Living Local · Ann Arbor
Living Local in Ann Arbor
Nicole Elizabeth Yaeger and the NEST team live and work here, and this page is the Ann Arbor we send our own friends and clients to: the neighborhoods worth a second look, the markets and coffee shops we actually visit, and the events that fill the calendar. Consider it your local's guide to living in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and the towns around it.
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Neighborhood guides
Where to live in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is a collection of distinct neighborhoods and towns, each with its own feel, architecture, and commute. These are the areas we know best, with full guides covering market data, drive times, millage, schools, housing, and what to do nearby, so you can compare areas side by side.
In-town neighborhoods
- Burns Park Historic homes steps from campus
- Kerrytown The market district on the north side
- Water Hill Colorful porches above downtown
- Loch Alpine The wooded hillside Nicole calls home
- Barton Hills Riverside privacy in a 140-home village
- Eberwhite Walkable west-side character homes
- Ann Arbor Hills Historic east-side streets near campus
Surrounding towns
- Saline Historic main street, river parks
- Dexter Village charm on the Huron River
- Chelsea Trail town at the state park's edge
- Ypsilanti Historic riverfront, fastest to DTW
- Plymouth Clock-tower downtown on the Rouge
- Northville Victorian downtown on the mill race
- Brighton Mill Pond downtown on the I-96 corridor
- The Polo Fields Golf-course estates off Zeeb Road
- Travis Pointe Gated golf living between Ann Arbor and Saline
Things to do
Local favorites, from where we actually go
The short version of the Ann Arbor we love: markets every week, trails along the river, coffee worth the line, tables worth the wait, and a festival calendar that never sits still. Here is where we point people first.
Farmers markets
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market in Kerrytown runs year-round with more than 150 vendors at 315 Detroit St (a2gov.org/market). Westside, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter, and Saline add markets nearly every day of the week in season.
See all Washtenaw marketsParks & trails
Gallup Park and the Border-to-Border Trail follow the Huron River, the Nichols Arboretum's hills and river valley put on a show every fall, and the Waterloo Recreation Area sits at Chelsea's edge. Nearly every neighborhood here is a short walk from green space.
Coffee shops
RoosRoast and its Salted Maple Latte, Hyperion's Pumpkin Tahini, Vertex and Songbird, plus Comet Coffee in the Nickels Arcade and Sweetwaters downtown. These are the cups locals actually stand in line for.
Restaurants & brunch
Sava's for all-day brunch, Zingerman's for the Reuben, The Earle for candlelight and jazz, Miss Kim for seasonal Korean, and The Roadhouse for wood-fired classics. Book the good tables early.
Seasonal events
The Ann Arbor Art Fair in July, the Summer Festival's Top of the Park, Sonic Lunch's free Thursday concerts, A2 Fall Streets and Artoberfest in the fall, and football Saturdays in the Big House. The calendar never sits still.
Weekend itineraries
Nicole's hand-built Ann Arbor Fall Weekend Guide: cozy coffee runs, brunch and dinner favorites, slow strolls, and this season's festivals and game days, all in one place.
Read the Fall Weekend GuideThis season's local guide
The Ann Arbor Fall Weekend Guide
Nicole's best fall weekend in Ann Arbor, built from the coffee spots, brunch tables, dinner lights, and slow walks she sends everyone to. Grab it for a golden-tinged Saturday, from the Salted Maple Latte to the last leaf on the Arb's hills.
Want the full picture on a specific area?
Tell Nicole what you are looking for and she will point you to the neighborhoods and towns that fit. No pressure, just a straight answer from a local.
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