USA

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor is a picture postcard city with a rich history. It is also a city that is eternally young at heart. Ann Arbor has been home to the University of Michigan, one of the country's most prestigious public universities, since 1837. As a college town, it combines the best of both worlds. The traditions and intellectual pursuits of academia blend seamlessly with cultural activities, athletic events, music venues, and family fun.

Ann Arbor is located in southeast Michigan, just 45 miles west of Detroit and 35 miles north of the Ohio border. At any time of the year, there are events that will help to make your visit complete. An array of performances, festivals and activities (both outdoor and indoor) are part of what makes Washtenaw County a family friendly place.

Downtown Ann Arbor's twelve blocks of colorfully painted shops and cozy sidewalk cafes attest to its vitality and youthful spirit. Of course, over forty bookstores are nestled among the various shopping regions.

Shopping in Ann Arbor is a delight. Highlights include: the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market with fresh produce, baked goods, and an Artisan's market selling handcrafted items, furniture, clothing, and pottery; the Main Street restaurant and gallery area; the Nickel Arcade's assortment of quaint shops; and the bustling State Street area that connects town and campus.

Dine at any one of the fine restaurants and spend the evening listening to jazz or laughing with one of the nation's top comedians. State Street is the "entertainment capital" of Ann Arbor, with most of the big performance venues, as well as two movie theaters. Music is everywhere in Ann Arbor. The music scene has enjoyed a national reputation ever since the Stooges, MC5 and Bob Seger made their names there. There is, in fact, music to suit every taste. Symphony orchestras such as the Philadelphia and Berlin Philharmonics, and the Cleveland and Leipzig Orchestras; internationally acclaimed performers including Wynton Marsalis, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Jessye Norman, Yo Yo Ma, kd lang, and BB King; and the renowned dance companies of the Joffrey Ballet and Alvin Ailey, are all regular visitors to Ann Arbor.

Annual festivals include the Ann Arbor Folk Festival in January, the Ann Arbor Pow Wow in March, Springfest chamber music Festival in May, the Ypsilanti Frog Island Festival in June, and the fantastic Ann Arbor Art Fairs in July .  Ann Arbor's gigantic annual art festival actually consists of four separate fairs that occupy the city, drawing more than 1,000 artists and close to half a million visitors to downtown and the campus area over a four day period in July. Free concerts are featured, and hundreds of vendors offer their wares for sale. The Blues and Jazz festival in downtown Ann Arbor is a fall highlight.

With 23 courses, 387 holes and 135,369 yards of great golf to play in Ann Arbor, golfers have the perfect opportunity to enjoy the superb Michigan scenery while shooting for that birdie. Hiking, horseback riding, and cycling can be enjoyed in season. Fishing and canoeing are great on the Huron River. In the winter, there is cross country skiing, snowboarding, downhill skiing, and Alpine racing at Huron Hills. "Go Wolverines! Go Blue!" is the rallying cry of faithful fans of varsity baseball, football, and basketball as the University of Michigan teams compete.

A drive through the countryside will lead to Ann Arbor's neighbors: the small towns of Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Saline, and Milan. In Chelsea, the first prepared baking mix, Jiffy Mix, was manufactured. Currently, it is the home of The Purple Rose Theater, a popular regional playhouse founded by Jeff Daniels. Adjoining Ann Arbor is the picturesque, smaller college town of Ypsilanti, home of the original Dominos Pizza, the Chevrolet Corvair, and at present, a world-renowned antique auto show.

Ann Arbor (also known locally as A 2 ) awaits your arrival and provides opportunities for a memorable visit to the place most often voted the Best College Town .

Things To Do

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
220 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor
734-995-KIDS (5437).
Admission Charged

The museum, housed in a century-old firehouse, features over 250 interactive science and technology exhibits that appeal to both children and parents.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm.

Artrain
1100 N. Main St.
Ann Arbor
734-747-8300
Artrain is the nation's only traveling art museum on a train and brings enjoyment, understanding, and awareness of visual art and other cultural exhibitions to diverse audiences.

Dates vary so call to find out when Artrain is in town.

Bixby Marionette Exhibit
141 E. Michigan Ave. (Saline Culture and Commerce Center)
Saline
734-429-4494
Admission Charged

Permanent exhibit of marionettes handcrafted by longtime Saline resident Mr. Meredith Bixby, whose company of puppeteers performed nationwide between the 1930s and 1980s.

