Michigan Pro Tips!
May 9, 2011 8:47 AM Subscribe
We're moving to Michigan in three weeks! Tell me all of your pro tips for everything- dining, camping, kayaking, day trips, roadside attractions- in our new state.
We're moving to Ann Arbor but are eager to explore the entire state. What are your favorite picks for everything- places to eat, places to see, special events, etc? I'm compiling a master list with all kinds of info, and building plans for day trips, overnighters, etc. Anything you
Thank you for anything and everything!
We're moving to Ann Arbor but are eager to explore the entire state. What are your favorite picks for everything- places to eat, places to see, special events, etc? I'm compiling a master list with all kinds of info, and building plans for day trips, overnighters, etc. Anything you
Thank you for anything and everything!
See Lake Michigan at Saugatuck. And the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Visit the Capitol in Lansing (but that's about it in Lansing, that at going to Sawyer's Pancake House!). I have fond childhood memories of the museum of natural history there in Ann Arbor, too. Welcome to Michigan!
posted by motsque at 9:19 AM on May 9, 2011
posted by motsque at 9:19 AM on May 9, 2011
The Arbor wiki is a good start. Nice kayaking on the Huron River - I'm fond of Hudson Mills to Delhi - upstream of Ann Arbor. You can rent from Skip's or pay them to shuttle your boat if you don't want to mess around w/2 cars. In Ann Arbor pleasant hiking at the Arb and Matthai Botanical Gardens - be sure to check out Shakespeare in the Arb in June - stuff at the link.
Ann Arbor has several farmers' markets - at Kerrytown on Wednesday and Saturday and next to Zingerman's Roadhouse on Thursdays.
Welcome to A2!
posted by leslies at 9:21 AM on May 9, 2011
Ann Arbor has several farmers' markets - at Kerrytown on Wednesday and Saturday and next to Zingerman's Roadhouse on Thursdays.
Welcome to A2!
posted by leslies at 9:21 AM on May 9, 2011
On the West side of the state, definitely check out Tulip Time in Holland, the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Muskegon Summer Celebration, and Festival of the Arts and Art Prize in Grand Rapids. Summers in West Michigan are fantastic.
posted by boba at 9:24 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by boba at 9:24 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all these wonderful suggestions so far- if you have recommendations for accommodations in any of the places you mention I'd be grateful to get them from you instead of the AAA guidebook!
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 9:37 AM on May 9, 2011
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 9:37 AM on May 9, 2011
First thing I'd remember: Michigan is kinda big, especially compared to NYC (where you seem to be coming from). It will take you about the same amount of time to get to Indianapolis or Chicago as it will to get to some parts of northern Michigan, and only an extra hour to get to Pittsburgh. It'll take you a good six or seven hours to get much of anywhere in the UP though, so if you really want to focus on Michigan per se, you'll need to keep that in mind.
Second, a lot of the natural beauty and outdoors-type attractions are in the western and northern part of the state, particularly the UP. Much of the northern part of the state is actually state parks, when you look at a map. There's a bunch of ski resorts in the northwest part of the "Mitt," and the western coast is generally a bigger tourist destination than the eastern.
Third, there really isn't a hell of a lot going on between Ann Arbor/Detroit, Grand Rapids, and maybe Kalamazoo. I mean really. A lot of the "towns" on the map have less than 10,000 people, some significantly less, and are surrounded by miles and miles of more-or-less uninterrupted farm fields. There really isn't even a whole lot to do outside in much of the state, as a huge chunk of the real estate in the southern part of the state is in use. This is a bit different than it is out East, where there are huge swaths of the map where literally no one lives and which are basically wild forest. There may be less people in the Midwest than in the Megalopolis, but they're spread out a lot farther.
This may be why a lot of people in Michigan and much of the upper Midwest outside Chicago really don't tend to balk much at driving fifty or even a hundred miles on a regular basis. Some people even commute that far, or farther. I have a client that does this five times a week.
I'd mention Kalamazoo here, which has a way better music scene than you'd expect. A lot of indie-type bands seem to stop there. Cedar Point is only a few hours away too.
As far as outdoors stuff, check out Warren Dunes State Park, which is about two and a half hours west. Decent beaches and a lot of space to hike, etc. And as mentioned, there are a ton of state parks and wildlife areas in the northern half of the state. Lots of cabins etc. for rent along the western and northern coast too.
In re food, Michigan is regionally known for its orchards and roadside veggie/fruit stands, but these are so common that you're almost best off just spending an afternoon driving down county roads west of town and seeing what you can find. Which sounds pretty pleasant in and of itself. Honeycrisps are a more recent cultivar, having only been introduced in the early 1990s, but they're amazing, and come into season in early fall. Really though, Michigan is just a big ag state in general, and there are farmer's markets in most cities of any real size. Ann Arbor has one.
