Sophie’s Holiday Trip to Ann Arbor

Picture yourself as a California college girl, slammed with work in the middle of finals season in early December… standing in inches of Michigan snow and 25 degree weather- down jacket, mittens, and all.

Yes, you heard me right: my latest travel adventures have taken me to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was as caught off guard as you are- especially because this is the time of year most students lock themselves in their rooms to study for the looming week of finals ahead. Also, I am probably one of the few people I know who would actually elect to leave the 60 degree California weather we have been experiencing so far this December for a jaunt through the snow and freezing temperatures of the Midwest… without even having the excuse of knowing how to ski or snowboard. However, when the opportunity arose to visit family in the suburbs of Detroit, I took advantage of the chance to get out during what the University of California deems “study week”, extended my stay, and paid my second favorite college town a visit.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, is probably one of the most wonderful places to be for the college-aged individual. This city is centered around the University of Michigan, and epitomizes the comforting quaintness of the Midwest. Inviting coffee shops like Espresso Royale, The Lab, and Comet Coffee color every street with the opportunity to warm up, study up, and get that much-needed caffeine fix (college students, you hear what I’m talking about!). Proof of how adorable these shops are can be found in the fact that I consumed more warm caffeinated beverages the past 3 days than I have in the past 3 months… although that could also be proof of how f-ing cold I was. Also important to note is that worn down San Francisco-bought combat boots are not very waterproof.

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is visit with friends over a good meal. Thankfully, Ann Arbor serves this perfect extremely well. I am lucky enough to have a large handful of friends and cousins who attend University of Michigan (okay I’ll say it… Go Blue!), and the Midwest happens to have a shit-ton of amazing eateries. My personal favorites while traveling in that part of the country are delicatessens- yes, I can’t help but indulge my inner Jew! After practically turning into a Greek salad because of how many I consumed in Detroit (shout out to Olga’s Kitchen and Leo’s Coney Island) I arrived in Ann Arbor ready to indulge my tastebuds with some variety.

I began my eating ordeal at Savio’s for dinner, which is a pizza joint near campus that has live music throughout the week as well as the friendliest staff around. Angelo’s is also a local favorite for breakfast and lunch- think deli/diner fusion. Seva is a very earth-friendly, hippie restaurant that has lots of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as a separate gluten-free menu. Cleanse your pallet with gelato from Iorio’s, even if it is cold outside. Believe me, it is so worth it. Sava’s is great for any meal, although breakfast was especially nice because it wasn’t super busy. All of these restaurants I tried were warm and inviting, and had beautiful windows which served my love for people-watching and weather-watching. Hell, I even had a snowball fight. There is truly no better way to brace yourself for finals than a visit in Ann Arbor with good friends, beautiful seasons, and over-indulgent food.

 

-Sophie

 

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