Five towns within about half an hour, and the places in them that justify the trip. Each has its own guide at the bottom.
Chelsea
About 20 minutes west.
Purple Rose Theatre Company
Jeff Daniels’ theatre company, staging modern and classic work in a small room.
Waterloo State Recreation Area
Campgrounds, beaches, fishing lakes and 47 miles of trail. A full day out.
Dexter
Fifteen minutes northwest, on the Huron.
The Encore Musical Theatre Company
Intimate theatre staging classic and original musicals, plus tribute concerts.
Knight s Steakhouse
Old-school steakhouse doing steaks, seafood and burgers without ceremony.
The Kitchen at Jolly Pumpkin
Dinner, coffee and beer from the Jolly Pumpkin brewery people.
Saline
Twenty minutes south.
Marsh View Meadows
Open meadow and marsh with walking paths, quiet on a weekday morning.
Mi Zarape
Family Mexican kitchen on East Michigan Avenue.
Ypsilanti
Ten minutes east, and the easiest of these to reach.
STUFD
Big burritos and Mexican staples in a plain room. Go for the food, not the decor.
La Torre Taqueria
Family-owned taqueria doing classic tacos without fuss.
Tuptim Thai Cuisine
Family-run Thai kitchen with weekday lunch deals.
India Cafe
Asian grocery with a kitchen at the back cooking traditional Indian food.
Tecumseh
Forty-five minutes southwest, and the furthest of these.
Harvest Chocolate
Bean-to-bar chocolate maker and cafe on the main street downtown.
