Ann Arbor has always been one of the top 10 college football destinations in the country. One of the main attractions of a college football game at Michigan Stadium is its 107,601 capacity. (It was recently reduced from 109,901). That means you’ll see the game with more people than is possible at any other college football game in the country.
Ann Arbor also has a lot to offer and really shines in its beauty in the fall. Everything is within walking distance as the city is built around the campus. With plenty of places to eat and drink, you’re sure to be entertained for the weekend.
when to go
Due to its location, Ann Arbor is best visited during the first two months of football season. After that it gets pretty cold. If you’re going there outside of that time, this is probably the best game on Michigan’s schedule. The annual game against Ohio State takes place in Ann Arbor on odd-numbered years and faces the two biggest rivals in the Big Ten. You might just freeze some body parts while watching the game.
Otherwise, each year Michigan plays the other members of its East Division, including Michigan State and Rutgers in odd-numbered years and Indiana, Maryland, and Penn State in even-numbered years. Teams from the West Division show up every once in a while, so be on the lookout for Nebraska, Wisconsin, or your favorite team coming to town. The non-conference-at-home schedule isn’t exactly appetizing, but perhaps one of these competitions could keep you entertained as well.
Get tickets to Michigan football games
As you’d expect, tickets aren’t the easiest of things. In general, you won’t find tickets on the primary market about Michigan as most tickets are sold to alumni or students. You’ll probably end up looking at secondary ticketing options like StubHub or a ticket aggregator (think Kayak for sports tickets) like SeatGeek and TiqIQ.
Craigslist is another option for making deals, but it doesn’t offer the same level of security knowing you’re buying real tickets. You can also try operating the tailgates or pacing the main tailgate before the game to see if anyone is selling, but it’s probably worth securing the tickets early if you’re traveling all the way.
get there
Since Ann Arbor is less than an hour from Detroit, getting there is easy. Detroit is a hub for Delta, so they offer flights from many locations across the country. Spirit also offers cheap fares from many cities. Every other major airline will fly there from their own hubs. Use a travel aggregator to compare prices for flights to Detroit.
Ann Arbor is also a three hour drive from Cleveland and Columbus or a four hour drive from Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. These cities aren’t exactly close enough to fly in and then drive into, but that decision is up to you if it’s more financially viable. You can also catch an Amtrak train from Detroit, an hour’s drive, or Chicago, just under five hours’ drive. Finally, there are bus services via Greyhound and Megabus from various Midwest destinations.
Where to sleep
Finding a hotel in Ann Arbor might be a bit of a challenge. The main hotels on campus are the Bell Tower Hotel and the Graduate Ann Arbor, but they cost an arm and a leg on football weekends. They also book very far in advance, a year before a game. If you can’t afford the prices and still want to stay in a hotel, you can stay in one of the many hotels near I-94. It’s about two to three miles from downtown, so be sure to factor that trip into your weekend activities.
There are some taxi companies you can call or drive back and forth. However, you at least have options as you can choose between a Holiday Inn, a Residence Inn, a Sheraton and some lesser known hotels. Wherever you live, you can compare prices and read reviews on TripAdvisor.
Another option would be to rent an apartment or house in the city for the weekend. Try north of Michigan Stadium, south of Fuller Street, east of Main Street, and west of Baldwin Avenue. You should constantly check sites like AirBNB, Gameday Housing, HomeAway, or VRBO to find the best deals.
Tailgating
There are several areas of game tailgating:
tailgating areas
The golf course has become the premier destination for alumni and casual fans when it comes to Michigan football games. You will be able to find space if you get there early enough. (Parking opens around 6:00 am.) They are even allowed to park your car on the golf course to help you with the tail end. People go all out with professional grill setups, TVs and games for their tailgate. The bathroom situation can get quite crowded as the porta potty line runs quite a bit backwards as the day progresses.
The second option for older folks to tailgate is the Pioneer High School parking lot, located across from the golf course. People set up their RVs a few days before each game and it becomes a tailgating scene on game days.
Student Tailgating Spots
The students’ tailgate near the houses within the student ghetto bounded by Forest Street on the east, State Street on the west, Packard Street on the south, and Hill Street on the north. Students crowd the lawns in front of every house with keg parties galore.
