Beware, Michigan Winter Is Coming!
5 warm weather Ann Arbor activities you must try before it’s too late
—By Nate Petty, Hannah Nutting, Jordan Pinet, and Izzi Nguyen
Your first week of school is complete. Sylly week has come and gone, but you are still in denial. Despite the allure of back-to-school deals and tailgating on game days, you’re just not ready to let go of summer. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’ve compiled a list of all the best outdoor activities that you can do—even between classes—to help hold onto your fleeting memories of summer before the cold weather forces you into hibernation and closes down your favorite warm weather spots!
Grab a bite at Taqueria (TAQ)
With students flocking back to campus at the start of the semester, Ann Arbor restaurants make certain that this returning foodie crowd is not missing out on their old summertime cravings. One of many local restaurants to open up additional outdoor seating on designated closed roads downtown, Taqueria (106 East Liberty Street) has allowed customers to enjoy their favorite foods al fresco. The increased seating capacity provides residents with an easier opportunity to get their hands on tacos ranging from chicken verde to berenjena—a vegetarian eggplant taco. Outside of the tacos, TAQ also has a great selection of chips and dips as well as mixed drinks. TAQ is located directly in downtown Ann Arbor, making sure that while sitting outside you are mixed in with the hustle and bustle at night. Lauren Hertzer, a U of M senior, says “eating outside at TAQ when it’s nice out is a great conversation starter. People watching, different storefronts, and all the shareables give you plenty to talk about, especially if you’re on a first date.” Whether you are on a date or looking for somewhere to go with your friends, the food and atmosphere at TAQ will provide you with a memorable dinner.
Perfect your tan at “the docks”
While everyone’s returning back to school with this season’s newest shoes and trendiest clothes, you find yourself longing for that perfect golden tan that you wish would stay all year round. Luckily, Ann Arbor has the perfect spot to soak up the sun without the mess of sand! The Bandemer Park docks (1352 Lake Shore Drive), more commonly known as “the docks” to visitors, are floating boat docks off the Huron River. These docks are free from dense tree coverage, provide convenient water access, and are far from the buzz and noise of traffic in the city. U of M senior Alexa Cotter describes it as a slice of heaven in our very own backyard. As another bonus, “the docks” are only a short 13-minute drive from central campus and are accessible by two bus routes on TheRide. Unfortunately, this popular spot is hard to keep a secret, so it can get crowded on those fleeting 80° fall days. So, when you’re planning your next trip, try to get there in the morning so that you can claim the best spot and make the most of those optimal tanning hours.
Go for lunch at the Farmers Market
Looking to enjoy Michigan’s freshest produce and the fleeting warm weather? Head down to the Kerrytown Farmers Market (315 Detroit Street), open from 7 am-3 pm twice a week. Wednesday mornings are a great opportunity for avoiding the crowds while Saturday afternoons offer more stands and fresh food to pick from. When planning your trip to the market, remember to account for the 10–minute walk from central campus, arrive early in order to snag a fresh pastry or two, and to bring cash. To make a day out of it, complete your haul with fillers from Sparrow Market (407 N 5th Ave) or Zingerman’s Delicatessen (422 Detroit Street), and have a picnic at the nearby tables. Live music from street performers and people watching are sure to keep you and your friends entertained as you enjoy the last of the season’s fruit and vegetables! If you’d rather have a bit of an adventure, pack up your goodies and head to the Ann Arbor Arboretum for a picnic out in nature.
Play to win at Palmer Field
The winter off-season can be brutal for lovers of outdoor recreational sports—ask any soccer, spikeball, tennis, or ultimate frisbee fan on campus. So, the warm, sunny beginning of the semester is the best time to take advantage of the in-season. Luckily for U of M students, Palmer Field (401 Washtenaw Ave) is the perfect place to satisfy those outdoor recreational cravings. Surrounding the large, open grassy field, there is a track for completing non-competitive cardio exercises, tennis courts to perfect your serves and volleys, and basketball courts to play a quick pick-up game. The field itself is located on central campus, at the base of Mosher-Jordan, Alice Lloyd, and Couzens dorm halls, and is within walking distance of almost any spot on campus. From dawn to dusk, Palmer Field always has an open space to play games or be a cheerleader for your friends and teammates.
Enjoy a scoop at Blank Slate Creamery
In the mood for that perfect summer time dessert? A trip to Blank Slate Creamery (300 W Liberty Street) is the perfect way to celebrate the start of the semester with friends. Even though this ice cream shop is an option all year-round, the popularity of Blank Slate’s ice cream often results in a line of customers wrapping up and around the street corner—making the warmer months a more ideal environment for the wait. Blank Slate offers a variety of all-natural ice cream flavors, ranging from staples like Madagascar Vanilla and Cookies & Cream to more adventurous options like Maple Rosemary and Lavender Lemon Honey. Odds are you can find something you’ll enjoy on their constantly changing menu, including a few different non-dairy and sorbet options. Prices for a single scoop start around five dollars, and for ten dollars you can pick up a pint of your favorite flavor to take home with you. Just a 15–minute walk from central campus, you can get home before your ice cream even begins to melt.
Hopefully this list of activities has given you a few ideas of how to relish in the rest of our warm days. It’s easy to push the thoughts of the oncoming winter to the back of our minds, but it is especially important to take advantage of these days while we still can. So, go grab some ice cream with your friends or get some sun by the docks!
Feature photo, Ann Arbor Snow Day; Photo by Brad West on Unsplash