Howell, Michigan. Okay, let’s be honest, it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when mustering up ideas for hot family vacation spots. It’s a small, suburban community nestled within Livingston-county between Lansing, Michigan and Ann Arbor, Michigan. It falls into the category of hidden treasures when searching for a great vacation spot since it’s small enough to provide quirky history facts but large enough to attract shoppers and local adventurers.
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The heart of Howell is located in its downtown location, bustling during the evening with families at the eateries or with lingerers during the daytime out for a cup of coffee at The Uptown Coffee House. Recently, a new business sprouted in Howell called The Candy Bar and features all kinds of candy imaginable and is an aesthetic addition to the lineup of shops downtown.
Also located in the downtown area is one of the 2,509 libraries that Andrew Carnegie erected in 1875. Visitors should venture into the downtown shops and then head to the local park for an excellent picnic spot. Howell city’s park is centered on Thompson Lake and is across from a strip of homes sitting on the lake. On a nice summer day, many residents take out their boats for a ride on the lake and park visitors go swimming. Howell has many events going on in the summer as well, so then would be the best time to visit. In the second week of June, Howell features its annual Pink party where businesses and individuals are decked out in all pink and raise money for treatments and cures for breast cancer. In the last week of June, Howell features its annual Balloon Festival. Many families and teenagers gather to the carnival event where hot air balloons are launched into the sky and music hums in the warm air. After bellies are full with elephant ears and lemonade from the Balloon festival, visitors should get some rest and head to the Howell Opera house located in downtown Howell for art lessons on Tuesdays or the Court house for concerts of all genres throughout the summer.
Teens often gather to the Opera house for local rock bands that are a part of “Livingston Underground,” so there’s always something in Howell no matter what the age. Some of the best parts of Howell, however, are found in its nooks and crannies. There’s an alleyway in downtown that is streamed with Christmas lights all year round and are kept on to keep the alleyways safe during night. They also add a beautiful atmosphere to the town and highlight its hidden treasure feel. If you’re looking for a relaxing, safe, and fun area to visit this summer, Howell, Michigan is the place to go.
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