[curliq]

No offense, but Charlevoix definitely seemed snooty when I stayed there during a ski trip (older, privileged-class crowd sizing us up in the restaurant, etc). Sadly, this condescending thread reaffirms my first impression of the general residents of Charlevoix. And wow(!), all this unmasked disdain for their SE MI neighbors. Next winter, I think we'll take our tourist money elsewhere.

[embroidery_rocks]

Originally Posted by camiedoll19

We are re-locating to charlevoix MI. My husband will be working in Charlevoix, but we are also wondering about petoskey. Here are my questions:

1: Where would I find rental houses online (year round, not vacation) I have looked everywhere but can only find vacation homes. It has to be a house because we have 3 dogs and a cat that would not be allowed in an apartment (we have a doberman, hes restricted )


2: I want to know more about the area, I would like to live in Charlevoix since my husband will be working there. So how busy in the summer? Is it really that beautiful? What are some places of interest I could look up to get a better idea of what it will be like there?


3: are pets restricted on beaches there (or by the beaches)? I remember in ludington the places werent very pet-friendly, I really love the places that are! So any pet friendly places there would be nice to know about!


4: are there many shopping places there? even in petoskey..what about movie theatres, a mall, wal mart anything!


and any other bits of information you have would be greatly appreciated!! I just want to know a lot about the area and housing rentals as far as long term and not vacation. We will be going there soon to visit and look around, but its not going to be as great in the winter as it will in the summer, so I would like tips, info or advice from anyone! Thanks So Much!

I don't know if I can help with the rental homes...but check the Petoskey newspaper, that's where we found our first one (in cvx) or craigslist?

I took my dogs everywhere (One was a german shepherd) and never had an issue. Just keep them on leash. There are a few beaches that the tourists haven't found where you can take them off leash if you trust your doggie enough! I didn't! There is(was?) a farm store next door to Kmart where you can take your dogs into, that was always fun. And another same type store just south of CVX on US 31 a couple of miles that allowed pets


For shopping, we went to the Petoskey Super Walmart about once a week, and anything else we needed I went to Olesons or Glenns. Towards the end of our two years i started to prefer Olesons over glenns, especially for their fresh meat. Petoskey also has a fun downtown, touristy yes, but there is enough variety that a local such as myself enjoyed the occasional shopping spree. Charlevoix downtown, while is fun to wander, has less of a variety and much higher prices. You will find yourself going downtown Cvx for the drugstore, subway, olesons, the coffee shop, pizza and the library. In the glenns plaza there is a dollar general, Pizza place, Laundrymat, and florist. I can't remember much else.

Traverse City isn't too far for a weekend trip. Great mall, target, walmart, cute downtown, nice parks, not as nice beaches b/c it's the bay but i'm sure the traversecityites will dissagree!

We did well in Charlevoix because we liked the peace and quiet during the winter. Very, very quiet... and during the summer we enjoyed the outdoors out side of town! I would spend some time in each town before making a decision, because in each you are going to have the massive amounts of tourists and the dead winters. I just liked the size of charlevoix. And don't underestimate the snow. Even though it's not far, the drive from petoskey to cvx can take up to an hour if you hit lake effect snow. For that reason alone I would suggest living in charlevoix. You can always postpone shopping, but you cant postpone work!

Would i move back? In a heartbeat

If you have any other questions, Private message me. I can tell you all the hot spots that tourist don't know and the other locals on here might not tell you!

[Wulf67]

I have seen many For Rent signs in windows and yards. Best way to find one of these "unadvertised" rentals is to visit and just drive around town. Real estate office also sometimes have listings for rentals. Some houses have been up for sale for a long time and some sellers could be very interested in renting.

[HotSauce]

Originally Posted by eureka1

Well, exactly -why WOULD I move to a place I didn't like? That's why I'm using this forum and will be taking several exploratory trips. I already live in a small town. It sounds like Charlevoix and Holland both have a lot going for them but Holland has better proximity to Chicago which is a plus. Thanks for your input. I've been drooling over the beautiful pix posted on this board and although I had an idea Michigan was beautiful, I really had no idea how spectacular. Again, thanks.

Hi eureka1. I live in the Grand Rapids area in Michigan. I grew up in the Detroit area. I've been all over the U.S. You have some very beautiful country in northern California. British Columbia to your north in Canada is even nicer. With that in mind, I'll say you really should check out Holland or just north of Holland, Grand Haven. They are both wonderful Michigan towns with a whole lot to offer: both have fantastic schools, etc. You will find the Lake Michigan shoreline in Holland and Grand Haven are much nicer than much of what you will find north-east of Traverse City along Lake Michigan (including Charlevoix, Petoskey, etc.) In fact I think you will find the shoreline of Lake Michigan in the Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon areas are as nice as anything you have in California. We travel all over Michigan (lower and upper peninsulas.) We love camping. So we get around the state quite a bit. I noticed some people from Charlevoix and areas around there trying to discourage you from moving near them - they sound afraid you might pollute their life style with California-ness. I would take that as a big red flag. How small minded people can be. California is such a big state with all different kinds of people and environments. If you like the idea of being on Lake Michigan I would check out Grand Haven, Holland, or some of the other towns along Lake Michigan in that area of the state. You are right that Holland puts you a lot closer to Chicago - which is always a nice weekend trip. It would also put you within one hour of Grand Rapids - a really great mid-sized city in Michigan. While a lot of Michigan is having a real rough time, Grand Rapids continues to grow. Sure there are people here struggling during these times – like everywhere. But you will find Grand Rapids to be a vibrant growing city. And you will get a much warmer welcome in this part of the state than it sounds like you will get in Charlevoix and thereabouts. One thing I recommend is that you visit the areas. Walk around town. Talk to people who live there. There seems to be just a few people involved in this little discussion. Two or three people from a given area can really give you a warped view of what the area and its people are really like. Are they closed minded angry people who have no room for the personal growth and enrichment that comes from interacting with new people that may move into or even just pass through their area? Or are they warm hearted people who enrich their lives by having meaningful discourse with others who may be different from them? I'll take the second any day.

