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.

Ann Arbor, located along the scenic Huron River valley, is a residential town with a permanent population of about 110,000 and a student population which includes approximately 34,550 University of Michigan students. The U-M was established at its Ann Arbor location in 1837 where it has enjoyed a long and rich history. The University possesses dozens of libraries, museums, and learning and computing centers. The U-M Medical Center is one of the largest and most progressive health care facilities in the country. The city and the campus are geographically intertwined with pockets of shops, restaurants, and businesses located between the various campuses. University and community recreational, concert, theater, dance, art, film societies, and seasonal events are plentiful.

Our facutly, staff, and students are quick to praise Ann Arbor and its exceptional array of cultural and educational offerings, sporting events, and inviting spaces for outdoor and fitness activities. Those with families will find a friendly city with good schools, and extensive park system, and a wide variety of family-oriented events.

Parks and outdoors: Many Ann Arbor 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 recreational 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 Unviersity of Michigan team is in the running for a championship. 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 have the chance to participate in cheering some of the nation's best teams. Within an hour's drive of Ann Arbor, you can find Michigan's premiere professional sports teams the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, and Lions.

Travel to and from Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor is 40 miles west of metropolitan Detroit, and just a 35 minute drive to 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.

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 of M, others with the Ann Arbor Community.

During the summer the city hosts two outsanding 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 approximately 500,000 visitors to the city.

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

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