Beautiful Lake Michigan is just a few miles away in sister city Muskegon, but Muskegon Heights has its own inland lake for residents to enjoy, Mona Lake. That's something to splash about!
Muskegon Heights is a small city of 10,806 people as of the 2010 census. With four main neighborhoods and an inland lake, Mona Lake, this town is bordered by the larger community of Muskegon, and is a part of the greater Grand Rapids area.
Moving to Muskegon Heights
You'll experience all four seasons here, with winter on the chilly side, and a beautiful flower-filled spring. Bring your heavy coat and enjoy this community. Muskegon State Park offers beautiful lakeside views nearby, year-round.
Muskegon Heights is a community where vacancies are often available, making it relatively easy to find apartment complexes, all-bills-paid apartments and rental properties of all types. All the same, allow yourself at least several weeks to find the right spot, and drive or walk through the city yourself if you can. If not, rely on online listings and local newspapers such as the "Muskegon Chronicle" for rental listings.
Although landlords do have vacancies available frequently, it doesn't mean that they won't still want to see information about your employment and rental history, so have that easy to access. Bring your ID, W2s and bank statements when you're ready to sign a lease, as well.
Neighborhoods in Muskegon Heights
There are four main neighborhoods in Muskegon Heights, with the community near Mona Lake boasting the most vacancies. Check out the different areas below to help you with your search.
Wood Street / E Hackley Avenue: Centrally located, this suburban neighborhood is close to major thoroughfare Sherman Avenue. It's a mix of single-family homes and apartment complexes where both owners and renters stake a claim. Most homes were built between 1940 and 1969, although some more historic buildings were constructed before this time. Vacancies are usually not too difficult to find, so you should be able to find apts for rent fairly easily. You'll find G and L Chili Dogs on Sherman Avenue, for when that mood strikes.
Muskegon Heights City Center: You'll find several pleasant parks here, including Rowan City Park and Harris Nature Park, as well as easy access to Route 31. This is a suburban neighborhood in feel, with small- to medium-size homes and apartment complexes including Tiffany Woods. Owners and renters abide in residences built between 1940 and 1969 and many historic structures built prior to 1939. Local businesses and restaurants are also located in this neighborhood, including Parkview Bar and Grill and Kenny's Sandwich Shop.
Route 31 / W Columbia Avenue: This suburban neighborhood often has vacancies, and a portion of the community borders pretty Mona Lake. Here you'll find small- to medium-size single-family residences, and smaller apartment buildings, many built between 1940 and 1969.
Peck Street / W Hackley Avenue: West Heights Park is located in this suburban neighborhood, filled with small homes and apartment buildings. Owners and renters alike live in older residences, many built before 1940 or between 1940 and 1969.
Living in Muskegon Heights
If you like living near several beautiful bodies of water and enjoying all four seasons, Muskegon Heights is a good spot to choose. In fact, people have been choosing this area for eight thousand years, when nomadic hunters lived in the region, followed by the Ottawa and Potawatomi Native American tribes. The name Muskegon comes from an Ottawa word that means marshy river or swamp, but it's the lakes and pretty Little Black Creek that are the bodies of water most residents enjoy these days.
It isn't only a celebration of boating, fishing and lake shore strolls in Muskegon Heights, though. The area is home to the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in nearby Manistee National Forest. The Muskegon Civic Theater holds productions in the area as well.
In adjoining Muskegon, you'll find the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and one of the founding chapters of -- get ready to sing harmony with your next haircut -- the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Festival Fun
There are plenty of celebrations throughout the Muskegon Heights area too. The Coast West Festival and Muskegon Bike Time both draw visitors nationwide. Over 35,000 bikes participated in the 2013 Bike Time event.
Beach Time
Do you love sand castles and the smell of suntan lotion in the morning? You might be far from the ocean, but one of the prettiest beaches around is located less than fifteen minutes from your doorstep.
Pere Marquette just happens to be one of the prettiest and largest free public beaches on Lake Michigan's eastern shore. Along with stunning white sand and clean waters, sand dunes make the perfect spot for quiet walks, and wind surfers and kite boarders call this spot home. Summertime brings competitions in kiteboarding and volleyball.
Worked up an appetite with all that beach activity? Check out Verdoni's Italian Restaurant, a Muskegon Heights favorite, or grab a taco at Rosita's. There's plenty to nosh on, see and do in Muskegon Heights.