University of Michigan - Activities & Trips

Around the Campus, Around the Town  The Rand McNally Guide selected the University of Michigan as having the best cultural environment of any American campus. The campus is in the heart of Ann Arbor, a city of 130,000 people, where everything is within easy walking distance.

Ann Arbor has a small town, Midwestern feel, with all of the cultural and social opportunities of a big city. From the theaters, concerts, and dance of the Summer Festival and nationally acclaimed Ann Arbor Art Fair, to the famous homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt at Stucchi’s, Ann Arbor is one great college town

Weekend Road Trips (Included in Tuition)

2 and 3 week students choose between the Rock Hall of Fame or Cedar Point Amusement Park. 5 week students may visit both.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

From the Beatles and Motown, to Hip-Hop, Rap, Electronica and Alternative, the awesome 150,000 square foot Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum takes you on a fast paced, interactive journey of the history of Rock and Roll. Cleveland rocks with the world’s only museum dedicated to the living revolution/evolution of this truly American art form. Special bonus visit to Great Lakes Science Center or Jacobs Field, home of the Cleveland Indians are also included.

Cedar Point Amusement Park/Resort

Cedar Point is situated on a 364 acre peninsula surrounded by the Great Lakes waters of Lake Erie. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having “more roller coasters than any other place in the world, including ‘Millennium Force’ the world’s tallest and fastest,” Cedar Point’s 17 roller coasters, water flumes, white sand beaches, dolphin shows, IMAX Theater, and dozens of other rides and attractions offer unlimited rides and fun

Ann Arbor Art Fairs (3 and 5-weeks)

5 days of outdoor displays by thousands of accomplished artists in a street fair atmosphere. There’s music, dance and food of all nations from early morning to late at night. This nationally known extravaganza attracts over 1 million visitors to Ann Arbor annually.

Chicago Windy City Weekend Included in Tuition (5-weeks, 3 + 3 combo)

We depart by motor coach during the change-over weekend for a 2 day/1 night trip to the exhilarating windy city on the shores of Lake Michigan. Daytime highlights include visits to either Northwestern University or the University of Chicago, strolling the magnificent mile on Michigan Avenue, and a visit to the incredible Shedd Aquarium & Oceanarium or the Field Museum. Evening highlights include: the Navy Pier complex on Lake Michigan, Skyline Stage Theater at Navy Pier, and the incredible sight of Chicago at night from a cruise on Lake Michigan.

Excursion includes all activities and admissions per itinerary, two meals per day, transportation and first-class hotel accommodations.

More Off Campus Excursions

• A Day at Silver Lake- Beautiful fresh water lake with paddle boating, canoeing, kayaking, beach volleyball, swimming and sun.
• Sunday Night at the Movies- First run entertainment with 25 screens in Ann Arbor.
• Ice Skating at Yost Arena Home of the Michigan Wolverines hockey team
• Broadway Plays at the Civic Theater, Power Center, Performance Network and Purple Rose Theater.
• Arena Whirly-Ball- An incredible and unlikely combination of basketball and lacrosse, played from motorized electric carts.
• DTE Outdoor Amphitheater Concerts (Transportation provided, tickets additional) Recent shows: Kid Cudi, John Mayer, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R., Alicia Keyes, Allman Bros., Justin Timberlake, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• Palace at Auburn Hills-Home of the Detroit Pistons, we have recently seen No Doubt, Incubus, Prince and Janet Jackson in concert. The NBA Draft, and the US Dream Team here.
• Detroit Tigers Baseball Games at the new Comerica Park Stadium.
• Ford Field Detroit Lions Tours or Pre-season NFL football.
• Spicer Orchards
• Berry Picking
• Motown Records Museum
• Toledo Mudhens Minor League Baseball
• Putt Putt Miniature golf and games
• Sportsway Games batting cages, go-carts and more.
• Rock-n-Bowl at Colonial Lanes
• Kensington Premium Outlet Mall over 150 designer shops and boutiques.
• Briarwood Mall over 120 of the best names in retailing
• Detroit Institute of Art

On Campus Activities

• Top of the Park Outdoor Cinema and Concerts Free outdoor movies on the enormous outdoor screen during the week, and concerts and dancing on weekends in early July.
• Ann Arbor Summer Festival Theater, dance and music by nationally acclaimed artists at the beautiful Power Center for the Performing Arts.
• The Living Room Video/DVD Theater Contemporary and classic movie features nightly in our residence hall living room.
• Karaoke Night Fever You’re on, you pick the song and sing along.
• Summer Discovery Music Room Our private “studio” in our residence hall complete with drum set, electronic keyboard, mics and amps. Bring your own voice, guitar, bass, sax, etc. and jam.
• U of M Stadium Tours Play football, soccer, frisbee and tour this renovated 109,901 seat stadium, the largest in the USA.
• Tie-dye Tuesday We provide the dyes, you provide the garments.
• Beading, Hemping, and Jewelry Making We’ll show you how.
• U-M Art Museum 1,500 works of art from French Impressionists to Renaissance Masters.
• Las Vegas Night and Big Bucks
• Bingo Poetry Slams Local poets and Summer Discovery students read their own and others’ works.
• Michigan Union Student Union building with food court, bookstore and billiards and gaming hall.
• Ann Arbor Main Street Comedy Showcase Nationally known comics perform exclusively for Summer Discovery. (We rent the place!)