OT-Request for day trips/things to do around Ann Arbor

Submitted by MGoBrewMom on
I haven't done this type of thing before,and hopefully since things are slow from a sports content standpoint, this is okay to ask of you all. We are making our yearly trip back to Ann Arbor to see my family, and we mostly stick close to the house/lake activities and Ann Arbor itself. This year, we want to get away--for only a day trip--somewhere different. I would be grateful for any ideas that would give the grown-ups something to do that would be different, but not be an overnight thing. So far, I'm thinking of Saugatuck to the west, lighthouses to the east, or maybe a brewery tour. None of those options really excite me, and otherwise I'm just stuck. There are no home Tiger games when I'm back, and I'm not really familiar with any museums or activities in Detroit. Can anyone offer suggestions? Is it worth it to go to Founders for a tour? Is Royal Oak a good place to kick around for a day? Is Saugatuck worth 5 hours in the car? Apologies to those who hate these types of posts..Thanks for any insight or opinions.

Trolling

July 11th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^

The Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts is really cool but it closes this weekend (tomorrow at 10 PM). The DIA in general is nice though, sans exhibit. Belle Isle (Detroit) is also interesting and has a zoo and aquarium.  

Blue_sophie

July 11th, 2015 at 4:35 PM ^

Like Trolling said, the DIA is cool regardless. If you have never been, there is a permanent exhibit of Diego Rivera murals, which are phenomenally cool and fill a whole room with awesome intricate imagery. There is also a nice atrium restaurant in the basement so you can make a day of it.

2 other museums that come to mind:

The Henry Ford Museum is truly extraordinary and GREAT for kids. Check ahead of time to see if you can take a tour of the F-150 factory (it needs to be operating at the time).

The University Art Museum in Ann Arbor is surprisingly nice (not sure when you graduated, but they did an addition about 6 years ago and expanded the collection). The building is quite nice and the art collection is very good for a University. It is also super convenient, right on campus.

Have fun!

Canadian

July 11th, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^

Vinsetta Garage in Berkley is a nice spot to eat and grab a drink. Buddy and I went to check that place out last week and loved everything about the joint. Also went to warren and took a chance at Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. It's a brewpub so don't expect eats but damn the beer was great.

turtleboy

July 11th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^

It's a longer day trip, maybe 3-4 hours depending on traffic, but I've done it plenty of times. Petosky is one of the nicest cities, if not THE nicest city, in the entire state of Michigan. The architecture is wonderful, and every house is unique, thought roughly all in the same style. Even 10 streets off the water, they're still gems, just not as grand as the main street mansions. The shopping and art collections are plentiful and unique, you can sit at a bar where Hemingway wrote stories while vacationing there with his family, eat fantastic food, walk the old downtown, and then go home when you're done. Even on longer vacations up north, where the family is exhausted and grumpy and can't wait to get home, it's still a great experience stopping there on the way back to refuel and relax.

Edit: man my phone seems exhausted and grumpy today. Does not want to type properly..

turtleboy

July 11th, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^

I suppose it's only a day trip in the sense that Niagra is a day trip. My family used to love those for some strange reason. Mackinaw and back in a day, or the Dayton air museum and back, or the falls and back. Seems mental to try it now, a long day and a lot of work, but I remember doing those a saturday a month growing up.

BlockM

July 11th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^

You could do a whole brew-tour just in Grand Rapids with Founders, Vivant, GRBC, Harmony, Elk, Perrin, Mitten, etc. Lots of good food around too. 

1989 UM GRAD

July 11th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^

Detroit. DIA. Eastern Market (Saturday or Tuesday). Dequindre Cut. River Walk. Heidelberg Project. Tons of great restaurants. Green Dot Stables. Bucharest Grill. El Barzon. Slows. Mercury Burger Bar. Or just use Yelp.

Oregon Wolverine

July 11th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^

Pewabic Pottery and Indian Village in Detroit. Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Joe Louis Fist near Cobo. DIA for the Diego Rivera fresco atrium is good for two hours alone if you have the energy to study his masterpiece Men of Industry (and it doesn't travel and they couldn't sell it off). Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes and Petosky.

skurnie

July 11th, 2015 at 11:59 AM ^

There is a new Aquarium in Royal Oak near the zoo. We haven't been there yet...has anyone been there?

Founders tour is cool and you can take the kids to the GR Children's Museum, which is pretty good. Vivant is also great, it's in an old church