Help us find our New Hometown (Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor: environment, relocate, income)

[mich2fla]

If you want to stay cool during the summers and have some snow, look anywhere between St Joseph to Ludington along the shore line. My folks live in Holland and it's usually cooler and not as humid compared to Grand Rapids on the same day. The more inland you go (Grand Rapids, Greenville, Cadillac, etc) you will experience more lake effect snow and more humidity than along the lakeshore. Alos, the more north you go, the more snow it gets. You can count on snow on the ground in Cadillac MI when there's no snow in GR.

I like Holland...lived there for 5 years. pretty easy to get around, friendly people, and easy access to GR and Chicago. We relocated to Ada, MI mainly for schools and my job. We visit my folks in Holland just about every other weekend, they live on the water!

Another place I like is Pentwater...my in-laws has a place there. It's busy on weekends between Memorial Day to Labor Day. After that, it's quiet for the next 9 months. Short 20 min drive to Ludington for main shopping (Home Depot, Super Wal-Mart, etc).

St Joseph, South Haven, Grand Haven, White Hall are all neat places. I have never lived there, just ate and shop. You will need to investigate yourself and find out what's the best fit for you.

[Hanne]

mich2fla, Thanks for that info.! It sounds like we misunderstood those weather patterns.

In July we went to Crystal Lake, which I think is near Pentwater.....the place was a mad-house. Busy! It looked like a good place for family vacations.

[mich2fla]

Generally, any places up north with a lake in Michigan will be busy during weekends and holidays in the summer. Then it'll quiet down till hunting season. Then busy again during snowmobiling season especially near snowmoble trails.

Some places are pretty busy year round like Traverse City and Cadillac. Pentwater is only busy during the summer.

If you go vacationing up north in a few weeks (after Labor Day), you'll see how much quiet it is.

[mariatherese]

Originally Posted by mich2fla

If you go vacationing up north in a few weeks (after Labor Day), you'll see how much quiet it is.

yeah, but there is always a boom again for the fall color tours (October), dont forget that.

[tweety]

Originally Posted by tomterriffic

Why not look at Oscoda? It's not far from East Tawas and sits right on beautiful Lake Huron...the Sunrise side. Small town with an arts festival every year on the beach.

Oscoda is about an hour or less from Alpena, too. There is some shopping up that way and the drive up there is very scenic. If you like to canoe, Oscoda has some very nice canoeing. Hunting, fishing, fall colors...it's got all of that.

I am originally from Alpena. Beautiful country up there but oh so cold and snowy in the wintertime. I miss the beautiful scenery and the trees and greenery of Michigan though. I have moved out to sunny Calif. but it is too dry and hot for me. I guess I can't be pleased. lol Wish I could find a nice compromise somewhere.

[Hanne]

Tweety, could you describe those Alpena winters? For example: when did the weather start to get really cold?/ How much snow usually fell?/How limiting was the weather in terms or affecting your normal routine?/ Etc........

[RedWingsFan]

Higgins Lake is nice and may offer what you are looking for. My mom lives there...

[Hanne]

Hey RedWingsFan, I couldn't find Higgins Lake on the city-data listing....the closest thing was a Hubbard Lake that was sort of south of Alpena.

[mich2fla]

Originally Posted by Hanne

Hey RedWingsFan, I couldn't find Higgins Lake on the city-data listing....the closest thing was a Hubbard Lake that was sort of south of Alpena.

It's near Roscommon MI. Beautiful area. Pretty busy year round (boaters in the summer, hunters in the fall, snowmobiliers in the winter, and fishing year round). Lots of Detroit area folks with 2nd homes in the area. Weekend traffic on I-127 and I-75 will be busy.

It depends on your needs/wants.

[gsmith]

We're not sure how far north we can handle the weather. We totally love the UP and we're pretty hardy types, but we've never seen a Houghton or Marquette winter. We are sure of one thing: we're getting out of this hot, humid southern Ohio summers that we HATE.
Thanks[/quote]

Is that eastern or western Ohio?