Nature in Ann Arbor
by Rawan Bonais, Saudi Arabia
From the moment I set foot in Arbor, I fell in love with its captivating landscape! Arriving in this beautiful college town, the first thing that may catch your eyes is the greenery surrounding the area. Ann Arbor, which is also known as the “Tree Town”, has more than 100,000 trees. The trees make Ann Arbor look enchanting in all seasons. You get to see the bright green color in the summer while in the fall when the leaves change their colors, it looks like a scene from a postcard. Even in winter leafless trees still look amazing. In the spring, get ready to be fascinated by cherry blossom trees lighting up the streets of Ann Arbor.
As you walk around campus for the first time, you will be welcomed by U-M’s cute little squirrels. Don’t be scared when one of those furry creatures approaches you, it only wants food. Squirrel feeding is a U-M activity that you should experience. It is really awesome! Make sure to have some peanuts in your pocket to give to squirrels on a campus tour. If you become a squirrel lover, you can join The Squirrel Club, which is a student organization. Members of this club get together every Sunday and Thursday to feed squirrels near the Diag. No wonder those squirrels are fat!
If you love outdoor sports and appreciate nature, Ann Arbor has so much to offer you, especially in the summer. If you like kayaking, canoeing or rafting, you can visit Gallup Park or Argo Canoe Livery by the Huron River. Try to avoid going on weekends, as it may get busy there, and the line can be very long. Those parks can be reached by either taking the bus or walking from campus. For more information about the parks and rental details you can visit the following links:
1. Gallup Park
Biking is another fun outdoor activity in Ann Arbor. You can try the Border-to-border (B2B) bike trail, connecting Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Dexter along Huron River. The B2B trail is about 35 miles long, with a spectacular view of the river. If you don’t have a bicycle and wondering where to rent one, an option for you would be Arbor Bikes, which you can find in different locations on campus.
Ann Arbor is famous for having more than 100 parks. If you are looking for a place, within walking distance of campus to relax or work on your laptop while being surrounded by nature, Nichols Arboretum (or the Arb) should be the perfect spot for you. In my experience, there is an advantage of studying in a natural beauty like Ann Arbor. As a PhD student, my schedule can get really hectic and sometimes all I need is to be close to nature to release stress and restore energy. I can do that while I’m still a few minutes away from my department.
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