Key Points
Locally owned premier fitness studios foster a strong mind-body connection.
It’s a walkable and community-minded city, with many opportunities to enjoy arts and cultural activities.
Enjoy year-round outdoor recreation on the Huron River and trails for walking, biking and paddling.
Nestled in a bucolic valley in southeast Michigan and just a short 45-minute drive from Detroit, Ann Arbor has a distinct personality of its own that makes it worth a visit. And if you love to try out new fitness studios when you travel, you’ll want to add Ann Arbor to your bucket list. It was just named EatingWell’s Best Wellness Town for Fitness Studios for its wide range of options to help you stay active, no matter your fitness level. From barre classes to rock climbing, local studios emphasize both physical strength and mind-body connection.
Ann Arbor is also highly walkable, with a charming downtown lined with globally inspired restaurants, shops and independent bookstores. Clustered around the University of Michigan campus, the city embraces all four seasons, though it especially shines in summer and fall. Each July, the Ann Arbor Art Fair transforms 30 city blocks into one of the largest art fairs in the country. In autumn, cooler temperatures arrive, college football takes over Saturdays, and the oaks and maples lining the Huron River turn brilliant shades of red and orange.
To help plan your future trip, we’ve mapped out an active itinerary featuring some of the best ways to experience the city.
Credit: Kailey Whitman/EatingWell
Morning
Pilates studio at Erin Cantrell Fitness
Credit: Courtesy of Erin Cantrell Fitness
Get the Blood Flowing with a Group Class at Erin Cantrell Fitness
With group classes like Not Your Mom’s Pilates, Booty Bootcamp and Buns & Guns, Erin Cantrell’s studio brings a sense of fun to your workout. Instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds, including professional dance, bodybuilding and military training. Classes at this downtown spot are available in groups and private formats, with a focus on posture and body positivity.
Grab Breakfast & Stroll the Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Located downtown, this 107-year-old market features more than 120 vendors, pop-up food stalls and community-supported agriculture programs. The open-air market is open year-round on Saturdays, plus Wednesdays from May to December.
Browse locally grown gourmet mushrooms, wildflower honey and every kind of seasonal produce imaginable. Since Ann Arbor has such a vibrant arts community, you’ll also find handmade ceramics, toys and fiber arts. Coffee, pastries and light bites are easy to find, making it just as enjoyable to wander as it is to shop. Pick up a doughnut from Kapnick Orchards and a steaming cup of locally roasted RoosRoast Coffee to start your day off right.
Inside Nickels Arcade
Credit: Destination Ann Arbor
Not a Market Day?
Grab a breakfast sandwich and a coffee at The Hen, then explore Kerrytown’s antique and vintage shops instead. The much-loved Nickels Arcade, home to the long-standing Arcadian Antiques, sits just across State Street from the collegiate brick buildings of the University of Michigan campus. A stroll along Main Street, from Huron to Kingsley, reveals even more boutiques and unique finds.
Midmorning
Paddleboarding along the Huron River
Credit: Destination Ann Arbor
Kayak, Paddle, Bike or Stroll Along the Huron River
The Huron River, a designated National Water Trail by the National Park Service, runs through the heart of Ann Arbor and offers activities in every season. There are several trails to choose from, including the Barton-Argo Loop Trail (2.4 miles), which takes you along the river and offers a chance to see migratory birds. In winter, you’ll find opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Warmer months bring biking, walking and running.
In the water, visitors can paddle or tube lazily down the river or cast a fly rod for trout. Liveries and outfitters along the river offer rentals and lessons for all experience levels, while city-run launches at Argo and Gallup parks offer access to watercraft rentals and van transportation.
Lunch
A meal at Miss Kim’s
Credit: E.E. Berger | Courtesy of Miss Kim
Order Award-Winning Bites at Miss Kim
Chef Ji Hye Kim, a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist, highlights local ingredients and partnerships with Michigan growers in her handcrafted Korean food. The vibe here is casual and cozy, with colorful art adorning white-painted brick walls.
