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LIVING HERE.

What if your home was nationally recognized for having the best hikes, a Top 10 arts & culture scene, the best ice cream, and was also the most beautiful place in America?

#1 Lake Beach Town to Live In
Most Vibrant Arts City
50 Best Cities to Live in the US
Small Town Beer Scene
The Prettiest Towns in the U.S.A.
The Most Charming Main Streets in America
The Most Charming Historic Town (Northport)
Charming Great Lakes Beach Towns

Outdoor Recreation
Arts and Culture
Eat and Drink
Housing & Real Estate
Education Child Care & Schools
Volunteer. Get Involved. Make Friends.
Health & Wellness
Meet the newcomers
Protected: Relocation Services

EXPAND YOUR SEARCH.

Nestled in the stunning northwest corner of Michigan, this ten-county region offers endless opportunities to discover the place that feels like home. We’ve highlighted six of the neighboring communities to Grand Traverse, each including a rich variety of welcoming towns, charming villages, and one-of-a-kind communities.

BOYNE CITY

HIDDEN GEMS

  1. Art Walk Boyne Arts in the Park
  2. World’s longest timber suspension bridge | SkyBridge
  3. Avalanche Mountain Preserve Petoskey Area
  4. Award-Winning Main Street in Northern Michigan
  5. Young State Park

TOP INDUSTRIES

  1. Advanced Manufacturing
  2. Value-added Agriculture and Food Processing
  3. Outdoor Recreation Industry
  4. Healthcare
  5. Construction

TOP EMPLOYERS

  1. Boyne Mountain Resort
  2. Magna Lexamar Corporation
  3. Daifuku-Jervis B Webb
  4. Great Lakes Energy Cooperative
  5. Precision Edge
Your Boyne City Area Insider

Dave Kronberg, Director of Business Growth, The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

CHARLEVOIX

HIDDEN GEMS

  1. Downtown Charlevoix
  2. Earl Young Mushroom Houses
  3. Beaver Island Ferry
  4. Annual Powerboat Poker Run In Boyne City
  5. Fisherman’s Island State Park

TOP INDUSTRIES

  1. Advanced Manufacturing
  2. Value-added Agriculture and Food Processing
  3. Outdoor Recreation Industry
  4. Healthcare
  5. Construction

TOP EMPLOYERS

  1. Michigan Scientific Corporation
  2. St. Marys Cement
  3. DCL Inc
  4. Munson Healthcare
  5. Harbor Industries
Your Charlevoix Area Insider

Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager, The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

Cadillac

HIDDEN GEMS

  1. Festival of the Pines
  2. “Christmas Tree Capital of the World”
  3. Missaukee Mountain
  4. Cadillac Footliters Theatre
  5. Cadillac Festival of the Arts

TOP INDUSTRIES

  1. Automotive, Plastics & Metal Manufacturing
  2. Healthcare
  3. Dairy & Row Crop Agriculture  
  4. Forestry & Wood Products  
  5. Education & Public Services  

TOP EMPLOYERS

  1. Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital
  2. AAR Mobility Systems
  3. Wolverine Power Cooperative
  4. Baker College of Cadillac
  5. Missaukee Conservation District
Your Cadillac Area Insider

Niki Schultz, Executive Director of Alliance for Economic Success

Manistee

HIDDEN GEMS

  1. Lake Bluff Farms, home to Michigan’s only giant sequoia
  2. Kaleva Bottle House
  3. Arcadia Dunes & Arcadia Marsh Boardwalk
  4. Manistee River
  5. Iron Fish Distillery

TOP INDUSTRIES

  1. Healthcare & Social Services
  2. Manufacturing
  3. Public Administration
  4. Retail
  5. Hospitality

TOP EMPLOYERS

  1. Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
  2. Little River Casino Resort
  3. Oaks Correctional Facility
  4. Packaging Corporation of America
  5. Meijer
Your Manistee Area Insider

Carmen Kott, President & CEO of Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce

ELK RAPIDS

HIDDEN GEMS

  1. Elk Rapids Harbor Days
  2. Family-owned orchards – pie!
  3. Downtown Elk Rapids
  4. Farmers Market
  5. Explore beautiful Elk Lake via kayaks and jet skis

TOP INDUSTRIES

  1. Advanced Manufacturing
  2. Value-added Agriculture and Food Processing
  3. Outdoor Recreation Industry
  4. Healthcare
  5. Construction

