One Of The Midwest’s Best Counties To Retire Is A Michigan Hidden Gem With Shopping, Outdoor Fun, And Detroit Access

For seniors who nonetheless need to expertise all 4 seasons, the Great Lakes area of the Upper Midwest may be an interesting retirement vacation spot. Living right here offers you entry to seashores and boating spots in the summertime, with sacrificing colourful leaves within the fall and snow within the winter. The charming cities and delightful surroundings of Southeast Michigan’s Oakland County make it one of many prime locations to spend your Golden Years. The Motley Fool ranked the county #11 on its checklist of the Best Places to Retire in the Midwest in 2026 for its low crime price, top quality of life, and cheap value of dwelling. Add within the county’s energetic industrial hubs and ample spots for out of doors recreation, and it checks numerous packing containers for locations to spend your golden years.

Oakland County is a part of the Detroit Metro space, positioned simply north of the Midwest metropolis. This proximity to a significant city hub is a bonus for retirees. It means quick access to the hospitals and clinics in Detroit’s complete healthcare system, for one factor. Travelers can attain Oakland County simply from the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and the Amtrak station, whereas sports activities followers can catch skilled video games and head into the town middle for extra cultural scorching spots. At over 900 sq. miles, Oakland County is pretty massive, and there are dozens of various cities and villages inside that space. From luxurious procuring meccas to peaceable lakeside retreats, each retirees and guests have loads to maintain them busy on this leafy nook of “The Mitten State”.

With over 62 cities that decision Oakland County house, it may be troublesome to know the place to go, however the prosperous Detroit suburb of Troy is a superb place to start out. This metropolis of about 89,000 folks is taken into account top-of-the-line locations to reside within the Detroit space, in response to Niche, in addition to one of many prime spots to buy because of the Somerset Collection. This indoor mall has over 180 shops, together with department shops like Nordstrom and Macy’s, in addition to boutiques from luxurious manufacturers like Balenciaga, Versace, Gucci, and Prada. There are a lot of spots to seize a chunk to eat in and round Somerset Collection, too, from quick meals to positive eating.

Another prime Oakland County spot for shopaholics is the laid-back metropolis of Novi, overflowing with outlets and household enjoyable. Novi is a bit smaller than Troy however has a equally bustling suburban really feel. There are a number of procuring malls in Novi, together with Twelve Oaks Mall, the biggest procuring middle within the Detroit space. The number of shops in Novi is very spectacular, together with distinctive spots just like the Insp!re Marketplace maker boutique and the worldwide meals store, Exotic Snack Guys, alongside the well-known retailers you may discover at different malls.

You need not reside in an even bigger metropolis to have handy procuring choices, both. Many of Oakland County’s smaller communities have vibrant Main Streets the place you’ll be able to store and eat at native companies. One of those is Birmingham, a revitalized suburb that is been known as Detroit’s Beverly Hills, which has nearly 300 shops in its walkable downtown. Rochester is a perfect city to buy at impartial shops, lots of which might’t be discovered anyplace else, whereas Farmington was a 2026 recipient of a Great American Main Street Award for its pedestrian-friendly downtown brimming with native outlets.

If you need quick access to nature, the northern a part of Oakland County will probably be extra your pace. Orion Township calls itself the place “where living is a vacation,” and out of doors lovers will doubtless agree with that evaluation. It’s house to Lake Orion, a picturesque lakeshore village the place you’ll be able to discover over 50 miles of trails. This features a portion of the Polly Ann Trail, a rail-trail that runs north from Orion Township into neighboring Lapeer County. Michigan’s first non-motorized rail-trail, the 8.9-mile Paint Creek Trail, additionally has a trailhead in Lake Orion and runs by different Oakland County cities like Goodison and Rochester.

Oakland County additionally has tons to supply for seniors who like boating and fishing. There are practically 1,000 waterways within the county, together with a few of Michigan’s most lovely lakes. The Pontiac Lake Recreation Area is one stand-out, house to the longest seashore within the Detroit space together with campgrounds, mountaineering and biking trails, a ship launch with kayak leases, and two accessible fishing piers. The 1,280-acre Cass Lake is the world’s largest inland lake. It’s notably standard with boaters because it has no horsepower restrictions, whereas anglers can catch quite a lot of species like pike, walleye, and each largemouth and smallmouth bass. For trout fishing, you’ll be able to hit the streams of Bald Mountain Recreation Area.

For those that take pleasure in snowboarding and different winter sports activities, there are a number of locations the place you’ll be able to hit the slopes. Mt. Holly has Southeast Michigan’s largest vertical drop and two terrain parks in its 100 skiable acres, with slopes appropriate for all talent ranges. The family-friendly Pine Knob resort boasts 17 runs and three terrain parks, whereas Alpine Valley Ski Area is the biggest within the county and an incredible spot for scenic snowy views.