Any place worth a stop between Dearborn & Chicago?

[me_little_me]

We're planning an AGR trip to Dearborn then on to Albuquerque. But we have to leave Dearborn in early morning (before 7AM) to catch the Wolverine connecting with the SWC. I was thinking that we could use our companion voucher (or just pay for both tickets) to somewhere along the way so we could take the later train, stay overnight then catch the not-so-early early train using points.

We would not have a car (but could if it was really worth while) so something to see and somewhere to stay need to be close to the station.

A good museum, an interesting site, a walkable town with shops - anything like these would qualify.

We are talking March as the likely travel time.

 

[Mid Atlantic]

The best place to stop is Ann Arbor. There are several different shopping areas downtown and not just college focused. Also the main part of the University of Michigan campus is downtown as well.

 

[Bob Dylan]

If you stay in Ann Arbor you'd still have to catch the Wolverine @ 725am for CHI!

I suggest Battle Creek ( #351 @ 902am/#365 @ 952am)or Kalamazoo (#351 @ 935am/#365 @ 1025am)as a place to stay

and catch either the Wolverine or Bluewater to CHI!

I'm sure Sarah can give specific advice since this is her stomping grounds!

 

[SarahZ]

My vote is for Ann Arbor. There are lots of bookstores, shops, and restaurants downtown, about a half-mile from the train station. As Jim pointed out, though, you'd still have an early train.

Kalamazoo would be good. You could catch the 10:25 Blue Water and give yourself time to sleep.

The Radisson is very nice and is a short walk from the station. You walk south on Rose St. about three (short) blocks, and it's on the corner of Rose & Michigan. You'll pass the Kalamazoo Valley Museum (and planetarium) on the way.

There are also some lovely B&Bs in the Stuart neighborhood. The Stuart Avenue Inn is a half-mile west of the station, and Henderson Castle is about a mile away in the same direction. They are both *gorgeous* historic homes. Henderson Castle has a hot tub on the roof, and you can see the entire Kalamazoo area from the roof.

I recommend taking a cab, as Kalamazoo Ave does have sidewalks, but those sidewalks are rarely shoveled. The cabs line up at the train station; you wouldn't have to call for one. If you want to set one up in advance, I like Yellow/Checker Cab: 269-349-9300

You could also stop in Michigan City and take the 11:24 Blue Water to Chicago. Michigan City is right on the water (pretty!) and you could stay and play at Blue Chip Casino. I'm not sure what else they have in the way of tourism, though.

 

[tommylicious]

New Buffalo. Have dinner at the Bentwood Tavern.

 

[me_little_me]

Good info. Thanks. Since we are likely planning some time in March, Kalamazoo might be best as the others would do better when the weather is nicer and one can enjoy the water closeness.

 

[PerRock]

There are almost always cabs outside the Amtrak station Ann Arbor. There is also the #17 bus (unless they've changed it recently) that is timed to be at the station when the train is there and will take you downtown to the central bus station. As for hotels, Downtown Ann Arbor sadly doesn't really have much, There are a few hotels closer to the University in the "State Street" area, which to the un-trained eye is part of Downtown.

There isn't much water to see in Ann Arbor, bout the only thing around me is the Huron River, which while nice, really just looks like any other non-urban river. But the Downtown & State Street shopping districts are a great place to wander around in come rain, snow or shine. There are lots of shops selling anything from Nepalese trinkets, Local Michigan gear, out-doors travel stuff, comics, you name it; there's even a store solely devoted to Cherries (or was it Cranberries...) And along with all the shopping, there is plenty of bars, restaurants & clubs of every shape, size, and cuisine. As for sightseeing, we have some excellent museums. The UMMA has a great collection of art, the Exhibit Museum has dinosaurs (and who doesn't like them) and a planetarium, for the kids (including kids-at-heart) there is the Hands On Museum, and there is an Archaeology Museum which I haven't been to in quite a while, not to mention of course lots of Art Galleries scattered around town. Other sightseeing points of interest include: The Law Quad, Gallup Park, The Michigan Theater, and some other stuff I'm forgetting. Oh and finally if you're into Football, there is the U-M football stadium & games.

peter

 

[SarahZ]

Good info. Thanks. Since we are likely planning some time in March, Kalamazoo might be best as the others would do better when the weather is nicer and one can enjoy the water closeness.

