I recently was invited to travel with the accessible travel agency, Wheel the World, and Destination Ann Arbor to check out the accessibility in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We had an amazing time trying food seeing the beautiful sites this city has to offer. Keep reading to find out where to stay, where to eat, and what to do on your next trip to Ann Arbor!
Where to Stay:
Weber’s Boutique Hotel - This gorgeous hotel is conveniently just a 10 minute drive from downtown Ann Arbor and University of Michigan. It has 3 lounges, 3 restaurants, and a cafe inside. Accessibility features include a walk-in shower, shower chair, clearance under sink, and more. Check out all accessibility features here.
Booking with Wheel the World
If you read my NYC Christmas blog you know how much I love Wheel the World. They’re an awesome accessible travel agency that helps you book hotels and activities to make sure your trip is perfect for you and your accessibility needs. As a reminder, here’s how it works:
Sign Up - Sign up with your email address.
Create an Accessibility Profile - Creating an accessibility profile helps Wheel the World get to know you so you can find the best hotels and activities that meet your needs.
Start Exploring! - Type in your destination and Wheel the World shows you accessible hotels in that area! You can also book accessible transportation and activities like walking tours or museum visits through Wheel the World
Things to Do:
Dexter Cider Mill -
You’ll get all the fall feels when you visit Dexter Cider Mill! Snap some pictures with the pumpkins out front, sip hot apple cider, and grab one of their famous apple cider doughnuts! They also have lots of jarred goods like pumpkin butter and honey. There’s quite a steep hill leading down to the mill but there’s a step-free entrance and it’s flat inside.
Waterloo Recreation Area -
Spend a few hours hiking the trails at Waterloo Recreation Area! Yes, even wheelchair users can explore the trails using one of their Track Chairs. I used to love visiting the mountains and hiking with my family, so it was great getting back out into the trails. Waterloo also has an interactive welcome center, perfect for kids. There's wheelchair accessible restrooms in the welcome center.
Explore State Street & Nickles Arcade -
One of my favorite things we did in Ann Arbor was exploring downtown and shopping. State Street is close to the University of Michigan and has lots of shops, restaurants, and even a movie theater. Built in 1918, Nickles Arcade is also on State Street and houses a variety unique stores and a coffee shop. The ground is flat in this area and all of the shops had step-free entrances.
Museum of Natural History & University of Michigan Art Museum -
There’s so much to see and learn at these two museums, both conveniently located on the University of Michigan’s campus. There’s lots of fun, interactive elements in the Museum of Natural History so you’ll want to plan for a couple of hours in here. You’ll also want to plan a few hours in the art museum, which is home to a handful of pieces by Picasso. Both museums are completely wheelchair accessible, free to enter, and have accessible restrooms.
Explore The University of Michigan’s Campus -
While you’re in the area, you should check out the University of Michigan’s campus, especially the law school. The historic buildings will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe. I especially loved the law school’s library. It looked like something out of a Harry Potter movie! Even though this school was built in the 1860s, there were still accessibility features like ramps.
Kerrytown Farmers Market -
Kerrytown is a neighborhood within Ann Arbor and has the cutest farmers market! You can buy produce, pumpkins, flowers, and even handmade items like jewelry and artwork. There’s also a shopping center next door to check out as well. The ground is flat and paved in this area. Accessible restrooms can be found inside the shopping area.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens -
The botanical garden is absolutely beautiful! There’s huge tropical plants inside greenhouses and lots of trails to explore. There’s an accessible restroom inside the welcome center. Unfortunately there was loose gravel on the trails, making it hard for me to move around independently.
Where to Eat:
Breakfast/Brunch
The Jagged Fork - This spot is perfect if you’re wanting a big breakfast. Highly recommend trying some of their deluxe waffles!
Sava’s - Cutest place for brunch/lunch and has the best drinks! I ate here for lunch but they have delicious brunch options.
Fleetwood Diner - Start your day with some classic diner food at Fleetwood Diner!
Lunch/Dinner
Smokehouse 52 - Located in downtown Chelsea, this restaurant is a must for BBQ lovers! Fun fact: Jiffy Mix’s headquarters are in Chelsea so each meal is served with Jiffy Mix cornbread.
Knight’s - Knight’s is a steakhouse located on State Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Really delicious food, I got the salmon. The only negative thing about this restaurant was that the hallway to the bathroom was too narrow for me to fit through.
Weber’s Restaurant - Weber’s Restaurant is located in the hotel we stayed in. It’s very upscale and classy, serving dishes like prime rib, lobster, and duck.
Blue Llama Jazz Club - This was my first jazz club experience and I loved it! We had drinks and a delicious 3 course meal.
Zingerman’s Delicatessen - People come from all over to try one of Zingerman’s famous sandwiches. It can get really busy so plan to get there early!
Treats
Blank Slate Creamery - While you’re exploring downtown Ann Arbor stop by Blank Slate for some yummy ice cream!
I had such a fun time in Ann Arbor, exploring all this town has to offer! I’m so grateful Wheel the World is teaming up with tourism groups like Destination Ann Arbor to ensure they are accessible options for wheelchair users.
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