Top Things to Do in Ann Arbor

The TheRide bus system covers most of Ann Arbor with free service in the downtown zone, and the University of Michigan campus is walkable end-to-end in about 25 minutes. You can bike almost anywhere using the city's protected bike lanes and the Spin scooter-share program. Most visitors staying near Main Street or State Street find they rarely need anything beyond walking and the occasional Uber to neighborhoods like Kerrytown or Burns Park.

Absolutely, summer brings the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July (the largest juried art fair in the country), and fall offers cider mills like Wasem and Dexter within 15 minutes of downtown. Winter has shorter lines at Zingerman's and quieter trails at Nichols Arboretum, while spring sees the peony garden at the Arb in full bloom around late May. You'll find better hotel rates and easier restaurant reservations any time outside home football weekends in September through November.

Expect to pay $16, 22 for their famous sandwiches like the Reuben or #2 (corned beef), which are large enough to split or save half for later. A sandwich, side of potato salad, and drink runs around $25, 28 per person. Lines can stretch 30, 45 minutes during lunch on weekends. But the Roadhouse (their sit-down spot on the west side) has shorter waits and a full breakfast menu.

The Forest Avenue or Fourth & William parking structures charge $2/hour with a $12 daily max, and both are within a five-minute walk of Main Street shops and restaurants. Street parking downtown is metered until 6pm weekdays ($1.70/hour) but free on Sundays. If you're visiting the U-M campus, the structure at South University and Forest is your best bet, just avoid game days when prices triple.

Main Street runs through the commercial heart of downtown with independent bookstores like Literati, cafes, and boutiques, it's where locals shop and meet for coffee. State Street borders campus and skews younger, with chain restaurants, the Michigan Theater, and student-focused spots like Blimpy Burger and Cottage Inn Pizza. Most visitors spend time on both. But Main Street has more of the distinctive Ann Arbor character.

The main paved loop near the Geddes Avenue entrance is mostly flat and stroller-friendly, covering about a mile with views of the Huron River. The peony garden and several overlooks are reachable without steep grades. However, much of the Arb includes natural trails with uneven terrain and stairs, so check the map at the entrance or download it from the U-M website before heading in.

Most downtown kitchens close by 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends, even after shows at the Michigan Theater or Hill Auditorium. Your best late-night options are Frita Batidos (until 11pm Thursday, Saturday), Cottage Inn Pizza (until midnight most nights), or the 24-hour Fleetwood Diner on South University. Make a reservation before the show if you want a sit-down meal after.

Matthaei, located about 10 minutes northeast of campus, has indoor conservatory gardens (tropical plants, desert room, temperate house) and curated outdoor trails, it's better for plant enthusiasts and families with young kids. The Arb is closer to campus, larger, and more naturalistic with riverfront trails, a famous peony collection in late May, and better fall color. Both are free; Matthaei charges $5 for conservatory admission.