Ann Arbor, Michigan is a great place to live and visit, no matter how old you are.
Ann Arbor, the sixth largest city in Michigan, ranks high on almost every “quality of life” study.
For example, Money Magazine ranks Ann Arbor 27th of the top places to live in the country. Forbes lists this city as one of the best places to retire, and Kiplinger ranks it as one of the best cities for singles.
And of course, Ann Arbor regularly makes the lists when judging “best college towns.”
Last but not least, Ann Arbor is the fifth happiest city in all 50 states, according to the Daily Beast.
Maybe this is because US News says that it is the 7th best city for finding a job, since the University of Michigan employs about 30,000 workers, and several major high technology companies are headquartered in the city.
But what is there to do in Ann Arbor?
There is so much to do in Ann Arbor.
In addition to permanent residents and college students, Ann Arbor is constantly full of tourists and daytime visitors, and is considered a top destination for the arts.
Prevention Magazine also rates Ann Arbor as the third-best walking city in America. The downtown and campus area meet at South State and Liberty streets, and there are twelve blocks of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Many of the area’s events are sponsored by the University of Michigan, which has dozens of performing arts groups and musical societies. In addition, the university manages museums for art, archaeology, and natural history and science.
Outside the university are many performing arts and music groups including the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, the Arbor Opera Theater, and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.
There are also multiple museums and galleries off campus, including the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum, which contains more than 250 interactive exhibits featuring science and technology.
What annual events are in Ann Arbor?
First of all, there are the famous “Football Saturdays” in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan home games draw over a hundred thousand spectators, as the football stadium is the largest in the world. The university also has popular teams in just about every other sport.
Several other annual events focus on performing and visual arts. For example, the Ann Arbor Art Fairs are four concurrent juried fairs held on downtown streets during the third week of July. In addition, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is one of a handful of Academy Award–qualifying festivals in the United States.
Parks abound in Ann Arbor, as the Huron River and the city’s many trees make for beautiful park scenery. Various parks offer golf, hiking, biking, kayaking, and many other adventures.
Interesting restaurants are everywhere, ranging from just about every national chain to hundreds of unique family-run spots. In particular, Ann Arbor is known for a wide range of ethnic foods and restaurants due to the diversity of the town. Search for a restaurant based on type of food and location.
The Ann Arbor area also boasts all kinds of overnight accommodations, including luxury hotels, economy hotels, and unique bed and breakfasts. Look for a place to stay.
View more information on Ann Arbor.
This article was originally published on 11/6/2012.