Adrian, Michigan Attractions, Parks, Trails, Historic Locations & More
Adrian is a college town with plenty of history. The community is home to Adrian College and Siena Heights University, as well as numerous historic locations, such as the Croswell Opera House, Lenawee County Courthouse, and St. Joseph Catholic Church. The town is also home to the oldest running county fair in Michigan, the Lenawee County Fair.

Attractions

Art-A-Licious features more than 70 artists and live entertainment in downtown Adrian. The art festival happens in late September, and it's a great place to shop for art. See the Art-A-Licious web site for more details.

The Croswell Opera House hosts live theater, musicals and entertainment in downtown Adrian. The historic theatre is the oldest, continually operating theater in Michigan. It originally opened in 1866, and now features live entertainment throughout the year. Visit the The Croswell Opera House web site for the current schedule of events.

Lenawee County Fair is Michigan's oldest running fair and happens in late July. The fair features concerts, rides, animals, and much more. For details on the upcoming fair, visit the Lenawee County Fair web site.

Adrian College features a top-notch NCAA Division III athletic program. Its hockey, lacrosse, basketball, and football teams are always among the best in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). For the current sports schedules, see the Adrian Bulldogs web site.

Siena Heights University (SHU) participates in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Saints have 19 men's and women's teams. For the current sports schedules, visit the SHU Saints web site.

Lenawee County Historical Museum is a terrific resource for information about Adrian and Lenawee County. The museum's archives include cemetery, birth, marriage, and death records, as well as obituaries, maps, and governmental documents. For those who are researching genealogy, the museum can be of great help. For more details, see the museum's web site.

Farmers Market

From May through October, the Adrian Farmers Market offers fresh produce, herbs, flowers, hand-made items, and other goodies. The market is open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. The farmers market is held in the parking lot on the north side of Toledo Street in downtown.

Adrian Area Parks

Around Adrian, there are many public parks for relaxation and recreation:
  • Adrian's Skate & Bike Park has several ramps and skating apparatus. The park is adjacent to Island Park, off of Albert Street.

  • Berry Park is a small community park near downtown along Union Street.

  • Burr Ponds Park is a beautiful park with ponds that are very popular with ducks and geese. The park has two piers for catch-and-release fishing and a picnic shelter, with adjacent restrooms. A paved path circles around the water and is connected by a pedestrian bridge.

  • Comstock Park is a scenic park near downtown. The pie-shaped park is intersected by the River Raisin and features a gazebo. At the northeast corner, there is a marker that indicates where the first house in Adrian was located.



  • Dana Park has a ball field and playground. It's located at the corner of South Street and Winter Street.

  • Dunlap Park sits on a bluff that overlooks some railroad tracks. The park has a playscape, picnic shelter, and basketball court.

  • Erie Street Park is a rectangular space between McVicar and Tecumseh Streets. The park has a basketball court, picnic shelter and playground.

  • Fee Park has a cool statue that honors Harriett Kimbell Fee. A gazebo is near the center of the park, which has several tall, old-growth trees.

  • Heritage Park is located about a mile north of Adrian, just east of M-52. The park has several soccer fields and four softball diamonds. There are two picnic shelters for gatherings and a few smaller picnic areas in the woods near the Stubnitz Environmental Education Center. A nice playscape is near the picnic shelter that is south of the ball fields.

    Heritage Park is home to the Stubnitz Environmental Education Center, which hosts educational programs during the year. At the center of the park, there is an old farm, school, and barber shop.

  • Island Park is at the end of Broad Street. The large park along the River Raisin has five ball diamonds and two picnic shelters. A small picnic area is near the river on the west side of the park, just north of the skate park. A small sledding hill is on the south side of the park.

  • McFarland Park is on the south side of Maumee Street, east of Broad Street. Near the back of the park, there's a small picnic shelter.

  • Monument Park honors veterans who have their country. A large monument at the center of the park is dedicated to Civil War soldiers, and smaller monuments honor World War I, World War II, and Vietnam War veterans. The newest monument at the park remembers those who have helped in the war on terror.

  • Riverside Park is on the east side of McKenzie Street. Bohn Pool is on the south side of the park and is very popular during the summer. Riverside Park also has a baseball diamond, basketball courts, and volleyball courts. Two picnic shelters are located at the park, which also has a playground.