[Michigansnowflake]

Originally Posted by HotSauce

Hi eureka1. I live in the Grand Rapids area in Michigan. I grew up in the Detroit area. I've been all over the U.S. You have some very beautiful country in northern California. British Columbia to your north in Canada is even nicer. With that in mind, I'll say you really should check out Holland or just north of Holland, Grand Haven. They are both wonderful Michigan towns with a whole lot to offer: both have fantastic schools, etc. You will find the Lake Michigan shoreline in Holland and Grand Haven are much nicer than much of what you will find north-east of Traverse City along Lake Michigan (including Charlevoix, Petoskey, etc.) In fact I think you will find the shoreline of Lake Michigan in the Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon areas are as nice as anything you have in California. We travel all over Michigan (lower and upper peninsulas.) We love camping. So we get around the state quite a bit. I noticed some people from Charlevoix and areas around there trying to discourage you from moving near them - they sound afraid you might pollute their life style with California-ness. I would take that as a big red flag. How small minded people can be. California is such a big state with all different kinds of people and environments. If you like the idea of being on Lake Michigan I would check out Grand Haven, Holland, or some of the other towns along Lake Michigan in that area of the state. You are right that Holland puts you a lot closer to Chicago - which is always a nice weekend trip. It would also put you within one hour of Grand Rapids - a really great mid-sized city in Michigan. While a lot of Michigan is having a real rough time, Grand Rapids continues to grow. Sure there are people here struggling during these times – like everywhere. But you will find Grand Rapids to be a vibrant growing city. And you will get a much warmer welcome in this part of the state than it sounds like you will get in Charlevoix and thereabouts. One thing I recommend is that you visit the areas. Walk around town. Talk to people who live there. There seems to be just a few people involved in this little discussion. Two or three people from a given area can really give you a warped view of what the area and its people are really like. Are they closed minded angry people who have no room for the personal growth and enrichment that comes from interacting with new people that may move into or even just pass through their area? Or are they warm hearted people who enrich their lives by having meaningful discourse with others who may be different from them? I'll take the second any day.

Its really not kind to make blanket statements like that....the locals in Charlevoix are friendly and down to earth people....the people who are snooty are the hoity-toity tourists that over take the town every summer, and yes, they come in Winter too, only not as many. The snobs who get off their boats and walk the streets like they own the place every summer can be a PIA! I cant count the times I have had FUDGIES rudely line-jump at an event, run you over in the super-market, walk in front of my car like they own the street, look at me like I dont belong. I have over-heard snide remarks about *us* locals etc, etc........so please be sure just WHO you are making these statements about....and forgive us *locals*if we get a bit peeved about the way WE are treated in our OWN town 4 months out of the year. BUt we have to smile and put up with it all, so we can take your money and count the days that you leave our small beautiful town in peace.

So remember, when you are vacationing in a small town: dont be rude to the locals, dont walk into the street like you own the place, dont litter our streets, for goodness sake, smile and respond when we smile at YOU, and dont walk around complaining about the locals and what YOU have to put up with the short time you are here. We live here, you are a visitor.

*end rant*

[HotSauce]

Originally Posted by Michigansnowflake

Its really not kind to make blanket statements like that....the locals in Charlevoix are friendly and down to earth people....the people who are snooty are the hoity-toity tourists that over take the town every summer, and yes, they come in Winter too, only not as many. The snobs who get off their boats and walk the streets like they own the place every summer can be a PIA! I cant count the times I have had FUDGIES rudely line-jump at an event, run you over in the super-market, walk in front of my car like they own the street, look at me like I dont belong. I have over-heard snide remarks about *us* locals etc, etc........so please be sure just WHO you are making these statements about....and forgive us *locals*if we get a bit peeved about the way WE are treated in our OWN town 4 months out of the year. BUt we have to smile and put up with it all, so we can take your money and count the days that you leave our small beautiful town in peace.

So remember, when you are vacationing in a small town: dont be rude to the locals, dont walk into the street like you own the place, dont litter our streets, for goodness sake, smile and respond when we smile at YOU, and dont walk around complaining about the locals and what YOU have to put up with the short time you are here. We live here, you are a visitor.

*end rant*

You got me all wrong. That is all I can say. We don't consider ourselves tourists. We are a family of people who enjoy simple things like camping in the woods and playing music around a campfire. Charlevoix was a place to stop and eat while we were driving around looking at some this beautiful state we live in - during one of our camping trips - nothing more and nothing less. And no we were not camping anywhere near Charlevoix. So I imagine that is best for both of us. The reason I said what you highlighted is this: several of the posts I read above and on prior pages seemed to me to be very unkind toward people who were considering moving to your town. By the way, you choose to live in a tourist town. I'm sure the business owners in your town love all of the people who come to spend their money there. Generally I prefer to avoid touristy places.