The excitement of moving around so much is that you get to explore new cities and sights with each move. During the time that we’ve been living in Ann Arbor I’ve collected my favourite things to do with and without the kiddos.
Activities with the Kiddos:
Gallup Park
We regularly visit Gallup Park in Ann Arbor during the warmer months. It has plenty of walking paths, a park for the kids to play at, as well as a river which makes for great scenery. We also save all of our old bread to feed the ducks and swans here which the kids really get a kick out of! But BEWARE of the Black Swan and the SUPER aggressive geese nipping & chases can ensue….
There is also a bunch of picnic tables and even BBQ’s available to have a picnic amongst the picturesque park.
Xtreme Bounce (www.xtremebouncezone.com)
Xtreme Bounce is a great place to take the kids to burn off all of their endless cray, cray energy! It’s a simple concept really – there are a series of bouncy castles/jump houses that the kids have full access to.
There is a seating area where parents can sit and watch their kids if they don’t feel like bouncing along, and they’ve got an awesome sound system with some pretty cool beats to jump along to.
It’s extremely reasonably priced at only _____ per child, and there is even an air hockey table if the kids get bored of bouncing (which let’s be serious……NEVER happens!)
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!!! Your kids will be so spent after this excursion I guarantee you’ll have at least 2-3 hours of free time post-visit with them napping!!!
Independence Lake/Park (http://bit.ly/PQ9Fsu)
While out on a drive one day we stumbled across a great Park set on a Lake. There is a $5.00 fee to enjoy the park but it is well worth it. Looking right onto the lake is an extensive playground for kids, and plenty of room for them to run around.
There are lots of lakeside and wooded walking trails to make your way through, and right on site (which we’ve yet to try but looks cool) is a full-scale lakeside water park complete with epic splash pad and some pretty sweet waterslides.
We continue to go back to enjoy the park – even in the winter months and I am looking forward to bringing the kiddos there this summer to enjoy the water park.
Jungle Java (www.junglejavaplay.com/annarbor)
Jungle Java is an indoor playground for kids. It also has a full snack bar with plenty of healthy food choices for both adults and kids. They also serve delicious specialty and regular coffee that you can sip on while your little ones go bananas climbing, sliding, running and jumping.
Activities With Or Without Kiddos:
Liberty Athletic Club (www.libertyathletic.net)
When we first moved we joined Liberty Athletic Club. I have never been happier. It is a perfect spot for families as not only does it offer a gorgeous, full service gym complete with a wealth of great classes but it has the BEST gym child care I have ever seen.
My kids BEG me to go to the daycare complete with indoor play structure, toddler/baby area, craft station and AMAZING staff.
On site they have another large play structure, climbing wall, an indoor and outdoor pool (complete with splash pad areas and waterslides)
Liberty also has tennis courts and offers plenty of programming for kids: tennis camps & lessons, swimming lessons, holiday & summer camps etc.
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!! Kathy’s spin class! The spin studio is equipped with club lighting and an epic sound system. With Kathy’s music and instruction getting it right and getting it tight has never been more fun! BEWARE: You WILL have the urge to hop off your bike and booty drop mid-class….and you can, it just may not be safe!
Activities Without Kids:
Detroit Auto Show (www.naias.com)
We did take the Kids to the Detroit Auto Show, and I wouldn’t do that again. For their age we felt that there was a limited amount for them to do, and the crowds were crazy. I ended up sitting with them in the food court most of the time!
However, for adults, especially if you are into cars the Detroit Auto Show is AMAZING! Each manufacturer definitely brings the latest and greatest to this show.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (www.dso.org)
B.C. (Before Children) when I lived downtown Toronto I loved venturing out to the symphony to relax and listen to some great music. Recently, we were able to do just that at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra who brought the music of #madmen show and era to life. Couple with a great pre-meal at Union Street Restaurant before the show, and drinks afterwards back at Union Street Restaurant (located right down the street BTW) this made for a great date night!
University of Michigan Football Game Tailgating (http://bit.ly/1eSDAFK)
I am not the least bit of a football fan. Frankly I could care less about sitting and watching football – except for the super-cute tight pants of course. However, this past fall I was able to partake in a U.S. tradition called Tailgating…you may have heard of it!!!!
It was the coolest experience! My husband (a now tailgating pro) equipped our group with a full tailgating get-up including a tent, tables, chairs, BBQ and all of the food/fixin’s to sustain our six hour drinking marathon.
Basically, tailgating is heaven on earth. If you do it right, it is six straight hours of a healthy buzz with food, friends and/or family and some of the most insane people watching ever! And even though I am not a football fan there is also a strange sense of half-drunken camaraderie with your fellow tailgaters.
Someone always brings along an epic sound system with a great tailgating playlist so at about two hours in people really start shaking it.
If you’ve ever been camping as a teenager (not REAL camping, but camping at a camp ground) with a group of friends picture that squished into 6 hours followed by attending a football game. It’s pretty darn awesome.
