If you’re heading to Ann Arbor for a partial day, we have tips for how to turn your trip into a full day of fun. Whether you are coming to town for a sporting event, performing art show, medical visit, college tour, or something else, check out our tips to add to your trip.
Any Time Fun
Ann Arbor Area Museums
There are several great museums in Ann Arbor. The UM Museums have free admission
- University of Michigan Museum of Natural History – FREE
- University of Michigan Museum of Art – FREE
- Kelsey Museum of Archaeology – FREE
- Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Or, head one town over to Ypsilanti for:
Playground Profiles
We have profiles on over 80 playgrounds in the greater Ann Arbor area. Ann Arbor’s destination playgrounds include:
Where to Find Animals
Both the Detroit and Toledo Zoo are about an hour from Ann Arbor. But there are several places to visit animals right in town.
- Leslie Science & Nature Center
- Creature Conservancy
- Petting Farm at Domino Farms
- White Lotus Farm
Other Activities
Check out these other fun activities.
- Pinball Pete’s
- UM Video Game Archive
- Catch a movie or show at Michigan & State Theater
- The Ann Arbor District Library branches are wonderful places to visit and offer lots of fun events.
Seasonal Fun
Winter Guide
- Christmas Guide – Tree Lighting & Parades, Shows, Nutcracker, Christmas Lights, Santa
- Sledding Hills
- Ice Skating
- Indoor Pools
Spring Fun
- Easter Egg Hunts & Brunches
- UM Peony Garden
Summer Guide
Where to Eat
There are plenty of places to eat in the Ann Arbor area. I wanted to highlight a couple.
Zingerman’s Deli
If you are visiting Ann Arbor, the most iconic Ann Arbor place to eat is Zingerman’s Deli in the Kerrytown neighborhood. This traditional Jewish Deli offers plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors.
The menu is large – I suggest browsing before your trip. You can even pre-order online so it is ready when you arrive. They are able to accommodate a wide range of dietary restrictions including vegetarian and gluten free.
Mr. Spot’s
If you are coming to town for a UM sporting event, head to Mr Spot’s for cheesesteaks. Just a few blocks north of the athletic campus on State St, it is a favorite of many members (past and present) of the athletic department. We have seen football players and recruits there. Once we missed the Stanley Cup by about 90 minutes.
