Ann Arbor offers a number of terrific sights which every traveler to the area knows about, but what about those secret places in Ann Arbor where only locals seem to know?  For those travelers who like to get down to the nitty gritty of an area and see the things which don’t make the lists of other traveler’s itineraries, Ann Arbor has a few things to offer.

One thing in Ann Arbor that can’t be seen just anywhere is the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry.  This museum contains over 10,000 pieces of dentistry history, including somewhat frightening dentistry tools from the eighteenth century.  Changing exhibits have included Dentistry During the Civil War, Porcelain Pots for Paste, Décor Period Dental Operatory.  Located on the University of Michigan campus, this interesting place is free for all visitors.

Goodnite Gracie is Ann Arbor’s martini bar, a classy place which is somewhat unexpected in a college town and definitely worth checking out.  This might be a good stop after spending an evening at Oscar nominated actor Jeff Daniels' The Purple Rose Theater in nearby Chelsea, where you can catch one of any number of plays devoted entirely to life in the Midwest. The Common Grill or Cleary's make a great place for a pre-theatre meal or a nightcap.

Another great offbeat "local" places to eat is Krazy Jim's Blimpyburger.  They grind their own hamburger daily, and are known for the staggering number of toppings and combinations you can make, as well as for their surly cookstaff.

Ann Arbor is well known for Zingerman's delicatessen, and it's considered a real don't-miss.  However, there are other interesting places to get fine cheeses and other artisan and hard-to-find items.  Shops like BelloVino and Morgan & York offer a suprising array of choices in fine food and wine.

 Malls aren't known for their unique boutiques, but Ann Arbor's Briarwood mall sports a real gem in Chez Pierre.  This small shop tucked away near the Theatre is run by a French expat and offers for sale a number of imported, hard-to-find items like cookware, kitchen items, fine foods, and of course fine french wines.

Want to just take a break from all activity and do nothing but watch a movie?  Instead of going to one of the major movie theaters, visit the State Theater, at 233 State Street, to catch an offbeat, independent film.

 If you're a thrift store fan Ann Arbor is a great place.  On weekends, the Kiwanis store opens with multiple floors of clothes, books, furniture, sporting goods, and other secondhand items.  Locals also like Value World and the Salvation Army store (both open daily).  One wonderful secondhand consignment store is The Treasure Mart, which specializes in furniture and decorative items.

Don't miss the bells of Kerrytown. You can play the bells Mon Wed and Fri at noon tll 12:30. You'll get to play such classics as Clementine, Edelweiss and many more -- for all Kerrytown to hear!