Looking to spend some time in Ann Arbor? Check out my guide to the best three day itinerary in this adorable college town filled with delicious food and tons of outdoor adventure.
Disclaimer - This is a sponsored blog post by Destination Ann Arbor. As always, my opinions are unbiased and my own. I want to thank Ann Arbor for their generosity!
Why Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, home of University of Michigan, is a community-oriented city that punches far above its weight in things to do, food variety, and outdoor adventures. While I fit a ton into my three days in this city, I felt like I barely scratched the surface of all things Ann Arbor.
I joke that every time I go to a new place I wonder if I should move there, but I had an instant connection with Ann Arbor. After an amazing three day weekend, I can confidently say that I actually WOULD move there.
The one thing that always makes a place stand out to me is the people. Every single person I interacted with was so kind. When realizing that it was my first time in the area, folks were more than happy to share their favorite recommendations of things to do. All the local businesses were filled with people running into people they knew and catching up with each other. It felt like a place that could immediately become home.
Read on for what to do, where to eat, and where to stay for three amazing days in Ann Arbor!
Table of Contents
- What to Do in Ann Arbor
- Where to Eat in Ann Arbor
- Where to Stay in Ann Arbor
- Coworking Spaces in Ann Arbor
- Steal My Itinerary: How to Spend Three Days in Ann Arbor (without taking a single PTO day)
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What to Do in Ann Arbor
One thing I can guarantee about Ann Arbor is that you will never be bored. I packed a ton into my three day Ann Arbor itinerary. I’d recommend picking a couple of items out of each section or really diving deep on something you love. Remember, you can always come back!
Visit a Bookstore
I feel that there’s a large overlap between people who love travel and love reading. Visiting bookstores is one of my favorite solo activities in a new place. If you’re a bibliophile, Ann Arbor will not disappoint.
- Vault of Midnight – A bright and bustling comic book and collectible store
- Literati Bookstore – This was my personal favorite. On a Friday night, the store was packed with readers grabbing new releases in fantasy, romance, and gathering together. If I lived in Ann Arbor, they would have all my money.
- The Dawn Treader Bookshop – A bookstore that feels like getting lost in your favorite library. Had giant science fiction and fantasy sections.
- Crazy Wisdom Bookstore – for lovers of the occult, tarot, and witchy arts. They also have super reasonably priced little notebooks
- West Side Books – for lovers of more historical books, old maps, and photographs
Enjoy an Outdoor Adventure
An Ann Arbor itinerary is not complete without enjoying some outdoor time. I was lucky to have lovely fall weather during my visit and spent almost my entire weekend exploring outside.
Here are the outdoor spots worth your visit when in Ann Arbor:
- Nichols Arboretum – Known to locals as “The Arb”, explore almost 3.5 miles of trails, gardens, and unique natural areas. I enjoyed a peaceful morning walk here, watching fog rise from the river before the city came to life. Coming back for peak peony season is absolutely on my bucket list.
- Matthaei Botanical Garden – Free to visit (minus parking), this beautiful botanical garden offers indoor and outdoor gardens as well as three miles of trails through the property. My personal favorite garden was the bonsai garden.
- Hudson Mills Metropark – A 25 minute drive outside the city, this is great park for walking parts of the Border to Border trail
- Bird Hills Nature Area – This 146 acre park is the largest natural area in Ann Arbor and is clearly a local favorite. I’d visit this again if I came in stick season, as I think I’d get better views of the river.
- Furstenberg Nature Area – Not a place I’d originally planned to stop, I pulled the car over as I saw the sign for this area (a main benefit of solo travel). I’m glad I did because it was my favorite outdoor spot I visited. The area is right along the river, with beautiful boardwalk trails and great spots for wildlife sighting.
For more information on outdoor adventures around Ann Arbor (and importantly, where to go eat after), check out my guide.
Wander Around Downtown
Ann Arbor is a town made for wandering. I love a good “no destination, let’s see where I end up” walk and one of my favorite parts of Ann Arbor was how easy it was to get around on foot. The city felt manageable enough to explore but large enough that there was always something new to see. I also felt extremely safe walking around alone, even at night.
Some of the fun things I found on a wander in Ann Arbor:
- Stumbled into a craft fair which had a ton of super talented artists and bought myself some fun stickers.
- Grabbed a coffee at Sweetwaters Coffee and spent some time chatting to a handful of friendly locals about sustainability initiatives in the city
- Shopped in a super unique consignment store called NuuYuu Collective. Consigners rent out a stall within the store to get a percentage of the sales. The store helps price items, provide tags, and hangers and inventory turns over every Saturday. On a Saturday afternoon, it was PACKED with people checking out the new clothes and accessories that were released that morning. While the stall by seller format makes it harder to find your sizes than a traditional thrift store, it felt like a fun treasure hunt going through each stall to find gems.
