Holly, MI

Tucked into northern Oakland County, Holly offers a charming small-town feel about halfway between Flint and Detroit. With around 6,000 residents, it features a historic downtown filled with brick storefronts, antique shops, and local eateries along the Shiawassee River. The community embraces its heritage throughout the year, most famously during the annual Holly Dickens Festival, which turns the village into an old-fashioned Victorian holiday scene. The nearby Michigan Renaissance Festival also brings plenty of seasonal excitement to the area each summer and fall.

ATTRAndrew Jameson / CC BY-SA 3.0

For everyday living, Holly provides a welcoming, quiet atmosphere with schooling options through Holly Area Schools and Holly Academy. Outdoor recreation is one of the biggest perks of living here. You can launch a kayak right from WaterWorks Park onto the Shiawassee River, explore thousands of acres of trails and lakes at Holly Recreation Area, or hit the slopes at Mount Holly during the winter. It is a comfortable, scenic place to settle down if you want historic character and plenty to do outdoors.