[tsangia]

Hi

We are traveling from NJ to Ann Arbor so my son can go to MU Football camp in June. I'm bringing my daughter who is 11. Any suggestions on fun things to do within an 1/2 hr from there? Any cool resturants or nice malls nearby?

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Coldjensens]

Briarwood mall is close, but it is just an ordinary mall.

Shopping in Ann Arbor is fun. You can easliy spend an entire afternoon wandering around Ann Arbor shpping. Have lunch at Zingermans. Depending on you, you may want to stay away from the condom store and from Middle Earth with an 11 year old. iddle earth has kind of raunchy gifts and shirts (funny though).

The hands on museum is neat. She may be a little old for it, but I am 45 and I still have fun there.

You could go to a movie at the State theater (or the Michigan) depending on what is there.

You can rent a canoe in Ann arbor or at nearby Delhi metropark and go canoing or buy a floaty and shoot the "rapids" at Delhi (I did not suggest that, you decided to go on your own).

[Mi_Mom]

There is Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi that is probably 45 mins away or so? Nice two story mall.
Twelve Oaks

Check out Arborweb when the dates get closer to see events going on at that time. June is a great time to visit as schools are getting out and lots of things are being geared up for summer fun.
Ann Arbor's Home on the Web

The Summer Festival starts June 13 and is so much fun! They have arts, workshops etc. They also have free concerts as well as free nightly movies. It's so much fun!
Ann Arbor Summer Festival

Someone mentioned the children's museum. That's fun for kids as well.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

There is also the Natural History Museum
Exhibit Museum

And if you're up for 40 min drive or so you could go to The Henry Ford & Greenfield Village. It's an incredible place to visit and there is so much to do. An IMAX theater there as well.
The Henry Ford: America's Greatest History Attraction

Hope this gives you some ideas! Enjoy your trip to Ann Arbor.

[Coldjensens]

If you want ot go on a joureny - take them to hell. My kids loved it. You can go canoeing there too.

I would skip Twelve Oaks. To me, that is the worst mall that I have ever been to. It is always crowded and crazy. The layout is terrible. Summerset in troy is the best mall in Michigan (possibly anywhere). Briarwood right in Ann Arbor, is better than Twelve oaks but it is much smaller. I would prefer dental surgury to a trip to Twelve Oaks, but then I am not a fan of malls. I wold nto want ot bring kids there becuase it is too crowded and crazy.

Henry Ford and/or Greenfield villiage is a full day. If you go there you wil want ot arrive int hemorning and plan to stay until at least 3. .

[Mi_Mom]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

If you want ot go on a joureny - take them to hell. My kids loved it. You can go canoeing there too.

I would skip Twelve Oaks. To me, that is the worst mall that I have ever been to. It is always crowded and crazy. The layout is terrible. Summerset in troy is the best mall in Michigan (possibly anywhere). Briarwood right in Ann Arbor, is better than Twelve oaks but it is much smaller. I would prefer dental surgury to a trip to Twelve Oaks, but then I am not a fan of malls. I wold nto want ot bring kids there becuase it is too crowded and crazy.

Henry Ford and/or Greenfield villiage is a full day. If you go there you wil want ot arrive int hemorning and plan to stay until at least 3. .

I went to 12 Oaks about once a year. But still thought it was a decent mall. Somerset is $$$. Briarwood sometimes struggles to keep business in there. And I recommended 12 Oaks because they had Build A Bear which for a once a year trip my kids love. They don't have that in Briarwood. Just personal preferences I guess.

[Chkmama]

There are a ton of things to do right here in Ann Arbor, many good suggestions already...

-The Summer Festival is great (on campus)

-Campus butts up to downtown. You could start on Main Street and work your way to State Street (campus area) and spend a lot of time just going to shops and restaurants.
(aforementioned condom shops are on South University, the other side of the diag - not so much to do that is family friendly there, but great deli - Maize and Blue Deli). My kids love looking for the fairy doors that are hidden throughout downtown.

-Of course Zingerman's Deli in Kerrytown (another great shopping area within downtown)
Also, Zingerman's Roadhouse (away from campus at Jackson and Maple) is also a great restaurant with a full range unique menu. Too many great restaurants and cafes downtown to mention... just pick one!

-Hands on Museum is nice. There are also all the U of M musems, The Art Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Planetarium...

-A ton of parks if you'd like to enjoy some nature....Delhi or Gallup for canoeing. I love Bird Hills nature park for a pretty hike or the Arb (U of M's Arboretum) is right on the river, Botanical Gardens, ...

-Check out Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
and Welcome to the City of Ann Arbor - Official Home Page
in addition to Ann Arbor's Home on the Web

It's a great town... hope you enjoy your visit!

