Ann Arbor Getaway?

aprillm730

FI and i have a long weekend in September open and I was thinking of Ann Arbor.I don't know anything about it, I think I've only driven through it once!I heard there is a good pub/brewery, anyone know anything about it?Any events happening there at the end of Sept?Where is a good place to stay?Any other traveling advice?Thanks so much!

aprillm730

PS - What are some good sites and places to go that you would recomend for first timers?

zawa0915

Mmmm, lots of good pubs & breweries. Here are a few for starters:Ann Arbor Brewing Company on E. Washington St.Grizzly Peak Brewing Co on W. Washington St.Ashleys on State St. (not a brewery but they have over 60 beers on tap and many more bottled to choose from)Conor O'Neills on Main St. (also not a brewery but a fun Irish pub)Good places to eat include The Earle (kinda pricey though), The Prickly Pear (Mexican), Seva (vegetarian but still really good even if you are a meat eater), Cafe Felix (tapas + good drinks), the original Cottage Inn (if you want pizza), Miki and Pacific Rim for Sushi and Asian fusion.There are home football games every weekend in Sept, so expect a lot of traffic downtown and avoid Stadium Blvd at all costs! Main St. off I-94 (called Ann Arbor Saline Rd there, though) is also very congested. But there are a lot of fun bars to watch the game like The Brown Jug, Touchdown Cafe, and BW3's if that's your thing.Not too sure on good places to stay b/c I grew up there and have never stayed in a hotel in town (!!!) but with the game, I would try to stay away from the busy streets I listed above. There are some decent hotels along State St. just off I-94, and you wouldn't get too caught in traffic if you found another way downtown. There is a good bus system (AATA) if you don't want to drive downtown b/c parking is kind of a biatch and expensive. You can walk all over once downtown.Ok, HTH! Sorry so long! Have fun

jennic22

I don't know of any events in September... except football of course.  If its a home game, its gonna be packed.  Hotel prices about double.  It really depends on what you're looking for as far as a good place to stay or what to do.  There's the Arb, which is really just a nice park... um... I don't know.  I've never really thought of it as a place to visit.  I usually just hit the bars and go to football games.There are a few good brewerys: Arbor Brewing Company (ABC), Grizzley Peak, and I think a couple others.  There's also Ashley's which has like, over 100 taps or something.  Is there anything that you had in mind?

aprillm730

I guess I don't really have anything specific in mind.  Just wondering if there were any must see spots, I guess!Such great suggestions, thanks!!Never thought of the football game crowds... FI just really enjoys visiting breweries so I thought of AA cuz I have heard they had a few good ones.

