A Guide to 55+ Active Living Communities in Michigan

 

Embrace the Great Outdoors in Michigan 

Michigan is the perfect place to call home when an affordable, lakeside retirement is your dream. The state has a coastline along Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan. The state borders Ontario, Canada, making international travel convenient and affordable. 

Many cultures and ethnicities call Michigan home. The area near the Canadian border is home to the descendants of Scandinavian and Dutch immigrants. The metropolitan regions around Detroit and Flint are alive with the culture of the African Americans who made the trek north in the early 20th century. Dearborn and its suburbs are home to the largest Arab-American community in the United States. Asians have been calling Ann Arbor home for over fifty years. With such diversity in the state, there’s a cultural festival or holiday celebration to enjoy every week. 

Fishing is the year-round sport of choice for active older adults who choose to call Michigan home. Hunting is also a popular pastime. Boar hunting with a crossbow is an activity any hunter can do year-round with a valid hunting license. Mountain bike trails are perfect for traversing nature preserves and parks. Some of these trails double as snowmobile trails in the winter. With over 580 golf courses, regular rounds of golf in Michigan are easy to fit into a busy schedule. 

Lakefront living means sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking, and swimming just outside your door. Weather on the Great Lakes can be unpredictable, so living in a community with like-minded adventurers means neighbors are around to enjoy the water together. 

Between fishing, hunting, water sports, hiking, mountain biking, and playing golf, cheering on professional and collegiate sporting teams is one of Michigan's most unifying activities. There’s a sports team to support for every season. 

Communities that cater to 55+ residents in Michigan provide all-weather maintenance. Master planned 55+ communities and low-maintenance communities provide snow removal services in the winter and landscape maintenance services the rest of the year. Properties in Michigan designed for empty nesters looking to downsize are very affordable. Michigan’s waterfront communities are top-rated among seniors who want to spend their retirement years living a lakeside lifestyle.

 

The Unique Regions of Michigan

Natural majesty is everywhere in Michigan! Among the beauty of the great outdoors, active older adults will find metropolitan areas with shopping, entertainment, and superior health care options. Explore the different regions, from rural lakeside shores to metropolitan cities. 

West Michigan 

West Michigan is known for its friendly communities, Dutch culture, safe neighborhoods, and endless shoreline. West Michigan is conveniently located near Chicago and Milwaukee. 

Grand Rapids is the largest city in West Michigan. It’s home to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) and fourteen golf courses. The community of Holland is home to eight golf courses and a beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline.  

Kalamazoo has over 70,000 residents with 11 golf courses, miles of cycling paths, restaurants for every budget and taste, and convenient shopping. Another suburb of Grand Rapids, Byron Center, is one of the fastest-growing communities in West Michigan. 

Cedar Springs is a historically popular location for hunting along its lakes and forests. Small-town Rockford has plenty of lakeside trails, parks, and golf courses.

Southeastern Michigan

Southeastern Michigan is home to the state’s largest metropolises. The Detroit suburb of Novi is the place to live when convenient quality medical care is a priority. Sterling Heights is culturally diverse, with many residents of Balkan and Middle-Eastern ethnicities. 

Lakefront living is easy to do in the Township of West Bloomfield. This community is known locally as the “ Lake Township of Oakland County” because it’s dotted with lakes of all sizes. It’s also home to the largest Jewish population in Michigan. 

If living in a community known for its trees is how you envision your retirement, Ann Arbor is the place to look for an active older adult property. The community is home to the University of Michigan and its renowned medical center. 

Jackson is a small town home to 26 parks and a golf course. Monroe is another small town near the border of Ohio. 

Ypsilanti is a community of parks and artists. It’s the perfect place to retire when affordability, walkability, and an appreciation of artistic expression are priorities in your life. 

Central Michigan

Central Michigan is a primarily agricultural area with many farms and farmers' markets. Here, you’ll find Michigan’s capital city, Lansing, which is as full of history as it is of shopping and dining districts.

St. Clair is located on the banks of the St. Clair River. It’s a small town surrounding beautiful Palmer Park, the center for outdoor recreation.

Northern Michigan

No matter the season, active older adults who reside in Northern Michigan can indulge in their passions. Hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, golf, and skiing are just outside your front door.

The rural town of Williamsburg is located on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay and is surrounded by cherry orchards. Ludington is a resort community on the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s well-known for its summer ferry service to Wisconsin and its excellent fishing, hunting, and golf.

Traverse City is home to the National Cherry Festival and year-round outdoor activities. Cycling to local vineyards, skiing at the local resorts, and other water sports are excellent reasons to retire here. 

