Car Hire Ann Arbor - Mini guide to Ann Arbor

Scenically located on the Huron River in Michigan, the beautiful city of Ann Arbor is a worthwhile alternative to busy Detroit and is a good a base from which to explore the region. A popular tourist destination in its own right, the city boasts some magnificent Victorian buildings in its downtown, while the atmospheric Riverfront district provides an excellent venue for relaxation and entertainment.

Museums and galleries are synonymous with Ann Arbor, and none are more enthralling than the spectacular University of Michigan Art Museum, displaying nearly 14,000 works of art from throughout the world. Paintings include works by Picasso and Monet, and the stunning photographs of Ansel Adams show the incredible beauty of the American landscape.

Other edutainment venues in the city include the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum, an interactive science and technology museum with over 250 exhibits, and the Exhibit Museum of Natural History, which offers many great exhibits centred on Palaeontology, Zoology, Anthropology and Astronomy.

The Matthaei Botanical Gardens are beautifully situated on a lush 142-hectare oasis of diverse plant life and feature outdoor nature trails winding through various habitats and an indoor conservatory with rare glimpses of plants from around the world.

The Riverfront district is the focal point of the city’s shopping, dining and entertainment. There are plenty of quality restaurants offering cuisine from all over the world. The night scene ranges from quiet bars and cafés to lively clubs and discos.

Nearby Detroit is well worth visiting. Undergoing extensive urban renewal, the city is successfully reinventing itself as a centre for arts and entertainment. Motor City, Motown, is the most popular destination with its excellent Motown Museum depicting the music careers of such local greats as the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5. North of Ann Arbor, near Traverse City, is the scenic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which has some of the best beaches in the state.

Ann Arbor can be accessed by car via I-75 (from Ohio and Detroit) or I-94 (from Chicago and Minnesota). Amtrak provides a daily run between Ann Arbor and Detroit for commuters, and daily rail service is available to Detroit from Ohio and Chicago. Greyhound coaches provide links to cities and towns in Michigan and beyond. Ann Arbor is primarily served by nearby Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which offers direct flights from around America, as well as London, Amsterdam and Tokyo.