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Reposting my post on the winter weather thread since it got deleted:
Not technically part of the weather, but the high concentration of evergreen trees in the PNW really helps with making it less depressing in the winter. It's also nice that there's not much snow in western WA so you can drive all winter -- although it can get dicey on the highways during rain (lots of accidents. I always drive 10 under the limit)
If you’re looking at MI, I would suggest you take a hard look west. Grand Rapids has what you’re looking for, and is closer to much of the natural spoils in Michigan.
Check out the suburbs of East Grand Rapids and Ada. East will be more walkable, cute, neighborly. Ada has more new development and a growing town center. Both offer some of the best schools in Michigan.
If you’re looking at MI, I would suggest you take a hard look west. Grand Rapids has what you’re looking for, and is closer to much of the natural spoils in Michigan.
Check out the suburbs of East Grand Rapids and Ada. East will be more walkable, cute, neighborly. Ada has more new development and a growing town center. Both offer some of the best schools in Michigan.
I heard the weather was a lot more gloomy and cold on the west side
Reposting my post on the winter weather thread since it got deleted:
Not technically part of the weather, but the high concentration of evergreen trees in the PNW really helps with making it less depressing in the winter. It's also nice that there's not much snow in western WA so you can drive all winter -- although it can get dicey on the highways during rain (lots of accidents. I always drive 10 under the limit)
Adding to this: the rare clear winter day in WA when all the mountains are visible and packed with snow is absolutely spectacular.
I lived in the Midwest for a few years, and sunny winter days are nice, but with the exception of days of fresh snowfall, there’s just not much to look at because everything is dormant.
If interested in other parts of Michigan, I'd throw out East Lansing and the Meridian Township communities of Haslett and Okemos. All nice communities with very good schools east of Lansing, with East Lansing offering walkability and events due to having Michigan State in town. There is good bus coverage on Grand River Avenue through this area due to Okemos offering shopping(Meridian Mall, Meijer, etc.) in that area as well. Haslett is on Lake Lansing. Detroit is about an hour and a half away to the east and Grand Rapids is about an hour and 15 minutes to the west.
I heard the weather was a lot more gloomy and cold on the west side
Gloomier perhaps, though pretty much all of the Great Lakes are equally gloomy December - March. Colder it is not.
Unless you prefer/need the amenities of the a 4+ million person metro, I agree with the other posters. The western side of MI is more forested, more topographically diverse, and just more vibrant in general compared to the I-75 corridor of MI. May at least be worth a look.
Last edited by mjlo; 12-05-2023 at 01:25 PM..
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