Ann Arbor is a quaint college town on the outskirts of Detroit. You can get from downtown Detroit to downtown Ann Arbor in about 45 min. Although they are close geographically, they are worlds apart when it comes to the setting and feel of the city. Ann Arbor is the ultimate college town. The downtown is lined with a cool mixture of restaurants, shops, and bars. It is just what you would expect a small-town college town to look and feel like.
University 0f Michigan is definitely the dominate force in Ann Arbor. Not only do you see their buildings and signs everywhere, but a large part of this city is connected in one way or another to the university.
When I am in Ann Arbor, I usually stay close to Briarwood Mall. There are a lot of hotels close to the mall and just about anything you would want to eat close by as well. If you want to head downtown to eat, one of my favorite places is BD's Mongolian Grill. If you have never had Mongolian BBQ before, you are in for a real treat!
The gym situation is not as good as I would like (at least for visitors). There used to be an amazing Gold's Gym in Ann Arbor; but this gym has apparently closed. The only other options I have found are the Bally Total Fitness (old, run-down, tired equipment) and One-On-One Athletic Club. You can get a basic workout at One-On-One, but I would not expect much. The gym needs a serious renovation and new equipment. You also will not see many students at any of these gyms. Just like any university, the students probably have an on-campus gym. Unfortunately, being a visitor to Ann Arbor, I have to use the non-campus gyms.
If you have the opportunity, drive around Ann Arbor (especially the campus areas and downtown), and you will see how quaint this college town really is.