Call for exact times

Cobblestone Farm
2781 Packard Rd.
Ann Arbor
734-994-2928
Admission Charged

Being restored and interpreted to reflect its mid-19th-century appearance, the museum provides a view of past rural life in Washtenaw County.

Call for exact times

David R. Byrd Center
3261 Lohr Rd.
Ann Arbor
734-761-1746.
Admission Free

A restoration expert, Mr. Byrd was a charter member of the faculty at Washtenaw Community College and a renowned entrepreneur.

Open by appointment only.

Dexter Area Historical Museum
3443 Inverness St.
Dexter
734-426-2519
Admission Charged

The museum, located in the former St. Andrew's United Church of Christ, built in 1883, houses displays, a genealogical library, local history library, and gift shop.

Call for exact times

Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center
16345 McClure Rd.

Chelsea

734-475-3170

Admission Charged, park permit required
Geological samples from Michigan and the Midwest. Demonstrations, classes. Part of the Waterloo Recreation Area.

Gerald R. Ford Library
1000 Beal Ave.

Ann Arbor

734-741-2218

Admission Required
The public is welcome to examine the original files of President Ford, his White House staff, and other government officials from the 1970s.

Open Mon-Fri 8:45am-4:45pm.

Historic Hack House Museum
775 County St.

Milan

734-439-7522

Admission Charged
1888 Queen Anne-style Hack House Museum features artifacts of Milan and 19th- and early 20th-century America.

Hours by appointment.

Kempf House Center for Local History
312 S. Division St.

Ann Arbor

734-994-4898

Admission Charged

Kempf House is an 1853 Greek Revival House Museum interpreting Ann Arbor history and Victorian lifestyles from circa 1850 to 1910.

Weekend and group tours by arrangement.

Michigan Antique Equipment Preservation Group Museum
110 W. Cross St.

Ypsilanti

734-547-0663

Admission Charged

Mon-Thur 9am-noon, first & second Sun 2pm-5pm, and by appointment
Located in Ypsilanti's former Fire Hall, this museum displays fire memorabilia and antique and restored fire engines.

Rentschler Farm Museum
1265 E. Michigan Ave., Saline

734-429-4494

Admission Charged

Open Sat, May to early Oct, 11am-3pm. Closed holiday weekends.
Tour Emanuel Rentschler's farm, purchased in 1904 at auction. See everything from the house and outbuildings to machines and tools. Children can enjoy the animals and help with harvesting the garden vegetables.

RM Classic Cars
5 W. Forest St.,

Ypsilanti

734-547-2400

Admission Free
North America's leading dealer in fine classic automobiles. Showroom display features 50s and 60s collectible autos, muscle cars, and true classics from the pre-World War II era. Inquiries about restoration services welcome.

Call for hours of operation

Saline Depot Museum
402 N. Ann Arbor St.,

Saline

734-429-4494

Admission Charged
Railroads were fast and dependable. They carried produce, livestock, mail, and passengers, and they brought prosperity to towns along the tracks. This museum tells the story of the role the railroad played in allowing Saline to prosper.

Open Sat. except holiday weekends, 11am-3pm.

U of M Bentley Historical Library
1150 Beal Ave.

Ann Arbor

734-764-3482

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sat, Sept-April, 9am-12:30pm.

Admission Free
Research facility on U of M's North Campus contains the Michigan Historical Collections, as well as U of M's archives.

U of M Clements Library
909 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor

734-764-2347
Admission Free

Exhibits open weekdays 1-4:45pm, Reading Room open 9-11:45am, 1-4:45pm.
Displays include manuscripts and many primary sources for early American history, dating from 1492 to the end of the 19th century.

U of M Exhibit Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
1109 Geddes Ave.

Ann Arbor

734-763-6085
Admission Charged.

Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm.

This museum on the U of M campus houses the state's largest collection of dinosaur skeletons. Displays explore our natural history with special attention to Michigan's prehistoric past. The planetarium has a 360-degree domed screen that surrounds the audience. Several stargazing shows on the weekends.

U of M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
434 S. State St.

Ann Arbor

734-764-9304
Admission Charged

Open Tues-Fri 9am- 4pm, Sat and Sun 1-4pm.