- Shopped at the farmer’s market where I grabbed a samosa for my pre-lunch snack
Celebrate Your Day with a Mocktail
As someone who doesn’t drink, I always get disappointed when the N/A options are pop and nothing else. Usually, I’m lucky with one mediocre option to choose from, especially in smaller cities.
Ann Arbor was the exception. Every place I went had multiple amazing mocktail options to chose from and I loved all of the ones I chose. Whether you don’t drink at all or are just choosing something a little lighter, here are the five best mocktails I had in Ann Arbor.
- The Pier No. 3 at Peridot
- Homemade Fig Leaf Soda at Spencer
- Spiced Apple Sparkler or the Ginger Noddy (aka Not Toddy) at Detroit Street Filing Station (yes I had two here)
- The Greenhouse at La Serre at the Vanguard
- Hop soda at Arbor Brewing Company
If you do drink, the beer, wine, and cocktail menus were extensive at every place I went. I’d bet they’re amazing.
Where to Eat in Ann Arbor
Every bit of food I put in my mouth in this city was awesome. From more upscale eateries like Spencer’s to the casual Arbor Brewing Company to the funky vegan Detroit Street Filling Station, Ann Arbor’s food scene has something for everything.
Spencer
If you’re a planner, make sure to set a reminder to grab a reservation at Spencer for your next trip to Ann Arbor. This farm-to-table restaurant features seasonal dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Everything is made in house, including the breads and pastas, so you know it’s fresh.
This might not be the place for picky eaters, but is great for those with decision fatigue. The menu is mostly fixed, with the only choice between a meat and vegetarian main dish. As someone who likes to decide every aspect of my meal, this was an adventurous choice for me. However, going outside of my comfort zone paid off as it was one of the best meals I had in 2025 and was absolutely worth the price.
I chose the vegetarian option for my main (the meat choice was chicken, which I don’t love, but folks at my table raved about it). The ravioli was perfectly cooked and I wished there was about six more servings. Dessert was a not too sweet olive oil cake with whipped ricotta. But my favorite part of the meal was the appetizer leafy greens with fermented chili, which I will be dreaming about for a very long time.
Peridot
A recommendation from the La Serre bartender that wouldn’t have been on my radar otherwise, I am so glad I got to check out this funky fusion spot. I loved sitting at the bar and watching the talented bartenders sling drinks (one cocktail gets lit on fire). The small plates are perfect for a solo traveler who wants to try a lot of food but can’t justify ordering multiple. I tried the spicy cucumber salad, the sticky rice croquettes, and the fried chicken wings.
Detroit Street Filling Station
This vegan restaurant offers fun takes on classic food with fresh ingredients and delicious mocktails. I highly recommend the perfectly crispy tots and spicy aioli to go with your drinks. The atmosphere was extremely welcoming, with amazing service and great music (long live 90’s bops). In warm months, the outdoor patio is a great place to get fresh air while enjoying your food. I will absolutely be headed back here next time I am in Ann Arbor.
Zingerman’s Deli
An Ann Arbor staple, a visit to Zingerman’s is required. Come hungry – this traditional deli offers giant New York Style sandwiches and sides. I enjoyed Rick’s 50/50 Mix (half corned beef/half pastrami) with spicy mustard with a side of coleslaw.
La Serre
Located inside of The Vanguard Hotel, this restaurant sources local ingredients and offers a French inspired menu with a huge variety of cocktails. While I only got apps and a mocktail here, I’d absolutely go back to eat dinner on a next visit. The artichoke fries were a way I’d never had artichoke before and were delicious. I had the Greenhouse mocktail, which was fruity without being too sweet.
One of the best ways to find great places in a new city? Talk to a bartender because they KNOW. I was so glad to chat with the bartenders at La Serre because they recommended a bunch of the great spots I checked out.
Arbor Brewing Company
With multiple locations, Arbor Brewing Company is a great place to grab a drink and a casual meal. It’s perfect to visit after a hike without changing your clothes.
I visited Arbor Brewing Company’s Ypsilanti location to down a delicious pulled pork sandwich. One of my gripes about pulled pork is that usually the bun ends up soggy by the time I am done eating. This bun soaked up all the BBQ sauce without losing structure or taste. I also liked that I could customize a ton about my meal, even down to adding extra “horsey mayo” for my crispy fries. While I was solo, this would be a great place for a larger group of friends or family because of all the board games available to play.
