Tip #5: Get out of Ann Arbor (while you still can)!

Hey there, Ann Arborians. I don’t know about you, but at just a couple days shy of August, it seems summer has slipped through my fingers once again.  The hustle and bustle of spring term, Top of the Park, and Art Fair have come and gone, and with it, it seems, much of the excitement this charming little city once promised.  

The weather has been unseasonably cool as of late, the crowds have thinned, and an eerie calm has set over our little hippie town – heck, even the Diag regulars seem to have  found some other stomping grounds for the time being! Within just a few short weeks, your fellow students will be rolling back into town by the thousands, and it’ll be time once again to say “sianara” to the joys of Fuller pool, midday siestas and shameless day-drinking– at least until Welcome Week.

Still have a couple of things to scratch off your summer “to do” list? Don’t panic – there are still five and a half more glorious weeks to see a show by your favorite band, catch a couple of Tigers’ games, or go up north to your cottage on the lake. In fact, there are a lot of cool things to do within a couple hours’ driving distance, and what could scream “summer” more than an epic road-trip with your besties? Here, a few suggestions on how to take your own summer out with a BANG!

1) Lollapalooza

Missed the boat for Bonnaroo and Rothbury? Fret not, my friends.  Taking place August 7^th – 9^th in Grant Park, Chicago, Lollapalloza is a three day, eight-stage music festival extravaganza featuring over 130 bands. With an eclectic lineup from Vampire Weekend to Snoop Dog, there’s something for everyone’s ears, all within the heart of one of the most exciting cities in the country. One-day tickets are on sale for $80, while three-day passes are going for $205. Whether you drive, take the Amtrak train or opt for the inexpensive Megabus, it’s well worth the four to five hour trip for the concert of a lifetime.

2)  Cedar Point

Home to such rides as “The Blue Streak,” the “Corkscrew,” and “Magnum XL-200,” Cedar Point is truly the Rollercoaster Capital of the world. Drop, flip, and fly your way through some of the fastest and most thrilling rides, or spend the afternoon getting wet and wild  at Soak City.  With money-saving deals such as the Admission Four Pack or the group discount for parties of 15, you can’t afford not to explore what is perhaps the only non-traitorous attraction for Michigan students in the state of Ohio.

3) South Haven, MI

Nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan in Van Buren County, South Haven is the perfect weekend getaway to soak up some of the season’s last scorching rays. Relax alongside the city’s trademark beaches and harbors, go for a run along the beautiful Kal-Haven trail, or explore such cultural attractions as the Michigan Maritime Museum and Foundry Hall.

 

4) Check out the Traverse City Film Festival.  You’ll have to do this sooner rather than later because it ends August 2nd.  Besides the basic screenings, parties, awards, and panels that generally follow film fests, the TCFF is also featuring a 5K costume race in honor of its 5 year anniversary.  You know you want to.

Hope this inspires many happy weekend getaways. Happy road trippin’, everybody.

Cheers,

-LH