9 Waste-less Things to do in Ann Arbor This Summer

In honor of the summer solstice this weekend and spring classes ending soon, here are nine super fun and wasteless summer activities to do in Ann Arbor.
1. Thrift at PTO thrift shop

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Shop for some new summer clothes or fill the awkward space in your apartment with a new couch. Shoot, you might even find $40,000! You'll feel like a hero, saving your new clothing from a tragic death in a landfill. Not to mention you can save hundreds of dollars.

2. Buy a book from the sidewalk book man

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Sidewalk Book Man sets up shop just outside of Red Hawk's on State Street most warm weekday evenings. 'Shop' is a couple wobbly wooden tables piled high with books of all shapes and sizes. Stop by one night and pick up a book. Not only will you be reusing,  you'll get the opportunity to read an exotic new tale!

3. Take a trip down the Huron river

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Always wanted to try PaddleBoarding? Well this is the summer for it. The Argo Canoe Livery and the Gallup Canoe Livery both provide kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards for you, your friends, and your family to travel the Huron in. With oodles of trail options, you can have a river rapids ride or a trip down the lazy river. It's up to you!


4. Go for a walk

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Whether you take an evening stroll down down the streets of Ann Arbor or an afternoon hike in the Arb, take a minute to go for a walk. It's good for your heart, your mental health, and your wallet (walking is free, after all). It can reduce blood pressure and improve circulation, decreasing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Elle Woods says it best. "Exercise gives people endorphins. Endorphins make people happy!"

5. Tour the MRF

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A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) tour takes you and a group of friends and/or family through the recycling plant of Ann Arbor. Get an idea of where your recyclables go, how much Ann Arbor produces every day, and why we can't recycle some of the things we can't (like Styrofoam and PVC pipe!) Check out this video of Michigan Radio's tour of the MRF!
To sign up for a tour, go here.

6. Get in touch with your artsy side at Scrap Box

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Love scrapbooking? Need a card for someone's birthday? Just feeling like being creative? I know I tend to get crafty and DIY-y during the summer. Let's all get our craft on! The Scrap Box has everything from ribbons to buttons, beads to paper, and bamboo sticks to colorful nylon. The best part is the Scrap Box is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all the materials available are reused and recycled! This is guilt-free crafting at its finest, people. The Scrap Box is located at 581 State Circle in Ann Arbor Michigan. It is a straight shot down State Street. Be sure to hang a right after you cross I-94. If you pass the airport, you've gone too far. 

7. Shop at the Kerrytown Farmer's Market

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Open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering an unbelievable variety of foods and other products. Live bands, such as 'Appleseed Collective' play while you peruse through the market. Come for the local produce, stay for the live music and charismatic vendors. To learn more about the market, go here. Or check out their blog!


8. See an Outdoor Movie

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Top of the Park is showing tons of awesome outdoor movies at 10:00 p.m. on Rackham's Stage this summer...and they're all FREE!! 

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on June 15
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on June 17
• Despicable Me 2 on June 22
• When Harry Met Sally on June 24
• Spaceballs on June 25
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on June 22
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding on July 1
• Star Trek Into Darkness on July 3
• The Wizard of Oz on July 6

9. Give to the Violin Monster

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A popular figure in Ann Arbor, this man has been playing violin in a terrifying mask on Ann Arbor Street Corners for years now. It has been rumored that the pink tube socks will make a comeback this summer. Being the violin monster is this man's full-time job, so if you're lucky enough to run into him this summer, drop him a few coins. He'll appreciate it, though his face will be saying "RAAAAAAAWWWWWWWRRRRR."