November in Michigan (Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Canton: neighborhoods, schools, university)

[amyh68]

I am thinking about driving out to Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor over the Thanksgiving holiday, can you tell me what the weather is like there and do you have a lot of snow then? Thanks for all your help.

[Jandur]

It can vary, but there usually isn't snow on the ground this time of year. It might snow here and there but it's nothing major. It doesn't get bad until around December.

Ann Arbor I can't speak for but I'm pretty sure they get less snow over there.

[canudigit]

I live in the Ann Arbor area and it is rare to get snow before December. I do remember Thanksgivings where the air temp was as cold as 19 degrees, but normally it is probably going to be in the 30s or possibly 40s for highs that time of year with no snow.

[amyh68]

Thank you canudigit. My family is thinking about moving to Michigan, my daughter wants to attend University of Michigan. Can you tell me of nice areas to live within a 30 minute drive? Thanks!

[amyh68]

Thanks for the info Jandur, I really appreciate it.

[beachmouse]

If you're going to move to the Ann Arbor area, you might as well live in the city itself- so many interesting things going on all the time, and it's easy to hook into the public transportation system from many neighborhoods. (Parking downtown and near main campus is tight to non-existent so you want alternate ways to get to those areas) For more traditional suburbia, you can find it in parts of Ann Arbor and Dexter. For small town, Chelsea is very nice. Any of those places will get you well-regarded K-12 schools and are safe as long as you're sensible about keeping doors locked. The only area I'd avoid around there is Ypsilanti, because it takes living in the area for a while to know the good and bad areas there, for all that the relatively cheap housing costs you can get in Ypsi will seriously tempt.

[canudigit]

Originally Posted by amyh68

Thank you canudigit. My family is thinking about moving to Michigan, my daughter wants to attend University of Michigan. Can you tell me of nice areas to live within a 30 minute drive? Thanks!

Well, I guess it depends on what you are looking for. If you want a bustling, cosmopolitan city with an artsy vibe and lots to do, then Ann Arbor is your town. If you want a laid back, small town life then Chelsea, Dundee, or Dexter would fit the bill. Saline, which lies adjacent to Ann Arbor, is exceptionally nice, but it has more of a suburban sprawl feel to it because of all the subdivisions. Any of these towns are safe and offer a good quality of life. If you want to live east of Ann Arbor, I wouldn't recommend Ypsilanti, as it has some rough areas, but Plymouth is a great town. Belleville and Canton Twp. are also nice. I think it all depends on exactly what you are looking for. But yeah, there are a lot of very nice places to live within 30 min. of Ann Arbor.

ETA: Beachmouse, I just read your post after posting this, and I am cracking up about how similar our thoughts and opinions of this area are. I guess the OP just got her second opinion, lol.

[amyh68]

Thank you both for a lot of great information! I was born and lived all my life in Maryland, so I know all the areas and I'm very excited to move, but nervous about being totally clueless about the areas. Thanks again!

[francishsu]

We lived in AA for about three years, although it was on campus housing for staff/faculty and graduates. It's my favorite city in Michigan.

I like downtown AA. I'd probably not want to live too close to the stadium. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd think there would be lots of traffic and noise for the football games.

Then there's the stretch of Geddes Ave between the city and Huron Parkway. That's a really nice area, if you want a secluded feel yet close to the city. The property there is probably the most expensive in the area, though.

Also I'd think it would be nice to live in the subdivisions around the stretch of Huron Parkway going from Fuller to Plymouth. That's basically close to U of M's north campus.

[amyh68]

Thanks for all the good information, I truly appreciate it.