Growing up in Ohio where everyone assumes we're all Ohio State fans (spoiler alert: I'm really not), it's basically required knowledge that Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan is home to nearly 45,000 students, but the city of Ann Arbor is home to roughly 122,000 – meaning there's more to this Michigan city than just the UofM.

On a recent trip to Ann Arbor, I made it my mission to get to know the city beyond its famous university. Because, even though Michigan Stadium is the largest football stadium in America (yes, really), not everyone is a football fan (shocking, I know).

Note: This post was written in partnership with Wanderful and Destination Ann Arbor, who I'm currently an ambassador for! As always, though, all opinions are 100% my own.

A quick Ann Arbor history lesson

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824 by a pair of land speculators, before Michigan was even a state. The town became the seat of Washtenaw County just three years later in 1827, and was incorporated by 1833. Ann Arbor lost a bid to become Michigan's state capital, but instead became the new home of the University of Michigan in 1837 after the university moved away from Detroit.

The rest, as they say, is history – and in fact the history of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan has been closely linked since 1837.

In the 1960s and 70s, Ann Arbor became a focal point for political activism (especially among left-wing liberals), which I think has influenced the city to this day.

5 reasons to visit Ann Arbor

Here are 5 reasons you should consider a visit to Ann Arbor (that have nothing to do with college football).

1. A character-filled downtown

Downtown Ann Arbor is unlike any “college town” I've ever visited or lived in before. Instead of dive bars and fast food joints, Ann Arbor's downtown is home to historic theaters, vintage clothing shops, independent bookstores, street art, a couple craft breweries, and lots of unique restaurants.

Ann Arbor has a creative, youthful vibe, but without feeling like your stereotypical university town. There's a reason that it's consistently named among the most livable cities in America.

RELATED: Get to Know the Quirky Side of Ann Arbor

2. Independent shops still thrive

The thing I love most about Ann Arbor is the number of independent shops and restaurants that are still thriving there. There are independent record shops and book stores, vintage clothing stores and spots selling antiques, cute bakeries and non-chain coffee shops.

There's a culture of encouraging makers and creativity here, and this is definitely reflected in so many locally-owned businesses. You can spend a whole day popping in and out of shops and still probably not visit them all.

Some favorites of mine include:

• Literati – An independent bookstore that's always busy.
• Rock Paper Scissors – Stationary store.
• Thistle & Bess – For jewelry, candles, and other gifts.
• Vault of Midnight – A popular comic shop.
• Ten Thousand Villages – A fair trade shop with gifts from around the world.
• Dawn Treader – A delightfully labyrinthine used book store.
• Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room – It's all in the name!
• Encore Records – For all your musical needs.

3. It's a foodie haven

When I went to university, the college town I lived in was filled with fast food joints (we all remember the Pizza Hut-Taco Bell combo, right?), dive bars, and campus-run cafes. There were few unique independent restaurants.

In Ann Arbor, though, it's the opposite. Instead of McDonald's, there's a Cuban fast food joint. Instead of nothing but dive bars, there are craft breweries and speakeasy-style cocktail bars. Instead of an endless supply of Starbucks, there are independent coffee and tea shops.

If you consider yourself to be a foodie, then you'll love Ann Arbor.

Some not-to-miss places include:

• For coffee: Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea – A local chain with several Ann Arbor locations.
• For bunch: Sava's – The interior is serious #designgoals, and the food is delicious.
• For lunch: Zingerman’s Deli – This Ann Arbor institution in Kerrytown is a must-visit. The line may wrap around the corner when you go, but the wait for a massive Zingerman's deli sandwich is worth it.
• For cocktails: The Last Word – This speakeasy-style cocktail bar is unassuming from the outside, but the drinks and bites inside are great – try The Osborn.
• For dinner: Knight’s Steakhouse – This classic American steakhouse has been in business in Ann Arbor since the 1950s.
• For ice cream: Blank Slate Creamery – They have great, imaginative flavors and homemade waffle cones.
• For “fast food”: Frita Batidos – A local chef's take on Cuban street food. It's all about burgers and milkshakes here.
• For sweet treats: Le Bon Macaron – Pop into this macaron bakery to get some sweet treats to-go!

4. Nature is never far away

Ann Arbor is situated on the Huron River, and has been nicknamed “Tree Town” due to its abundance of green space. Even downtown Ann Arbor is filled with trees.

And if you want to get away from the pavement? There are several options. You can go for a paddle down the Huron River, or do what I did and escape for a few hours to the Nichols Arboretum.

The Nichols Arboretum is a 123-acre arboretum owned by the University of Michigan. The arboretum is home to hundreds of plant and tree species (including the largest peony garden in North America), along with miles of walking and hiking trails. You'd never guess you were near a city of 120,000+ people here.

The University of Michigan also runs the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, which contains 300 acres of gardens. I'll need to get there on my next trip!

5. It's always been home to progressive thinkers

Lastly, Ann Arbor has a history of being home to forward-thinkers. Along with being home to lots of art galleries, museums, performing arts groups, and annual festivals, Ann Arbor has also long been a center for social activism.

Ann Arbor basically legalized cannabis in the 1970s, and was very openly opposed to the Vietnam War. In 1960, presidential hopeful Senator John F. Kennedy launched the Peace Corps in a late-night speech on the steps of the Michigan Union.

I'm sure a lot of this has to do with the University of Michigan and the propensity for college students to be slightly more progressive, but it's spilled over beyond the campus and influenced Ann Arbor as a whole.

If you're like me and have always assumed that Ann Arbor was just “another” college town, it's time to re-visit those preconceived notions. Ann Arbor as a city is undeniably tied to the University of Michigan – but it's so much more than just campus life and football games.

After one visit to Ann Arbor, I'm already planning my next!

Going to Ann Arbor in winter? Check out my guide of things to do in Ann Arbor in winter, too!

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Have you ever visited a “college town” and been pleasantly surprised? Who's ready to visit Ann Arbor?

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