ms nobody

there are some really nice B&B's/Inns Vitosha Guest Haus. It's really nice, probably slightly pricey, but in a good spot. [url]http://www.a2vitosha.com/[/url] The Campus Inn i can only think of these right now, but i'll get back to you on that. Food: ABC, and Grizzly Peak are both very good. Get ready to pay for GP. I would NOT go to Ashley's during the school year. especially on a game day. -Sabor latino is a great place. AMAZING food, for a good price. 211 N Main St -a few doors down you have the Heidleberg [url]http://www.theheidelberg.com/[/url] Ditto Seva. I could eat there forever. Afternoon Delight has good stuff, it's on liberty - less than a half a block from Seva. Jerusalem Garden has good, cheap middle eastern food. [url]http://www.jerusalemgarden.net/[/url] Eastern Accents. SO.GOOD. highly highly recommended for a laid back lunch/dessert where you feel more like grazing than a full on meal. most amazing curry turnovers. 214 S 4th Ave Any of the main street restaurants are a good choice- there's a Mongo, Real Seafood Company, Palio, and the others Zawa mentioned. Fun fact- Cafe Felix- my middle school french teacher married the owner. He's French, and does it all old school style. Last time i heard he was still importing flour and other ingredients from france to make pastries. But it is on the pricey side. If you're feeling adventurous head into ypsi/Depot town: Aubrey's, Sidetracks (best burger in the area. great beers/cocktails), Corner Brewery (run by ABC) it's much quieter- way more laid back. I'm pretty sure it's no smoking. Lafiesta Mexicana, on cross street across from EMU's campus. It's really great authentic mexican food. They dont sell booze, but you can bring your own in. They are closed on mondays. As far as things to do: U of M Natural History Museum U of M Museum of Art Check out The Ark.org (it's on main) awesome venue. The Blind Pig (slightly seedy) Connor O'Neils has music, as does the Heidleberg, Depending on the night. Michigan Theatre State Theatre I like to wander around Kerrytown, that's where you'll find Zingerman's if you really want to go (it's pricey). There's also a concert house there, i'm sure there's a schedule in internet land somewhere. The arb Gallup Park, they have paddle boats, canoes, and those ones with the pedals. The park is huge and it has a path all the way around. Argo Park (you can canoe from argo to gallup- it's a thing set up by the parks and it's awesome/fun if you like that ind of stuff) there are a few golf courses 5 branches of the ann arbor district library (which if you're into libraries is really boss. the traverwood branch is probably the coolest building i've ever seen/been in, to be honest) The u of m Libraries. There are a lot of Theatres associated with U of M, so you might be able to see some cool shows/performances. Purple Rose theatre There's a comedy club downstairs from Seva. It's fun. Arborland/Briarwood malls. Small, not as "good" as the ones in the suburbs, but they do okay. Pools: Vets Park and Fuller Park are good outside pools. Coffee: if you're going to drink 'chain' coffee, go to Espresso Royale. It's locally roasted (a2 is their hq i think). it's delicious. dont bother with Sbux. There are quite few ER's in ann arbor. There are also a ton of good coffee shops that are locally owned and operated too, but it's all slipping my mind. If you wander around downtown (not campus) pretty much any place you see is good. Tips: -Get ready to parallel park. The parking is disappearing from downtown (not that we had a ton of it in the first place). People are generally pretty patient about parallel parking in ann arbor. we understand- if anyone gets irritated it's because they wanted that spot, not because you're taking the time to PP. lol. -There's a lot of construction that will probably not be done, plan lots of alternate routes if you can. -there arent that many one ways (anymore) have no fear! -Don't be afraid of Ypsi, quite frankly the people are nicer and more laid back in ypsi. I grew up in a2, but I prefer ypsi. -Ann Arbor is more than Campus. Campus is gorgeous and awesome and has a lot to offer, but dont feel that your only options are campus. DTWN and campus do smoosh together in places, but you'll generally see what is what at night if you take a good look at the patronage of the bars and restaurants. The a2 visitor's bureau has a good website, and the building is located downtown. they are a great resource.

ms nobody

ohh ohh ohh. Morgan and York. on Packard (most of us still call it the Big Ten Party store. if you ask about M&Y and get a weird face, just say "The Big Ten.") wines, cheeses, chocolates, oh my! it's just a store, but it's way cool. And the Blue Nile, really great Ethiopian food. downtown there's one in ferndale too? http://www.bluenilemi.com/ we have a melting pot somewhere... we just got it. eh. the Chop House. japanese steak house. V. pricey, but if you want a big shebang night out, i'd go there. The Gandy Dancer. I've never been because of my food allergies, but people LOOOOOOVE the GD. Pricey, again for the big romantic night out. good atmosphere. Gratzi... it's a main street restaurant, v. pricey. but delish! Indian cuisine, i dont know where to go- my parents just bring it home and i eat it. lol Asian, i'm not well versed b/c of my alleriges, which makes me sad because it's good.

ms nobody

Ann Arbor B&B on N Huron. it's doesnt look like a b&b on the outside. Webers is a good standard hotel. They have a great restaurant. If you want a good steak: Knights (same side of town as webers and Vets Park) they butcher their own meat. Argiros. italian, kerry town. v. good. mid range prices. Pacific Rim mainstreet. it's good food and "private", says my mom. whatever that means (she is one dirty bird!). lol i swear i'm done. lol.

aprillm730

ms nobody - you should be a travel agent for AA!!! hahaha Thanks sooooo much for all of the helpful hints, I saved all of this in a word document so I can have it for later!

elkay

Purple Rose Theater is actually in Chelsea. Back near AA, in addition to all the great tips above: -- Farmers' Market at Kerrytown on Saturday mornings. -- Canoeing on the Huron River. There used to be a livery near Argo Dam (M-14 exit to Barton Dr.), and another one at Gallup Park east of town on Geddes. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.) -- Visit Matthaei Botanical Garden on Dixboro Rd. -- The garden beds in front of the Law Library. For other ideas, schedules, phone #s, etc. see [url]<a href="http://arborweb.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://arborweb.com/</a>[/url]

ms nobody

check it totally is, i typed it but thought ann arbor civic theatre. dur.