[bdkerber]

I'm interviewing for a job in SW Michigan. I have 3 young girls(8,7,4). How is the area for younger families? We have a fairly active lifestyle and I'm concerned that life there will be dull ... we currently live in Philadelphia although we aren't native Northeasterners. We are particularly big Tennis players. Are there ANY tennis leagues in the area? How is the competition??

How are the schools? Are there good private schools or do the public ones do a fantastic job there? What are the more affluent areas to live in?

[darstar]

Go north. Gull Lake area is where you want to locate. Its the best small lake in South Michigan. Very nice homes in the area also. Thats where all the legal drug money is , around Kazoo. Its also quite rural , but Hickory Corners and Richland ,Gull Lake, are nice places to raise your family, and its only minutes to the city.

[snoopygirlmi]

Kalamazoo is the major hub of the area (not counting Grand Rapids to the North). Western Michigan attracts a lot of national speakers and acts. Kalamazoo College hosts the USTA tournament every summer. There are a lot of festivals in the summer and their First Night on New Years Eve is always a blast.

If you move w/in the city of Kalamazoo, they have the Promise Scholarship that pays for 4 years of college (but the kids have to attend school in the city of Kalamazoo and live there). If I were to move back to Kalamazoo (city), then I'd try to get a house in the Stuart or Winchell area. The Stuart neighborhood is near the university and downtown w/all the old houses. Winchell is known for being a solid, affluent neighborhood.

For schools, I'd also consider Portage. Most of the other school districts in the area are good, but not great and limited in what they offer - as they are smaller town schools. I went to one of the smaller districts in the area and always wanted to be in Portage or Kalamazoo because they offered more activities and language choices. I'd also check out the private schools.

Portage, Oshtemo, Schoolcraft - are the cities that come to mind in terms of affluent/nice areas. I haven't actually lived in the area for awhile now, but every time I go back it seems like there is more on Westnedge (one of the major streets in the city) than there even 5 years ago. A lot more ethnic restaurants, chains, etc.

And usually if you can't find something in Kalamazoo, then you can find it in Grand Rapids (which is the 2nd largest city in MI). And GR is less than an hour away. And if it's not in Grand Rapids, it's in Metro Detroit. And while Kalamazoo/GR have minor league teams, if you want sports, Detroit has the Tigers, Red Wings (and, yes, the Lions).

I miss Kalamazoo/Battle Creek a lot because I grew up and stayed for college. There are definitely advantages/disadvantages to a smaller city. However, in Kalamazoo - every where you want to go is usually a 15-20 minute drive and the pace of life is a lot slower.

[ladyblue09]

Portage is a good place for families in my opinion. I lived there and liked it.
The reality is that Kalamazoo is not going to have as much action as a place like Philadelphia. I have to admit that during the winter there I did get kind of bored. However spring/summer/fall there is quite pleasant, especially if you enjoy the outdoors or the festivals downtown. There is a bit of a hippie/artsy community in the area that makes it more interesting than most places its size. The college culture also livens things up. Kazoo has its charms.

[Starrman69]

I've lived in BC and the Zoo. For activity, entertainment and family living; Kalamazoo would be the choice over the two. With WMU and K College there'll be plenty to see and do whether the family enjoys sports or the arts. There are the lakes, the restaurants and shopping. It's a matter of finding the right house in the proximity to what you want for the family.

[kristineelise]

Beware of Kalamazoo Schools. Check out Plainwell, Allegan and Augusta.

[3boys]

Have you moved yet? What did you find? We are also considering a move to the portage-kzoo area from the Philadelphia area and I'd love to hear what you have found, like/dislike, schools, etc. I have 3 boys 5 and under.