Living in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is a unique community that offers the vitality and amenities of a much larger city, in part due to the drawing power of the University of Michigan. It is a beautiful city as well, and the name Ann Arbor aptly evokes the city's tree-lined streets and many natural areas. Those with families will find a friendly city with good schools, an extensive park system, and a wide variety of family-oriented events.

Why Ann Arbor?

Listen to our residents talk about living in Ann Arbor

Local Information

Learn more about City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan by using the links below.

• City of Ann Arbor
• Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• ArborWeb
• Uniquely Michigan - an area guide for people who work and study at the U-M

Arts and Culture

Ann Arbor has earned a national reputation for excellence in the performing arts; it also offers an eclectic array of attractions, including film festivals, fine museums, and jazz clubs. As just one example, the University Musical Society brings internationally renowned musicians, dance companies, and theater programs to the historic and beautifully renovated Hill Auditorium. The city also has a great selection of art galleries and smaller concert and theater venues, some associated with the U-M, others with the Ann Arbor community.

During the summer the city hosts two outstanding arts events: the Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents music, classic movies, and food in an outdoor "top of the park" setting. In July the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which has earned its own national reputation, attracts over 1,000 artists and some 500,000 visitors.

Food and ambience

Downtown Ann Arbor sidewalks are lined with cafes for outdoor dining in warm weather, with a great selection of ethnic foods, and restaurants in all price ranges. On any night at any time of the year, you'll find many people downtown, dining, stopping by a coffee house, or browsing through bookstores and art galleries.

Parks and outdoors

Many of our residents name Gallup Park and the Arboretum—just two of the numerous park areas in the city—as their favorite spots. You can canoe or row on the Huron River, jog along the river in Gallup Park, or join any number of adult recreation leagues, from hockey to soccer.

Sports

It's hard to beat the excitement of Big Ten sports, and odds are, in any given year, at least one University of Michigan team is in the running for a championship. You can usually find tickets to UM hockey, basketball, baseball games, including the perennially strong women's basketball team. Saturdays in "The Big House"—as the football stadium is known to its many fans—offers great football and many colorful pre- and post-game events. Those who follow professional sports also have many options. Within an hour's drive of Ann Arbor, you can find the Detroit Tigers, Pistons, Lions, and Red Wings.

Travel to and from Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is 40 miles west of metropolitan Detroit, and just a 25-minute drive from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. In addition to having easy access to Detroit, residents can travel to Chicago by train in just under four hours. Trains depart for Toronto from Windsor, just across the river from Detroit.