  • Yew Park is a small square park in downtown with park benches and a flower garden.

Historic Locations and Walking Route

See the Historic Locations & Attractions in Adrian page for details on Croswell Opera House, Lenawee County Courthouse, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, historic houses, historical markers, a historical walking route, and much more.

Bike Routes

Adrian has many streets with bike lanes or wide road shoulders, perfect for riding around town. There are bike lanes along Maumee Street and Beecher Street. Madison Street, Maple Avenue, McKenzie Street, Winter Street, and several other streets have wide shoulders, and cyclists can ride on the outside of the street lanes. Using the various bike routes, students at Adrian College and Siena Heights University can ride their bikes to many attractions, restaurants, and stores around Adrian.

Cars sometimes park along the streets with the wide shoulders, so you will need to slow down near parked cars and look out for approaching vehicles when passing them. Stay alert and use caution when riding along the road.

Adrian Area Trails

The Kiwanis Trail is a paved trail for jogging, walking, and biking that goes from Adrian to just south of Tecumseh, ending at Green Hwy. and Ives Road. The 8-mile path offers views of the River Raisin, Lenawee County Courthouse, residential areas, farmland and more.

Burr Ponds Park has a wide paved path that winds around the water and is connected by a pedestrian bridge. A spur of the trail leads to McKenzie Street, across from the Bohn Pool.

Heritage Park has several miles of trails for mountain biking and hiking, which go through mostly wooded areas. The dirt mountain biking trails are sometimes narrow and rugged, with a few hilly areas. The hiking trails are mostly dirt, except through the wetland in the center of the park. The hiking trails go feature numerous hills. The primary trailhead is at the parking lot near the Stubnitz Environmental Education Center. You can also access the western part of the largest trail loop near the disc golf course and near the picnic shelter/playground area.

Trestle Park has a boardwalk on the west side of the park that winds along the River Raisin. You'll see wildflowers near the boardwalk in the summer.

You can see historical markers and a few historic locations in Adrian, using the downtown sidewalks. See the downtown map for a historical walking route.

Kayaking

Lake Adrian offers a nice spot to paddle. The lake is on the north side of Adrian, and you can access the kayak launch area from a gravel drive off of Bent Oak Avenue, just north of the waste water treatment plant. The drive is not marked--it's the second drive north of Riverside Avenue. You can park along the north side of the drive and then carry your boat to the launch area.

Fishing

The Adrian area offers spots for catch-and-release fishing. Lake Adrian is on the north side of town, and you can fish from shore near the kayak launch that is north of the water treatment plant. The lake is home to rainbow trout, bass, and walleye. Burr Ponds Park is a scenic spot to fish, and there are two fishing piers at the park.

The River Raisin flows through Adrian and can be used for catch-and-release fishing. The river's water lever is at its peak in the late winter/early spring after the snow melts. During the summer, the river through Adrian can be shallow, around a foot in spots. Bass, carp, and bluegill are among the fish that live in the river. Because of the runoff from farms and manufacturing plants located along the river, especially near Monroe, the river has been on the watch list for the Environmental Protection Agency, which is why catch-and-release fishing is recommended. You can fish from the banks of the River Raisin at Trestle Park and Riverside Park.

More About Adrian

There are a variety of eateries to choose from in Adrian. Near downtown, you'll find the Barley House, Big Boy, Frosty Boy Ice Cream, Pizza Bucket, and Subway. On the north side of town along M-52, there's Burger King, McDonald's, and the Spotted Cow, which is a great place to get ice cream. South of downtown, there are many restaurants to choose from along Main Street/M-52 and US-223, including Culver's, Applebee's, Fricker's, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, and KFC.

There are a few shops in downtown, including Persnickety on Maumee Street. The majority of stores are on the south side of town along Main Street/M-52 and US-223. Hobby Lobby, Dunham's Sports, and Adrian Mall are on Main Street/M-52. Meijer, Lowes, Kohls, and Walmart are along US-223.





Trails & Bike Routes | Parks & Beaches | City Guides | Free Wallpaper | Eye on Michigan Home


Copyright © 2024 Eye on Michigan

Comments or questions, please email