This historic building houses nearly 100,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, the Middle East, Greece, and Rome.

U of M Museum of Art
525 S. State St.

Ann Arbor

734-764-0395
Admission Charged

Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Thur 10am-9pm, Sun noon-5pm.

Contains nearly 14,000 works of art from throughout the world. Highlights include paintings by Picasso, Whistler, and Monet; photography by Ansel Adams, and a world-class collection of Asian art and antiquities.

U of M Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry
1011 N. University Ave

 Ann Arbor

734-763-0767
Admission Charged

Hours are 8am-6pm daily. Closed most major holidays.

Housed within the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, this is one of only a handful of museums throughout the world devoted to preserving the history of the dental profession. There are over 6,000 items in the collection representing the dental technology from the late 1700s through the 1960s.

U of M Stearns Musical Collection
1100 Baits Dr., Ann Arbor

734-763-4389
Admission Charged

Call for hours of operation
More than 2,000 musical instruments have been acquired since Frederick Stearns donated the original collection in 1899, making this one of the largest, most distinctive collections from around the world.

U of M Towsley Sports Museum
Schembechler Hall, 1000 S. State St., Ann Arbor

734-647-2583

Admission Charged

Mon-Fri 11am-4pm.
Captures the tradition and spirit of over 100 years of athletic competition at the U of M with exhibits of Michigan athletes as part of the Rose Bowl, Big Ten Championship competitions, and U.S. Olympic teams.

Washtenaw County Historical Society Museum on Main Street
500 N. Main St., Ann Arbor

734-662-9092
Admission Charged

Wed, Sat, Sun, noon-4pm and by appointment.
The Museum on Main Street (MOMS), in a restored 1839 house, tells the history of Washtenaw County from the Indians and first settlers to the present through changing exhibits from the vast collections of the Washtenaw County Historical Society.

Waterloo Historical Society Farm Museum
9998 Waterloo-Munith Rd.

Chelsea

517- 596-2254

Admission Charged

Wed-Sun 1-5pm.
Depicting life in early settlement times, this museum transports you back to rural farm life.

Yankee Air Museum
Willow Run Airport, I-94 Exit 190 N (Belleville Rd.)

Ypsilanti

Wed-Sun 1-5pm.

734-483-4030
Admission Charged

Southeastern Michigan aviation history is on display in a historic hangar that played a major role in producing the famous B-24 bombers during World War II.

Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Collection & Miller Motors Hudson
100 E. Cross St.

Ypsilanti

734-482-5200
Admission Charged

Mon-Fri 1:30-5:30pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm.

Features automobiles and parts suppliers that were Ypsilanti products. Learn about the role Ypsilanti and its pioneers played in the history of the automobile. See actual vehicles of a bygone era; study the signs and records of early area auto dealers.

Ypsilanti Historical Museum
220 N. Huron St.

Ypsilanti

734-482-4990

Admission Charged

Open Thur, Sat, Sun 2pm-4pm. Archives Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-noon.
Elegant 1860 brick mansion with several exhibit rooms furnished in true Victorian style from 19th-century Ypsilanti.

Nearby Attractions:

Birch Run Outlet Shops
 Exit 136 off I-75

517- 624-9193

Admission Free
Over 175 outlet shops; fast food and sit-down restaurants; wilderness animal park, mini golf, bumper boats, go carts, and much more!

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland
25 Christmas Ln., Frankenmuth

517- 652-9931. 1-800-ALL-YEAR (recorded information)

Admission Free
World's largest Christmas store. A shopper's dream!

Open 361 days a year in Frankenmuth, "Michigan's Little Bavaria".

Sports and  Recreation

College Sports

University of Michigan
Ticket office 764-0247
Sports information 647-2583

Eastern Michigan University
Ticket office 487-2282
Sports information 487-0317

Pro Sports

Enjoy professional sports just 45 minutes away.
Tickets: Michigan Union Ticket Office, 503 S. State St., 763-8587;

Detroit Lions football (313) 262-2006
Detroit Pistons basketball (248) 377-0100
Detroit Tigers baseball (313) 962-4000
Detroit Red Wings hockey (313) 983-6606
Detroit Vipers hockey (248) 377-0100
Detroit Rockers soccer (734) 427-6017

USA Hockey National Team Development Program
327-9251.
Watch the nation's top 16- and 17-year-old hockey players in a 40-game home schedule at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Archery

Wilderness Archery
297 N. Maple Rd., Ann Arbor, 913-6283.
Archery range and pro shop. Servicing the beginning to the advanced archer.

