Metro-Detroit

Oakland County Skiing and Snowboarding at Mt. Holly

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment
Three skiers ride down Mt. Holly in a dark Michigan night lit up by the lights of the resort.

Mt. Holly is one of three locations to ski and snowboard in Oakland County. The resort hosts 20 trail runs, seven chairlifts, four rope tows, two SunKid Wonder Carpets, and Southeastern Michigan’s only high-speed detachable chairlift. Skiers and snowboarders of all levels can discover fun at Mt. Holly, whether you’re searching for easier trail runs to try, terrain parks to style on, or expert level slopes to race your friends. Visit “where the north begins” and stay active during this chilly time of year.

Located in Groveland Township, Mt. Holly is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. Watch this quick preview of the resort before you head out:

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Oakland County Indoor Activities

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment
Great Lakes Crossing sign in Auburn Hills.

There are so many opportunities for indoor fun in Oakland County! Take a trip to a mall, jump around at a trampoline center, or attempt an exciting escape room puzzler. With more than 200 locations for indoor fun in the county, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect activity for you.

Click the button below to check out our full list of indoor fun, or scroll down to use our interactive map.

Indoor Fun in Oakland County

Head over to Palazzo di Bocce in Lake Orion or Whirlyball in Novi for unique sporting experiences, catch a show at Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, or play arcade games and laser tag at Safari Playground in Walled Lake.

For an entire day of fun, visit Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills and check out their new Michigan themed play area, catch a movie at AMC Star Great Lakes, visit Sea Life Aquarium and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, or go bowling and play arcade games, karaoke, billiards, ping-pong, and darts at Round 1 Bowling & Amusement.

Use our interactive map to find locations near you. The legend lists a wide range of activities, like archery, arts and crafts, gymnastics, ice and roller skating, museums, rock climbing, theaters, and many more.

Map listing various indoor locations in Oakland County, such as bowling alleys, escape rooms, and movie theatres.

Do you know about another indoor activity in the Oakland County area? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter, by contacting us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leaving a comment below.

Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.

Shop Small at Oakland County Independent Toy Stores

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

Shopping small is a great way to support local businesses and find the perfect gift for anyone on your list this holiday season and throughout the year. Oakland County is home to several independent toy stores that offer a variety of specialty toys and gifts. Check out our full list of independently owned toy and gift stores:

Independent Toy Stores in Oakland County

Surprise the little ones in your life with something they’ll treasure from a local toy store. Find classic kid favorites as well as the latest and greatest toys at Adventures in Toys in Birmingham, The Village Toy Shoppe in Milford, and Funky Monkey Toys in Oxford.

For the hard to shop for on your list, check out unique stores featuring Michigan-made, whimsical, and lifestyle gifts at Catching Fireflies in Berkley or Rochester, Green Hippo Gifts in Lake Orion, or Leon and Lulu in Clawson.

Looking for something specific? Check out our interactive map of toy stores and use the legend to sort by different types of specialty shops: Collectibles; Comics; Dolls; Games; Hobby; Magic; Anime, Manga & Kawaii; Blocks & Robots; Toys; and Toys & Gifts.

Map of many different toy stores across Oakland County.

Do you know of any other independent toy or gift stores in the Oakland County area? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter, by contacting us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leaving a comment below.

Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.

Oakland County Holiday Lights Map

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

Celebrate the season with a tour of holiday light displays in and around Oakland County! Show off your decorated property or visit one of the many holiday light displays using the 2nd annual Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. Use the map below to discover festive homes like My Light Show in Waterford, community displays such as the Big, Bright Light Show in Downtown Rochester, and popular attractions like Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo.

Submit your display or find one to visit using the interactive Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. Residents, communities, and businesses in the area can submit their own properties and, once approved, they will show up on the map for others to visit in person.

Holiday Lights Map

Submit Your Holiday Lights Display

Enter your own property into the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map by following the instructions below:

  • Visit the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map webpage from your mobile device or desktop computer. Mac desktop users should use Safari or Firefox for optimal experience.
  • Press the “+ Submit Your Light Display” button on the top right corner of the webpage.
  • Upload a picture of your decorated property, the title of your holiday display, your address, and a description of what visitors should expect to see.
  • Press the “Accept Terms and Submit” button.

That’s it, you are done! Wait a few hours and check back to view your property on the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map.

Please note, all submissions will go through an approval process before showing up on the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map. Submissions without a photo will not be accepted. Only submit photos of your own property and be aware that by uploading your submission, you are encouraging people to visit your property.

Check out the 2018 Oakland County Holiday Lights Map to submit and travel to your favorite decorated displays in and around Oakland County. Before planning your trip, continue reading below to learn about three of last year’s holiday lights displays and their charitable impact upon the community.

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Oakland County Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment
A young woman walking with shopping bags in hands, christmas background

The season of giving is well underway and that means many of us are scouring newspaper ads and checking the web for the best deals on holiday gifts. Several shops and stores are offering deals and deep discounts that make shopping trips and online shopping easier on the wallet, but be sure to take precautions to keep you and your accounts safe!

See our tips on special sales events, online shopping, and brick and mortar shopping to ensure safe shopping this holiday season and throughout the year. Continue reading →