All the Benefits of Small Town/Big City - 9/12/2006

I have lived on the edge of Ann Arbor in one of the many surrounding townships (where it's somewhat easier and cheaper to find housing) both with my family and as a student at the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor is great for people who still want the small town charm with the big city intellect and diversity. Google is coming to Ann Arbor; the open campus of the university really adds to the city; there is a great deal of diversity and culture due to the university and the large companies here; the parks and libraries are great; the downtown and campus areas still manage to have locally owned and unique shops; and people are very involved in local government which only helps keep the city improving. I suppose it may be difficult living here if you don't have some connection or interest in the University, since it is so integral to the city. I don't understand why some think the people here are snobs. I think intelligence is often confused with snobbery, but I think most people are happy to strike a conversation.

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the truth about ann arbor - 7/13/2006

The weather: I doubt you could find better weather in the United States than the summer and fall in Michigan. You can count on gorgeous weather between June and through September. We often get a few gorgeous, 80-degree days in April that tease us, and then it always manages to get cold again be it in April, May or early June. This cold spell only lasts less than a week. The summer is sometimes humid, but often is the perfect level of humidity and dryness. It usually varies from 75-85 degrees, though it can and does reach the low 90s. September is our best weather month. It's dry and sunny, usually in the mid- high 70s. Absolutely perfect. During the summer months, traffic is HORRIBLE. It's honestly ridiculous, due to so many people going up north for the weekend and mostly because of construction. CONSTRUCTION IS THE WORST IN MICHIGAN DURING THE SUMMER. October is a gamble. It's not odd for it to snow, though in most recent years, it hasn't snowed until closer to Thanksgiving. Sometimes it will be in the 70s in October, but it's usually relatively dry. November, January and February (December seems to be more bearable because of the holidays) are horrendous. During this time (unless you have a cabin way up north and love winter sports, and drive a 4WD), it is GRAY. DISMAL. And often there is no snow, but freezing rain. This has been a relatively new phenomenon - having freezing rain instead of snow. When I was a kid we had about 10 snow days each year, now kids are lucky to have 1 or 2 because the snow just doesn't fall in SE Michigan like it used to. If you want thick snow, you have to drive about 3 hours north. SE Michigan winters are enough to make some people leave everything to move to a warmer climate. I recommend saving up vacation days for the winter, buy yourself a plane ticket to Florida or the Caribbean for a week in February. Otherwise, you might go crazy. MICHIGAN in general: There are tons of beautiful places in Michigan, even some in SE Michigan though it is largely developed for farm land and urban areas. The suburbs keep growing and taking up beautiful land. But, especially around ANN ARBOR, there are many parks, including the massive Waterloo Recreation Area and a variety of metro-parks that are beautiful, peaceful and a great place to spend time. Up north (which refers to anything north of Mt. Pleasant) and the west side of the state are the places to be during the Michigan summer time. And if you like winter sports, you will want to

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Ann Arbor - 6/19/2006

Overly dominated by the University of Michigan, which impacts quality of life & housing costs in many downtown neighborhoods. The presence of the university, however, also positively impacts cultural/recreational opportunities (music & film, in particular). Adding something of a European feel to the downtown is the Kerrytown Farmers Market & Shops, with the adjacent jewel of an intimate concert venue, the Kerrytown Concert House.

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Not what it's advertised to be... think twice. - 6/7/2006

I have lived here for 12 years and am a very well-educated person. I have found this town to be highly pretensious with no basis. It you are a down-to-earh person, with any kind of traditional morality, then this place is not for you. It is very snobby here, with a "me-first" attitude. I have found the people to be mostly out for themselves. The long-time Ann Arbor people are great, but there are many people here from other parts of the US that are not native to this state. I grew up in Michigan, and have lived in many other cities and am quite well-traveled. Ann Arbor looks great at first, very pretty, lots to do, but most of my friends have left and I want to go as well. If you are single and not in college, there isn't much to do here, as the university is the cultural focus and the night life is just for college students. If you like to act like the "big fish in the little pond" and are very liberal, you will fit in well here, but if you are more traditional then people will be positively hostile to you.

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Q.O.L. - 6/4/2006

The quality of life in Ann Arbor is probably its best asset.

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An oasis of culture in Michigan - 5/23/2006

Ann Arbor is the jewel of Michigan with over 70% of the population here being liberal and very open-minded. The University of Michigan and Pfizer draw many intellectuals and people with big dreams, money or both. The average household income here is $60K+, and you will see many people driving around in very nice cars. It is a town of individuals, everything from professors to business owners to students to skateboarders and everything in between. A medium-sized college town with a river running through it, Ann Arbor boasts many events and activities like- theatre, music, art, concerts and of course college sports. We have endless parks good schools, great restaurants, friendly eccentric people and plenty of things to do like- bars, night/comedy clubs, museums, botanical gardens, libraries and annual festivals. There is a little of everything here and just about anyone can make themselves right at home. Housing prices are going up and traffic is becoming an issue though because people are flocking here, so now is the time to buy if you are looking to move here. Prices are above the national average but not as bad as much larger cities. You can get to most parts of town on the bus but parking can sometimes be a bear. As for the climate...well if you are one that likes the classic "four seasons" then look no further! Summers (4 months) are hot and muggy (mid-80's+),whereas winters (6 months) are unbearably freezing (single digits and teens) The best time of year is spring and fall (only 2 months!), where it's temperate and nice. I want to leave this great town only because I can't bear the weather anymore. I am hoping to move to the northwest where it is roughly 40-75 year round and one can be outdoors everyday without suffering (I don’t mind the rain there). Ann Arbor is great for a mid-western town- cultured and diverse, but prices are a bit higher here and you must be able to put up with extremes of temperature.

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Great Place to live - 3/22/2006

I lived in Ann Arbor for 11 years. It's a very safe fun place to live. There are great restaurants, bars, and clubs. The city is filled with parks and running trails. When I lived there I thought it was very expensive but it isn't really that bad. When you compare it to New York or California, where you get a lot less for your money.

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A beautiful but expensive place to live. - 2/27/2006

Ann Arbor, Michigan is a very beautiful but expensive place to live.

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Weather in Michigan - 2/25/2006

The weather is the biggest factor driving me to leave the state of Michigan. While the fall and summers here are breathtaking, they are a mere 4 months out of the year and the rest of the year seems to be dismally gray and bitterly cold.

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