Updated
[] Is Ann Arbor Worth Visiting?
For Michiganders, yes! Otherwise? Depends...
Key takeaways:
- The Fairy Doors are a unique attraction.
- Graffiti Alley is a must-see.
- Ann Arbor is a terrific city for foodies.
Originally published December 10, 2023
Ann Arbor-- a.k.a "A Squared" and less commonly known as "Tree Town"-- is a college town and, thus, smaller than the large concrete jungles I normally write about!
I lived in downtown Ann Arbor for two years while I attended university. Today, since I reside nearby, I visit the city on a frequent basis.
So, is Ann Arbor worth visiting? As a man who has traveled to major cities all over the United States, I will share five compelling reasons as to why I believe you should visit Ann Arbor!
The fairy doors
My first reason you should visit Ann Arbor: the fairy doors!
In most American cities, there'll be a public square to check out. An art museum. A cool sculpture. And murals, if you're a fan of my blog!
But... fairy doors!? Just like finding Mortar Man in Charleston, locating all of the fairy doors in downtown is hands down one of the most unique "things to do" I've ever recommended for a city!
Why are they called 'fairy' doors? It is because the doors are tiny-- around the size from the end of your thumb to your index finger. You'll be glad you found my guide because this incredibly fun DIY scavenger hunt is easy to miss!
I am unsure as to the total number of fairy doors. Around 14. The quantity and locations of all the fairy doors are subject to change, as businesses will sometimes shut down and new fairy doors will pop up in place of old ones.
Last thing to know: some doors are outside and some are indoors.
Ann Arbor is a city for foodies
The second reason you should visit Ann Arbor is its food scene!
I know cities with food you'll remember for life. Besides Ann Arbor, I also lived in Portland for four years, which is another top US foodie destination.
The three reasons Ann Arbor ranks high among foodies is diversity, quality, and prestige.
For a unique dining experience, go to the Blue Nile. It's an Ethopian restaurant in downtown.
Instead of using silverware, customers use a spongey bread called injera to scoop up their food.
It's far and few between I see African cuisine in the US. When in Ann Arbor, be sure to check it out!
Another restaurant I'm especially fond is Krazy Jim's Blimpie Burger. When you enter, you'll see instructions taped to the wall on how to order. If you don't order correctly, the employees will rudely correct you. And that's part of the charm!
It's like eating at Ed Debevic's in Chicago, where the staff intentionally treats you poorly.
There is no other burger joint in the US where I've been able to order a quadruple or even quintuple cheeseburger! At Krazy Jim's Blimpie Burger, you can!
Street art in Ann Arbor
The third reason-- and my favorite topic to write about for any city is: the street art!
Like the scavenger hunt for the fairy doors, you can also embark on a scavenger hunt for some of the city's best murals! Go on Google Maps and type in 'A2AC murals'.
I'd post all the mural pictures but I don't want to blow the experience for you! I'll restrain myself and only post one more:
A staple of Ann Arbor street you must check out is Graffiti Alley.
There are two entrances to Graffiti Alley in downtown: E Liberty Street and E Washington Street. The Liberty Street entrance is more obvious so I'd recommend entering there.
This free Ann Arbor attraction is wall-to-wall (including the cement!) with colorful graffiti. It's like The Art Wall in Fargo and Luminous Lane in Charlotte.
This public art space changes constantly, as new art is added perhaps everyday! There's a good chance you'll never take the exact picture twice with repeat visits.
A last example of street art in Ann Arbor I want to show is this geometric sculpture located by the Michigan Union.
Colloquially, it is known as 'The Cube', but its actual name is 'Endover'.
When you spin it, grab one of the corners and see if you're strong enough to stop it from spinning! Might be a fun way to impress a lady!
Ann Arbor is home to one of the world's finest universities
The fourth reason to visit Ann Arbor is knowing that the city is home to a 'public Ivy': University of Michigan.
While I'm no sports fan, it is still worth noting that Ann Arbor houses the world's largest (American) football stadium.
The university's central campus is most accessible to visitors. One place on the campus totally worth checking out is the law school.
Other cool spots to see on the University of Michigan central campus are the Ross School of Business, the Diag, and the Burton Memorial Tower.
Most of the best things to do in Ann Arbor are free
Our fifth and final point of persuasion to visit Ann Arbor: most of the best things to do in Ann Arbor are free!
The fairy door scavenger hunt, the mural hunt, and Graffiti Alley are all free for visitors to see. In addition, there are two museums in Ann Arbor which are free to explore as well!
Those museums are the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) and the Kelsey Museum of Archaelogy.
I've been to several college towns, such as Madison (University of Wisconsin) and Oxford (University of Mississippi), and I have to say Ann Arbor is among the best college towns to see in the country!
My final thoughts on Ann Arbor
Time for me to let loose and express my real thoughts!
So, is Ann Arbor worth visiting? Yes, however...
If you live in Michigan, yes, Ann Arbor is absolutely worth a visit! Even though Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, I think Ann Arbor has more to do.
If you're visiting Michigan from another state, I'd say Ann Arbor is worth visiting if you pair it with a visit to Detroit. Fortunately, Ann Arbor is less than an hour away from Detroit.
If you're visiting from outside the country, I'd say Ann Arbor is only worth visiting if you're considering going to school here. Yes, Ann Arbor is pretty awesome, but there are several cities I'd say are more worth it for an international tourist.