Ann Arbor: "Go Blue" Getaway - Ann Arbor MI Weekend Getaway

Preview: Sounds from a nearby gristmill allegedly inspired the local American Indians to name this area kawgooshkawnick. Luckily for modern tongues, later settlers preferred Ann Arbor, named for a local grape arbor and the first white pioneer wives, both named Ann. In 1837, not long after the town was settled, Ann Arbor bid for and was chosen as the new site for the University of Michigan, which was seeking to leave already bustling Detroit for greener pastures. Today the well-known university is an integral part of the city’s fabric— providing it with jobs, a young (and young-at-heart) population and a high quality of life. So high, in fact, that in 1996 Money magazine named Ann Arbor the fifth-best place to live in the United States. From its original 40 acres, U of M has grown to cover more than 2,600 acres. The university has also spawned a wealth of museums, restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Here you’ll find trendy Euro-style eateries as well as Old World German restaurants, tony art museums as well as the largest collegiate football stadium in the country, seating 104,000 Wolverine fans at a time. Many consider Ann Arbor the liveliest city in the state. It’s been home to singers Bob Seger, Madonna, and Iggy Pop, Pulitzer prize–winning poet Robert Frost, President Gerald Ford, playwright Arthur Miller, director Lawrence Kasdan (of Big Chill fame), actor James Earl Jones, and comedienne Gilda Radner. For those Detroiters who complain that Motown is comatose after hours, Ann Arbor is the perfect close-to-home getaway. The detailed itinerary in this chapter is a driving tour that features extensive recommendations for sightseeing attractions, recreational activities, lodging, restaurants, shopping, and more.
© Copyright Khristi Sigurdson Zimmeth published by The Globe Pequot Press all rights reserved.


Duration: Two nights
Best Time to Go: Year-round
This travel guide comes from:
Quick Escapes: Detroit Guide Book