On a more personal note, I live in Fort Wayne, which is only about three hours off, so if you're ever in the area or passing through, MeMail me. I'd be happy to show you around a bit.
posted by valkyryn at 9:51 AM on May 9, 2011
Second, a lot of the natural beauty and outdoors-type attractions are in the western and northern part of the state, particularly the UP. Much of the northern part of the state is actually state parks, when you look at a map. There's a bunch of ski resorts in the northwest part of the "Mitt," and the western coast is generally a bigger tourist destination than the eastern.
Third, there really isn't a hell of a lot going on between Ann Arbor/Detroit, Grand Rapids, and maybe Kalamazoo. I mean really. A lot of the "towns" on the map have less than 10,000 people, some significantly less, and are surrounded by miles and miles of more-or-less uninterrupted farm fields. There really isn't even a whole lot to do outside in much of the state, as a huge chunk of the real estate in the southern part of the state is in use. This is a bit different than it is out East, where there are huge swaths of the map where literally no one lives and which are basically wild forest. There may be less people in the Midwest than in the Megalopolis, but they're spread out a lot farther.
This may be why a lot of people in Michigan and much of the upper Midwest outside Chicago really don't tend to balk much at driving fifty or even a hundred miles on a regular basis. Some people even commute that far, or farther. I have a client that does this five times a week.
I'd mention Kalamazoo here, which has a way better music scene than you'd expect. A lot of indie-type bands seem to stop there. Cedar Point is only a few hours away too.
As far as outdoors stuff, check out Warren Dunes State Park, which is about two and a half hours west. Decent beaches and a lot of space to hike, etc. And as mentioned, there are a ton of state parks and wildlife areas in the northern half of the state. Lots of cabins etc. for rent along the western and northern coast too.
In re food, Michigan is regionally known for its orchards and roadside veggie/fruit stands, but these are so common that you're almost best off just spending an afternoon driving down county roads west of town and seeing what you can find. Which sounds pretty pleasant in and of itself. Honeycrisps are a more recent cultivar, having only been introduced in the early 1990s, but they're amazing, and come into season in early fall. Really though, Michigan is just a big ag state in general, and there are farmer's markets in most cities of any real size. Ann Arbor has one.
On a more personal note, I live in Fort Wayne, which is only about three hours off, so if you're ever in the area or passing through, MeMail me. I'd be happy to show you around a bit.
posted by valkyryn at 9:51 AM on May 9, 2011
Things I miss about the Ann Arbor area:
* Slows BBQ in Detroit
* Zingerman's (Roadhouse and the Deli); also, go down to their industrial park on your birthday for free coffee, gellato and baked goods.
* Happy Hour at Grange Restaurant Bar upstairs (if it's still around; was never too full downstairs)
* Babs Underground Lounge
* A great grilled sandwich at lunch from the Produce Station (summer only)
* An hour wasted at Pinball Pete's
* Burgers at Sidetracks in Ypsilanti and at Casey's in Ann Arbor down by the train station
* Lunch at the fish monger in Kerrytown (watch twitter for free-chowder twitter tuesday)
* Kerrytown Farmer's Market
posted by JakeWalker at 10:13 AM on May 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
* Slows BBQ in Detroit
* Zingerman's (Roadhouse and the Deli); also, go down to their industrial park on your birthday for free coffee, gellato and baked goods.
* Happy Hour at Grange Restaurant Bar upstairs (if it's still around; was never too full downstairs)
* Babs Underground Lounge
* A great grilled sandwich at lunch from the Produce Station (summer only)
* An hour wasted at Pinball Pete's
* Burgers at Sidetracks in Ypsilanti and at Casey's in Ann Arbor down by the train station
* Lunch at the fish monger in Kerrytown (watch twitter for free-chowder twitter tuesday)
* Kerrytown Farmer's Market
posted by JakeWalker at 10:13 AM on May 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
Welcome to Michigan!
You are in for a treat!
Food wise:
in ann arbor go to Amers, it cheaper and just as good if not better than. Zingermans $16 sandwiches without the wait.
In Detroit, Slows for sure, as well as Sala Thai in Eastern Market.
In Hamtramick, you have Polish Village which is awesome (prepare to wait).
Up towards Traverse City, you have the Boardman River which is great for kayaking.
The UP is a treasure trove of awesomeness in nature.
Don't discount or write off the great wineries up near Traverse City, I love Black Star, and Grand Traverse.
If you are also a beer snob, you are in for a treat! There are so many good breweries in Michigan, including Ann Arbor Brewing Company, Shorts, and of course Bells.
There is a beer festival held annually in Ypsilanti, and its a really great time.
There are great camping spots on Lake Michigan, near Luddington, and my favorite site is outside Traverse City in a little place called Interlocken.
