Many, if not most, people have never really explored the area that they live in. That may be the immediately surrounding area or within some reasonable radius around where you live. We tend to think about traveling to get to place that we might enjoy for a vacation. But, when traveling isn’t practical (or maybe affordable) try exploring the local area. I can almost guarantee that there are places and things that you haven’t seen within minutes of your home.
Just in my little village of Milford, Michigan there are things that most long-term residents have probably never seen or visited. There are three waterfalls within the Village limits. There is an art deco water-powered (no longer in service) powerhouse designed by Albert Khan right next to a wonderful outdoor amphitheater. There is a little park that was part of the Oakland County Fair grounds when the Fair was held in Milford. There are two local canoe/kayak rental places that will rent you a boat to explore the Huron River, which runs through the Village. By the way, there are three bridges over the Huron River within the Village.
There’s a wonderful Historical Museum with displays of what life was like in Milford when settlers arrived and in the late 19th Century. This year the Milford Historical Museum also features a display of pictures and memorabilia from life in Milford 50 years ago in the 1970’s. There is a log cabin built to show how the first settlers lived. It is in the original Village Square, which is now South Park. Also visit the cute little candy store on Main Street that used to be part of Ye Olde Hotel be fore that was demolished. Also look for the historic Hibbard Tavern, which was a stop on the Pontiac to Howell stagecoach line (hint – it is on Summit Street).
There is a quaint little single screen cinema. There is a wonderful, walkable downtown with cute stores in historic buildings that carry things that you actually need and many great restaurants to choose from for lunch or dinner (here’s a guide to the local restaurants from restaurantsji.com) There is a craft brewery, situated on the banks of the Huron River. There is a hidden gem of a children’s play area in Central Park and several baseball diamonds in different areas of the Village. Oak Grove Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the Village, contains the final resting place of many of the original settlers, as well as many of our local Civil War and WWI veterans. There are quite a few historical markers around the Village marking places where water-powered mills used to stand.
So, if you have to take a staycation this year, see if you can find all of those places. You might enjoy the exploring and see even more things of interest.
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