Location: Ann Arbor
Top Things to do in Ann Arbor
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Ann Arbor, Michigan (MI)
Backpack-strapped students permeate the streets of Ann Arbor, home to The University Of Michigan. But there's more to the city than academia. A popular destination for families, Ann Arbor boasts child-friendly museums with exciting hands-on exhibits and art museums with prestigious collections. Couples and single travelers enjoy the eclectic shops, ethnic restaurants and hip night clubs, while book lovers are wowed by the more than 30 independent bookstores. From mysteries and crime to holistic healing and yoga, each store has a unique personality and area of expertise. Most of the major attractions are located in the same area, making it easy to hop from one to the next and enjoy all this vibrant city has to offer.
Restaurants in Ann Arbor
1. The M Den
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Sun305 - Miami, United States
The place to stop before and after the big game! Lots of merchandise! Something for everyone and more.
2. The Creature Conservancy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 49 reviews
This is a wonderful up-close and personal wild animal conservancy with over 80 species of mostly exotic animals, many of whom are rescued former pets. Open to the public weekend afternoons 1-2:30pm and 3-4:30pm with featured presentations at 1:30 and 3. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the website in order to limit audience size due to COVID-19 concerns - $8 kids (age 2-12), $10 adults (age 13+), infants under 2 are free. Weekdays times are available by appointment for private tours, private group events, school field trips, summer camps. Birthday parties and other private events can be arranged for weekends or weekdays. Most of the animal display enclosures are under cover so this is a great afternoon event for both hot and cold weather! Handicap and stroller accessible. Free parking in main, paved parking lot.
Reviewed By sarahlK6095WX - Naples, United States
This a great opportunity to see and learn about some exotic animals while supporting a conservancy that works hard to educate the public on the perils of exotic pet ownership. The majority of the animals are surrendered and rescued former pets that do not qualify for release back into the wild. Walking though the tour with Alexander you can get a feel for how well cared for and loved these animals are. A great local experience. The private tour (great during these strange Covid times) can be booked for fair price and lasts about 90 minutes.
3. Clueless Escape Rooms
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 134 reviews
A Fun, New Entertainment concept for the west side of Ann Arbor. An Escape Game is a real-life adventure game designed for small groups of 4-10 people. Challenging your wits and skills to find clues and solve puzzles. The game will test your ability to work together as you attempt to escape from a locked room in under 60 minutes! Creating positive impact, one smile at a time. Our goal is to make 1 million people smile.
Reviewed By 280anastasiab - Canton, United States
We've done a lot of escape rooms and this is one of the best! There were 5 of us, all adults (family), and we did the Merlin room. The puzzles and clues to solve were well-thought out and very unique and fun. It kept our group busy the entire time, but we didn't feel overwhelmed. Also, LOVED that we are the only group in the building for our time slot to help prevent Covid! Thank you! Had a fantastic time!
4. Decode Ann Arbor
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 721 reviews
Discover the world of Minerva, the artificial intelligence! Our escape rooms at Decode Ann Arbor are home to the Minerva Trilogy. These escape rooms and urban adventure games follow the story of Minerva as she works to gain her independence. Will you choose to help Minerva escape from Ann Arbor or take a risk by working to keep her in the room?
Reviewed By jpfkelly
From the immersive experience to the challenging puzzles, Decode Ann Arbor provides an all around excellent afternoon for your family, friends, birthday buddies, or business associates. Will definitely return and tackle these multilayered enigmas soon!
5. Skip's Huron Canoe Livery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
Skip's is a full-service canoe and kayak rental facility providing access to the most scenic stretch of the Huron River. Since 1973, we have been offering a family-friendly adventure down the Huron without the hassle of dams, lakes or portages. With trips launching each hour, morning and afternoon, you can catch a ride on our bus and then canoe, kayak, or tube back to your car, at your own pace.
6. University of Michigan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 613 reviews
The University's beautiful campus includes many fine museums and facilities for its enrollment of 36,000.
Reviewed By BillN540 - Ann Arbor, United States
From the beauty of the views in the quad to the hushed calm of the law school to the chaos of south (athletic) campus during a sporting event and you have everything you could want in a college town. Highlights to visit on campus include: - The natural history museum - The grad library reading room - The law library reading room - The "Big House" - Listen to the carillon outside of Rackham school or grad studies - catch a performance at Hill Auditorium or the Power Center for performing arts. - A stroll through the Arboretum (The Arb). So much to do. GO BLUE!
7. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 476 reviews
Everyone gets creative in this interactive science and technology museum, featuring engaging exhibits in subjects like psychology, the media and health.
Reviewed By lynndR8889CZ
Bought a membership for my kids so I could take my granddaughter here when she has overnights at our place. Grandparents are an included perk of that membership and well worth it. My granddaughter and I love our visits here... so much for kids/adults all over the place. A pure place of joy and awe and so much fun. I highly recommend a visit here if you haven't been and explore the membership offers to find the one that best suits your needs because it will save you lots of $$ and make it easy to keep going back for more fun!
8. University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 174 reviews
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History is temporarily closed due to the global pandemic. The museum doesn't just preserve the past; it also shows off the latest in scientific research with interactive exhibits, new programming spaces, and a state-of-the-art Planetarium & Dome Theater! New exhibits include: On the Trail of Mastodons; Evolution: Life through Time; Under the Microscope; Exploring Michigan; and People and the Planet.
Reviewed By sisterida - Onsted, United States
Many times taking kids to a museum is overwhelming because there is too much to do. The University of MIchigan Museum of Natural History has great exhibits with great information posted and a good variety to help everyone enjoy the experience. This was a great Sunday afternoon trip.
9. University of Michigan Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
Among the best university art museums in the U.S., this on-campus museum has a particularly fine collection of Asian art through the ages.
Reviewed By TravelFan48105 - Ann Arbor, United States
We enjoyed a wonderful evening visit to the UM Museum of Art. First, we were treated to a Kabuki dance performance and lecture. This was extremely interesting and we learned a lot about the history of this dance form, the gestures, costumes and make up. Following this event, the exhibition "Copies and Invention in East Asia" was open for viewing. We learned that copying in Asian art is something to be appreciated. We viewed examples that involved copying e.g. burial goods, sculptures, paintings and a variety of contemporary works. The UM Museum of Art has greatly improved and extended its outreach to the public in recent years and definitely deserves a visit.
10. Kerrytown
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 304 reviews
Ann Arbor's best shopping area is full of small boutiques and restaurants, and features a Farmers' Market on weekends.
Reviewed By debbiemE1094FZ - Windsor, Canada
Wednesday’s and Saturday’s have farmers market selling home made leather goods, home grown fruits and vegetables, organic meats, art and flowers. The people are so open and friendly it’s as though you’re in the middle of a small town rather than a major metropolis.
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