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ADVENTURING IN ANN ARBOR: THE PATH LESS TRAVELED (BY STUDENTS)
As Michigan students, it's easy to become trapped in the campus "bubble." One can go weeks on end without ever leaving the boundaries of Packard, State St, and campus, save for a trip to the mall or grocery store. When it comes to your outdoor jog/run/walk, this can mean repetitive routes around campus or trips to the CCRB, NCRB, and IM Building. Yet Ann Arbor offers so much more! One gorgeous October Sunday, I decided to go on an adventure. The only criteria: it had to be a route I had never traveled before. The results were breathtaking!
Here's how to chart your own adventure, as well as the results of my own.
Step 1: Make a playlist to set the mood. I find it's so much easier to exercise when the music is energizing and interesting. On this particular jog, I found myself listening to "Stolen Dance" by Milky Chance on replay. Press play below to set the mood while you experience the rest of my adventure!
Step 2: Walk/jog/run in the opposite direction of campus. (Try to be more creative than the Arboretum. It's a must-see Ann Arbor attraction, but still pretty common for students.) I headed north toward the Huron River and stumbled upon "Argo Cascades" park, complete with trails and gorgeous views along the river. If you head toward highway US-14, the trail turns into dirt and winds through the woods of the *Argo Nature Area. When I finally decided to turn around, I stayed on the path alongside the Huron River toward the health system, before turning back to campus and my apartment. Check out the route below. It was exactly 3 miles.
*After further research, I learned the Argo Nature Area is a 22-acre linear park that includes a canoe livery with rentals from April to October. Now I'm looking forward to some canoeing come April!
Step 3: Don't be afraid to slow down. Yes, it's nice to get exercise, but it's okay to pause and enjoy the scenery too! On this adventure, I climbed a tree along the Huron River where I could see the Ann Arbor city skyline to the south and river to the north. The leaves were turning, the sky was a deep blue, and the air was just crisp enough to keep me cool. I hadn't climbed a tree in years. When did I decide I was too old to climb trees? As I stress over exams and job applications, the chance to explore a new place and get in touch with my childhood allowed me to take a break from the insanity of senior year and BREATHE. Check out the photos below!
Note: SInce this adventure, I've continued to wander the less-traveled paths of Ann Arbor. On a return trip to this specific route, I crossed the Huron River instead of turning right toward the Argo Nature Area. If you continue north on the west side of the river toward US-14, you come across a beautiful little foot bridge. The path continues around the north end of the winding river and travels through the woods on dirt paths until you reach Argo.
Need some more ideas? Here's the top 5 places to run in Ann Arbor, provided by the Ann Arbor News.
