University towns often exude a certain bohemian charm, whether we’re talking coffee shops, bookstores, pubs or music clubs.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, has all that…but so much more.
Located slightly northwest of All Around Moving & Storage’s home base in Romulus, Michigan, Ann Arbor generates a strong blip on our radar screen of great places worthy of a cross-country move. Michigan’s sixth-largest city offers fun for residents of all ages, not just those with .edu in their email address. With Detroit due east, All Around Moving & Storage straddles both cities, so we’re ideally situated to offer up the skinny on the exciting sights. After all, we’re not just moving men, we’re Michiganders.
We’ve collected a mere five of the Ann Arbor area’s leisure activities, but these offer a glimpse into the range the city and surroundings have to offer.
Milan Dragway
Vroom! We’re talkin’ burnt rubber, screeching tires and belching exhausts. CAN YOU HEAR ME? Located roughly a half-hour from our Romulus headquarters and 20 minutes from Ann Arbor, Milan Dragway plays host to funny cars, drag racing and more. Talk about family-friendly: Kids 12 and younger are free at all events and pets are permitted. Wow! Our pro movers could use this kinda muscle during our interstate moves.
The Arcadian
It’s OK. You can pull out the earplugs and enjoy a quieter way to spend an afternoon. Are you seeking to go a bit retro once you settle into your new home after your cross country move? You’ll find fine lamps, stained-glass and vintage lighting at The Arcadian. Declaring itself “Ann Arbor’s finest antique jewelry, wedding bands & more,” the Arcadian has two locations to explore. Even though you might be moving furniture across the country, you very well could find something timeless from the Arcadian’s inventory of timeless hand-crafted furniture pieces. These are the types of items people will want to be protected by using specialty moving services.
Michigan Firehouse Museum & Education Center
Step back in time and learn how firefighters used to battle a blaze. The MFM&EC is housed in an original 1898 firehouse that includes a brass pole and bunk area. Located in Ypsilanti (roughly 15 miles from either Ann Arbor or All Around Moving & Storage’s Romulus headquarters) this piece of living history will excite kids and entertain parents. A multilevel exhibit area constructed in 2002 now means the museum boasts more than 26,000 sq. ft. of firefighting memorabilia. The museum focuses on Michigan’s firefighter history via its collection of bells, breathing apparatus, clothing, emblems, extinguishers, fire trucks, hats, helmets, hose carts, ladders, nozzles and toy fire trucks. It’s not just a history lesson, either. Attendees also learn about fire safety and prevention. True or false? Pro movers are prohibited from transporting fire extinguishers during a cross-country move. Answer: True.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Since Ann Arbor is a college town, here’s our nod to academia…but substituting the great outdoors for classroom confines. Located within the University of Michigan, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum is actually four sites operating as one within the university: the Gardens, Arboretum, Horner-McLaughlin Woods and Mud Lake Bog. Wind around the labyrinth, get playful in the Gaffield Children’s Garden, take a trek on the trails or partake of the perennial petals (floral hues include blues, purples and oranges). If you’re a fan of The Bard, you’ll want to attend the annual Shakespeare in the Arb series, which began in 2002 with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and is showing “Romeo and Juliet” during 2018. Sssss…beware the serpent in the garden. Michigan’s only venomous snake, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, occupies Matthaei Botanical Gardens, which serves as the serpent’s natural habitat. While signs alert visitors to their presence, seeing a rattler reportedly represents a rarity.
Yankee Air Museum
Propellers. Jets. Old school. State-of-the-art tech. The Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan, encapsulates the history of flight. Kid-friendly interactive exhibits allow children to enjoy a truly hands-on experience. The museum’s exploration station features art stations where kids can design their own airplane and nose art. More than 20 aircraft are displayed inside and outside the museum, including a Huey helicopter, an I-26 glider and a Soviet-era Antonov An-2 biplane. What’s more, the Yankee Air Museum offers rides on several WWII-era planes, such as a C-47 Skytrain, B-25 Bomber and B-17 Flying Fortress. Belleville is a hop, skip and a jump from All Around Moving & Storage’s Romulus offices (roughly 10 minutes) and approximately 25 minutes from Ann Arbor.
