If you need an escape from the hustle and grind of Detroit, you’re only a fifteen-minute drive to Ann Arbor. More than a hidden gem, Ann Arbor is the poster child of small-town America. With many generations in Ann Arbor, you can enjoy the roaring college atmosphere with the University of Michigan and the incredible art scene. If you need a quiet and cultural escape, this guide will take you to the best places you can visit in Ann Arbor.
The University of Michigan
While Saturdays are game day with the University of Michigan football team, all through the week, tourists and locals can visit the fantastic art museums on campus. UMMA stands among the oldest and most esteemed university art museums nationwide. The University of Michigan Museum of Art stands on the Ann Arbor campus and hosts a diverse artwork collection that spans from ancient artifacts to modern pieces. The museum is a hub for cultural involvement and academic research while providing educational opportunities.
If you want to have your breath taken away from viewing exquisite European paintings and sculptures, the University of Michigan showcases Claude Monet along with Pablo Picasso and James McNeill Whistler. Taken in the Pearl of Asia with an expansive Asian Art collection featuring traditional and contemporary works from China, Japan, Korea, and South Asia.
The University of Michigan is also home to one of the largest collections of African American Art. For more contemporary and local artists, the University of Michigan offers the latest works by Mark Rothko and Andy Warhol.
Visiting the Nichols Arboretum
No trip to Ann Arbor would be complete without visiting “The Arb.” One of Ann Arbor’s cherished natural landmarks has more than 120 acres with stunning botanical gardens while maintaining a quiet escape.
The Arb provides a perfect destination for those who want to take a relaxing stroll or find a picturesque spot for a picnic with the family or with other friendly locals as you bond with nature.
The Arb features many diverse gardens under one umbrella, including the Peony Garden. The Peony Garden has more than 800 rare peony plants. You have to smell the amazing aromas in person to truly take in the beauty.
Through The Arb are plenty of hiking trails and woodlands along the Huron River. Throughout the Huron River trail are incredible exotic bird species and rare wildflowers.
Take in the Ann Arbor Annual Art Festival
The Ann Arbor Art Fair ranks among the most important and largest outdoor art fairs in the United States. The annual art fair held across multiple downtown Ann Arbor streets draws over 400,000 visitors while exhibiting artistic works from thousands of national artists.
The city becomes an expansive outdoor art gallery throughout the duration of the fair, which presents diverse artistic expressions alongside live performances and activities suitable for families. Taking place in July, the Ann Arbor Art Fair is a moment to bond with the locals and exchange artisan goods and services besides the local art.
All throughout the summer, Ann Arbor puts on free live concerts to help bring the town together. Even perfect strangers and tourists like yourself become close friends. Because of the warmer nights, many visitors and locals like to hang out at the local cafes and bars to get together with friends. With such a short drive away from downtown Detroit and Greektown, it’s common for Ann Arbor residents to take in live concerts and more at Detroit’s independent jazz clubs and local casinos.
Ideal Time to Visit Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, like most Michigan towns, experiences all four seasons. For outdoor events, the best time to visit Ann Arbor is during the spring and summertime. In early spring, you can witness all the lovely snow melt flowing in the Huron River and the blooming peony plants.
