A Weekender’s Travel Guide to Ann Arbor, Michigan – The Best Things to See & Do

Hey earth muffins! As many of you might know, I spent my undergrad/grad years in Ann Arbor attending the University of Michigan. I would definitely not go back to school any time soon; but, those years were some of the best in my entire life. Sure, academics were tough, but college is such an exciting time in anyone’s life. 😊 I have really wanted to travel recently due to spending way too much time stuck in my apartment; I’m not sure when Mister Corona will allow us to travel again. So, I thought it would be fun to post a Weekender’s Travel Guide post. I haven’t posted one of these in a hot minute! Let’s jump right into the ultimate travel guide to Ann Arbor, MI!

What You Should See on Campus:

If you haven’t ever been to Ann Arbor before, then you obviously need to check out some of the campus highlights. I personally would recommend these sites:

–The Diag: As you are walking through the Diag, you will be able to also check out a ton of the cool buildings on campus. This is the center of the school, so it is a great place to start when exploring Ann Arbor. The Union is an iconic building to visit, and it is right near the Diag.

–The Law Quad: If you want to feel like you are at Hogwarts then the Law Quad is for you. It is gorgeous year round and the perfect place to take grad photos. 😂 One of the prettiest libraries is also in the Law Quad, so feel free to go peep at some exhausted students.

–The Michigan Stadium: While the stadium itself is a ways from campus, you can jump on a Blue Bus (for free) and take a quick ride to it if you don’t have a vehicle with you. I am personally not a huge sports person, but if you are there during footbal season then definitely get tickets to watch the game!

–The Ross School of Business: If you want to see the ugliest colored building on campus, then this is for you. It is also where I spent 99% of my time, as I graduated with two business degrees in my 5 years in Ann Arbor. The building itself is pretty impressive to look at, and there is a Starbucks inside if you are getting thirsty on your tour.

Travel Guide to Ann Arbor – What to Do Off Campus:

Other than campus activities, Ann Arbor also has some awesome things to see. If you are in Ann Arbor during warmer months, you can check out the gorgeous nature at The Arb. You can walk the many trails or just lay in fields of flowers or sit at the side of the river.

The Michigan Theater and the State Theater both have great selections from new movies to old classics. Along with movies, they also do live shows from students orgs and even livestreams of Russian ballets. It is a great place to support the local community! My personal favorite is that they do these awesome sing-alongs where you can go and watch Disney movies with the words on the screen. It is actually a super fun activity to do with your friends!

If you want to check out the local secondhand scene, I recommend checking out my favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor! It is pretty expensive to live in this city, so you can find some pretty awesome brands at local thrifts. 😍 Along with those listed in that post, there are also a few small vintage stores close to campus as well.

Main Street also has a bunch of fun activities to choose from. There is The Ark where you can go listen to live music, many cute stores to shop in, and (of course) a TON of delicious places to eat!

Where to Eat in Ann Arbor:

Even during my college days I tried to eat out as little as possible to both save money and reduce my waste. But, I do have some favorite restaurants that I would recommend checking out.

Sadako – 1321 South University Ave

If you love sushi, this place is for you! The restaurant itself is tiny, so I would recommend going at a weird time (or getting it to go). They have great rolls at good prices; I loved going during lunch hours to get the bento boxes – SO much delicious food! They also have mochi ice cream that is really tasty as well. My friend once put the whole thing in her mouth and had a Princess Diaries moment if you know what I mean. 🤣

Salads UP – 611 E Liberty St.

While it might sound lame, their salads are so good! It is a Subway-style restaurant, where you can either get a custom made salad or order one from their menu. I personally always get a custom made one; it was such a great way to finish off a day of studying! I also love that this place was founded by two UoM alums. Feels like I am supporting the school when I eat there!

Cafe Zola – 112 W. Washington St.

This place is on the pricier side compared to the others above. But, it is still reasonable considering the high prices at many of Ann Arbor’s restaurants (again, it’s a wealthy town). The salmon burger and fries are to die for here! My friend’s family would always take us here when they were in town, and it was such a delicious treat. I have yet to try to make my own salmon burger because I know it will never compare!

So, if you ever find yourself in Michigan, Ann Arbor is a great choice to visit! While I could write a novel about all of the cool things to see, I tried to keep this travel guide to Ann Arbor relatively short. But, if you are making plans to go check it out, please let me know! Email or DM me on Instagram, and I would love to make more recommendations. Go Blue! 💛 💙

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