At Miss Kim, you’ll find dishes like tteokbokki rice cakes stuffed with a variety of ingredients, salads, snacks, stews and a daily kimchi, all crafted with attention to flavor and sourcing.
Midafternoon
A class at Zingerman’s
Credit: Photo by Corynn Coscia | Zingerman’s Bakehouse
Take a Baking or Cooking Class at Zingerman’s Bakehouse
An Ann Arbor essential, Zingerman’s Delicatessen first opened in 1982 and has since expanded to encompass several businesses. Their bakehouse offers fun, hands-on classes nearly every day of the week. The bakery’s ethos emphasizes all things local, sourcing as much sustainably grown produce as they can. They offer group and private classes in pasta and mozzarella making, sourdough and cookie baking, as well as a multicultural range of cuisines. It’s a fun way to learn a new skill to bring home and practice further. Plus, you get to enjoy what you make!
Salt float room at Bloom Wellness Spa
Credit: Courtesy of Bloom Wellness Spa
Float Your Cares Away at Bloom Wellness Spa
Bloom Wellness Spa offers float therapy, also known as restricted environmental stimulation technique (REST). The experience involves floating in a dark, quiet environment with Epsom salt–infused water, followed by a sauna session. (We recommend checking with your doctor before booking to ensure REST is appropriate for you.) Beyond float therapy, Bloom’s service menu includes spa staples like massages and facials, with packages for those who want to go all-in on a spa day.
Dinner
The dining room at Sava’s
Credit: Courtesy of Sava’s
Enjoy Local Ingredients in Globally Inspired dishes at Sava’s
Sava Farah opened her first restaurant in Ann Arbor in 2007 after immigrating with her parents from Albania as a child. Today, her restaurants, including Dixboro Project and Aventura, are known for thoughtful menus and a focus on quality ingredients.
At Sava’s, you’ll find farm-fresh ingredients, with standout dishes like Hippie Bowl salads, butternut squash tempura, fish tacos, burek and house-fermented vegetables. It’s an eclectic but well-considered menu that spotlights culinary creativity.
Night
May Erlewine performing at The Ark
Credit: Andrew Rogers
Catch a Show or a Storytelling Night at The Ark
This intimate, 400-seat downtown venue has hosted internationally renowned folk, roots and multicultural musical performances since 1965. What started as a church-funded gathering place for students has since become a legendary music club. The Ark’s core mission is to provide “a safe and welcoming atmosphere for all people to listen to, learn about, perform and share music.” Their lineup includes live music, open mic nights and storytelling events.
Rock climbing at Planet Rock
Credit: Courtesy of Planet Rock
Energize and Let Loose at Planet Rock
If you’re looking for a more active evening, Planet Rock has been a go-to spot for climbing enthusiasts since the 1990s and is open until 10 p.m. five days a week. With 50-foot walls and a range of chimneys, caves and bouldering areas, it offers challenges for all skill levels.
Beginners, including kids as young as 4, can try top-rope climbing with rental gear included, while experienced climbers will appreciate the variety of route options. Add in coffee, tea and hot chocolate and a spot by the fireplace for a wind-down.
Where to Stay
Inside the Graduate hotel
Credit: Courtesy of The Graduate Hotel by Hilton Ann Arbor
Graduate
This centrally located hotel leans into its collegiate setting with warm wood accents and local design touches that nod to its Ann Arbor heritage. The Hilton property is studded with pillars featuring blackboards covered with scientific equations, and beds are topped with a maize-and-blue plaid flannel blanket in honor of its University of Michigan neighbor. Amenities include a small but well-provisioned fitness center and lobby coffee bar.
Bell Tower Hotel facade
Credit: Courtesy of the Bell Tower Hotel
Bell Tower Hotel
With views of the University of Michigan campus and its iconic bell tower, this family-owned hotel is as close as possible to both campus and downtown Ann Arbor. The onsite fitness studio is open 24 hours, and stays include a complimentary breakfast buffet. Other nice touches include freshly baked cookies, infused water and apples in the hotel’s comfortable lobby.
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