Auto Racing

Milan Dragway
10860 Plank Rd., Milan, 439-7368.
Features sand drag races and bracket races. Variety of racing events, including junior racing, nostalgia days, RAM Chargers, Harley drags, and invitationals.

Automobile races Sat-Sun; motorcycle races Friday nights, April to October.

Bicycling and Jogging

The Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department has maps illustrating the paths available for bicyclers and joggers on the 6th floor of City Hall,

100 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

994-2780.  

Canoeing

Argo Canoe Livery
1055 Longshore Dr., Ann Arbor, 668-7411.
Canoe, kayak, and rowboat rentals. Transportation trips available to Gallup Park or area metroparks and back. Call for reservations.

Gallup Park
3000 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor, 662-9319.
Canoe, paddleboat, and bike rentals. Walking trails, snacks, fishing supplies, and live bait.

Fishing

Spring Valley Trout Farm
12190 Island Lake Rd.,

Dexter, 426-4772.
Family fishing in a 20-acre park setting. Rainbow trout or catfish. Equipment furnished, fish cleaned, catch guaranteed.

Golf (Indoor)

Arbor Dome
Morgan Rd. between Carpenter Rd. and Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, 434-DOME.
33,600 sq.ft. indoor golf range offering putting green, pro shop, 34 individual tees, clinics and lessons, PGA staff, and climate-controlled conditions for year-round golfing.

Augusta Pines Golf Center
7171 Willis Rd., Ypsilanti, 485-7888.
18-hole, pitch and putt with driving range. 9-hole, par 3, 830 yds. 9-hole pitch-putt, par 3.

Hiking

Nichols Arboretum
Entrances off of Geddes Ave., Washington Hgts., and Nichols Dr., 998-9540.
James D. Reader Jr. Urban Environmental Education Center, 1610 Washington Hgts
123-acre natural area serves as an educational and research facility for the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor schools. Numerous trails allow visitors to investigate the plant collections.

Horseback Riding

Hell Creek Ranch
10866 Cedar Lake Rd., Pinckney, 734- 878-3632.
Horseback riding, camping, canoeing, lessons, and horse boarding.

Maybury Riding Stable
20303 Beck Rd., Northville, 248-347-1088.

Ann Arbor Parks

Argo Park
1055 Longshore Dr., Ann Arbor, 668-7411.
32.8-acre park along the Huron River features canoes, rowboats, ice-cold drinks, and fishing; canoe packages also available.

Buhr Park
2751 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor, 971-3228.
Swimming pool, Cobblestone Farm, ice skating, in-line skating facility, play area, tennis courts, softball diamonds, and restrooms.

Gallup Park
3000 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor, 662-9319.
Paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, bicycle rentals, fishing supplies, paved nature trails, picnic shelter, and restrooms.

Rock Climbing

Planet Rock
82 Aprill Dr., Ann Arbor, 827-2680.

Admission Charged
Unique terrain caters to complete novices and seasoned pros alike. Ages 5-95 are challenged by the quick and easy routes as well as tough competition grades.

Mon-Fri 3pm-10pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Extreme Sports Palace
7275 Joy Rd., Dexter, 424-9705.
This 24,000 sq. ft. facility features two extreme-skating areas, one for beginning skaters and one for more advanced skaters.

Phone for hours of operation.

Cross Country Skiing

Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department has a number of areas for cross-country skiing free of charge.

Call 994-2780 for more information.

Other nearby cross-country ski areas:

Delhi Metropark
Ann Arbor, 426-8211.

Dexter-Huron Metropark
Dexter, 426-8211.

Hudson Mills Metropark
Dexter, 426-8211.

Rolling Hills County Park
Ypsilanti, 484-9676.

Waterloo Recreation Area
16345 McClure Rd., Chelsea, 475-8307.
Huron Hills Golf Course, Ann Arbor, 971-6840.

Downhill Skiing
There are several downhill slopes within 30 minutes of Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor Ski Club 761-3419

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