Rackham Graduate School

The most recent topic for our bloggers was to talk about what there is to do and what is enjoyable in the Ann Arbor and surrounding areas over the summer. The answer? A lot of things!

Things to do/see:

• Go to Art Fair (if only just once in your time here—you’ll understand why when you see it)
• Check out Summer Festival and Top of the Park (happening now through July 9 in front of Rackham)
• Go kayaking down the Huron River
• Spend time in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens or the Nichols Arboretum (picnicking, walking, etc.)
• Visit the Ann Arbor Farmers Market
• Check out the free concerts on Thursdays at noon at Sonic Lunch
• Visit the Conservatory on Belle Isle
• Go camping in Pinckney
• Go sky-diving
• Make it down to Detroit
• Visit Detroit’s Eastern Market
• Go to a Tiger’s game
• Try your luck at a casino: Greektown, MGM Grand, or Motor City
• Take advantage of concerts and plays at the many venues in the area (DTE Energy, Meadowbrook, Michigan Theater, The Ark, Hill Auditorium, the Power Center, the Blind Pig, to name a few!)
• Sample ice cream/yogurt at Ben and Jerry’s, Stucchi’s, and Washtenaw Dairy
• Eat seasonal fruit
• Join an Ultimate Frisbee league or just watch a game from your window in your lab
• Go disk golfing
• Go to Cedar Point
• Try some sangria in the afternoon at Dominick’s
• Visit the beaches on the west side of the state and “Up North” (Northern Michigan)
• See the Sleeping Bear Dunes overlooking Lake Michigan

The nice things about summer:

• U-M’s summer break is quite long
• There is finally nice weather
• You can find a seat at any lunch spot or coffee shop downtown
• It stays light outside until late in the evening
• Fireflies light up the town (especially in August)
• You can find empty study carrels in the Hatcher Library
• The pace is much slower
• You can grow your own tomatoes (or vegetable or flower of your choice)
• There is time to explore the stores on Main Street, State Street, and all the streets in between (and visit the fairy doors around town)
• There is time to check out all of the great food available in Ann Arbor and Ypsi

These are just a few of the great things about summertime in the area. If you are new to the area or didn’t get to check these things off your list last summer, now is your chance.

About the Author

Natalie Bartolacci, Program Manager, Rackham Graduate School

Published in: Student Voices

Keywords: students social life balance