I am a Buckeye. Born a Buckeye in Columbus, Ohio, and I’ve spent the majority of my life in Ohio, still living in Columbus. I love when I am traveling and spot a person sporting some Ohio gear and shouting out O-H (which means that person responds with…. I-O. If you answered that correctly you may be a Buckeye). I even am in a Big Ten TV commercial representing The Ohio State University. However, though I am a Buckeye, I love traveling, and I want to see it ALL. So you extreme Buckeye fans, take it easy on me with this new blog post. In this blog I am going to be talking about a recent trip I took to Ann Arbor, Michigan, home of OSU’s major rival- University of Michigan. Let’s talk about the must-see things of Ann Arbor.
You die-hard Buckeyes, I think I am going to make you proud with this blog, so I’ll start with this picture, just so you have faith in me.
This trip, I traveled with my friends and co-workers, Leanne and Sheri. We couldn’t resist this pose, using the UM flagpole as our I in O-H-I-O. However, with all my trash-talking UM, I LOVE the state of Michigan. It is so beautiful and I have taken some amazing trips here, traveling to Detroit, and visiting the sand dunes of Michigan. Ann Arbor is home to about 122,00 people, and there really was so much to love. So, let me give you some advice about spending a great weekend in Michigan. Here are some of the must-see things in Ann Arbor.
Explore the University of Michigan campus
The University of Michigan campus is beautiful. Here are some facts about the University:
- The university was started in 1817 (which is 20 years before Michigan even became a state) in Detroit. 20 years later it moved to its current location in Ann Arbor. However, no classes were ever actually held at the university until a few years later- in fact, the first graduating class wasn’t until1845 and only consisted of 11 men.
- On October 14, 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy put out the idea of what became the Peace Corps on the steps of Michigan Union.
- The university has over 46,000 students (both undergrad and graduate level) in over 600 academic programs. Students are from all 50 states and 139 countries.
- Over 6 miles of tunnels run underneath the campus, though they are not open for exploring.
- Some notable people who attended the University of Michigan include James Earl Jones, Tom Brady, Madonna and US President Gerald Ford, which brings me to the next suggestion for what to visit…
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Visit the Presidential Library of Gerald R. Ford, found on the north campus of the University of Michigan. It is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2 – 5 PM, Saturdays 10 – 5 and Sundays 12 – 5 PM. Tickets cost $10 for adults and must be reserved in advance through the website. I personally haven’t visit the library yet, but it’s on my list for next time.
The University of Michigan Museum of Art
A place I did visit and LOVED was The University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA). It has more than 20,000 pieces of art, and admission is FREE!
UMMA is one of the largest university art museums in the US. It was originally built in 1909 as a war memorial for the university’s fallen alumni from the Civil War, though a major renovation of the museum was completed in 2009.
One of the things I really appreciated about the museum was that students can come in and study in the museum, reserving a space in advance during COVID times. Additionally, the museum boasts an auditorium, an open storage area and a conservation laboratory.
The museum’s permanent collection includes work by Whistler, Kline, Picasso, Monet, Tiffany & Co and more. Check out some of my favorite pieces in the slideshow below.
Special exhibit gallery- unsettling histories, stories of slavery and colonialism 
Untitled (Birdcage/Relynching) by Tyree Guyton 
Flay (James Madison) by Titus Kaphar in the special exhibition 
Curriculum collection- showing how art plays a role across disciplines 
Tiffany pieces from the Henry O. Havemeyer house 
Tiffany piece from the Henry O. Havemeyer house 
Figure of a Girl in Blue by Thomas Wilmer Dewing 
Spring Landscape by Arthur WesleyDow 
Dancers by August Rodin 
The Break-Up of the Ice by Claude Monet 
Dark Presence by Louise Nevelson 
Ngoromera by Masimba Hwati 
Apsara Warrior by Ouk Chim Vichet 
Two Girls Reading by Pablo Picasso 
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History, on the University of Michigan campus, is open Thursday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. As with most places I’ve mentioned in this blog post, masks are required. But guess what?? Admission is FREE! The museum has four major permanent exhibits:
- The Hall of Evolution features fossils, mastodons and is the largest collection of prehistoric life in Michigan.
- The Michigan Wildlife Gallery exhibits taxidermy specimens including birds, mammals, reptiles and more
- The Anthropology Displays
- The Geology Displays
There is also a planetarium that will be reopening soon!
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Another free place to visit (and also run by the University of Michigan) is the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The day we visited they were turning people away, so make sure to reserve your tickets in advance at their website (especially since rules and procedures are constantly changing because of COVID). Located northeast of campus it was a quick drive to get there. And while it is free, you do need to pay for parking ($1.80 per hour, or $5 a day). They are open from 10-8pm in the summer and 10-4:30pm in the winter. There are eleven outdoor garden spaces, which I go into detail about below.