[A2Mich]

oooooo...Maize and Blue Deli and Zingerman's Deli....love them both. I also enjoy walking around the shops and restaurants downtown. The only downside is that many of the restaurants downtown are too pricey. If you're looking for a fairly reasonable place for a lunch, you could also try Grizzly Peak and Arbor Brewing Co. on Washington St downtown. There are some great stores downtown, including the first Border's Books (corner of Liberty and Maynard), and some not-so-great stores. You could always go to the M-Den or Steve and Barry's for all of the requisite U-M paraphernalia. And for ice cream, you could always atop by Kilwin's Chocolate and Ice Cream for a quick pick-me-up (Liberty and Main St). Have fun!

[ImaMichigander]

My kids love the Hands On Museum.

You won't be too far to go to the Toledo Zoo which is EXCELLENT! (Might take about an hour to an hour and 15.)
There is a great mall in Toledo as well, Franklin Park.

Another option is Splash Universe, the in-door water park in Dundee, which would be a pretty quick trip on 23. (Probably 45 minutes.)

The Detroit Science Center is pretty good. (I'm guessing 45 minutes.)

I liked the suggestions of The Henry Ford-- previously known as Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum.

And 12 Oaks is a fine mall-- much larger than Briarwood and not nearly as over the top at Sommerset-- and they just opened a brand new Nordstrom. Lots of shops in that area too, both the Towncenter- just across the highway- and right across the street!

[biodboy]

Ok, first you asked about Ann Arbor, so skip the malls, any of them, not really in A2. The Henry Ford is especially cool, but also not in A2. Get a Tour of Jiffy Mix (also not in A2, but in nearby Chelsea, call and ask for Jay) What about a walk thru the Nichols Arboretum, or through Matthai Botanical Gardens, Great Stuff. I think the Hands On Museum is really cool. Go to Washtenaw Dairy for an Ice cream cone. Go down to the Airport and take a light plane ride around the area from someone at the Michigan Fliers Club. Tell them you want to get the $100 Hamburger and see where they take you! (but again it won't be in A2) Call the A2 water department and get a tour of the water treatment plant. For Lunch SKIP, yes I said SKIP Zingerman's, too crowded and too expensive! Instead, go to Monahan's and get a cup of gazpatcho and a clam fritter sandwich! or go to the Fleetwood diner for some hippy hash!!! Great pizza at Pizza House near campus too. Have a beer and a soda with lunch at Arbor Brewing. Then you can drive out to Independence Lake to enjoy our fun County water park in the heat of the day. Canoeing at Delhi, Argo or Geddes liveries. Go to any of the three municipal pools, Buhr, Fuller, or Vets pools. Go to www.geocaching (broken link).com and see what is listed for ann arbor michigan. ITs fun and you'll see parts of Ann Arbor you may not see otherwise. Go to the UM Art Museum, see the wave sculpture tucked into a little spot on North Campus.
Francois-Xavier-Bagnoud Aerospace Engineering Building
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Really cool art!!!

Have Fun, I love it here, and hope you do too.
A2 townie!!

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

Originally Posted by biodboy

Ok, first you asked about Ann Arbor, so skip the malls, any of them, not really in A2. The Henry Ford is especially cool, but also not in A2. Get a Tour of Jiffy Mix (also not in A2, but in nearby Chelsea, call and ask for Jay) What about a walk thru the Nichols Arboretum, or through Matthai Botanical Gardens, Great Stuff. I think the Hands On Museum is really cool. Go to Washtenaw Dairy for an Ice cream cone. Go down to the Airport and take a light plane ride around the area from someone at the Michigan Fliers Club. Tell them you want to get the $100 Hamburger and see where they take you! (but again it won't be in A2) Call the A2 water department and get a tour of the water treatment plant. For Lunch SKIP, yes I said SKIP Zingerman's, too crowded and too expensive! Instead, go to Monahan's and get a cup of gazpatcho and a clam fritter sandwich! or go to the Fleetwood diner for some hippy hash!!! Great pizza at Pizza House near campus too. Have a beer and a soda with lunch at Arbor Brewing. Then you can drive out to Independence Lake to enjoy our fun County water park in the heat of the day. Canoeing at Delhi, Argo or Geddes liveries. Go to any of the three municipal pools, Buhr, Fuller, or Vets pools. Go to www.geocaching.com and see what is listed for ann arbor michigan. ITs fun and you'll see parts of Ann Arbor you may not see otherwise. Go to the UM Art Museum, see the wave sculpture tucked into a little spot on North Campus.
Francois-Xavier-Bagnoud Aerospace Engineering Building
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Really cool art!!!

Have Fun, I love it here, and hope you do too.
A2 townie!!

all good ideas
My bro was an engineering undergrad (now a grad) and he and his buddies frequently played bocce at the wavefield!! he started a bocce club at uofm!