Parks and the outdoors in Ann Arbor

155 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Ann Arbor.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 155.

Photo: Pentawing, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

See
Nichols Arboretum
It's in a secluded plot just east of the University of Michigan Hospital. "The Arb" is a favorite place to enjoy peace and quiet in a setting removed from the bustle and traffic of everyday Ann Arbor. The Arb has no signage, no parking lot of its own, nor any restroom facilities. What it has is an impressive peony garden, many different species of native trees, shrubs, and grasses, and the Huron River runs through it. A gem that's worth seeking out.
sunrise-sunsetFree entry
See
Gallup Park
A 69-acre (28 hectares) park along the Huron River and Geddes Pond, and Ann Arbor's most popular recreation area. Walkways with pedestrian bridges over the water, two playgrounds, picnic areas, open fields, over of asphalt trails. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rental (canoes can also be taken from the Argo Park livery, 1055 Longshore Drive, +1 734-668-7411, to the Gallup livery).
Open now · closes midnight tomorrowWheelchair accessible
EatJewish restaurant
Jerusalem Garden
Palestinian-American-owned restaurant very popular for its cheap but tasty falafel.
Mon-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri 10AM-9:30PM, Sat 11AM-9:30PM, Sun noon-8PM$4-6 sandwiches, $8 combination plates · Vegan options
EatSeafood restaurant
The Gandy Dancer
Great seafood (check the buffet) in a former train station. Eat here and watch the tracks or, if you're broke (and you will be after the meal), walk along the tracks and watch the diners.
Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri 11AM-11PM, Sat 3:30-11PM, Sun 10AM-2PM 3:30-9PMTakeaway
Drink
Casa Dominick's
A popular hangout south of campus next to the Business School and Law School, with lots of outdoor seating on the two porches or in the rear garden. Mostly Italian food, with pizza, pasta, subs and salads. The sangria, served in Mason jars, is very popular. Service can be hit-or-miss.
Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM, closed Sundays and closed during the winter months
See
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
A 300-acre (120 hectares) site with outdoor display gardens, a conservatory filled with tropical plants, and miles of nature trails.
The grounds are open daily from 8AM-dusk. Conservatory and gift shop open Tue & Thu-Sat 10AM-4:30PM, Wed 10AM-8PM, closed MondaysFree (gardens), $5 (conservatory, but free on Fridays from noon-4:30PM)
See
Buhr Park
A 39-acre (16 hectares) park with picnic areas, children's play area, softball diamond, soccer fields, outdoor tennis courts, 25-yard (23 m) swimming pool, children's wading pool, outdoor ice arena for public skating and ice hockey, cross-country ski center, and snowmobile trails. Skate rentals available.
See
Matthei Botanical Gardens
Just east of Domino's Farms, on Dixboro Road, Matthei Botanical Gardens is operated by the University of Michigan and open to the public. There are trails to stroll, a greenhouse to visit, and plantings to enjoy. Every spring, Matthei hosts a plant sale that is very popular with gardeners.
Free
See
University of Michigan Diag
The heart of the University of Michigan's Central Campus, the Diag is the main quadrangle around which most of the key buildings on campus are arranged. Its name comes from the primary walkway that runs from the northwest to southeast corners of the Diag. In the middle of the Diag, just in front of the graduate library, is a brick courtyard with a brass M in the center; according to student legend, if you step on the M during your first semester at the university, you are doomed to fail your first exam. The Diag is often used for demonstrations, booths or student fairs, and is a popular hangout in warm weather.
Do Not mapped
Ann Arbor Art Fairs
Held throughout downtown, four juried art fairs that display and sell art: the original Ann Arbor Street Art Fair along N University; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair along Main, Liberty, William and State; the State Street Area Art Fair; and the South University Art Fair. In practical terms, it's all one great big fair that takes about a full day to explore if you move quickly and don't look at every booth. Prices are generally rather high, as befitting an art show of this calibre, but there are definitely bargains to be found, as well as some less expensive non-juried booths that tag along for the ride. Loads of concessions, live entertainment, and booths with great sales from local businesses are scattered throughout. During the Art Fair, hotels are generally booked up and parking can be difficult to find, so book a room early (by February or March) and find a spot at one of the park-and-ride stops to catch a bus into downtown.
