Hi CDJD -thanks for the posting. That gym really does look nice. Which mall is bigger Somerset or Oakland Mall?

Somerset is definitely bigger (it is actually two malls separated by a skyway over the main road in between). It is a beautiful mall with practically every store. Oakland is just ok. The only reason I would go to Oakland is for Sears & JCPenney but otherwise I do all my shopping at Somerset (completely different atmospheres)

Your input is really going to save us some time with our apt. hunting. Thanks. Now here is another question for the Troy tripadvisor community, what resources are there for adult education classes OTHER than what is available in Troy. As I look thru the Troy university websites the classes don't seem oriented towards personal enrichment, adult ed. classes. So I am wondering what is the nearest university that is a little more cosmopolitan in its offerings.

I think that your best option (~10-15 min drive) is going to being Oakland Community College (http://www.oaklandcc.edu/) which has several campuses in nearby areas (Auburn Hills, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills). Nearby Oakland University in Rochester Hills should also have some great options even though the majority of the school is degree-based programs. I would definitely contact both for a full schedule of their offerings. The variety of classes will most likely be more expansive in the fall/winter months.

Macomb Community College is another good option but definitely a lot further drive (~30-40 min)

The Rochester/Rochester Hills area also offers adult enrichment programs through the RARA organization (http://www.rararecreation.org/)

Another wonderful institute in the nearby Bloomfield Hills area is the Cranbrook Institute (Art Museum, Science Center, Education, Gardens). Not sure if they offer any classes for adult education but it is definitely a most wonderful facility to visit.

http://www.cranbrook.edu/

Shopping...Summerset over Oakland (hands down)!

In terms of classes:

-Oakland Community College has several campuses.

-Oakland University is to the north.

-Wayne State is downtown Detroit

-University of Detroit Mercy is in northwest Detroit.

-Macamb Community College to the east.

As far as apartments I would consider looking into Birmingham also. It is the next city over from Troy (to the West) with many upscale apartments, great shopping, restaurants, bars, and walkable downtown area.

Wow, all this information if so helpful. Thank you very much.

Don't forget to check out the other areas around Troy. Birmingham, Royal Oak & Ferndale are great & have tons of wonderful places to eat & to wander. (Lots of other places are great, too, so I don't mean to leave them out.) My husband lived at Regents Park for a year & absolutely loved it. They do have heated garages, which is nice in the winter. It's just across from Somerset & has easy access to I-75. It's not far from the gyms or anything in the area. Welcome to Michigan!

Thanks for the post LLMCK. We are really at a lost as to how to make a decision about where to live. We want to be in Troy because of the hospital. (We are trying to have a baby.) But I am looking forward to exploring the areas you mentioned. We will definitely check out Regents Park. Is there a central office there where we could find out about rentals or do we just have to scour the newspaper? Heated garages sounds like a great idea! I have lived in the Caribbean most my life.