Though she grew up in Ohio and went to college there, Chelsea was no stranger to West Michigan. The region was a frequent vacation spot for her family, and now, she’s made it her home.

After deciding West Michigan was where they wanted to be, Chelsea, her fiancé, and their two dogs packed up their stuff in Columbus, Ohio and moved to Holland, Michigan. Though moving all their belongings from state-to-state wasn’t fun, Chelsea said the transition to her new job was wonderful. “Meijer had a great day 1 orientation program and my team made me feel welcome and ready to go,” said Chelsea, now a Strategic Sourcing Specialist at Meijer, a Hello West Michigan member company.

In addition to having a great team at Meijer, Chelsea’s move was aided by Coldwell Banker, a Hello West Michigan relocation member company. “They were a lifesaver when it came to transitioning to the area,” said Chelsea. “They gave me great recommendations on everything from rentals to hairstylists.”

Now that she has settled into the area, Chelsea is loving all that the region has to offer. “As far as fun goes, we’ve really enjoyed taking our dogs to Tunnel Park for walks on the beach. We’re also looking forward to trying out cross country skiing and visiting Pigeon Creek Park,” she said.

Not only do Chelsea and her fiancé enjoy the outdoors, but they also enjoy the plethora of restaurants in West Michigan. “In Holland, we love grabbing dinner at the Curragh. We’re also big fans of The Mitten in GR! The pizza flight is hands down the greatest,” said Chelsea.

But what is her absolute favorite part about living in West Michigan? The snow. “Seriously!” Chelsea exclaimed. “I’m so excited to just be able to open my back door and go snowshoeing or skiing for a morning workout! I also love that I live somewhere that feels like vacation every day. We’re 5-10 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches and parks!”

Curious about where these beaches and parks are located? Check out our sports, leisure, and water page for a list of places to be active in West Michigan.

Disclosure – Any reference to a person, organization, product, or activity in Hello West Michigan’s blog posts does not constitute or imply endorsement. These blog posts are used to share first-hand experiences of what it’s like to live, work, and play in West Michigan – not promote a specific person, organization, product, or activity. Hello West Michigan does not receive compensation or other benefits for blog post mentions. All companies that support us financially can be found on our member company list here.