TOP EMPLOYERS

  1. Burnette Foods
  2. Short’s Brewing Company
  3. Elk Rapids Engineering, A Star Cutter Company
  4. Great Lakes Packing Co
  5. St. Gobain Life Sciences
Your Elk Rapids Area Insider

Dave Kronberg, Director of Business Growth, The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

PETOSKEY

HIDDEN GEMS

  1. Downtown Gaslight District
  2. Petoskey Stones at Petoskey State Park
  3. North Central Michigan College
  4. Bike the Bear River Valley Recreation Area
  5. Downtown Petoskey Farmers Market

TOP INDUSTRIES

  1. Advanced Manufacturing
  2. Value-added Agriculture and Food Processing
  3. Outdoor Recreation Industry
  4. Healthcare
  5. Construction

TOP EMPLOYERS

  1. McLaren Northern Michigan
  2. Circuit Controls Corporation
  3. Moeller Aerospace
  4. ZD Metal Products
  5. Manthei Wood Products
Your Petoskey Area Insider

Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager, The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

A VIBRANT SOCIAL LIFE.

Northern Navigators

Are you considering a move to the Traverse City area but haven’t quite made up your mind? Maybe you’ve recently moved here and you want to get plugged into a network and the community? Northern Navigators are here to help. Acting as ‘regional ambassadors’, our Northern Navigators are people who already live here, who have chosen to live here, and who can help you as a newcomer feel welcomed and connected, all while offering knowledge of the regional lifestyle, recreation, schools, healthcare, real estate, and industry and career opportunities.

Meg Zammit

When talking with my teen daughter about her stress in identifying “what I want to be when I grow up,” I asked her to forget that question and instead ask herself “What do I want my surrounding and lifestyle to look like?” Likewise, when considering a move to our area consider what the lifestyle will be. Any location you choose to live in has it’s own set of challenges, but if your passions and hobbies are met (skiing, hiking, swimming in freshwater, escaping big city life, etc.) then tackling these challenges is worth every second.

HELPING PEOPLE MOVE HERE IS A PASSION OF MINE BECAUSE I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW EASY IT IS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH OUR AREA. PLEASE CONSIDER ME YOUR LOCAL EXPERT AND GUIDE AND LET ME CONNECT YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY.

When I’m not helping newcomers and locals alike in finding their dream homes, you can find me on a hiking trail, swimming at one of our many beautiful beaches with my two daughters and husband, or curled up with a good book!

Schedule Time With Meg

Connecting with a Northern Navigator is simple – just browse their profiles below and schedule a time to chat.

Meg Zammit

Realtor at Century 21 Northland

Ask Meg about Where to Live & Real Estate

Michael Broodo

Investor Engagement Coordinator

Ask Michael about the Business Community

Abby Baudry

Communications & Strategic Projects Manager at Traverse Connect

Ask Abby about Fitness & Outdoor Activities

Karin Chung

Senior Recruiter at Hagerty

Ask Karin about Schools & Careers

Taylor Comiskey

Freelance Social Media Manager

Ask Taylor about UpNorth Pride

Chelsea Bay Dennis

Graphic Designer & Story Coach

Ask Chelsea about Finding Community & Getting Connected

Kelsey Fox

Sales & Marketing Professional at LinkedIn

Ask Kelsey about Making Friends & Local Events

Kendal Glaze

Executive Assistant – Human Resources at TCAPS

Ask Kendal about Schools & Career Opportunities

CAMILLE HOISINGTON

Director of Ecosystem Development at Traverse Connect

Ask Camille about TC’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Nick Olson

Owner/Co-Founder of ELEV8 Climbing & Fitness

Ask Nick about Health, Wellness & Outdoor Activities

Maria Purvis

Engagement Manager at 20Fathoms

Ask Maria about TC’s Tech Scene & Remote Work

Chrissie Reitmeyer

Therapist at Kids Creek Family Counseling

Ask Chrissie about Finding Community

Kristen HARTLEY

Owner of Harpe Star & Member Experience Specialist at Cherryland Electric Cooperative

Ask Kristen about Up North Pride

Madeline Saucedo

Fund Development Director at Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center

Ask Maddie about Community & Networks

Jennifer Szunko

Executive Director at TCNewTech

Ask Jennifer about resources for entrepreneurs

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