The city of Ann Arbor is approximately an 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Hillsdale, according to Google Maps, but on a good day, you can easily make it in less. Professors from many departments make this drive to the cosmopolitan university city to enjoy the bit of civilization, shopping, authentic flavors, and cultural experiences that Hillsdale lacks. They share their favorite recommendations and city tips with students
Gavin Weaire, associate professor of classical studies, said he and his wife enjoy monthly trips to Ann Arbor in order to access grocery stores and shopping not available in Hillsdale
“Shopping is very limited in the immediate Hillsdale area, so we end up doing some grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods at least once a month,” Weaire said. “That’s probably the most critical reason why we end up going there.”
Ann Arbor also offers more restaurants than Hillsdale, especially Middle Eastern and Indian fare, which Weaire adores.
Weaire said he would be happy to support local businesses, but those kinds of businesses are not available in Hillsdale. Ann Arbor offers cultural and ethnic highlights and “is typical of the kind of community that large universities generate around themselves…there’s a lot of variety, and some of it’s even affordable.”
As a classics professor, Weaire also enjoys the second-hand bookshops in Ann Arbor, especially Dawn Treader and Motte and Bailey. The University of Michigan library is a critical and precious resource which Weaire stated is “tremendously important for one’s own scholarship.”
Barbara Bushey, associate professor of art, attended the University of Michigan and lived in the Ann Arbor area for 30 years before coming to Hillsdale. She said Ann Arbor never lacks things to do.
“This time of year, I would probably take a trip to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens,” Bushey said. “The green is often just what the doctor ordered!”
As an art teacher and aficionada, Bushey loves the U of M Museum of Art, the Kelsey Museum, and the Exhibit Museum.
She enjoys the restaurants of Main Street, recommending Ahmo’s for Middle Eastern cuisine, Shalimar for Indian, and Red Hawk for sandwiches.
Bryan Springer, also an art instructor, is another former Ann Arborite who lived in the city for over ten years and makes regular visits there for church services and leisure trips.
His favorite attractions of the city include the Michigan Theatre and social film events, along with the great restaurant variety of Main and State Streets. State Street has the “university flavor” attractive to college students — food, bars, and shopping — but it tends to be on the pricey side.
He prefers his favorite “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants, such as Earthen Jar for Indian food and the famed Zingerman’s Roadhouse for coffee before visiting the Saturday morning farmer’s market.
Springer recalled one Saturday leisure trip: he was sitting in Sweetwaters Café, when in walked Dr. Joseph Garnjobst, followed by Professor Renee Clark, his neighbors in Hillsdale. Ann Arbor is quite the popular retreat from Hillsdale life.
Professor of Spanish Amanda Stechschulte said she and her family love Ann Arbor. They visit the city a few times a semester and once a month in the summer. There is something there for the whole family. She says the city is so unique and diverse.
“The Peaceable Kingdom is a fun, quirky store, and my kids love The Cupcake Station on Liberty,” Stechschulte said. “Our favorite restaurant is The Jerusalem Garden… it has wonderful Middle Eastern food. I have to admit that we visit Chipotle and Olga’s quite a bit, too.”
Favorites also include the Cost Plus World and Kerrytown Markets.
Besides food and shopping, Stechschulte says she enjoys walking along the Gallup Park walkway and canoeing on the Huron River.
Ann Arbor is the place to be during any season. Stechschulte stated that “fun seasonal activities include the Domino’s Farms Christmas lights display in December and the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair in July.”
The city itself has sprung up around the University of Michigan, and city’s action packed sporting events attract sports fanatics of all ages. See the Wolverines crush your state team!
Stechschulte said her family has enjoyed the U of M sporting events including football, basketball, and hockey.
“It is fun just to walk around campus, visit bookstores, enjoy some Stucchi’s ice cream, and catch an interesting movie at the State Theater.”
The the city truly has something for everyone to enjoy.
Dr. Carmen Wyatt-Hayes, also a Spanish professor, says she and her husband go to Ann Arbor every couple of months for dinner and a concert, and they would go more often if possible.
“We particularly enjoy Kerrytown Concert House,” Wyatt-Hayes said. “There are many different types of concerts there: classical, jazz, and music from other countries. Our favorite event is the Parisian Soirée, usually held in September or October.”
For food, Wyatt-Hayes recommends Madras or Raja Rani for Indian cuisine, or the original Cottage Inn. She too enjoys the “Middle-Eastern yummies” of Jerusalem Garden, inexpensive and scrumptious.
“And there are so many wonderful coffee houses where one can hang out, read, and people-watch!”
Ann Arbor also has its natural sites, featuring city parks, trails, and the breathtaking arboretums. It’s shopping is “world-class,” boasting large malls and unique, quaint shops with “local flair”(according to City of Ann Arbor Visiting website).
The City of Ann Arbor offers the bit of accessible civilization, cultural flare, and city excitements for professors and students at Hillsdale to take a break for a day or to enjoy for a weekend. Whether you are a bookworm, a food fanatic, a museum junkie, a sports extremist, or a shopaholic, you will find it all in the attractions of Ann Arbor.
