[tsangia]

Hi All

We are coming from NJ this week to visit UM,our son is doing the football camp there. While in MI we'd like to take advantage of "the hot spots" anyplaces you can recommend. We are in our early 40's. Maybe a nice scenic drive?
Thanks

[MICoastieMom]

Ann Arbor has several really nice museums. There is a natural history museum, an art museum, and an archeology museum all near the center of campus. There is a wonderful children's museum in downtown A2. And an outdoor museum, an old preserved farmstead in southeast A2

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Cobblestone Farm Association :: Welcome to Historic Cobblestone Farm, Ann Arbor, Michigan

And there is always the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. The Motor Muster is coming up soon, quite possibly the weekend you will be here.

The Henry Ford: America's Greatest History Attraction

Kerrytown and the Farmer's Market are fun places to shop in A2- don't forget to check out Zingerman's across the street. They are pricey, but the food is so worth it! I think Ypsilanti also has a Farmer's market, but I don't know as much about it.

There is a lovely botanical garden in A2, and there is the U-M's Matthei Botanical Gardens in Dixboro, east of A2. There is a wonderful gift store there, The General Store- they have unusual and charming gifts and collectibles. Although I haven't eaten there in a number of years, The Lord Fox, just further down the road a mile or so, is a good restaurant. If you continue down the road to the east, you will come to Plymouth, a charming old town with lots of shops to explore.

You can take Huron River Drive northwest along the Huron River to Delhi, Dexter and Chelsea. Chelsea is where Jeff Daniels lives. He runs a theater there called The Purple Rose, a non-profit professional theater. Manchester and Saline are to the southwest of A2. Nice drives, nice little old towns to explore.

Any sportsmen in your family? Cabela's main store is a short drive down U.S. 23 in Dundee. The crossroad is M-50; to the west is Tecumseh, beautiful old homes and interesting shops. Head east on 50 and you will drive through several more interesting little towns, and eventually end up in Monroe, home of Gen, George Armstrong Custer.

If you are an adventueous diner, A2 is for you! There are so many ethnic restaurants. Many of my favorites from my youth are gone, so I can't recommend many any more. Maybe some others can give you heads up about that.

Hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy your stay. One word of caution, many (oh, heck- most!) of Michigan highways are under construction in the summer. Do check MI-DOT for updates.

MDOT Lane Closures
MDOT - Drive Interactive Map

I am also posting an explanation of a feature unique to Michigan roads- The Michigan Left. This has screwed up more visitors to the state than all other things peculiar to Michigan combined. It even sometimes screws up native Michiganders!

MI Drive - Michigan Lefts