[lovesbrightpink]

Hi ALL!

Me and my husband are thinking of moving to the area of kalamazoo. We are in the casino industry and he is in talks of getting a promotion at Firekeepers. I would also work there.

I was wonder about this area? I know not to live in Battle creek but since I have never never lived outside cali I dont know what is good and what is bad anymore.

Any advice on a city to move to? Portage? kalamazoo? any others.

We want cheap rent and dont mind a 30 commute or so. But would drive further for a nicer area.

TIA!

[michiganbob]

With about a 40 minute drive you could commute from Lansing. Michigan State University, the State Capitol . . . lots more going on there than either K-Zoo or Battle Creek.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by michiganbob

With about a 40 minute drive you could commute from Lansing. Michigan State University, the State Capitol . . . lots more going on there than either K-Zoo or Battle Creek.

how fast do you drive?

[xlabel]

Firekeepers is at Exit 104 on I-94. Paw Paw/Lawton exit is 60, Mattawan Exit 66, Oshtemo is Exit 72. So it's 44 miles from exit 60 and everthing else I mentioned is closer. These are all good, safe and reasonably priced suburbs. Galesburg and Comstock on the west side of K-zoo are a little more rougher, blue collar, neighborhoods but safer than Battle Creek.

[Memphis1979]

Depends on what you're looking for. Are you looking for big concerts, night clubs, and a metropolitan type atmosphere? Or are you looking for a down home, small town, in the country atmosphere?

Portage would be my advice if you are looking for a place to be around people. Awesome bike trails, the mall, shops, most of the places to eat in town.

If you'd like to have a small town type of fell, I would suggest Richland. Its a small town just east of Kzoo, and its part of the Gull Lake school district, which is very good.

Either way, you're only about an hour from Grand Rapids, which is the second largest city in Michigan. Lots of concerts there, lots of bars and clubs downtown, and some nice museums.

You're right to stay away from Battle Creek. Kalamazoo isn't bad if you don't have children. There are lots of places around town that are nice to live in. I wouldn't want to send my child to the Kzoo school district, poor grades at those schools. The do have the Kalamazoo promise, but in my opinion, its not worth it.

[lovesbrightpink]

i have another question. do they close the freeway that is the only way to get to the casino in the winter when it snows? I have never lived in the snow...

[xlabel]

Originally Posted by lovesbrightpink

i have another question. do they close the freeway that is the only way to get to the casino in the winter when it snows? I have never lived in the snow...

Very rarely, I've seen I-94 shut down out my way (Paw Paw) a couple of times in blizzard conditions when there were accidents and then they'll divert traffic onto a back road that parallels 94 and you get back on the next exit after the wreck.

Anything west of US 131 is outside the lake-effect snow zone so the roads are better out that way towards the casino.

[Memphis1979]

Originally Posted by lovesbrightpink

i have another question. do they close the freeway that is the only way to get to the casino in the winter when it snows? I have never lived in the snow...

I never saw the interstates closed, the entire time I lived up there. There are other ways of getting to firekeepers, they just take a little longer. That would be another problem with moving to Lansing, its may be an hour drive in good weather, but when the snow is coming down hard, you'd be lucky to make it in 3.

[cheapest]

I would recommend Portage. It would probably be less than a 30 minute drive, and it's a nice area with everything you could want.

[northstar22]

You can also check out Coldwater and Sturgis, both are small towns south of Battle Creek.