Lake Orion, MI

Throughout its history, Lake Orion has been known as a vacation destination for Detroit residents. Early railroads that were built to carry goods between Detroit and Flint ran right through Lake Orion, making it easily accessible for Detroit residents to escape and spend a quiet weekend relaxing on one of the area's many lakes.

Beginning in the 1950s, the area begin to experience an economic depression and a decline as a prime vacation destination. Over the coming decades, it became home to auto workers and their families who came to work at the town's General Motors Plant.

A robust art scene can be found a short drive south to Ferndale and Royal Oak. Nine Mile, which runs east and west through these cities, houses galleries including the Butchers Daughter and the Lawrence Street Gallery.

The town's biggest annual event is the Fourth of July fair and fireworks display.

If you want to grab a quick bite to eat, Jet's Pizza shops and National Coney Island locations dominate the street corners in the city, making it easy to grab a slice or enjoy a chili dog.

For a more formal dining experience, you can enjoy bottomless chips and salsa at the popular Sagebrush Cantina. Wash down your shrimp tacos and rice and beans with a margarita mixed with housemade syrups. If you brought your appetite, dig into the chimichanga, which is big enough to feed more than one person but too good to share. The large portions and reasonably priced drinks make the Sagebrush a favorite place among locals, so you might want to call ahead for a table.

Right next door on Main Street is another great spot that is often packed to the gills with patrons: CJ's Lakeside Grill. The Sunday-morning CJ breakfast special, which includes three eggs, two strips of bacon, ham, sausage, toast and potatoes, is the most popular item on the menu. For dinner, be sure to sample a beef or chicken pastie, a handheld variation on a pot pie.

Directly across the street, you will find the 51 North Brewing Company. Stop by to sample a flight of beers and try some mead. The tap list is constantly changing, meaning there will always be a new brew to fall in love with.

While there are no clubs in Lake Orion, the DTE Energy Music Theater keeps the neighboring town of Clarkston rocking and rolling all summer. This outdoor music venue hosts some of the biggest national music tours and is a mere 20 minutes west of downtown Lake Orion.

Most residents get around by driving. Because the town is so small, there isn't an established bus or transit system. The closest Amtrak and bus station lies about 20 minutes south in Pontiac. This leaves limited options for traveling around town and into Detroit.

However, if you do have a car, you can enjoy ample, free on-street parking through downtown and surrounding areas. Uber also operates in the area and can provide relatively cheap transportation. If all else fails you can call a cab, but it will be nearly impossible to hail one from a street corner.

The town also provides easy access to I-75, which runs south toward Detroit and north toward the other major city of Flint. The main thoroughfare through town is M-24, or Lapeer Road; it allows you to avoid smaller country roads and lessen travel time as you bounce from one end of town to the other.

While Lake Orion has a limited sidewalk system, the town and surrounding areas are working hard to change this. Many of the old railroads have been turned into pedestrian paths that allow access to different areas of town.

With so many lakes in the area, watersports are one of the most popular activities. The busiest public access beach is located across from downtown directly on Lake Orion, the town's namesake. During the summer and fall, Friendship Park and Orion Oaks host soccer and baseball leagues that are open to players of all ages through the parks and recreation office.

All of the area parks include extensive walking trails both on sidewalks and through wooded paths. Perhaps the highlight of the park system is the Orion Oaks Dog Park, which covers dozens of acres and provides lake access for your pooch.

During July and August, the Downtown Lake Orion Gazebo is home to a summer concert series that can be heard on Wednesday evenings.

Lake Orion is located in one of the nation's wealthiest counties and has a cost of living well above that of Detroit. You can expect to pay $750 for a one-bedroom apartment and gas prices in town run a little over 9 percent above the national average. If you decide to head downtown for a beer, expect to pay around $4 per drink.

A great feature of Lake Orion is its proximity to the Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, which houses a long list of outlet stores. This expansive mall is located just on the other side of the southern border of Lake Orion in the city of Auburn Hills. People come from all over the state to bargain shop at this sprawling center that includes a Bass Pro Shop, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. The town is also home to the Olde World Canterbury Village, modeled after a traditional German village. Be sure to stop by the Always Christmas store at any time of year for one of the largest selections of holiday ornaments and decorations. Just a couple doors down in this outdoor shopping center is the famous Yates Cider Mill, which offers specialty spreads, local fudge and fresh cinnamon doughnuts. Another specialty store in the area that garners a lot of attention from locals and visitors is Simply Marcella. This unique shop specializes in pearl jewelry and specialty soaps. The shop caters to women and also carries some accessories, including sparkly hats and scarves. After a day of shopping, swing by Meijer to pick up affordable groceries, toiletries and prescriptions. You can also visit the local farmers market, located right downtown and open weekends in the warmer months of June-October.