Find The Fairy Doors – If you don’t know about them, odds are, you’d probably walked right by these tiny doors, located throughout downtown Ann Arbor in various storefronts, cafes and galleries. Although going on a ‘fairy door hunt’ in Ann Arbor is a perfect activity for kids, I’ve seen adults just as excited to discover them.
Visit the Ann Arbor Farmers Market – The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Wednesdays (May-December), and 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturdays (January – April). If you’re headed to a University of Michigan game or are just strolling the iconic downtown, I’d advise that you plan a grab-and-go breakfast at the market. I always get a coffee from RoosRoast, apple donuts from Kapnick Orchards, or an olive twist from Mill Pond Bread.
Check Out Year-Round Unique Events – In the Ann Arbor area, there are celebrations of art, theater, athletics, music, academics, history and more, year-round. Whatever your passions, your pursuits or your pastimes – the Ann Arbor area is full of world-class events that celebrate life and culture in our beautiful city.
Paddle Down The Huron River- If you’re looking to get out on the water, a tour down the Huron River via kayak, canoe or paddle board is the adventure for you. The Huron River is a calm waterway with a few riffles and sections of drops and pools fun for both beginners and watersports enthusiasts. Argo and Gallup Park Canoe Liveries are open every day from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. through the last week in October and the river makes for a beautiful scene when surrounded by snowy banks in the winter.
Explore Seasonal Colors – For those looking to explore Ann Arbor fall color on foot – especially during the fall – I have a few favorite places to go: 1) Nichols Arboretum (aka ‘The Arb’ to locals) on U-M’s campus 2) Gallup Park 3) Scio Woods Preserve 4) Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter (5) Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea. These locations offer breathtaking views during every month of the year, whether it be flowers blooming in spring or fantastic sheets of ice in the winter. Bring your camera!
Tour University of Michigan’s Campus – I absolutely love exploring the U-M’s beautiful campus. If you have time while you’re here, stop into the U-M Museum of Art (free, open Mon. – Sat.) or the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology (free, open Tues. – Sun.). If you’re looking for an abbreviated tour, central campus is a good place to start. You can easily see Hill Auditorium, The Michigan Union, Angell Hall, Burton Tower, ‘The Diag’, the West Hall Arch, the Clements Library and more in about a half hour. If nothing else, you absolutely must go to the ‘Law Quad’ and peek into the Law Library. You won’t be disappointed.
Take a Brew Tour – There are numerous unique breweries in the Ann Arbor Area. Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti always carries my favorite beer (ABC’s Phat Abbot Trippel), Wolverine State Brewing Company Tap Room is a favorite local hang out, and Original Gravity in Milan is a hidden hoppy gem. Honestly, they’re all amazing. Arbor Brewing Company, Grizzly Peak, Jolly Pumpkin and Blue Tractor are all within walking distance from each other downtown.
