7/9/2026

Ann Arbor was never meant to be seen in three hours, but sometimes travel hands you a small window and dares you to make the most of it. So we did what any sensible road-trippers would do: we treated the city like a sampler platter…a little campus, a little football, a little downtown, a little food, and a little river scenery before moving on!  It was like a speed date with a college town!

Our first stop was the very reason we landed in Ann Arbor…to see the newlyweds, Liam and Madeline! 

They had been working nights, so we met for breakfast at a campus restaurant.  We felt a bit guilty stealing some of their sleep time…but what a delight it was to be with the two of them.  Their lives are busy with their individual residencies… and we are grateful they took the time to have breakfast with us.  This union makes us so happy!  We had a quick stop by their condo…and we were off to let them sleep!

Then… we were off to do our own little tour in the time we had.  Our first impression was pure college-town charm. The University of Michigan does not quietly sit in Ann Arbor; it spreads itself confidently throughout the city, with students, buildings, bikes, bookstores, and coffee shops all reminding you that this is a place where brains, backpacks, and maize-and-blue pride are very much at home.

The Central Campus area gave us exactly what we hoped for …handsome old buildings and that unmistakable feeling of a town shaped by a university.

This is the Graduate Library….I loved the way the brick is being used decoratively rather than simply structurally… the horizontal band of bricks looks almost like a woven textile.

From there, we made the essential pilgrimage to Michigan Stadium, “The Big House.” Even empty and from the street (we could not get into the field!), it has a big presence. Some landmarks impress because of their beauty; this one impresses because it looks as if half the state could climb inside and still have room for snacks. It’s impossible not to appreciate the scale of the place!

Then we shifted from gown to town, driving through the downtown streets that give Ann Arbor its lively personality. Main Street and State Street: restaurants, shops, cafés, pedestrians in a city that is both historic and hip. It felt polished but not fussy, energetic but not frantic.

To round out our quick visit, we found Ann Arbor’s softer side near the Huron River and its green spaces. After the architecture, traffic, students, and stadium-sized enthusiasm, the river scenery was a lovely change of pace. Ann Arbor is not just a university town but is also leafy, relaxed, and genuinely pretty.  Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative at this time, so we had to pass up the arboretum hike we had planned.

Three hours were not enough to “do” Ann Arbor, but they were enough to understand why people like it and often compare it to our beloved Madison. The city has a winning combination: a world-class university, a walkable downtown, historic architecture, and serious school spirit.