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!! The guy who dresses in full uniform parading around the tailgate, being loud & talking smack – I even ended up getting to sit next to him during the game!
Shopping:
Arborland (http://bit.ly/1qVu8Kr)
Aborland is hands-down my fave place to do some serious shopping. It has my absolute all-time fave spot: Nordstrom Rack! I once got a pair of Seven Jeans there for $20!!! No joke!!! On site they also have plenty of other stores including some of my other faves: Marshalls, DSW, Bed Bath & Beyond etc.
And, if you get hungry from all of that shopping there is a Pot Belly, as well as a Noodles & Co. and a Marble Slab for dessert!
Briarwood Mall (http://bit.ly/1ov52jq)
Birchwood Mall is right in town and has a great selection of stores and once you’ve worked up an appetite shopping hit up the Chipotle for a Burrito Bowl! YUMMO!
Kerrytown Market & Shops (www.kerrytown.com)
The Kerrytown Market is a cute outdoor and indoor market with local vendors selling their goods located in the quaint downtown Ann Abror. I enjoy grabbing a coffee and meandering through the market, and then hitting up the local shops surrounding the market.
AWESEOMESAUCE ALERT!!! Get the homemade hand-soaps from the soap guy! They smell divine and last FOREVER!
Dining With Kids:
Let’s be serious. At 3 and 5 there is no enjoyable dining experience out with kids. Unless you are at playland McDonald’s and they are playing while you are on your Ipad. Here are some places we’ve taken the kids where it has been bearable.
Village Kitchen (www.facebook.com/VillgeKitchen)
The Village Kitchen is an adorable, old school diner with a great, cheap menu. It’s perfect for kids for breakfast with a cute little kids menu, and they also bring out colouring books and crayons. There are plenty of other kids and families there so when your kids freak out it’s no big deal. My fave on the menu is the Skinny Greek Omelet and with free coffee refills at least you’ll have the energy to sustain the meal with the little busy bodies.
Jimmy Johns (www.jimmyjohns.com)
Jimmy Johns obviously isn’t exclusive to Ann Arbor but it’s a great place to take kids for a sandwich. The music inside is CRAZY loud so it just drowns out the noise of your screaming, loud little ones.
Dining Without Kids:
Vinology (www.vinologya2.com)
We’ve been to Vinology a few times and the meal never disappoints. The menu is always different and the food is always fresh. With a name like Vinology you know they have an epic wine list as well!
We went there once when the weather was warmer and sat outside. It happened to be after a football game and the people watching was epic.
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!! The flights of wine – paired with our without your meal. Enough said.
Vellum (www.vellumrestaurant.com)
We had a great meal here and awesome drinks, but what really set this place apart was the awesome service we received from our waiter. He was extremely accommodating (especially when one in our group sent a steak back.) Great ambiance as well – you can have a more formal dinner at a table, or request to sit near the front of the restaurant amongst cushy pillows and order a gourmet burger & fries and a pint!
The Chophouse (www.thechophouseannarbor.com)
Hands down the best steak I have EVER had! I took my mother here when she was visiting recently for her belated Birthday dinner and we had a wonderful experience. All of the food was nothing short of spectacular, as was the ambiance and service. We will definitely be going back here, no doubt.
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!! For chocolate and peanut butter lovers such as me the “Elvis” on the dessert menu is TDF!!! (To Die For)
Exotic Cuisine & Bakeries (www.exoticbakeries.com)
A friend I’ve made took me to a Fantastic spot for a casual/quick lunch, since that I’ve been back three times. With a deli feel it’s a great lunchtime spot. The food is Syrian and delicious. The staff is super helpful and friendly!
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!! The hummus & baba ganoush
Palio Patio
During our house hunt trip we had an awesome meal atop the roof at Plato. Fantastic Italian food, and a great view of main street.
AWESOMESAUCE ALERT!!! The bocconcini salad. YUM!
I can’t wait for more Ann Arbor and area adventures, and I hope they include the following:
- A visit to the Detroit Zoo
- A visit to Dominos Farms
- Enjoying a meal at Logan Restaurant
- A visit to the Henry Ford Museum
- A visit to Zhenders Waterpark (complete with a chicken dinner)
- Hitting up the outlets in Frankenmuth
- Drinks & Dinner at Grizzly Peak Brewery
- Drinks at Melange
- Drinks at Habana
- A visit to Boyne Mountain Resort
- More tailgating
- More yummy meals at all of my current favourite restaurants
- Hosting more visitors to accompany me on my adventures
- Renting a cottage in the Upper Peninsula (we’ve got one currently scheduled in Petoskey for the summer!)
I’ve found with moving around a lot of happiness can come from exploring the new space around you and embracing your surroundings! Do you have a favourite place in Ann Arbor to recommend? Let me know, I need to expand my list!
onthemmmove 