Upper Peninsula (U.P.)

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) is the perfect retirement place for active older adults who want to be close to nature. The region boasts pristine cross-country skiing trails, a meandering golf course, and hunting and fishing galore! Gladstone is one of the many small towns that welcome retirees. 

 

The Top Things to Do in Michigan for Seniors

Michigan is a perfect retirement option for those who like to spend time in nature. The shores of the Great Lakes are especially popular for boating, fishing, and swimming. Communities catering to active older adults offer many on-site activities to keep residents busy. 

Activities Within Your Community

The lifestyle of communities in Michigan varies depending on the needs of the residents. Most offer a peaceful, small-town atmosphere while providing amenities that keep the residents active and connected.

(H4) Enjoy a Waterfront Lifestyle

Michigan’s master-planned waterfront communities offer picturesque views, private shorelines, and boat docks at an affordable price. The Great Lakes and other bodies of water around the state make picturesque views and water access a staple for residents.

(H4) Walk the Trails

Active lifestyle communities are equipped with trails that wind through the neighborhood. Residents can explore them on foot or bikes. These trails are safe and well-suited for dog walking. 

(H4) Visit the Community Park

Many 55+ communities have their onsite parks and gardens. These parks are great places for neighbors to gather together any time of the year. 

Enjoy Activities Near Your Home

Michigan is an outdoor lover’s paradise. It’s also culturally diverse. Residents will find festivals and celebrations on offer every month of the year. Affordable waterfront living is essential to Michigan’s active older adults. Michigan has over 650 golf courses, enough to keep enthusiasts busy for years. 

Play Water Sports

Michigan’s proximity to the Great Lakes makes it ideal for water sports. Senior-friendly activities on the lake include boating, kayaking, and canoeing.

Go Fishing and Hunting

Stay active outdoors during retirement by fishing and hunting. In Michigan’s forested regions, hunt for deer, elk, wild turkeys, and small game. Fish the Great Lakes and reel in salmon, trout, pike, and walleye.

Cheer for the Home Team

Michigan is home to a professional sports team in all the competitive leagues. Cheer on the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, the NFL’s Detroit Lions, and the MLB’s Detroit Tigers. Collegiate sports are also popular in Michigan, with the University of Michigan Wolverines leading the pack. 

Casino Action 

Residents of Michigan are blessed with over twenty-six casinos in their state. Most offer both slots and table games. Some are luxurious resorts situated on pristine lakes. Others are comfortable venues that cater to locals and offer a homey welcome to regular players.  

 

Why Michigan Appeals to 55+ Retirees

There’s no shortage of things to do in Michigan, making it a popular choice for 55+ adults who want to stay active during retirement. Outdoor activities like hunting and fishing exemplify the benefits of a lake lifestyle. More laid-back activities like visiting casinos or watching professional sports cater to those who prefer less strenuous activities.

Michigan also has a strong sense of cultural diversity with an ethnically and religiously diverse population. Community events that bring neighbors together are scheduled all year long.

Retiring in Michigan is very affordable for seniors. You can have the lakeside home you’ve always dreamed of without overspending, which makes its communities attractive for many active older adults.

 

Find Your Ideal 55+ Community.

Discover the type of 55+ community in Michigan that appeals to you. Live along the waterfront or stay close to the city. Settle with like-minded neighbors, or live in a single-story downsized home in an all-ages community. Michigan has housing for every need and budget!

Condominiums

Michigan’s condominium (condo) communities are perfect for empty nesters seeking flexibility and a sense of community. Like manufactured homes communities, condos are typically budget-friendly, offering a sought-after location and comfortable accommodations.

Age Restricted Communities

Age-restricted communities offer residents many senior-friendly activities and amenities. For added safety and security, they may also be gated communities.

Waterfront Communities

Communities that border one of the Great Lakes have the added benefit of being waterfront communities. These communities offer easy access to fishing, sailing, canoeing, and other water sports. Some waterfront communities lie along smaller lakes throughout the state if you want a quiet, peaceful residence.

Low-Maintenance Communities

While Michigan gets snow in the winter, you won’t have to worry about shoveling or plowing if you live in a low-maintenance community. These communities are well suited for seniors as they alleviate the burden of outdoor maintenance. Many 55+ communities include onsite maintenance services.

 

Healthcare for Seniors

Michigan offers highly accessible healthcare to its residents. Costs are lower than in many other states and medical facilities in each region.

Michigan Medicine is the University of Michigan’s hospital. Harper University runs the DMC Harper University Hospital. Other healthcare networks operating in Michigan include OSF HealthCare and Ascension Health.