These things require a car or taxi, but just in case you feel like checking them out:

Gilmore Car Museum - pretty much what it says. It's halfway between Kalamazoo and Richland, so this would require a rental car.

Air Zoo - about a $10 cab ride from downtown. They have planes/jets from every decade (mostly military planes, including an SR-71B Blackbird).

These are all downtown. If you stay at the Radisson, they're all within walking distance:

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - they show new and old movies, serve drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and food right to your seat, have a strict "no talking, no texting" policy, and don't admit teens unless they're with their parents. We LOVE this place. I'm not sure when you'll be here, but they have a really fun trivia night on Wednesdays.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts - they have a Chihuly glass sculpture in the foyer.

Kalamazoo Civic Theater - local actors

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO)

Miller Auditorium - this is on WMU's campus, a short cab ride from downtown. Several buses service campus as well. Miller hosts professional productions, like "Stomp" and "Blue Man Group". The KSO performs at Miller as well.

Bronson Park is surrounded by gorgeous, old churches and government buildings. (The Civic Theater sits on the SW corner, and the KIA is kitty korner from the park.)

Kalamazoo also has a "pedestrian mall" downtown. It's full of boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and bakeries.

Oh, and if you're a fan of libraries, check ours out. The main atrium is absolutely gorgeous and modern, and the Children's Room and Local History Room were designed to reflect their content. I've been going there for 18 years, and it still takes my breath away.

I mentioned Stuart Avenue Inn and Henderson Castle, but I forgot to mention another favorite: Kalamazoo House. This B&B is right downtown, so you could walk to pretty much everything. It's next to the KIA.

 

[NorthShore]

How "late" of a city is KAL? Are there many evening activities and open businesses available? I'm wondering if one could reasonably make an evening of it, and then board the train to Chicago after nine.

 

[SarahZ]

How "late" of a city is KAL? Are there many evening activities and open businesses available? I'm wondering if one could reasonably make an evening of it, and then board the train to Chicago after nine.

There are some pubs and cafes downtown. You'd probably like Union Cabaret. They play jazz most nights, and the food is good. Plus, it's only a few blocks from the train station.

Oh, and Monaco Bay has dueling pianos. They're downtown as well.

Downtown is DEAD on weeknights but pretty lively on weekends. You don't see a ton of people walking around like you do in Chicago, but the pubs and cafes are pretty full. We have a large university, a private liberal arts college, and a community college.

Also, if you come in the summer, there are festivals pretty much every weekend. Again, these are just a short walk from the train station, in Arcadia Creek Festival Place.

 

[SarahZ]

Oh, and this is a fun place to check out.

http://www.michigannews.biz

 

[PerRock]

Both being college towns I'll have some nightlife any day of the night, over by the campuses. I could check with my friend who is quite the party animal over there as to a good place if you're into that sort of stuff.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

When a friend and I took the Wolverine to Ann Arbor a few years ago there was a really neat looking Restaurant/Bar with a long and crowded outside patio right alongside the tracks and I believe this was still in Indiana somewhere just before you cross into Michigan. The folks on the patio looked like they were having a good time and most took the opportunity to wave at us as we rolled by.

Any ideas where that might be? It would make for some good train watching.

 

[SarahZ]

When a friend and I took the Wolverine to Ann Arbor a few years ago there was a really neat looking Restaurant/Bar with a long and crowded outside patio right alongside the tracks and I believe this was still in Indiana somewhere just before you cross into Michigan. The folks on the patio looked like they were having a good time and most took the opportunity to wave at us as we rolled by.

Any ideas where that might be? It would make for some good train watching.

That's Swingbelly's, and it's in Michigan City, IN.

Another excellent place to watch trains is Sidetrack Bar & Grill in Ypsilanti, MI. The patrons on the patio raise their glass to the train as it passes by. I used to eat there all the time. The food is delicious.

 

[PerRock]

For an

When a friend and I took the Wolverine to Ann Arbor a few years ago there was a really neat looking Restaurant/Bar with a long and crowded outside patio right alongside the tracks and I believe this was still in Indiana somewhere just before you cross into Michigan. The folks on the patio looked like they were having a good time and most took the opportunity to wave at us as we rolled by.

Any ideas where that might be? It would make for some good train watching.

That's Swingbelly's, and it's in Michigan City, IN.

Another excellent place to watch trains is Sidetrack Bar & Grill in Ypsilanti, MI. The patrons on the patio raise their glass to the train as it passes by. I used to eat there all the time. The food is delicious.