One week in late July. Wed-Fri 10AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM
Buy
Dixboro General Store
One of the busiest country gift and furnishing stores in Michigan, located in a historic store in the village of Dixboro. Furniture, candles, collectables, garden decor, tabletops, bath and body supplies, home accessories, lighting, and edible goodies.
Mon-Thu Sat 10AM-6PM, Fri 10AM-8PM, Sun 11AM-5PM
See
Leslie Science Center
50 acres (20 hectares) of fields, woods and prairie, featuring outdoor, hands-on and discovery-based educational programs. Features an environmentally-friendly Nature House; a Critter House with frogs, turtles, snakes, and rabbits; live birds of prey, including owls, falcons, kestrels, hawks, vultures, and a bald eagle; and a mile-long trail through the Black Pond Woods.
Park open daily sunrise to sunset; Critter House open Sun noon-3PMFree (donations gratefully accepted)
Eat
Seoul Garden
The only Korean place in Ann Arbor where you can have Korean-style galbi grilled at your table. Ban-chan (side dishes) are authentic Korean style, and group tables (4-60) available. Wider selection of food such as galbi, galbi-jjim, boiled mixed seafood, bulgogi, and tofu-kimchi.
Mon-Fri 11:30AM-10PM, Sat noon-10:30PM, Sun noon-10PM$12-25
See Not mapped
Domino's Farms
A large office park in a pastoral location, home to the world headquarters of Domino's Pizza. Visitors will go mostly for one of two attractions:
Do Not mapped
Top of the Park
Held from mid-June to early July. Nightly local and regional live bands, outdoor film screenings at 10PM, and concession booths from eight local eateries. Traditionally this event was held on the upper level of the Fletcher parking structure, next to the Power Center — hence the name — but it has been temporarily moved outside the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. In inclement weather, performances and films may be cancelled.
Free
Do Not mapped
Kensington Beach
20 minutes north of Ann Arbor.
DoPark
Nelson Meade County Farm Park
Nelson Meade County Farm Park is a 141-acre public park in eastern Ann Arbor, Michigan owned by Washtenaw County and operated by the county's Parks and Recreation Commission. Consisting of a mix of woodlands, fields, and gardens, the park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and is a popular local destination for gardening, hiking, jogging, and biking. The park has been county land since 1836, although for the majority of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it was used as the county's poorhouse (complete with a working farm) and then as its infirmary.
Open now · closes 9 pm
DoPark
Baxter Park
3299 Baxter Road
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Frisinger Park
1200 Woodbury Drive
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Hunt Park
1035 Daniel Street
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoNature reserve
Miller Nature Area
1705 Miller Avenue
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
West Park
215 Chapin Street
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Wurster Park
525 West Madison Street
Open now · closes 10 pm
DoPark
Bandemer Park
1300 Lake Shore Drive
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Island Park
1420 Island Drive
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
South Maple Park
2655 West Liberty Street
Open now · closes 10 pm
DoPark
Allmendinger Park
655 Pauline Boulevard
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoNature reserve
Black Pond Woods Nature Area
1905 Traver Road
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Bromley Park
2785 Briarcliff Street
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoNature reserve
Cedar Bend Nature Area
1495 Cedar Bend Drive
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Hollywood Park
2900 Sequoia Parkway
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoNature reserve
Kuebler Langford Nature Area
101 West Huron River Drive
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Northside Park
809 Taylor Street
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoNature reserve
Redbud Nature Area
2380 Parkwood Avenue
Open now · closes 11 pm
DoPark
Wellington Park
500 Bruce Street
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Beckley Park
500 Argo Drive
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Burns Park
1300 Baldwin Avenue
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Douglas Park
1700 Washtenaw Avenue
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Fritz Park
1450 Pauline Boulevard
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
DoPark
Garden Homes Park
1800 Franklin Street
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Ann Arbor (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).