Downtown Brighton

One thing’s for sure about the Michigan city of Brighton. If Main Street is closed, tons of outdoor fun is on the horizon.

Located directly between the city of Detroit and the state capitol, the community of Brighton has managed to escape the economic hardships that plagued many Michigan communities.

The city’s placement along the U.S. 23 and Interstate-96 corridors helped solidify its importance in the state’s industrial economy. After Brighton was incorporated as a city in 1928, the area grew at a slow but steady pace. Then in the 1990s, Detroiters left the city for nearby suburbs, and suburbanites left the suburbs for places like Brighton.

Years later, the Livingston County city has earned a reputation for being a good place to raise children while enjoying small-town life in a setting with numerous parks and various outdoor activities for all seasons. Mill Pond Park is known as a great place for picnics, fishing, or going for a peaceful walk. And the Brighton Recreation Area in the nearby community of Howell offers a variety of activities, including swimming, boating, and camping.

Brighton also is home to two golf courses, the Olde Course at Brighton and the Brighton Country Club. The Olde Course offers a challenging course and is a great place to practice your golf game. The Brighton Country Club is a private course with a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Whether you are looking for a single-family home or an apartment, there are plenty of options to choose from. Housing styles in Brighton range from sprawling mansions to cozy cottages. The most popular styles of houses in Brighton are traditional, ranch, and contemporary with a mix of brick and vinyl. The cost of houses in Brighton varies, depending on the size, style, and amenities. Prices for traditional homes range from $200,000 to $800,000, while ranch homes range from $250,000 to $700,000. Contemporary homes in Brighton can range anywhere from $300,000 to $1 million or more.

The city also has a great selection of restaurants, from fine dining to fast food. Downtown Brighton features a variety of restaurants and bars, as well as unique shops. There are also several farmers’ markets in the area, where you can find fresh produce and other goods.

At Bourbons, a great place to stop after visiting Mill Pond or after hopping off the nearby train, customers enjoy the retractable sunroom windows and the double-sided fireplace while dining on dishes like fig and pear pizza, French fried pickles and pork belly burnt ends. The eatery fosters an environment of good service from their family of employees serving home-cooked style meals.

For schooling needs, the Brighton Area School District encompasses all of Brighton, and portions of Brighton, Genoa, Green Oak, and Hamburg Townships. With about 7,000 students, the district includes four elementary schools, a 5th/6th-grade school, a 7th/8th-grade school and one high school. Private and charter schools also service the community as well. St. Patrick School, Charyl Stockwell Academy and Flex Tech High School offer a variety of educational programs.

Festivals are a mainstay in Brighton and attract residents and visitors alike. Downtown Main Street is closed several times throughout the year to allow vendors and attractions to set up and for visitors to stroll the area unencumbered by traffic. Events such as Summerfest, Artfest, the Smokin' Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Mill Pond Summer Concert series draw huge crowds, with their family-friendly venues.

Festivals are a mainstay in Brighton and attract residents and visitors alike. Downtown Main Street is closed several times throughout the year to allow vendors and attractions to set up and for visitors to stroll the area unencumbered by traffic. Events such as Summerfest, Artfest, the Smokin' Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Mill Pond Summer Concert series draw huge crowds, with their family-friendly venues.