Ann Arbor has a very walkable downtown area with many shops, bars, restaurants, museums, theaters and music venues. My recommendations on what to see include:
Michigan Theater: At 603 E. Liberty, here you will find independent films, music performances, film series and The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design Speaker Series featuring, artists, designers, photographers, writers and performers.
State Theater: The State Theater is an art deco theater offering independent films. It is affiliated with the Michigan Theater, mentioned above.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: A three-week festival featuring music, dance, comedy, film, circus and street arts.
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology: Located on the University of Michigan campus this is an interesting small museum featuring objects from ancient civilizations.The museum supports teaching and research on Classical, Egyptian, and Near Eastern archaeology through stewardship of its rich collections, an active exhibitions program, and sponsorship of ongoing field research. The Kelsey houses a collection of more than 100,000 artifacts, of which approximately 1,500 are on permanent display; in addition, the Museum mounts 2–3 special exhibitions annually. There are tours and lectures throughout the year.
The Palmer House: A Frank Lloyd House built for Bill and Mary Palmer in the 1950’s. It is a stunning property with separate tea house that overlooks the woods in a beautiful landscaped setting. It is a three bedroom, two bath home that can be rented for a rate averaging $720 a night. What a great way to stay in a Frank Lloyd Wright design.
The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor: As we walked through the town a friend pointed out some tiny painted doors known as the Fairy Doors. There are eight small doors on public buildings that started in 2005 along with several others. Looking for them has become a cult following, so make sure to look down!!! Check out the map which is available on their website.