Welcome to the Great Lakes state, feel free to message me for any specifics.
posted by handbanana at 10:35 AM on May 9, 2011
You are in for a treat!
Food wise:
in ann arbor go to Amers, it cheaper and just as good if not better than. Zingermans $16 sandwiches without the wait.
In Detroit, Slows for sure, as well as Sala Thai in Eastern Market.
In Hamtramick, you have Polish Village which is awesome (prepare to wait).
Up towards Traverse City, you have the Boardman River which is great for kayaking.
The UP is a treasure trove of awesomeness in nature.
Don't discount or write off the great wineries up near Traverse City, I love Black Star, and Grand Traverse.
If you are also a beer snob, you are in for a treat! There are so many good breweries in Michigan, including Ann Arbor Brewing Company, Shorts, and of course Bells.
There is a beer festival held annually in Ypsilanti, and its a really great time.
There are great camping spots on Lake Michigan, near Luddington, and my favorite site is outside Traverse City in a little place called Interlocken.
Welcome to the Great Lakes state, feel free to message me for any specifics.
posted by handbanana at 10:35 AM on May 9, 2011
I am _so_ envious of you. Ann Arbor is my favorite place to live.
In addition to (my old employer) Zingerman's, you should check out Jerusalem Garden for great Middle Eastern food; Lobster Bisque on Thursdays at Le Dog; fantastic late-night Mexican at BTB Burrito (formerly Big Ten Burrito); the Kerrytown shops; free billiards on Sunday nights at Circus.
If you're new to the midwest, the truly world-class Bell's Brewery is in nearby Kalamazoo: their summer wheat beer, Oberon, is tremendous. Arbor Brewing Company and Leopold's Brewing Company are really good local brewers.
The city has a fantastic small-town feel once you've lived there a few months, but it's also in the circuit for some really good traveling art shows, concerts, museum collections, and the like. It really is the best of both worlds, and I envy you so much.
For longer trips, Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan is a tremendous camping spot; the UP is a little far, but also very good for just getting away from it all.
posted by gauche at 10:43 AM on May 9, 2011
In addition to (my old employer) Zingerman's, you should check out Jerusalem Garden for great Middle Eastern food; Lobster Bisque on Thursdays at Le Dog; fantastic late-night Mexican at BTB Burrito (formerly Big Ten Burrito); the Kerrytown shops; free billiards on Sunday nights at Circus.
If you're new to the midwest, the truly world-class Bell's Brewery is in nearby Kalamazoo: their summer wheat beer, Oberon, is tremendous. Arbor Brewing Company and Leopold's Brewing Company are really good local brewers.
The city has a fantastic small-town feel once you've lived there a few months, but it's also in the circuit for some really good traveling art shows, concerts, museum collections, and the like. It really is the best of both worlds, and I envy you so much.
For longer trips, Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan is a tremendous camping spot; the UP is a little far, but also very good for just getting away from it all.
posted by gauche at 10:43 AM on May 9, 2011
Also, the Toledo art museum has a really well-regarded collection of ancient Greet pottery, if you're into that sort of thing.
posted by gauche at 10:44 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by gauche at 10:44 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Did you know that Detroit has the largest theater district outside of Broadway? There's the Fisher Theater, the Fox Theater, the Detroit Opera House, the Gem Theater, there's a second city stage inside Hockeytown Cafe, and a bunch of other smaller ones. There's a symphony and an opera and a ballet and lots of local theaters. The detroit institute of arts is awesome, and the detroit science center is fun. There's a zoo (near Royal Oak). There's lots of great live music, especially in the summer at outdoor festivals. If you like Eletronic/Dance (or just like giant parties) check out the Movement fest memorial day weekend downtown. Big concerts hit the palace (where the pistons play), sometimes Van Andel in Grand Rapids, and the "DTE Music Theater" a/k/a/ Pine Knob for outdoor summer tours.
Ann Arbor has great parks. Check out Bird Hills.
I lovedThe Common Grill for dinner. Also, the west end grill.
There are tons of festivials - you'll be in town by the time the invasion that are the ann arbor art fairs start; but there's also alll sorts of other stuff. Ann Arbor has a "top of the park" festival that includes live music an movies shown outside. Fun.
check out michigan sports outside of football (hockey and baseball come to mind, also diving and gymnastics can be fun).
Pick a lake and drive to it. Lake St. Clair has some great beaches/parks along it (ecoli levels can get sort of out of hand, so be careful there). The AuSable river is great for canoes. Skiing and whatnot up north, as has been said. Spend a day driving along Jefferson/Lakeshore drive from detroit north, pick a spot of dinner, turn around. It's pretty and has lots of parks and amazing houses. There's lots of auto stuff - the henry ford, Greenfield village, the ford estate, meadowbrook estate, cranbrook institute.
