Life in Ann Arbor with kids -- how does it rate? (Detroit: home, movies)

[nrv0us]

I'm hoping to get some input from parents living in Ann Arbor.

How do you find it as a place to raise your kids? What are the best and worst things about it? How does it compare to other places you have lived? (I'm thinking specifically about things like schools/libraries, recreational & cultural opportunities, outdoor activities, overall safety, etc. but feel free to add any other criteria you feel to be important...)

[Cliffie]

The schools there are excellent, both the public schools and the private ones. Ann Arbor is second only to Detroit in what it offers along the lines of cultural and educational activities for families, including the kids' science museum, free concerts and classic movies, TRULY excellent libraries as you might expect in a city with 2 major universities on site, and all kinds of other stuff. The population is diverse and friendly. There's an enormous arboretum, the Huron River to paddle on, a vast array of music and arts activities for all ages...and Detroit's events and activities, like the DIA and the Jazz Festival, are less than an hour away.

I could go on and on! In fact I see I already have!

[green5640]

I am not a parent in Ann Arbor, but I lived in Ann Arbor around 2006 for a few years as a pre-teen to teenager. I can tell you that Ann Arbor's a great place to raise kids.

The best things about it:
There's a lot to do (art museums, libraries, parks, restaurants, concerts, U of M games). The football games and gymnastic meets were always fun to go to. Walking around downtown is cool too, since there are lots of locally owned stores. There are lots of pools and athletic clubs to join; some have water slides, water play areas, rock climbing walls, etc. (check out Liberty Athletic Club- great for kids of all ages) The city is very safe, walkable, and great for kids. Sidewalks and streetlights are present on nearly every street. The schools are great, though they are large (one of the high schools has 1000+ students). Ann Arbor has a lot of alternative public schools that are great (Ann Arbor Open School, Community High) and Montessori Schools (Daycroft, Go Like the Wind). The town is really progressive, liberal, and educated. I had a really good experience in Ann Arbor Public Schools and made great friends there.

The worst things about it:
The winters are pretty cold and snowy. Though there are lots of parks, it's not very scenic (besides the Huron River area); it's really flat. Cost of living is high, especially close to downtown. However, if you live out in Pittsfield Township (which is still considered Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Public Schools) or another township you can get a newer home at a decent price. If you're very conservative then it might not be the best fit, since the city is very left leaning.

Compared to other places I've lived, Ann Arbor stands out. Just because it is a larger town with so much to do and great, friendly people.
To sum everything up, Ann Arbor's great. I'd highly recommend giving it a try!
Hope this helps!