The parties are hosted by the upper-class members of each fraternity who live outside the chapter houses. It’s easy to join in the fun even if you’re not part of the community. Just remember to use caution when walking the streets while carrying a beer on public property. You will receive a ticket.
Essen in Ann Arbor
Delis
Zingermans Deli is the most well-known spot in Ann Arbor and the lines to show up are just as long. People stuff their faces with Jewish delicacies like the famous Reuben, the Cuban Conundrum or Oswald’s Mile High. Of course, the best way to enjoy it yourself is to enjoy it off peak hours, including mid-morning, early afternoon and just before closing time. It’s best to end your meal with some of their cakes and biscuits.
Corn and Blue Delicatessen offer similar options without the fuss. You might not need another meal after you’ve downed the triple play Reuben, which includes corned beef, pastrami, sauerkraut, and two kinds of Swiss cheese. It is also a favorite of some soccer players.
Pizza
Those looking for the best burgers in town can head to Blimpy Burger, where your meal is fully customizable and the onion rings side dish is a must-buy. Frita Batidos also offers indulgent burgers to go with their Cuban menu. Prickly Pear has become a local favorite with its upscale Southwestern food if you fancy it.
Pizza
You have a few options when looking for pizza. Those in the mood for fancier pies can visit one of Bigalora Cucina, Jolly Pumpkin Caf and Brewery, or Mani Osteria and Bar. (Side note: Arbor Brewing Company and Ravens Club are two other breweries, along with Jolly Pumpkin, that offer great food to go with their drink.) All are good options, but you’ll want to know that Mario Batali picked Mani Osteria as his favorite.
Students love Pizza House, but not necessarily for their pizza. Female students enjoy their chapatis, which are pitas filled with lettuce. The breadsticks with the chapatti sauce are also well received by the students. It also does a lot of business after the bars close because it’s one of the few places that delivers this late.
breakfast
They have a few good breakfast options other than Zingerman’s. Café Zola has the best brunch in town and the Complete Crepe, basically a breakfast sandwich in a crepe, is the best on the menu. Angelo’s lines up early and often, and when you eat the raisin french toast or the fried french toast, you’ll understand why. If you don’t mind venturing a little further off campus, Northside Grill is an under-the-radar spot that offers a nice alternative.
late night
There are many other late night options. Pancheros offers the best local late night burritos. BTB, which had to change its name from Big Ten Burrito, also has burritos but is preferred for its quesadillas. There’s also Mister Spots, which serves cheesesteaks, and Jimmy Johns, which offers their usual sandwiches.
Fleetwood Diner is open 24 hours a day and keeps people coming back for their variety of hash browns. And finally, we end the culinary tour of Ann Arbor on a sweet note. Students love the colliders at Rod’s Diner, where you can mix and match as many toppings as you like with your frozen yogurt.
Bars in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor certainly doesn’t lack for a bar scene. The most enjoyable place to drink is Dominicks, which is actually one of the original spots for Domino’s Pizza. They serve sangria or constant buzz, a strawberry daiquiri, and a pia colada in giant mason jars. Don’t enjoy too many while sitting outside on the patio or you won’t remember the rest of your day. The Brown Jug honors Michigan legends and is considered a must on an Ann Arbor bar tour. It can get quite busy so grab a table if you can.
Conor O’Neill’s offers an older crowd a comfortable time in a quintessentially Irish bar, but is a little further from campus. The breweries mentioned above have you represented on the beer front as well as Ashleys for a wide range of draft beers, Heidelberg for Stiefel and World of Beer for 500 bottled beers and many also on tap.
The younger audience largely ends up in two places: Scorekeepers (aka Skeeps) and Ricks. Scorekeepers has all the local teams on the big screens, but on weekends it becomes a club atmosphere as it fills up with students. It’s the easiest place for fake IDs in town, so it’s quite young. Ricks has a similar scene with drink specials every night and a crowded scene with sorority brothers and sisters on the weekends.
Athletes like Derek Jeter and Michael Phelps are known to perform around town. They enjoy it when the drunk girls sing Kenny Rogers The Gambler every night just before the bar closes. If you want a DJ scene but prefer a slightly older crowd then head to Rush Street where DJs spin music all night.
–
