 734 662-9319. A 69-acre park along the Huron River and Geddes Pond, and Ann Arbor's most popular recreation area. Walkways with pedestrian bridges over the water, two playgrounds, picnic areas, open fields, over 3 miles of asphalt trails. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rental (canoes can also be taken from the Argo Park livery, 1055 Longshore Drive, +1 734 668-7411, to the Gallup livery).
- Buhr Park, 2751 Packard St, ☎ +1 734 971-3228. A 39-acre park with picnic areas, children's play area, softball diamond, soccer fields, outdoor tennis courts, 25-yard swimming pool, children's wading pool, outdoor ice arena for public skating and ice hockey, cross-country ski center, and snowmobile trails. Skate rentals available.
- Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, 220 E Ann St, ☎ +1 734 995-5439. Nine galleries with more than 250 interactive science demos and exhibits, on topics from physics to health to nature to mathematics. Kids will like it a lot; adults will be fairly entertained. $9 (donations gratefully accepted).
- Artrain USA, 1100 N Main St, toll-free: +1-800-ART-1971 (278-1971). Check the website to see if the Artrain will be in town during your visit. A traveling art museum, housed in vintage rail cars, that tours the nation but is based in Ann Arbor. Each exhibition tours the country for three to four years, offering creative partnerships with local artists at each stop along the tour.
- Cobblestone Farm Museum, 2781 Packard St, ☎ +1 734 994-2928, +1 734 973-7267. Tours offered 10AM-1PM on the last Saturday of the month, beginning in May. On-site gift shop open during tours or by appointment. An 1845 two-family home, notable for its façade made of cobblestones in herringbone rows, now restored and interpreted to give a view of past rural life in Washtenaw County. $2.
- Kempf House, 312 S Division St, ☎ +1 734 994-4898. Tours offered 1PM-4PM on Sundays, September through December and March through June, or by appointment. A restored Greek Revival house museum from 1853; once home to Reuben and Pauline Kempf, prominent Ann Arbor musicians, now offering guided tours and a glimpse into Victorian life in Ann Arbor. $1.
- Leslie Science Center, 1831 Traver St, ☎ +1 734 997-1553. Park open daily sunrise to sunset; Critter House open Su 12PM-3PM. 50 acres of fields, woods and prairie, featuring outdoor, hands-on and discovery-based educational programs. Features an environmentally-friendly Nature House; a Critter House with frogs, turtles, snakes, and rabbits; live birds of prey, including owls, falcons, kestrels, hawks, vultures, and a bald eagle; and a mile-long trail through the Black Pond Woods. Free (donations gratefully accepted).
- Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, 1000 Beal Ave, ☎ +1 734 205-0555. M-F 8:45AM-4:45PM (closed Federal holidays). The Gerald Ford Library collects and preserves the papers from Gerald Ford's presidency, including over 20 million pages of memos, letters, and personal papers. The collection also includes photographs, videotapes, audiotapes, and film. While these materials are by appointment only, there are free exhibits in the lobby on the life of President and Mrs. Ford, as well as a 20 minute film, narrated by President Ford. The Library hosts free evening events - author talks and programs by notable individuals. Free.
Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest 3_5 Star Rating
1275 S Huron St
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
When you stay at Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti, you'll be on a lake and convenient to Ypsilanti Water Tower and Eastern Michigan University. This family-friendly resort is within the vicinity of Rynearson Stadium and Buhr Park. Make yourself at home in one of the 243 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
The Kensington Hotel
3 Star Rating
3500 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
With a stay at The Kensington Hotel in Ann Arbor, you'll be in the business district and convenient to Cobblestone Farm and Michigan Stadium. This hotel is within close proximity of Buhr Park and Crisler Arena. Make yourself at home in one of the 200 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and complimentary newspapers, as well as phones with free local calls.