I'll keep thinking :)
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:24 AM on May 9, 2011
Ann Arbor has great parks. Check out Bird Hills.
I lovedThe Common Grill for dinner. Also, the west end grill.
There are tons of festivials - you'll be in town by the time the invasion that are the ann arbor art fairs start; but there's also alll sorts of other stuff. Ann Arbor has a "top of the park" festival that includes live music an movies shown outside. Fun.
check out michigan sports outside of football (hockey and baseball come to mind, also diving and gymnastics can be fun).
Pick a lake and drive to it. Lake St. Clair has some great beaches/parks along it (ecoli levels can get sort of out of hand, so be careful there). The AuSable river is great for canoes. Skiing and whatnot up north, as has been said. Spend a day driving along Jefferson/Lakeshore drive from detroit north, pick a spot of dinner, turn around. It's pretty and has lots of parks and amazing houses. There's lots of auto stuff - the henry ford, Greenfield village, the ford estate, meadowbrook estate, cranbrook institute.
I'll keep thinking :)
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:24 AM on May 9, 2011
The Detroit Institute of Arts is amazing since the renovation. Make sure to check it out.
posted by handbanana at 11:26 AM on May 9, 2011
posted by handbanana at 11:26 AM on May 9, 2011
Oh, and something else: snow. Michigan gets a fair amount of snow, particularly the western parts. Ann Arbor usually sees about four feet between November and April, and there will generally be snow on the ground between January and the beginning of March. Lake effect snow is common in western Michigan, and Grand Rapids routinely gets in excess of six feet over the course of a winter.
You're going to need to get used to driving in sucky conditions, as school/work doesn't really tend to close all that frequently. Four or more inches after midnight might do the trick, but it takes some pretty serious weather to shut the place down.
posted by valkyryn at 11:30 AM on May 9, 2011
You're going to need to get used to driving in sucky conditions, as school/work doesn't really tend to close all that frequently. Four or more inches after midnight might do the trick, but it takes some pretty serious weather to shut the place down.
posted by valkyryn at 11:30 AM on May 9, 2011
Football Saturdays. Know when the game is -- it is futile to attempt to go anywhere either before or after the game. (You may need to modify this in case of blowout.)
many good places to eat downtown, on and around main street. great korean food at any one of a dozen little storefronts (i love me some be bim bop). good cuban diner called fritas banditos on washington. two new local breweries are jolly pumpkin and wolverine state, still i'm in agreement with the above poster that Kalamzoo brewery offerings can't be beat.
go to top of the park during the sweet summer nights. art fair is insane, you may want to go once then avoid.
Metroparks: you can rent canoes at Delhi park and at Gallup park. running and mountainn biking trails at the pinckney rec area
All the towns and beaches up the Lake Michigan coast. My best suggestion for getting familiar with MI is to set a week or so aside for a road trip. Head west from Ann Arbor and start in Saugatuck then just follow the coast through all the little towns -- grand haven, ludington, frankfort, eventually reaching traverse city and the leelanau penninsula. continue on and finish with a couple of nights on Mackinac Island (touristy but lovely and fun). (if you want specific recs, message me)
the UP is another trip.
and you're easily within shooting distance of southern ontario and niagara, even toronto.
chicago is four hours away if you need a big city (amtrak can get you there cheaply).
at the risk of being controversial, folks don't much go into Detroit (I live in Ann Arbor and have spent more time visiting Chicago than Detroit in the last ten years) -- there's really not much there that you can't get somewhere else, although opening day for the tigers is fun, as are red wings games.
posted by dzot at 11:56 AM on May 9, 2011
many good places to eat downtown, on and around main street. great korean food at any one of a dozen little storefronts (i love me some be bim bop). good cuban diner called fritas banditos on washington. two new local breweries are jolly pumpkin and wolverine state, still i'm in agreement with the above poster that Kalamzoo brewery offerings can't be beat.
go to top of the park during the sweet summer nights. art fair is insane, you may want to go once then avoid.
Metroparks: you can rent canoes at Delhi park and at Gallup park. running and mountainn biking trails at the pinckney rec area
All the towns and beaches up the Lake Michigan coast. My best suggestion for getting familiar with MI is to set a week or so aside for a road trip. Head west from Ann Arbor and start in Saugatuck then just follow the coast through all the little towns -- grand haven, ludington, frankfort, eventually reaching traverse city and the leelanau penninsula. continue on and finish with a couple of nights on Mackinac Island (touristy but lovely and fun). (if you want specific recs, message me)
the UP is another trip.
and you're easily within shooting distance of southern ontario and niagara, even toronto.
chicago is four hours away if you need a big city (amtrak can get you there cheaply).
at the risk of being controversial, folks don't much go into Detroit (I live in Ann Arbor and have spent more time visiting Chicago than Detroit in the last ten years) -- there's really not much there that you can't get somewhere else, although opening day for the tigers is fun, as are red wings games.
posted by dzot at 11:56 AM on May 9, 2011
The Huron River is beautiful for kayaking or canoeing right close to Ann Arbor. We used to put in at Hudson Mills and take out downstream somewhere (I am blanking on the name of the park). The river has a Wikipedia page that lists the parks.
posted by not that girl at 11:58 AM on May 9, 2011
posted by not that girl at 11:58 AM on May 9, 2011
A couple great places to get inexpensive groceries: The People's Co-op on N. Fourth and By the Pound on S. Main St. Plum Market and Arbor farms are great too, but you'll pay more for a bag of groceries there than you would at Meijer.
