Holly – Nature, History and Seasonal Experiences

When planning a trip to Holly, you can choose from several focuses: expansive natural areas with forests, open spaces and lakes, as well as a historic downtown district and seasonal events. Holly is about two miles from Interstate 75. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can first decide whether outdoor activities, local history or an event will shape your stay.

Natural Areas and Outdoor Activities

The Holly State Recreation Area covers more than 8,000 acres of rolling woodland and open spaces. This combination defines the area’s natural character. The Holly Woods Disc Golf Course offers nine-, 18- and 24-hole routes. The number of holes provides a direct comparison of the length of the three routes if you would like to include a round in your travel plans.

Paddling is a popular activity on Heron, Valley, Wildwood and Crotched Lakes. If this appeals to you, you have four named lakes to consider. Disc golf and paddling offer different types of activities for your plans: one focuses on the number of holes on the routes, while the other centers on the lakes listed above.

Lakes and Trails at Seven Lakes State Park

Seven Lakes State Park offers a different natural focus: it has more than 230 acres of water spread across six lakes. Compared with the rolling woodland and open spaces of the Holly State Recreation Area, the emphasis here is on the water. The park also has scenic hiking trails. At Big Seven and Dickinson Lakes, the park offers accessible boat launches. This combines open water with specific opportunities for hiking and boating.

Historic Downtown District

Holly’s historic district is in the eastern and northeastern downtown neighborhoods. The present-day Holly Union Depot was built in 1886 and remained in operation until the 1970s. The town’s history therefore includes both a specifically identified part of downtown and the construction and operating years of a particular building. If you would like to include culture and scenery in your travel plans, these offer different focuses alongside activities in the parks.

Seasonal Events in Holly

The Holly Holiday Arts and Craft Show takes place annually at Holly High School. The Holly Dickens Festival is held over Thanksgiving weekend and on the first two weekends of December; the exact dates may vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your trip around either event, check the dates for the relevant year.

In the Battle Alley Social District, restaurants may serve alcoholic beverages for consumption in the shared area. Rules and applicable periods may change, so check the current conditions before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Troy, Pontiac, Lake Orion, Madison Heights, Wixom, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Clarkston

For the broader travel overview: Oakland.