So now that gamedays are over, all of us are left with a sense of unease and confusion. I mean, we’ve spent practically all of first semester dedicating our lives to what we consider the holiest day of the week—Saturday mornings. We have somehow managed to do what is unknown to most college students—spend all day Saturday tailgating and then spend all day crammed in the library on Sunday. We have mastered our weekends, and whether or not we want to admit it, we don’t really know what to do with the extra day of Saturday we now have in our week. But, before you begin to go into panic mode, have no fear, there’s always next year and even some fun activities for the time being!
Have you ever found yourself just mindlessly exploring Ann Arbor? Honestly, probably not, because why would you? There is genuinely so much stuff to do here that I had no idea about until I did my research, drove around a bit, and found some cool, but weird, stuff to fill my Saturdays!
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Yes, this place may scream child zone, but no, that is no reason to deter you from going. If you are ever overwhelmed by exams, missing your childhood, or just bored out of your mind, force all your friends to go here and you will not regret it. This museum literally transports you as far away as possible from your Chem exam and takes you right back to your days as a care-free preschooler.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Going to the Botanical Gardens gives you a solid Saturday activity—you expand your horizons, see something new, and explore a place on our campus you’ve most likely never seen before! Everything smells amazing and is so beautiful. It is a must see.
Yost Ice Area
There is nothing more fun to do in the winter than to go ice skating! So many (probably too many) of my favorite memories involve ice skating and hot chocolate. Unless there is a game going on, you and your friends should go to the public session, grab some skates, and make a day out of it! It will be so fun and such a great distraction from real life commitments. Make sure to wear gloves though–you can thank me later for that!
Planet Rock
For the more adventurous, active people out there, this is your place to go! Planet Rock is one of the largest indoor climbing gyms in the U.S. It doesn’t matter if this is your first time climbing, or your twentieth, the facilities cater to all levels of rock climbers. This is definitely not your normal Saturday activity, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying it!
University of Michigan Museum of Art
If you don’t have a large amount of time free, or you can’t find a mode of transportation, the University of Michigan Museum of Art is a great way to spend a few hours on campus. It has really great exhibits that are constantly changing, so you will never be bored during your visit. You will feel so ~cultured~ by the end of the day that you may even question if you should become an Art History major!
Images courtesy of: AAHOM.gov, Yipsi Real, Reddit