[acedog]

Our family is considering a move from Memphis, TN to Grand Haven area. We are originally Midwesterners via IL, OH and then Austin, TX. Looking for the beauty we miss from Austin area with all the lakes, etc.

How are schools in Grand Haven/Spring Lake? Property taxes? Good areas for families? We have 2 children, 8 and 12 and are looking for somewhere to settle down, we have family in Chicago area.

[Wabbit]

http://www.grandlanding.com/

The link above is a great development going up over there.
You can't go wrong with Grand Haven. It's a safe, thriving little beach town.
From a pure beauty standpoint you might want to look up North to
Traverse City. It's a little larger and though it's further from Chicago,
It's gorgeous. Lake Austin and Lake Travis are nice lakes, for Texas,
but they don't compare to Torch Lake, Leelanau or Grand Traverse Bay.
Of course, Texas doesn't have knee high snow either.
Both Grand Haven and Traverse have good schools. $=good schools.

(This is an excerpt from Relocate-American.com that came out last week)

The Relocate-America.com Web site rated Traverse City behind only Asheville, N.C., in its top 10 list of the best communities in which to live in the U.S. The Web site's staff reviews local nominations and rates communities on criteria that includes people, aesthetic features, schools, activities, economic and environmental health, crime rates and other factors.
I love these aerials so I'll post them again.
http://www.photography-plus.com/imag...averseCity.htm

Don't get me wrong Grand Haven is a very nice, picturesque place but since you mentioned beauty as a priority I thought I'd add Traverse.
Can't lose either way.

[MainStreet]

Grand Haven is a beautiful area to live, especially if you have family in Chicago. My teenager has mentioned many times that she wishes she'd grown up there. It's the type of place that would be instantly home in my book.