[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

I really like Kalkaska too! It is a beautiful area, but remember...they get a TON of snow. If you like snow go for it! I could easily live there because I LOVE snow! lol

So do I!

[Giesela]

Why do you like Kalkaska?

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by Giesela

Why do you like Kalkaska?

It's just a nice little town with a good feel to it. Kinda located close to all the great towns, and woodsy all around it. They don't have all the big box stores, or restaurants you find n the bigger cities, although they will be getting a Walmart soon...good or bad, and they have the Cherry Street Market, one of the coolest and busiest fruit markets around! Plus they sell a ton of other really cool stuff, I LOVE going there, and I love going to Kalkaska.

[Crusty Curmudgeon]

The area just east of the new Meijer store, along the M-72 corridor is ideal for several reasons that may interest you.

• Close commute to TC, and everything it has to offer.
• Close proximity to recreational trails such as VASA, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.
• The DNR "quiet area", just south of M-72, at about Broomhead road.
• Lots of state land for hunting, etc.
• The "Chain of Lakes" (where I live).

I like it because of everything above, and I'm just far enough out of town to have that rural up north setting, while still being close enough to TC when I need to be.

[Noodlenoggin]

We lived in the Traverse City area for 10 years, 2001-2011, and my wife grew up there.

South of TC is the "cheap seats," Kingsley, Buckley, Mesick. It's mixed woods and farm fields. We lived in Kingsley for 5 years and Buckley for 5 years, and it's solidly working-class, but more affordable. Especially once you cross the Wexford County line south, property taxes drop by about half. Schools are all equally decent, really. It's just over a half-hour commute from either Kingsley or Buckley to downtown TC, but in the winter that can really balloon to over an hour in a blizzard.

West of TC gives you Interlochen, Long Lake, Lake Ann, Honor. You get more hills, and closer to Lake Michigan, but a half-hour from TC to the west still puts you a SOLID half hour or more to the lakeshore in Frankfort or Manistee. Pricier than the southern area.

North of TC gives you the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, and Elk Rapids. The peninsulas are pricy, beautiful, though. Hilly, forested, and like stepping back 30 years to some real Americana-looking scenery. We want to buy a cabin up on the Leelanau peninsula and retire there, really. Northport at the top of Leelanau is ALWAYS like an hour drive to TC, even though it doesn't look that far.

East of TC gets back into farmland and forest, like the southern areas. Again, once you get out of Grand Traverse county, the taxes drop drastically. Once you get to the Kalkaska area, you're kinda in some flat nothingness, especially if you follow US-131 north or south.

And a special note for Grawn...it may be coming up in the world, but it's historically been the armpit of the area. Long-time residents call it "Groin" for a reason.