Arborweb.com has a well used calendar, with the free stuff marked clearly.
The towns just west, Dexter and Chelsea are worth an afternoon to explore. Chelsea has 'Sights and Sounds' on thursday nights, a free art and music street festival. When in Chelsea eat at Mike's Deli on Middle St. Dexter has Dexter Daze, another fun summer festival. Saline, a town south of AA, has a Celtic Festival that is worth seeing.
If you have kids, the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum is pretty great. The Toledo Zoo is just about an hour south, the Detroit Zoo is about an hour east. If you feel like feeding some giraffes, head to the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 12:37 PM on May 9, 2011
Arborweb.com has a well used calendar, with the free stuff marked clearly.
The towns just west, Dexter and Chelsea are worth an afternoon to explore. Chelsea has 'Sights and Sounds' on thursday nights, a free art and music street festival. When in Chelsea eat at Mike's Deli on Middle St. Dexter has Dexter Daze, another fun summer festival. Saline, a town south of AA, has a Celtic Festival that is worth seeing.
If you have kids, the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum is pretty great. The Toledo Zoo is just about an hour south, the Detroit Zoo is about an hour east. If you feel like feeding some giraffes, head to the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 12:37 PM on May 9, 2011
My condolences. I hate Michigan -- I hope your experiences are better than mine.
Snow was not too much an issue when I lived in A2, but that could have been from really poor years. You may well have to deal with torrential downpours of rain in the summer.
There's a neat Buddhist temple somewhere near downtown, but I don't remember quite where; it might be off Packard.
Depending on the part of town you're in, don't rely on the cops to be very timely or useful. I reported witnessing an assault in progress in the middle of downtown, and it took the cops an hour to arrive and they never arrested anyone despite several people pointing out who was responsible.
Just walking around downtown A2 can result in discovering some fun places. Plus, hanging out on the Diag was interesting -- just watch out for those fucking squirrels. They'll steal your sammich right out of your hand.
And for the love of all that's holy, if there's a UofM football game on, stay the hell home. Traffic is god's own nightmare on game day. Even if you don't like football, it's in your own best interest to know when the games are. If you have to go out, avoid going within, like, five miles of the stadium. I mean it. And be prepared to pretend to be interested in the game, because saying 'Oh I don't care for football' on game day is not the grandest of ideas. (Now, I don't give two shits about football. If it's your thing, though, apparently UofM is one of the best teams, or something, so enjoy!)
posted by Heretical at 1:19 PM on May 9, 2011
Snow was not too much an issue when I lived in A2, but that could have been from really poor years. You may well have to deal with torrential downpours of rain in the summer.
There's a neat Buddhist temple somewhere near downtown, but I don't remember quite where; it might be off Packard.
Depending on the part of town you're in, don't rely on the cops to be very timely or useful. I reported witnessing an assault in progress in the middle of downtown, and it took the cops an hour to arrive and they never arrested anyone despite several people pointing out who was responsible.
Just walking around downtown A2 can result in discovering some fun places. Plus, hanging out on the Diag was interesting -- just watch out for those fucking squirrels. They'll steal your sammich right out of your hand.
And for the love of all that's holy, if there's a UofM football game on, stay the hell home. Traffic is god's own nightmare on game day. Even if you don't like football, it's in your own best interest to know when the games are. If you have to go out, avoid going within, like, five miles of the stadium. I mean it. And be prepared to pretend to be interested in the game, because saying 'Oh I don't care for football' on game day is not the grandest of ideas. (Now, I don't give two shits about football. If it's your thing, though, apparently UofM is one of the best teams, or something, so enjoy!)
posted by Heretical at 1:19 PM on May 9, 2011
To add a few - and subtract some - Leopold's is gone but Original Gravity Brewing Co in Milan is terrific, arts listings here , Henry Ford Museum is extraordinary - and enormous with many acres of grounds including the Wright Brothers workshop, and less than an hour from Ann Arbor. UM has a good art museum, small but nice natural history museum. The Hands On Museum is great for kids.
