We recently visited the state up North and had a lovely time! We were heading to Traverse City with our family so we made an overnight pit stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We rounded up 8 simple and fun things you can do with the whole family.
#1 – University of Michigan
Ann Arbor is home to our rival in the college football world but that didn’t stop me from recognizing that University of Michigan has a beautiful campus. You can easily spend an hour or two wandering around the University of Michigan wandering in and out of shops, checking out the scenery and even grabbing a snack at some spots on this list.
#2 – Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum was oh so fun! Located in downtown Ann Arbor, this children’s museum has a ton of exhibits to encourage your little one to get hands-on including a a Michigan Nature spot, a “Country Store,” and an awesome little kid area with Baby O’s favorite – water.
The BEST part about our visit is that this museum is part of the Reciprocity program so our visit was free! Check out the list here to see if your museum membership is part of the program.
#3 – Krazy Jim’s Blimpyburger
“Krazy Jim’s Blimpyburger has been an Ann Arbor staple since 1953, serving up customizable sliders with a unique, interactive ordering system.”
The Beard prepared me for the Krazy’s Jim’s ordering system and I was still scared to order. They have a very specific system, similar to that of the philly cheese steak ordering way in Philadelphia, which I butchered. Lucky for me, I still got my yummy cheeseburger and didn’t get yelled at while ordering. Be aware when you order, almost all toppings are an additional cost and they can add up quick!
#4 – Downtown Ann Arbor
Close to the University of Michigan but on the other side of town, is the downtown area of Ann Arbor. You should definitely waltz around the downtown Ann Arbor area. It’s so cute, and there are tons of shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and local events happening all the time. We actually happened upon an antique car show when we were visiting which was super fun to see.
#5 – Ann Arbor Festivals
Similar to our lovely hometown of Columbus, Ohio, the city of Ann Arbor hosts some wonderful events and festivals throughout the year! While we were in town, we took a visit to the Saline Celtic Festival but there are other kid-friendly festivals like the Chelsea Community Fair, Ypsifest, and the Apple Daze Festival. Check out all their events throughout the year here!
#6 – Anthony’s Gourmet Pizza
We were in Ann Arbor for Pizza Friday, so we had to sample the local pizza fare. Luckily, we found the Anthony’s Gourmet Pizza right down the road from our hotel and it was delish. It was also right next to a carryout spot so we could grab some cold local beer while enjoying this fabulous deep dish pizza pie. If your kiddo is a pizza lover like Baby O, then you are good to go for dinner here!
#7 – Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market
When we told people we were visiting Ann Arbor, almost everyone told us we had to visit their Farmer’s Market and it did not disappoint. It is located right next to Kerrytown Marketplace which is an adorable building filled with coffee shops, local boutiques and some really stellar food spots. The Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s from 7am-3pm and is filled with wonderful local goodies like these flawless garlic scapes we enjoyed post-vacay!
#8 – Zingerman’s Delicatessen
If you search for “places to eat in Ann Arbor,” I’m pretty sure there won’t be a list that doesn’t feature Zingerman’s Delicatessen. This local Ann Arbor restaurants is a staple and boasts a huge list of homemade deli sandwiches.
Baby O is a fan of all things deli-related and I’m pretty sure could live off ham and turkey so this might have been her favorite spot during the whole trip. We also learned that she loves Mortadella, so that was good to know moving forward in our lives.
I loveeeed the knish because it’s basically deep fried mashed potatoes with hot mustard aka heaven. Their menu is incredibly large and it was so hard to pick just one sandwich each!
They also have an awesome little market where you can get their sauces, cheeses, and any other goodies you need to whip up some tasty meals at home.
There you have it, our top 8 spots to visit with your family in Ann Arbor, Michigan! Let us know what your favorite spot is and where we should go next. Oh, and as always, Go Buckeyes.
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