Holland, Michigan Relocation Guide
Rebecca PerkinsREALTOR®Five Star Real Estate Lakeshore
Have a Question about Holland? Also visit: Hudsonville, Olive Township, Park Township, West Olive & Zeeland |
Population: 35,048 Located in Allegan and Ottawa County
Blessed by an abundance of natural assets - not the least of which is its setting on the Lake Michigan coastline - Holland is a recreational paradise.
"Water" is the operational word. From sailing to sunning to fishing, water-skiing and swimming, there are opportunities in the Holland area for every imaginable water sport. The community has the excellent advantage of being able to avail itself of both the expansive waters of Lake Michigan and the protected waters of Lake Macatawa. Life on the Great Lakes does not get much better than this. Holland is a favored port for all types of recreational boating; Lake Macatawa has many marinas offering a full range of services to owners of both power and sailing vessels. There is also an ample fleet of charter fishing boats anxious to pursue the world-class sport fishery of Lake Michigan, featuring coho and king salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout and perch. Park development has been a high priority for the city of Holland; the city's Leisure & Cultural Services Department maintains over 390 acres of park land, spread among 20 individual park and recreation sites. The Van Raalte Farm, named for Holland's founder, is the largest of these sites covering 155 acres on a pastoral hilltop setting. the farm's main attraction is a century-old farmhouse and outbuildings. One of Holland's newest recreational jewels is the Sports and Recreation Complex which includes four softball diamonds, two soccer fields, basketball and sand volleyball courts, picnic shelters and parking for 300 cars. Both the City of Holland and Holland Charter Township have active recreational departments that coordinate a full schedule of sporting and recreational activities throughout the year. Many of these programs have a strong educational element as well; a popular series of classes held during the summer teaches children about nature and how the pioneers lived. Included on the menu of recreational programs are golf lessons, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, youth soccer, T-ball, basketball, shuffleboard, softball, touch football, coed sand volleyball and fitness. Holland's recreation departments provide an innovative and valuable service to the community in the form of therapeutic recreation. This specialized program is designed to help people of all ages and abilities to develop and improve life skills and to help them interact better in social settings. Golfers have many options in Holland as there are at least 12 public and private courses in the immediate area which use the rolling, dune-based topography of the region to fashion some challenging and picturesque golfing opportunities. Outdoor recreation in Holland is not limited to the summertime. Area residents and visitors can enjoy many miles of cross country and snowmobile trails and there is a nearby venue for the down-hillers, too. Only two hours away is Crystal Mountain ski area with 23 downhill runs and about 16 miles of groomed cross country trails. Snow sports enthusiasts will be interested to know that the Holland area averages about 75 inches of snow a winter. Recreation is a part of life for all ages in Holland, even the seniors. At the 49,000-square foot Evergreen Commons senior citizen center, people can advantage of a variety of senior services ranging from leisure enrichment programs to adult day care. Activities at the facility include fitness and exercise classes, painting instruction, dance classes, four choirs and at least 75 social, academic and physical fitness activities weekly. |
