Peter W: Came for College, Stayed for the Lifestyle Originally from northeast Virginia, Peter W was originally motivated to move to West Michigan for college; his school, Calvin University, has a great engineering program. Now, almost four years later, as Peter prepares to graduate college, he plans to stay in the region, a place he [...]
Olivia's Intern Connect Journey: From Intern to Committee Member When it comes to internships, I took the non-traditional path. During my days as an undergraduate at Grand Valley State University, I was involved in many aspects of campus life, including being a Resident Assistant, Leadership for Alternative Breaks and Laker Traditions Team. An internship wasn’t [...]
After a decade of life in various places—schooling, football, the military, and work—Tommy has made his way back to his roots in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tommy was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and after ten years away, the return was made possible when his wife matched to a medical residency program in the city. [...]
Cafes and Coffee Shops in West Michigan One of my favorite activities is finding a new coffee shop every week and savoring a delicious cup of joe. West Michigan has a wide variety of local roasters and coffee shops to enjoy! Whether you are looking to have a relaxing experience, coffee catchup with a friend, [...]
St. Patrick’s Day Activities 2025 You are in luck if you are celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in West Michigan! As March 17 approaches, there are plenty of things to do to celebrate—just remember to wear green! If you and your lads are still deciding how to spend the holiday, here are a few options: Paddy's [...]
Grad School to Dancing Lessons: Alexander’s relocation from Georgia to West Michigan What began as an academic pursuit led to a thriving career and a new life in West Michigan for Alexander. After living in Georgia his entire life, Alexander left the state to pursue a graduate degree, and he has come to love the [...]
Tatiana P. Sometimes, life’s unexpected turns lead us to places we never imagined. For Tatiana, her journey from Social Worker and Educator to becoming a Project Accountant has been a testament to embracing change and finding fulfillment in new experiences. What she loves most about West Michigan is its blend of nature, community, and the [...]
Outdoor Winter Activities in West Michigan The calendar flipped to 2025, and at the same time, it feels like the weather flipped as well. Winter is full-blown here. The temperature has dropped, each morning you may need to scrape the snow off your car, and you find yourself ordering a hot latte—rather than an iced [...]
Rachel Gray, our Executive Director, loves to ski. Read part five of this skiing series below. If you’ve been following along with my winter series, you know this whole skiing thing has been a desire of mine for a while. Consequently, I’ve been lurking in the skiing space for a while. When I first expressed [...]
Rachel Gray, our Executive Director, loves to ski. Read part four of this skiing series below. If you’ve been following along on my mission to become a downhill skier, you’ll know I took this selfie with shorts on. I’ve been waiting patiently since the summer! If the snow bug has just bitten you, or you’ve [...]
Rachel Gray, our Executive Director, loves to ski. Read part three of this skiing series below. In our Rapid Roots community onboarding program, I teach a session on how to find friends as an adult. One of the tenets of the lecture is identifying your hobbies, finding groups related to that hobby, and attending group [...]
Michigan has a special place in Heather’s heart. It’s where she spent her college years, has family, and—of course—has beautiful Lake Michigan. After living in several places across the globe, Heather—a self-proclaimed “lifelong learner and connector”—recently boomeranged back to West Michigan. The sense of community in West Michigan is one aspect that attracted her back [...]
Shopping in West Michigan: Holiday Markets and More The holiday season is upon us. No matter what you’re celebrating this season, you most likely will need to buy a gift or two! I enjoy getting the perfect gift for loved ones. The process of buying the perfect gift is a bit grueling, but it is [...]
Fall is here. As I add an extra layer of clothing to my outfit, walk to a local coffee shop for a pumpkin spice latte, and spend a portion of my weekend watching football with friends, I am reminded of how cozy this season feels. Now is the time to embrace this cozy feeling and [...]
Nature Awaits: Backpacking the Beautiful Manistee River Trail Who else loves to get outdoors and to explore? If you’re like me, you also like to be outdoors and to explore. In Michigan, we get to experience all four seasons, meaning outdoor recreation varies with each one. As autumn approaches and the weather cools, there are [...]
As yellow school buses line the roads, and the green leaves slowly lose their vibrance, now is the time to reflect on the months of summer and prepare for this new season. As I walk to work, I can feel the temperature drop and a breeze fill the air. Fall is almost here. While I [...]
Who doesn’t love a good old famers market? As summer winds down, make sure to head to your local farmers market for fresh produce and groceries. Michigan farms produce over 300 different commodities, which is the second largest amount among the US states. Stopping by a West Michigan farmers market is a great way to [...]
Late July in West Michigan means it is time for the annual Coastguard Festival. This year, the festival is particularly special because it is the 100th anniversary of the event, which means whether this will be your first-time or 50th-time at the festival, this will be a year to remember. The festival starts July 26 [...]
Being summer and in West Michigan, I’ve been trying to channel my inner -“Coastal-Grandma-Aesthetic,” whether that’s trying a new recipe or learning to embroider or learning to play tennis. If you don’t know what the Coastal Grandma Aesthetic is, this is what I mean: Pottery painting is just another hobby that falls into this category. [...]
Unique or Classic, Try These Ice Cream Shops There is a lot to love about summer in Michigan, and one of them is the abundant supply and need for ice cream. Ice cream is a social event. It cools you down. It offers a diverse range of flavors. And it can be nostalgic. I probably [...]
Keep the Fun Going After Intern Connect Grand Rapids always has something new to eat, explore, and experience. If you’re headed downtown for Intern Connect on June 26, make a plan to continue the fun after the conference with one of the suggestions below. Whether it’s a new restaurant, park or place, here are restaurant [...]
From Surf City to Beer City: Brett's Relocation to West Michigan Moving from the sunny beaches of Huntington Beach, California, to the charming landscapes of West Michigan might seem like quite the leap. But for Brett and his family, the transition has been an adventure worth taking. With family ties to the region (his mom [...]
How to Celebrate Father's Day in West Michigan I enjoy telling bad puns. That's just how eye roll. This wouldn’t be a Father’s Day blog post without a dad joke. All joking aside, if you’re looking for ways to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day, here are a few West Michigan experiences to celebrate the father [...]
Summer is upon us. This means longer days, warmer weather, and the bluest skies. All these ingredients mix a perfect recipe for a beach day. If you’re like me, you’ll agree summer is the best time to visit West Michigan beaches. When I hop in the car and head west, my favorite site is the [...]
It may be cliché, but spring has sprung in West Michigan. Birds chirping. Grilled burgers waft the neighborhood. Local tennis and pickleball courts echo with laughter and competition. A silver pick-up truck hauling its boat. Sports games grace the family calendar. These are the signs of springtime in West Michigan. Spring is an exciting season [...]
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