Ann Arbor, Michigan

There are reasons – far too many to name here – why Ann Arbor is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most desirable cities in which to live. Nestled in Southeastern Michigan, a stone’s throw outside the major metropolitan area of Detroit, Ann Arbor is a singular gem.

With a population of about 115,000, Ann Arbor offers the coziness and charm of a small town paired with the sophistication, intellectual and cultural vibrancy that a major university demands (and, in many cases, supplies). Placed around the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor achieves the rare balance of being both a hip and cutting-edge college town and a haven for family life. Downtown’s streets are made for strolling, dotted with shops, salons, bars, restaurants, art-house movie theaters, Internet-equipped cafés and art galleries.

Families, professionals and students alike enjoy a reasonable cost of living. Ann Arbor offers terrific parks, museums and outstanding public schools and an international community destined to broaden the horizons of both parents and children.

Ann Arbor is a short trip by car or train to Detroit, Chicago and Toronto, not to mention the abundance of beauty Michigan itself has to offer. Whether you prefer your nature bundled up with snowshoes strapped to your feet or viewed from the sunny porch of a cozy B&B, Michigan is a sight to behold.