[Getmeouttacali]

My family and I will be moving to Michigan this summer. We are not sure where we want to live yet. My husband needs easy access to 94, as he may need to go to Chicago occasionally for business. My daughter and I want to live in the country, on 2-5 acres, maybe eventually have a small farm. My stepdaughter is a true OC girl. She wants a mall and a movie theater nearby. She is worried about her social life. What do teenagers do for fun in Pinckney, Stockbridge, Dexter, and Chelsea? I think a simpler life will be good for her, but I don't want her bored to death, either. Anyone who's lived in the area- was it hard to make friends? The rest of us pretty much keep to ourselves anyway, but with a teen, it's really important. Thanks in advance

[Coldjensens]

Go to Hell.

[Coldjensens]

. .. and Go canoeing. Stop at the Hell gift shop and the Ice Scream parlor.

Dexter ahs a neat old fashioned camera store and some other neat shops. Chelsea has a decent theater, but do not go see any home grown shows. The ones written by an author (not an actor) are good. The locally written shows are terrible.

[ram2]

There is a chain of lakes in that area.

[detwahDJ]

My family is in Pinckney. Downtown is small - little restaurants and shops. Gas, groceries & party stores east on M-36. The big draw in the area is the nearby recreation areas (Pinckney RA, Waterloo RA, Brighton RA, Island Lake, Kensington Lake metropark, Halfmoon Lake pk, etc). Cultural events are in Ann Arbor. There are misc fairs etc. in the summertime.
Mall shopping is in Brighton.
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

[zthatzmanz28]

Gotta have a boat or access to a boat when living in Pinckney. Riding the chain of lakes is an excellent way to spend the weekends or most any evening in a boat. Brighton Recreation area is just up the road. Howell has a great farmer's market in the summer (Sunday's I think). Brighton has weekend activities around the Mill Pond area. SOuth Lyon is a nice day trip to downtown and the South Lyon Hotel for lunch or dinner.

[michmoldman]

I live in mid-MI. and LOVE going north. But if we do go south...I love the Pinckney recreational area. It has an "up-north" feel, and tons of things to do. Oh...and the Waterloo Recreational are is also awesome! Its very beautiful! Just tons of lakes, trails and woods around these areas.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by Getmeouttacali

What do teenagers do for fun in Pinckney, Stockbridge, Dexter, and Chelsea?

Either play sports, hang out with friends at houses, or go to Ann Arbor/Brighton.

There is lots of outdoors stuff - hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, swimming, boating - but if she's only into shopping related/urban activities, Brighton and Ann Arbor are the closest.

If your looking out just for your stepdaughter and husband, Stockbridge is the worst choice, it's the furthest from an urban area and from 94, by a long shot. It's a tiny village surrounded by farmland. If he had to go to Lansing often, it would be a decent choice though.

[Getmeouttacali]

We have off road vehicles. Is atv riding legal in any of the rec areas? Are there places nearby where people go riding? That's something both girls are into. I'm leaning away from Stockbridge, as hubby and stepdaughter will probably not like being quite that rural. I'm liking Chelsea, Dexter, and Pinckney the best. My husband likes Howell, which seems a bit too settled for me. I like the idea of being a short drive from AA. Is Ypsilanti a nice area?

[michigan83]

Bundy Hill is an off-roading spot in the Jackson area, which isn't too far away:

Michigan Off Roading at Bundy Hill Off Road Park - Jerome, MI (4x4, OHV, ORV, ATV, Quad, Motorcycle, Jeep)