Shopping

The area along State Street remains the main campus commercial strip, with a funky mix of coffeehouses, bookstores, and urbane boutiques. A standout is the historic 1915 Nickels Arcade, a small, European-style arcade filled with ever-changing boutiques and galleries between State and Maynard.

One longtime favorite is Bivouac (336 S. State St., 734/761-6207, www.bivouacannarbor.com [1], hours vary), the resource for Ann Arbor–area campers, hikers, climbers, and skiers.

More shopping is concentrated on and around Main Street (www.mainstreetannarbor.org [2]) in Ann Arbor’s [3] vintage downtown.

Once a mainstay of longtime German businesses, it has since become a stylish place for browsing, people-watching, and noshing. The Selo/Shevel Gallery (301 S. Main St., 734/761-4620, www.seloshevelgallery.com [4], 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Thurs. and Sat., 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri., noon–6 p.m. Sun.) has one of the state’s best collections of handmade contemporary jewelry as well as a nice selection of art glass.

Try Falling Water Books & Collectables (213 S. Main St., 734/747-9810, www.fallingwatermi.com [5], 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sun.) for arty gifts, journals, jewelry, candles, and other New Age goodies.