To respond to Herectical - I've lived here for 30 years and have never gone to a game - and until they play soccer at the big house I never will - lots of people are not football obsessed but yes, tracking when the games are is necessary. During the game is a great time to run errands but make sure you're off the roads when it ends or be in the midst of truly epic traffic jams. And not all of us avoid Detroit - lots of great music and art there and in surrounding Ferndale and Royal Oak to name a few.
Great ice cream at Washtenaw Dairy,.
posted by leslies at 1:28 PM on May 9, 2011
To respond to Herectical - I've lived here for 30 years and have never gone to a game - and until they play soccer at the big house I never will - lots of people are not football obsessed but yes, tracking when the games are is necessary. During the game is a great time to run errands but make sure you're off the roads when it ends or be in the midst of truly epic traffic jams. And not all of us avoid Detroit - lots of great music and art there and in surrounding Ferndale and Royal Oak to name a few.
Great ice cream at Washtenaw Dairy,.
posted by leslies at 1:28 PM on May 9, 2011
Franeknmuth is silly but fun. There is a Renissance festival in Holly, MI that is also fun, and I think that's where the tulip festival is as well. Check out michigan.org for lots more.
Agree with Leslies - I lived in Ann Arbor for 7 years, and went to Detroit and its surrounds often. And Chicago, too. Detroit has lots of things that Ann Arbor doesn't (see, theaters and sports and different live music and the DIA. Also, see, the eastern market, and mexican town and proximity to Canada.
Speaking of Canada, Toronto isn't that far away, and neither is Georgian Bay, which is amazingly beautiful.
I'm not a huge football fan, but it is fun to see at least one game - it's pretty amazing to see that many people all in one place doing something. I always liked to see the band get its start near the shembeckler hall.
Check out the lighthouses.
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:07 PM on May 9, 2011
Agree with Leslies - I lived in Ann Arbor for 7 years, and went to Detroit and its surrounds often. And Chicago, too. Detroit has lots of things that Ann Arbor doesn't (see, theaters and sports and different live music and the DIA. Also, see, the eastern market, and mexican town and proximity to Canada.
Speaking of Canada, Toronto isn't that far away, and neither is Georgian Bay, which is amazingly beautiful.
I'm not a huge football fan, but it is fun to see at least one game - it's pretty amazing to see that many people all in one place doing something. I always liked to see the band get its start near the shembeckler hall.
Check out the lighthouses.
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:07 PM on May 9, 2011
Summer in Ann Arbor is *awesome.*
You'll be just in time for Top of the Park! An Ann Arbor tradition: Bring a few blankets and some snacks, and sit on top of a huge parking garage to watch movies and live music. Super-fun.
Nthing the big Zing, the Washtenaw Dairy, and the Common Grill in Chelsea. (A Zingerman's hack: I don't know if they do anymore, but when we were high school kids next door, we would go and buy bread ends for 5 cents each and a dollar or less of cheese, and have an amazing high-quality lunch for super-cheap.) I have a soft spot for Pizza House, too, and you should explore all of the brewpubs, of which there are many.
Keep an eye on the marquee at the Michigan Theater to see a pretty broad range of films in an historic setting. (They show a lot of art house and foreign films, but ex. I saw Akira there, back in the day.)
The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are also both pretty awesome if you like that kind of thing, and not too far away. If you get a hankering for more history further away, drive up to Mackinac Island, a "living Victorian community."
Also, I don't know if it's true anymore, but the McDonald's behind EMU in Ypsi used to have the most *amazing* Coca-Cola. I have no idea why, but I daydream about it even now.
posted by Andrhia at 2:22 PM on May 9, 2011
You'll be just in time for Top of the Park! An Ann Arbor tradition: Bring a few blankets and some snacks, and sit on top of a huge parking garage to watch movies and live music. Super-fun.
Nthing the big Zing, the Washtenaw Dairy, and the Common Grill in Chelsea. (A Zingerman's hack: I don't know if they do anymore, but when we were high school kids next door, we would go and buy bread ends for 5 cents each and a dollar or less of cheese, and have an amazing high-quality lunch for super-cheap.) I have a soft spot for Pizza House, too, and you should explore all of the brewpubs, of which there are many.
Keep an eye on the marquee at the Michigan Theater to see a pretty broad range of films in an historic setting. (They show a lot of art house and foreign films, but ex. I saw Akira there, back in the day.)
The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are also both pretty awesome if you like that kind of thing, and not too far away. If you get a hankering for more history further away, drive up to Mackinac Island, a "living Victorian community."
Also, I don't know if it's true anymore, but the McDonald's behind EMU in Ypsi used to have the most *amazing* Coca-Cola. I have no idea why, but I daydream about it even now.
posted by Andrhia at 2:22 PM on May 9, 2011
For places to eat in Ann Arbor, don't forget a stop at Blimpy Burger for a nice greasy burger. Also, seconding the plan to go for a Lake Michigan trip, ensuring stops at Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City. If you can time it during autumn, when fall colors are at their peak, it's absolutely spectacular.
posted by Metro Gnome at 3:32 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by Metro Gnome at 3:32 PM on May 9, 2011
Oh yeah, then there's the Ann Arbor Art Fair, the biggest ball of crazy you've ever met in your life. We always used to make it a game to see how many different kinds of 'art on a stick' we could find while we were out. The food can be great (sometimes hideously overpriced), the art's at least amusing (almost always hideously overpriced), and Protest Row is just a riot. Bring your own water, people gouge you for $3 Aquafina bottles. WTF.
(Sorry about no links -- I'd use them but this is as far as I can go without dredging up shitty abusive-ex memories.)
posted by Heretical at 10:01 PM on May 9, 2011
(Sorry about no links -- I'd use them but this is as far as I can go without dredging up shitty abusive-ex memories.)
posted by Heretical at 10:01 PM on May 9, 2011
For food (greater Detroit, mostly, when you get that way) - Buddy's Pizza is a must try and Tubby's Submarines are excellent. (There was one in Ann Arbor, but I think it closed) You should also do Greek Town for the flaming cheese and other (traditional?) fare.
I hear Tower Pizza is great (that is in Ann Arbor).
For travel, go to Traverse City for the Cherry Festival! The weather is usually beautiful and yum - cherries. Mackinac Island is another place to hit up north for some touristy fun. Gaylord (about an hour south of the bridge) has Alpenfest where there are lederhosen abound and a general Alpine look and feel all year round.
There are a lot of scenic drive highways along the coast - I have done one between Traverse/Petoskey and the Mackinac Bridge, and it's beautiful. Make sure to find time in the fall to drive around and see the leaves.
Enjoy it! I miss Michigan, especially in the summer.
posted by getawaysticks at 7:27 AM on May 10, 2011
I hear Tower Pizza is great (that is in Ann Arbor).
For travel, go to Traverse City for the Cherry Festival! The weather is usually beautiful and yum - cherries. Mackinac Island is another place to hit up north for some touristy fun. Gaylord (about an hour south of the bridge) has Alpenfest where there are lederhosen abound and a general Alpine look and feel all year round.
There are a lot of scenic drive highways along the coast - I have done one between Traverse/Petoskey and the Mackinac Bridge, and it's beautiful. Make sure to find time in the fall to drive around and see the leaves.
Enjoy it! I miss Michigan, especially in the summer.
posted by getawaysticks at 7:27 AM on May 10, 2011
For Grand Traverse/Leelanau/other bordering counties stuff (ie where I'm from):
The Crystal River is a nice chill shallow river to canoe or kayak. There are a few places to rent boats in Glen Arbor. Leelanau County in general has a lot of natural beauty. I really like to go hiking at Pyramid Point, but there's really no one spot you absolutely must go to along the Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore. The Empire Bluffs are also lovely and while I've not been to Empire in years, I hear there are some tasty cafes there now.
I can't remember if I've been in the Manistee river, but I've definitely hiked and mountain biked the trails near it (the high rollaways section, to be precise) and it's beautiful. You would want printed maps to get there (be prepared for no cell phone service) and plan on some two track driving. In general you will probably want to look up the North Country Trail if you're into hiking or mountain biking.
For a little culture you can check out Interlochen. In the summer it's an arts camp and the winter an arts high school. There are always performances to check out by students and/or touring artists.
Cherry Festival is one of those crowd infested sort of things that I used to love as a kid but have less tolerance for as an adult. My parents really dig the film festival that happens about a month after the Cherry Festival.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 12:00 PM on May 10, 2011
The Crystal River is a nice chill shallow river to canoe or kayak. There are a few places to rent boats in Glen Arbor. Leelanau County in general has a lot of natural beauty. I really like to go hiking at Pyramid Point, but there's really no one spot you absolutely must go to along the Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore. The Empire Bluffs are also lovely and while I've not been to Empire in years, I hear there are some tasty cafes there now.
I can't remember if I've been in the Manistee river, but I've definitely hiked and mountain biked the trails near it (the high rollaways section, to be precise) and it's beautiful. You would want printed maps to get there (be prepared for no cell phone service) and plan on some two track driving. In general you will probably want to look up the North Country Trail if you're into hiking or mountain biking.
For a little culture you can check out Interlochen. In the summer it's an arts camp and the winter an arts high school. There are always performances to check out by students and/or touring artists.
Cherry Festival is one of those crowd infested sort of things that I used to love as a kid but have less tolerance for as an adult. My parents really dig the film festival that happens about a month after the Cherry Festival.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 12:00 PM on May 10, 2011
Welcome! I live in Grand Rapids now and was raised in Plymouth (about 20 minutes east of AA); each is different, but there's plenty to explore.
In the Detroit area:
-John King used books is the largest used bookstore in the state. It's 4 stories of awesome, often highly-specific, ephemera in the heart of Detroit. Plan on spending at least 4 hours there and head to Mudgie's afterwards for some awesome sandwiches.
-Greektown is a thing that some people enjoy. It's a 1 or 2 block stretch of Greek restaurants (and a casino) in downtown Detroit. At the least, you should stop by the Astoria Pastry Shop for some incredibly flaky, drippy baklava.
-The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are each worth a day trip. Henry Ford opened the museum & village to tell the story of every day American life through history. The museum is a collection of artifacts, and the village is an outdoor living history museum with people in costume, old historical buildings (Henry Ford's birthplace, the Wright Brothers' home & bike shop, George Washington Carver's cabin), and historical vehicles (steam-powered train rides, Model T rides). I'm biased towards Greenfield Village (having worked there for 3 summers), but each is fun and can fill up a day. Head to Miller's Bar afterwards for a really good, really greasy hamburger.
-There's an Ikea in Canton. That's a big deal among Swedish furniture enthusiasts.
In Grand Rapids:
-Frederik Meijer Gardens is an outdoor sculpture park and botanical garden.
-Every September, GR holds ArtPrize, in which downtown is flooded with sculptures, paintings, and other works of art which are then voted upon by the public for cash prizes. It's crowded, but it's cool to see downtown sprout all kinds of works of art over the course of a week. Totally worth checking out for a day.
-Yesterdog is locally famous, if you're the kind of person who likes hot dogs. (Personally, I prefer the Detroit-style coney dogs found all over the East side of the state, but that's just me.)
-Grab a pint of IPA at Founders Brewing Company; they routinely win awards for their beer, and their menu has many more varieties than the 3-4 types that make it into local stores.
-I'm partial to Marie Catrib's and The Electric Cheetah for sandwiches. Memail me if you want more GR food recommendations, or if you plan on stopping by and want/need more suggestions.
There's plenty more, but I'm out of typing now. Enjoy!
posted by Turkey Glue at 1:21 PM on May 10, 2011
In the Detroit area:
-John King used books is the largest used bookstore in the state. It's 4 stories of awesome, often highly-specific, ephemera in the heart of Detroit. Plan on spending at least 4 hours there and head to Mudgie's afterwards for some awesome sandwiches.
-Greektown is a thing that some people enjoy. It's a 1 or 2 block stretch of Greek restaurants (and a casino) in downtown Detroit. At the least, you should stop by the Astoria Pastry Shop for some incredibly flaky, drippy baklava.
-The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are each worth a day trip. Henry Ford opened the museum & village to tell the story of every day American life through history. The museum is a collection of artifacts, and the village is an outdoor living history museum with people in costume, old historical buildings (Henry Ford's birthplace, the Wright Brothers' home & bike shop, George Washington Carver's cabin), and historical vehicles (steam-powered train rides, Model T rides). I'm biased towards Greenfield Village (having worked there for 3 summers), but each is fun and can fill up a day. Head to Miller's Bar afterwards for a really good, really greasy hamburger.
-There's an Ikea in Canton. That's a big deal among Swedish furniture enthusiasts.
In Grand Rapids:
-Frederik Meijer Gardens is an outdoor sculpture park and botanical garden.
-Every September, GR holds ArtPrize, in which downtown is flooded with sculptures, paintings, and other works of art which are then voted upon by the public for cash prizes. It's crowded, but it's cool to see downtown sprout all kinds of works of art over the course of a week. Totally worth checking out for a day.
-Yesterdog is locally famous, if you're the kind of person who likes hot dogs. (Personally, I prefer the Detroit-style coney dogs found all over the East side of the state, but that's just me.)
-Grab a pint of IPA at Founders Brewing Company; they routinely win awards for their beer, and their menu has many more varieties than the 3-4 types that make it into local stores.
-I'm partial to Marie Catrib's and The Electric Cheetah for sandwiches. Memail me if you want more GR food recommendations, or if you plan on stopping by and want/need more suggestions.
There's plenty more, but I'm out of typing now. Enjoy!
posted by Turkey Glue at 1:21 PM on May 10, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
I have a weakness for Fort Michillimacknac. The UP is another world, but there is fun stuff up there like the Soo, Tahquamenon Falls, some of the mining ghost towns, etc.
A nice day trip, if you have a passport, is down to Fort Maldon. It is a charming little fort about an hour south of Windsor. Good museum. Coming home, you'll pass a lot of farm stands. Produce comes in about 2 weeks before on the US side of the river. You can bring locally grown produce across the border (citrus and bananas are the forbidden fruits, but, of course, no one grows them in SW Ontario).
If you like to camp, the state parks are good.
posted by QIbHom at 9:06 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]