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Top Ways to Spend Your Summer Near Our Communities

May 20, 2022

At Norfolk Homes, we carefully select only the best locations throughout the greater Ann Arbor area for the incredible communities and remarkable homes that we build, and we place high importance on the nearby amenities, attractions and entertainment for our homeowners to enjoy year-round—especially during the warmer months. With the summer season rolling in fast, our team at Norfolk Homes wanted to highlight some of the extraordinary warm-weather activities that Ann Arbor and its surrounding areas provide for residents—from family-friendly local events to amazing outdoor adventures and everything in between.

Explore the outdoors

With warmer temperatures comes a greater need to get out and enjoy nature while taking in the beautiful weather—and luckily, Ann Arbor and its surrounding areas have plenty of opportunities to fulfill that need. The well-known Border to Border Trail (B2B Trail) is the ideal way to explore the beauty that Ann Arbor, Dexter and Chelsea have to offer. The non-motorized trail runs all through Washtenaw County, following  the Huron River for the utmost natural beauty and the ultimate hiking or biking experience.  Enjoy the water on the stunning Huron River Water Trail by kayak or canoe—or take the time to fish, bike, hike, hunt or swim throughout the breathtaking trails and sandy beaches of Waterloo State Recreation Area in Chelsea. 

In addition to the amazing natural beauty that the Ann Arbor area has to offer to its residents, there are an abundance of other opportunities to enjoy the summer weather throughout the picturesque towns. The entire regional area boasts outstanding restaurants and bars, most of which contain roomy outdoor spaces to indulge in your food, such as the renowned Palio Ann Arbor—where you’ll find the highest-quality Italian cuisine, as well as a gorgeous rooftop patio with incredible views. Accompanied by an unbeatable outdoor dining area, Salt Springs Brewery in Saline is a great place to find a world-inspired menu with top-rated craft beers—and The Common Grill in Chelsea is a prime location for refreshing American dishes and invigorating cocktails. After dinner, you can stop by Dexter Creamery or Blank Slate Creamery to cool off from the Michigan summer heat with amazing homemade ice cream. 

If you enjoy fresh produce, farm products, prepared foods, flowers and artisan items,  Washtenaw County is home to 14 Farmers Markets. The historic Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open year round on Saturdays and adds a Wednesday market in the summer. You can also find popular farmer’s markets throughout the towns of Chelsea, Dexter and Saline on the weekends this summer—ensuring that you’ll never run out of your locally-grown produce during the warmer months. 

Attend the unique festivals and events

On top of incredible outdoor activities that are perfect for the warmer weather, Ann Arbor and its surrounding towns are known for their signature festivals and events that are held each summer. Find admission-free concerts, family-friendly outdoor movie nights, food vendors and more June 10 through July 3 during the renowned Ann Arbor Summer Festival—and don’t forget to stop by the Ann Arbor Art Fair July 21-23 for the largest juried art fair in the nation, featuring nearly 1,000 artists and a footprint spanning 30 city blocks in downtown Ann Arbor that you won’t want to miss. For those who love weekly gatherings to experience all genres of live music—as well as kid-friendly activities such as magicians, circus acts and art stations to keep the little ones entertained—look no further than Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights in downtown Chelsea, recurring every Thursday evening from June 2 to July 28. 

To explore new cultures through food, dance, sports and events—the Saline Celtic Festival celebrates the heritage of its sister city of Brecon, Wales through this one-of-a-kind festival, occurring this year on July 8 and 9. In addition, both the Paint Dexter Plein Air Art Festival and Dexter Days are wonderful activities in August—where you can find distinctive art exhibitions, parades, handcrafted goods, live music and more. The possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to finding unique, innovative and fun festivals and events throughout the charming region of Ann Arbor—allowing for an outstanding summer filled with one-of-a-kind gatherings and new experiences.

Optimize your summer with Norfolk Homes

Start enjoying spectacular Michigan summers and explore purchasing one of Norfolk Homes distinctive home plans available in Washtenaw, Livingston, Jackson and Calhoun counties. Browse all of our amazing communities and schedule a private tour to learn more about these one-of-a-kind neighborhoods.