Ann Arbor is only four hours from Pittsburgh, making it one of the best road trips from Pittsburgh!
Where to Stay in Ann Arbor
There’s a lot of options for lodging in Ann Arbor for every type of traveler!
The Vanguard, Marriott
This new hotel (five months old when I stayed!) is an amazing place to stay. The sign of a great hotel lies in the tiny details. The rooms were impeccably furnished while keeping in mind guest function. The in-room espresso machine ensured that I was caffeinated for my full days of adventuring and the cozy robe and slippers made me feel luxurious in my home away from home.
This hotel also offers bike rentals for guests to explore the community and was conveniently located an easy walking distance from all the things to do downtown. You will need to valet your car here, so I recommend walking or biking as much as possible.
The Graduate
While I haven’t personally stayed at the Graduate Ann Arbor, I have stayed at multiple other Graduate hotels. They offer a funky, college-inspired stay that is unique in each place. The location of this hotel is great for wandering around the University of Michigan campus and the greater downtown Ann Arbor. The Points Guy also listed The Graduate Ann Arbor as one of the best college town hotels in 2025.
For The Vanguard, The Graduate, and more places to stay around Ann Arbor, check out the map below!
Coworking Spaces in Ann Arbor
As someone who works a hybrid job of three days in the office and two days remote, I leverage my remote days for travel as often as I can to extend my time in a new place. Coworking spaces can often be hit or miss for how much work I am actually able to get done, but both Brightworks and Cahoots were productive and fun environments for working.
BrightWorks
Brightworks Coworking offers two locations in Ann Arbor. I visited the Forest Cove location, located 15 minutes outside of downtown. I loved how spacious the building was. There were tons of different types of spaces for me to work in. I started the morning taking meetings from an office, then moved to respond to emails from a beambag chair. I also enjoyed working from the outdoor courtyard since it was a beautiful day.
The space is filled with natural light, which is great for creativity. I enjoyed their fancy Keurig machine that ground local coffee beans for my cappuccino (at absolutely no extra cost). All of the regulars I talked to told me how much they love working here and I can see why.
For adventure lovers, this spot has a prime location. After a morning of working, I explored Botsford Preserve, a nature preserve that abuts the property. It was amazing to slam my laptop shut and immediately be immersed in nature. The building also has a bathroom with a shower for folks biking into work via the Border to Border trail, which is nearby. If I lived in Ann Arbor, I would absolutely work from Brightworks.
For more information and to book, visit their website.
Cahoots
If you’re looking for a coworking space with start-up energy and an urban vibe, check out Cahoots. With a coffee shop, a two story coworking space, and a health club all in the same property, Cahoots positions itself as a clear “third space” for folks to come together in Ann Arbor.
Each of the rows of desk had a large monitor to plug your laptop into which solves one of my main problems with working while traveling. I really enjoyed the gaming space as well as the second floor comfy couches. The bookable spaces, including conference rooms, were all named after a famous creative person. The coffee downstairs and pastry was a great mid-afternoon pick me up.
For more information and to book your visit, check out their website.
How to Spend Three Days in Ann Arbor (without Taking A Single PTO Day)
Steal exactly what I did for your best three day Ann Arbor itinerary!
Day 1: Working Remote & Bookstore Crawl
- Begin your day with a walk on the treadmill at the fitness center followed by breakfast at La Serre at the Vanguard
- Head to one of the two great coworking spaces
- Brightworks
- Cahoots Coworking
- Freshen up and grab a drink at the La Serre bar
- Wonder around town to explore bookshops
- The Dawn Treader Bookshop
- Literati
- Vault of Midnight
- Crazy Wisdom Bookstore
- West Side Books
- Dinner at Spencer
Day 2: Adventure, Eat, Repeat
- Catch sunrise at The Arb
- Check out the Border to Border Trail
- In the city or at Hudson Mills Metropark
- Lunch at Zimmermans Deli
- Wander around downtown
- Take a siesta back at the Vanguard
- Head out for a golden hour drink at Detroit Street Filling Station
- Dinner at Peridot
- Dessert cinnamon buns at Cinnaholic
Day 3: More Adventures & Eating
- Go for another walk at either Bird Hill or Furstenburg Nature Area
- Visit the largest bonsai collection at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Grab a drink and lunch at Arbor Brewing Company, Ypsilanti location
- Drive back home and be sad your trip is over
Got any questions about visiting Ann Arbor? Leave a comment below or send me a message on socials @torytalkstrails!
Updated: November 4, 2025