For an upscale dinner place, the Gandy Dancer is literally right next door to the Amtrak station. It's the old Michigan Central station building, and the platform has been enclosed & is now used for seating. When eating there (on the track-side bit) you can end up being only a few feet from the trains.

I've been told about the patrons of Sidetracks doing that, I've also been told things like them giving out free shots when the trains go thru. But in all my years eating & drinking there, I have never once seen anyone doing anything when a train goes by. The closest I've seen is conversations stopping on the patio next to the track because of the noise... Maybe I'll go again this weekend & get some Hopslam!

peter

 

[SarahZ]

That's too bad. I used to eat on the patio about every other weekend during the summer, and we'd always raise our glasses. Not everyone would, but about 1/4-1/2 would.

I hadn't heard the "free shots" thing.

 

[NorthShore]

Swingbellys menu says that they moved last year?

 

[SarahZ]

Swingbellys menu says that they moved last year?

Rats. I didn't notice that. The new location is still next to the tracks, but it isn't near the station itself. Swingbelly's used to be part of the station.

I wonder if someone else has taken ownership.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Swingbellys menu says that they moved last year?

Rats. I didn't notice that. The new location is still next to the tracks, but it isn't near the station itself. Swingbelly's used to be part of the station.

I wonder if someone else has taken ownership.

Thanks Sarah, you gave me enough clues I was able to map in and find the place; it is called Matey's and it is just east of the station; that would have had our car in about the right place where we could get a good look at the happy folks on the Tiki Deck.

 

[Eric S]

I have a Kalamazoo question, so rather than start a new thread, I thought I dig this one up.

For our Kalamazoo expert(s), how walkable is the Comfort Inn at 739 W Michigan Ave from the KAL station? I'm likely to be spending a night or two in KAL and am trying to decide whether to stay at the Radisson which is much closer to the station, or save money and stay at the Comfort Inn. I'm able-bodied and not likely to have much luggage, just a bag or two that I can easily toss on my shoulder.

 

[SarahZ]

It's a safe, easy walk.

Take Rose south to Michigan and turn right. That will guarantee you'll have sidewalks the entire route.

Look for the sign for Up & Under bar. The sign has Australia on it, so it's hard to miss. The hotel is right behind it, across from Walgreens.

That hotel is good for watching trains too. You'll hear the Wolverine and Blue Water pass. You might be able to see them, too, depending on which side your room is on.

 

[Eric S]

Ah, many thanks for your quick and informative response.

 

[white rabbitt]

Good info. Thanks. Since we are likely planning some time in March, Kalamazoo might be best as the others would do better when the weather is nicer and one can enjoy the water closeness.

These things require a car or taxi, but just in case you feel like checking them out:

Gilmore Car Museum - pretty much what it says. It's halfway between Kalamazoo and Richland, so this would require a rental car.

Air Zoo - about a $10 cab ride from downtown. They have planes/jets from every decade (mostly military planes, including an SR-71B Blackbird).

These are all downtown. If you stay at the Radisson, they're all within walking distance:

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - they show new and old movies, serve drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and food right to your seat, have a strict "no talking, no texting" policy, and don't admit teens unless they're with their parents. We LOVE this place. I'm not sure when you'll be here, but they have a really fun trivia night on Wednesdays.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts - they have a Chihuly glass sculpture in the foyer.

Kalamazoo Civic Theater - local actors

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO)

Miller Auditorium - this is on WMU's campus, a short cab ride from downtown. Several buses service campus as well. Miller hosts professional productions, like "Stomp" and "Blue Man Group". The KSO performs at Miller as well.

Bronson Park is surrounded by gorgeous, old churches and government buildings. (The Civic Theater sits on the SW corner, and the KIA is kitty korner from the park.)

Kalamazoo also has a "pedestrian mall" downtown. It's full of boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and bakeries.

Oh, and if you're a fan of libraries, check ours out. The main atrium is absolutely gorgeous and modern, and the Children's Room and Local History Room were designed to reflect their content. I've been going there for 18 years, and it still takes my breath away.

I mentioned Stuart Avenue Inn and Henderson Castle, but I forgot to mention another favorite: Kalamazoo House. This B&B is right downtown, so you could walk to pretty much everything. It's next to the KIA.

WOW Sarah i did not know u are a member of the better business bureau & tourist information :giggle: :giggle: