Hello from a proud Michigan alumni!
Click here for my Ann Arbor itinerary, University Days Spotify 80s and 90s playlist, and Destination Ann Arbor + The Mint Chip Mama Podcast!
Returning to Ann Arbor as a proud University of Michigan alumni was an incredible experience. Add in showing the campus and surrounding areas to my family for the first time, and all of the feelings were there.
While you may think that Ann Arbor is just a college town, it’s so much more. It’s an excellent place to take your family for a week filled with food, nature, every imaginable activity, and fun. With that said, it’s the perfect destination for a family vacation. Plus, there’s a lot of ice cream.
A Week Of New Experiences And Fan Favorites
We toured Michigan’s incredible football stadium, “The Big House“, visited museums, kayaked at Argo Park, took a mozzarella-making class at Zingerman’s, played pickleball at Wolverine Pickleball, entertained ourselves with retro arcade games at Pinball Pete’s, and hit up all of my old haunts.
Then we strolled through graffiti alley, played pool, and went in the pool at Weber’s Hotel, hiked through Nichols Arboretum (something I’ve wanted to do for two decades!), and walked through Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
We rang the Kerrytown chimes, took turns spinning the cube, ate some of the most delicious food (including Chipatis) in the world, caught up with old friends, went to Blank Slate ice cream not once but twice, and drank more coffee than Lorelei and Rory on Gilmore Girls. I introduced my kids to my beloved Zingerman’s Delicatessen, and lastly, we finished the weekend by watching the Michigan Wolverines dominate under the lights at a Big Ten college football game.
Pinball Pete’s
As an analog game lover, Pinball Pete’s – the on-campus old school arcade with pinball machines, skeeball, and more – is the best. It’s the perfect family destination. From breaking your paper money into quarters to their amazing 80s video game section to all their classic pinball machines, this place is the real deal. Plus, since it’s open late, it was a great after-dinner family activity. I was surprised that 20 bucks provided enough quarters for us to have the exact amount of fun we wanted.
Nickels Arcade
Nickels Arcade has been one of my favorite spots on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus for three decades. Besides its rich history, it’s filled with beautiful architecture and quaint shops. I used to love coming here as a student and window shopping. The same happy feelings returned when I brought my family. Many of the stores are still there, including Bivouac, where I shopped for date parties in the 90s, and Elmo’s for Michigan swag. However, sadly, I could no longer cut through to get to Borders Books.
Michigan Theater
The Michigan Theater is a historic venue on campus in Ann Arbor. I remember coming here as a student and seeing Tori Amos and the Counting Crows. They’re still showing movies, hosting concerts, and offering live performances for students and community members. With that said, I was dying that my favorite 90s movie Clueless, was playing and they were calling it a “classic”. Ugh! That made me feel old.
The Law Library, Law Quad, Grad Library
Continuing our walk, we meandered around the gorgeous law quad and peeked into the Hogwarts-eque law library. I used to spend hours there looking for boys, I mean studying. I spent hours studying…
Additionally, I spent hours studying in the grad library and sitting in the diag people watching. I remember how exciting it was to graduate and finally be allowed to cross over the superstitious block “M” as a new Michigan alumni. Sadly, due to construction, it was covered this time around, so I couldn’t tell my kids not to step on it.
The Historic Michigan Union
Next, we looped over to the famous Michigan Union, where President Kennedy announced the creation of the Peace Corps on October 14th, 1960 (there’s a plaque on the wall and a medallion on the steps where he stood). The pretty murals and shops inside are great too.
Admissions Office And Tours
We continued over to the Student Activities Building, home of campus tours, the admissions office, and some photo ops. Remember the tale about the kid who sent the school a shoe “to get his foot in the door”? This picture has been brought to you by that, cringe mom alert. There was a lot less pressure visiting and touring the school as a Michigan alumni (me) vs. a hopeful future student (my daughter).
My Sorority House, AEPhi
Speaking of date parties… it was so much fun to show my kids my sorority house! Aephi is still on the corner of Church and Hill, but sadly, Clyde’s banana pudding is no longer there. I took a moment to (loudly) sing my kids our old rush songs (big claps and all), garnering the exact evil looks I expected. We’ve got to get them back somehow! We are the fun girls on campus….
Kerrytown
I loved showing my family my beloved Kerrytown. Kerrytown is home to the OG Zingerman’s deli, the Kerrytown Market & Shops, the largest weekly farmer’s market in the area, plus fun stores, tons of coffee shops, and restaurants galore. I used to love roaming around this historic area as a student. Coming back to visit was so special. Plus, this time I got to ring the famous Kerrytown chimes! Fun fact – as of 2025, chimes are open to all Wednesdays and Fridays 12pm – 12:30pm, and Saturdays 10:30am – 11am. Just show up, get in line, pick a song sheet to follow, and chime away!
The Ultimate Michigan Alumni Experience, A U of M Football Game
Attending a Michigan football game for the first time is just incredible. But, to be honest, so is attending one as a Michigan alumni for the fiftieth time! Besides it being the largest football stadium in America, it’s a sea of people in maize and blue with school spirit through the roof. There is nothing like the feeling of a Michigan football game. Period.
Pregame Fun
The full fan experience starts hours before kickoff, the moment one wakes up on a football Saturday. From seeing everyone out and about in their game gear to heading over to Zingerman’s for a pre-game corned beef sandwich, it’s just the best. Add in walking to the stadium with a sea of more than a hundred thousand fans, and it’s just exhilarating.
I always love starting my game days watching the pre-game step show at Revelli Hall and then following the cheerleaders and marching band – along with a giant mob of fans – into the stadium. It’s so much fun seeing all the tailgaters everywhere and grabbing samples of whatever the companies and restaurants are giving out. Like a giant avalanche, by the time you get into the stadium, you’re part of an insanely spirited force with so much momentum you can barely contain yourself.
Game Time!
If it’s your first game, be sure to stop by guest services for a first game certificate and pin. It’s a great (and free!) souvenir for kids. There are also lots of food choices from typical stadium food to healthier choices like açaí bowls.
While the game itself is amazing to watch, the fun stadium-wide activities expand it into a full immersive experience. Games often start with a paraglider and fighter jet show, plus they have the famous Mr. Brightside sing-along and an interactive lights activity. It’s honestly just a non-stop good time. The marching band is also beyond incredible and offers a professional-level halftime show. Here, they not only entertain the crowd but do it while changing formation, spelling out words, and creating images. It was so impressive!
Of course, watching a Wolverine touchdown (and WIN) with your fellow 110,648 fans is always the icing on the cake. It’s safe to say that if it’s your first – or millionth – game at the University of Michigan, it’s an unmatched experience and the excitement is simply contagious.
Ann Arbor Is A GREAT Family Vacation Destination!
The University of Michigan’s central campus, surrounding areas, and, of course football stadium and game are the perfect family destinations. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Michigan alumni or a first-time visitor. There’s just a special feeling in the air.
This was one of our best family vacations ever, even with the 10-hour road trip each way. Applause to my daughter, a hopeful UM student who made a great “captain of car activities”. We’re still bothering her by calling out different states’ license plates as we see them… even though we’ve been home for months.
Click here for my full Ann Arbor itinerary! But wait, there’s more – listen to my Spotify playlist while planning your trip, on your trip, or simply fantasizing about your old college days in the 90s. It’s chock full of songs that remind me of my university days from 1996-2000. Aka it’s the best late 90s playlist you’ll find that will bring you right back to Rick’s! Thong Song and all… I accidentally went a bit overboard while creating it, and it’s over 24 hours long, whoops! Thank you to my partner, Destination Ann Arbor, for inviting this proud, obsessed Michigan alumni back to campus and gifting us this incredible family vacation.
Be sure to check out my other Ann Arbor posts: Ann Arbor, Michigan Is One Of The Coolest Foodie Cities! and Discover Ann Arbor Now: The Best Art And Activity Guide.
For forever and always: GO BLUE!
Michigan Alumni Family Vacation Related Hashtags
#DestinationAnnArbor #AnnArbor #FamilyVacation #RoadTrip #Nostalgia #90s #PureMichigan #GoBlue #Michigan #Ad#AnnArborEats #AnnArborMI #AnnArborMichigan #UniversityOfMichigan #UniversityOfMichiganAnnArbor #UofM #UofMFootball #VisitAnnArbor #WingedHelmet #Wolverines #BestFoodAnnArbor #BigTen #BigTenFootball #CoffeeAnnArbor #CollegeFootballSaturday #HailToTheVictors #LetsGoBlue #MaizeAndBlue #MGoBlue #MichiganFootball
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