Gateway Garden
The Gateway Garden is a beautiful space, with lots of perennials, spring bulbs and New World annuals. It was stunning with lots of variety of flowers, plants and loads of color. There was a really pretty pergola and some benches if you want to relax and take it all in. It would be an amazing space for weddings.
Great Lakes Garden
The Great Lake Gardens includes 6 sections: woodland, coastal, native orchid, fern, oak openings and prairie. These gardens celebrate the natural habitat of the region. There are pathways, boardwalks and overlooks which allow visitors to see some plants close-up. This is where visitors can also see some of the conservation efforts that are going on at the gardens.
Gaffield Children’s Garden
The children’s garden was maybe my favorite part of the Matthaei Botanical Garden, and I don’t even have kids (though I’m definitely a kid at heart). There are more than a dozen areas, including a maze, butterfly garden, fairy and troll garden, a sensory garden, an area to build with logs (the builders garden) and learning gardens with lots of growing veggies. The slideshow shows pics of many of the different areas.
Bonsai & Penjing Garden
This space features 75 bonsai & penjing plants. The collection started in 1977 with specimens from the collection of Dr. Maurice Seevers, a former director of the University of Michigan Department of Pharmacology.
Conservatory
The conservatory features more than 1,200 species of tropical, temperate and arid plants.
Art at Matthaei Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens gives artists, including national artists as well as U of M students, a place to display their work. Some of the work at the gardens are permanent, while others are temporary. When we visited, there were beautiful sculptures (pictured below)on display throughout the gardens.
Trails at Matthaei Botanical Gardens
There are also over 3 miles of rustic nature trails on the grounds of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. We were excited to get some hiking in but honestly they weren’t my favorite trails I’ve been on. I love finding hikes and this one ranks pretty low on my list. However, you may want to take a walk about the Willow Pond, which was pretty lovely.
Nichols Arboretum
Associated with the Matthaei Botanical Gardens is a second location, the Nichols Arboretum. This arboretum is 123-acres, owned by University of Michigan and is free for visitors. The arboretum is home to hundreds of trees and plants, including the largest peony garden in the US, and also features miles of walking trails. Fun fact- there are over 1.5 million trees in Ann Arbor, which means sense since it’s name includes the Latin word for tree.
Kerrytown Market
Named after County Kerry in Ireland, the Kerrytown District is a historic area of Ann Arbor, dating back to the mid-1800s. The highlight is the Kerrytown Market, made up of 3 historic buildings: a former lumber mill, a feed and grain store and a warehouse. These buildings have been transformed into two floors of shops and restaurants.
Where to eat and drink in Ann Arbor
HOMES brewery
When we arrived in Ann Arbor our first stop was HOMES brewery. Not only did they have a great beer and drink selection, with about a dozen beers on tap (and slushies!) but they also had a delicious Korean menu, with lots of things to choose from, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. They are open from Tuesday through Thursday from 4-11, Friday from 11-midnight and Sunday from 11-10. Check out their website for more info about their current food and drink options and COVID-19 policies and updates.
Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery
Another fabulous brewery in Ann Arbor is Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery. Open from Monday-Thursday from 4pm-10pm, Friday from 4pm-11pm, Saturday from noon-11pm and Sunday from noon-10pm. They have 10 beers on tap, whisky (flights are available for beers and whisky), wine and cocktails. My friends and I ordered the loaded waffle fries (delicious), the mac & cheese and wings, pictured below.
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Open Monday through Friday from 4-10 and Saturday & Sunday from noon-10, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is another must-see thing to do in Ann Arbor. I personally love sour beers, and have really enjoyed Jolly Pumpkin for awhile. They have lots of beer on tap, of the sour and non-sour varieties, and a food menu. The interior is dark and feels like an English pub, but it was a great visit. Their beers will keep me coming back.
Hopcat
If you need more options for where to eat and drink in Ann Arbor, you may consider Hopcat, in downtown Ann Arbor. Hopcat is a restaurant and bar, offering a full menu of pretty typical bar food and over 100 beers on tap. They have an outdoor patio, and lots of indoor seating.
Zingerman’s Deli
Zingerman’s Deli is a place everyone talks about eating in Ann Arbor. I didn’t get to try it, but I’ve heard rave reviews. A staple in Kerrytown District since 1982, there is a deli, a grocery and a bakery. When we drove by there was a line down the street so you know it must be good!
There you have it, the must-see things in Ann Arbor. My friends and I had a great time there, and there is still so much I would like to see! So this girl-who is not a fan of the University of Michigan- is a fan of Ann Arbor. Stay tuned for upcoming blogs about the other places we visited during our weekend in Michigan: Frankenmuth and the Frank Lloyd Wright Smith house. Please leave a comment & I always love your suggestions for my next trip. Thanks for reading Catching Katie : )
