Ann Arbor

While it’s famous for being the home of the University of Michigan, the City of Ann Arbor isn’t just a college town. It offers a wealth of opportunities for all different types of families beyond the university’s reach.

The college is the largest employer in the area, but there are plenty of jobs available in tech, the auto industry, and health care—the Michigan Medicine system is nationally recognized for its excellence in patient care and research.

The local schools are top rated, and there’s no shortage of activities for families: concerts, parades, festivals—the annual art fair draws about half a million people to the city each summer, and cinephiles delight in the Ann Arbor Film Festival each spring. Plus, residents have access to over 160 parks, the Nichols Arboretum, and the Huron River, as well as highly walkable areas like Main and State Streets. There is also a thriving LGBTQ community and annual Pride weekend.

Don’t sleep on the food and dining scene: There are over 400 restaurants across the city, and its annual restaurant week gives locals a chance to taste-test many of them thanks to discounted prix fixe menus and lunch specials. And A2, as locals call it, is situated about a 45-minute drive away from Detroit and everything the larger city has to offer, including more sporting events and the Detroit Zoo.

Finally, all sports fans will recognize Michigan Stadium, a.k.a. the Big House—it’s the largest stadium in North America and home to raucous sporting events for students, locals, and visitors alike. —Alicia Adamczyk