Things to Do

Things to do on campus

If you get to Ann Arbor early, stay an extra day, or find yourself with some free time during the conference, there are tons of things to do on the U-M campus, and all of them are free!

  • Check out the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), right across the road from the Michigan Union. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm, and admission is free. More information can be found on the UMMA site.
  • Take a walk outside and explore the art in public spaces all around campus. If you’re up for a long walk or a bus ride to North Campus (where Engineering, Art, Architecture, and Music are located), check out the Wave Field, a large outdoor sculpture located near the aerospace engineering building.
  • Visit the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, located at 1105 North University Avenue, about a 10-minute walk from the Michigan Union. In October, the museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm, and admission is free. More information can be found on the Museum of Natural History site.
  • On your way to the Museum of Natural History, you’ll pass right through the diag, the heart of the U-M campus.
  • Stop by the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, located just a couple buildings north of the Michigan Union at 434 South State Street. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 11am-4pm, and admission is free. More information can be found on the Kelsey Museum site.
  • Want to spend some time outdoors? Head over to the Nichols Arboretum, located near the U-M Medical Campus, about a 15-minute walk (or a quick ride on the Commuter North bus) from the Michigan Union. The arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free. Trail guides and more information can be found on the Nichols Arboretum site. Start from the Washington Heights entrance and follow the trails down to the Huron River for a great walk to a peaceful spot.
  • For something a little out of the ordinary, check out the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, located inside the School of Dentistry at 1011 North University Avenue, about a 10-minute walk from the Michigan Union and right by the Museum of Natural History. The museum is open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, and admission is free. More information can be found on the Sindecuse Museum site. A more complete list of campus attractions can be found on the University of Michigan Campus Attractions site.

Things to do around Ann Arbor

If you want to venture off campus into the larger Ann Arbor area, there are plenty of things to do! Take a walk to Kerrytown to check out the unique shops and famous Zingerman’s Deli (and if you’re an early riser you can check out the Farmers Market Wednesday before the conference!). Main Street is also a great area for shopping, dining, and catching a show at The Ark, a famous music venue. Find a longer list of things to do in Ann Arbor on the Destination Ann Arbor website.

If you’re spending some extra time here, the Detroit Metro area is about 45 minutes away by car or bus, and there are plenty of things to do in Detroit, including visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Motown Museum.