10 Great Reasons to Live in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Business Week Magazine recently named Ann Arbor the “Best Place in Michigan to Raise your Kids,” an accolade which the city can add to its already long list of kudos. Ann Arbor was named the “5^th Best City to Live in the U.S.” by Sperling’s Best Places in 2007, the “4^th Smartest City in America” in 2008 by Forbes.com, and the third “Best Place to Retire” by Black Enterprise Magazine. We know that everyone has their own reasons for liking a city, but here are our top 10 reasons why Ann Arbor is a great place to live:

1. Parks. The city’s parks system offers a plentitude of trails for bike riding, running, and strolling. The HuronRiver is ideal for canoeing down, and The Arboretum is perfect for Ultimate Frisbee, jogging, and sunbathing.
2. The University of Michigan. The U of M is a top of the line school, and the hospital is world renowned. And need we mention the football team? Go Blue!
3. Zingermans Deli and Creamery. Great food, wholesome ingredients, fun atmosphere.
4. The Ann Arbor Art Fair. Or art fairs, really, because this annual July event features several concurrent fairs showcasing all sorts of fine-art talent packed into several city blocks downtown. A great place to pick up a new piece of art for your downtown Ann Arbor condominium or a yard sculpture for your Ann Arbor home.
5. School system. Ann Arbor’s education system offers youngsters through high schoolers an excellent and diverse education. The city recently built a new high school on the west side of town, adding to the two existing high schools- Huron High and Pioneer High.
6. Public transit system. The AATA bus system makes it easy to get around town. The city recently signed a contract with ZipCars, making it easy for city residents to rent a car for a couple hours. The Amtrak station is conveniently located downtown, and the Michigan Flyer stops on the west side of the city en route to and from DetroitMetroAirport and Lansing.
7. Proximity to attractions. A car ride of less than an hour brings you to the big city of Detroit, and a few more minutes to cross the AmbassadorBridge or the Detroit- Windsor tunnel arrives you in Windsor, Ontario. “Up North” is only a few hours away, making it the ideal spot for a quick getaway. Camping, fishing, hiking, antiquing, swimming, boating, skiing, snowmobiling, biking—you’ll find it all in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan. A short drive across the state brings you to Lake Michigan. Cedar Point, an amusement park in Ohio, is a few hours south of the city.
8. Fine dining. Ann Arbor is a hotbed for good food. A quick stroll down Main Street gives you a choice of French, Latin, Italian, Greek and fusion dining.
9. WashtenawCommunity College. The school offers high school students the option of taking college-level classes while completing their high school degree, and also offers continuing education classes, in addition to a diverse offering of classes for college students pursuing an associate degree or a specialized certificate.
10. Great grocery stores and markets. The famer’s market downtown is ideal for finding locally grown produces and locally produced jam, honey, bake goods and crafts. Morgan and York is the ideal stop for picking up a bottle of wine, imported chocolate and a premium slab of cheese. Plum Market, a relatively new store to the city, offers a well-selected variety of ready to eat foods and groceries, including organic and specialty products. Their unadvertised sales make shopping there a treasure hunt. Whole Foods. With their large prepared food section- sushi, pasta bar, pizza, smoked meats, paninis, salads, bakery, Whole Foods is the go-to store when preparing for a dinner party, or when you need a quick and healthy lunch on the go. These specialty stores, in addition to Hillers Market, Krogers, Buschs, and Meijer make it easy to shop for groceries and other necessities without traveling far.

Ann Arbor is a diverse community, with people from all nations of the glove calling it home. Its excellent school system, friendly neighborhoods and central downtown area make it the ideal location to live. Residents enjoy the four seasons of Michigan- summer brings trips to the park, dining alfresco, ice cream runs, and long bike rides. As summer turns into fall, the temperature heats up in “The Big House,” the University’s football stadium. Autumn also brings an influx of students into the area. As fall fades into winter, the downtown sparkles with white lights hung in trees along Main Street. Winter shoppers hurry from store to store looking for the ideal gift in the many specialty stores and boutiques downtown. When spring blossoms, bikers can be seen pedaling to work on the paths that criss-cross the city. Ann Arbor is a city full of life, and offers a warm welcome to visitors and new residents alike.

Image courtesy Flickr: Phil Dokas