10 Things to do within a 10-20 minute drive of Hillside Manor

1. Ypsi’s Depot Town is a well-known hot-spot. From great dining and drinking spots, to venues with live music, the Saturday Farmer’s Market, the train depot venue, it’s a fun place to spend time. Try out Sidetracks, the newer restaurants in the Thompson Building, The Corner Brewery, Maiz Mexican Cantina, or 734 Brewing (photo below)! It’s easily walkable, great for couples and families. You really can’t go wrong. (8 minutes)

2. Ypsi’s downtown area may not be as famous as Depot Town, which is centered around the Train Depot, but of late, it often has more going on at night. It’s a little grittier, but the whole family can hang outside, listen to live music, and check out any number of places to eat, drink, or play! Standouts: Bobcat Bonnie’s (outdoor seating), Ypsi Cocktail Club (yummy, fancy mixed drinks), Go! Ice Cream (super unique flavors), Encuentro Latino (Guatemalan breakfast and lunch), Shrimp Flavours Indian Restaurant, and Bellflower (favorite Ypsi restaurant). (9 minutes)

3. Do both! If you want to experience both in the same day, starting from Downtown Ypsi, walk down West Michigan until you get to the Huron River. Turn left and you’ll enter Riverside Park. You can walk on the green, or stay closer to the water as you cross over Cross Street and into Frog Island Park. Head out of Frog Island and you’re dumped out into Depot Town!

4. County Farm Park You can spend a morning or afternoon here. It’s a lovely Ann Arbor park filled with wide trail paths for walking or riding, and options for dogs. You’ll be struck by the beauty of this park. The shortest walk is the 0.4 Nature Trail (no dogs or bikes) and the longest is the 18 Mile Fitness Station. Have a BBQ or a picnic, or enjoy the Community Gardens. Lots to do and see. (11 minutes) Here are two helpful maps for you: 

• About County Farm Park
• County Farm Trail Map

5. Matthaei Botanical Gardens Straight north from Hillside Manor, east of Ann Arbor, in a small town called Dixboro, you’ll find this beautiful botanical garden and accompanying trails. There are 10 beautiful and varied gardens at Matthaei, a conservatory that opened in 1964, and houses plants from three major life and climate zones around the world, and 5 distinct trails for you to walk. (11 minutes) https://mbgna.umich.edu/matthaei-botanical-gardens/

6. Nichols Arboretum Also run by U of M, Nichols Arboretum has 3.5 miles of trails that run all throughout “The Arb” as it’s called by locals. There are four separate gardens at The Arb, none more famous than the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden (best to visit in May and June). You can easily get lost on these trails, although they are well marked. Just spend time exploring and weaving in and out of the woods and near the Huron river. (13 minutes) https://mbgna.umich.edu/nichols-arboretum/

7. Go Blue! 💙 This one probably doesn’t need to be said, but if you’re staying at Hillside Manor, you’re only 15 minutes from Michigan Stadium. It’s cool to see any time of year but come on a game weekend, get out early to tailgate, root for the winning team (always U of M 😉), and head to dinner at one of the many great restaurants in Ann Arbor (Black Pearl, Knight’s Steakhouse, Spencer, Pacific Rim, Sava’s, Union Rec, or Frita Batido’s: Best-Ann-Arbor-Restaurants (Detroit Eater)

8. Clueless Escape Rooms Perfect for a rainy or cold day if your family or friend group is up for adventure and thrill-seeking - check out this escape room. They have several awesome rooms like Getaway Island or Candy Caper, and many virtual reality experiences as well! Plan a birthday party here, or just go for fun! It’s awesome: https://a2clue.com/ (17 minutes)

9. Kerrytown One of my favorite areas in Ann Arbor! Quaint, walkable, and unique. Find parking anywhere near there and just meander for a bit. If you’re headed here on Saturday morning, be sure to check out the local Farmer’s Market. This is right next to the Kerrytown Market & Shops with many interesting shops. Head over to my favorite gift shop, Catching Fireflies, and buy gifts for others or for you! Right across the street is the famous Zingerman’s Deli. Enjoy one of the huge, tasty sandwiches, or buy some of the best bread, cheese, meats, and treats to take home for a feast! (18 minutes)

If you’re heading here in the evening, see what’s playing at the Kerrytown Concert House, a charming venue with eclectic music concerts. For a fun daytime activity, check out the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center!

10. Kayak at Gallup Park This is one of my favorite things to do in Ann Arbor! You’ll know you’re getting near the parking area if you see people walking with tubes. So, yes, you can rent either kayaks or tubes to journey down the Huron River. This is such a great way to spend a warm summer afternoon. It takes about 2.5 hours if you’re kayaking and 3.5-4 if you’re tubing. There are several small rapids at the beginning (best part!) and then it’s a lazy trip the rest of the way. You can stop and picnic on a little green area halfway through. You can take a bus from where you get out to head back to where you started!