Spacious and bright home in the Great Lakes State

Our home is relatively new with a traditional style and a large, partially wooded yard. The interior is light, bright and clean with wood floors on most of the first floor. When you walk in the front door the entry-way has 18-foot high ceilings, as does the Great Room with its couches, fireplace, and abundance of windows. To the right of the entry and through french doors is an office with windows on two sides, including a large bay window. To the left is the front room with two large windows. An open floor plan joins the kitchen, dining room, and the great room with its high ceilings.

The second floor has two bedrooms that share a separate bathroom. In addition, the second floor also has a large master bedroom with an adjoining walk-in closet and bathroom that includes a bath, shower, and two sinks. The bath is lighted both by windows and a large skylight.

The lower level is walk-out through sliding doors and includes an additional bathroom, a bedroom, two utility rooms that including laundry facilities, and a main room that has a bar area, couch, TV, and home exercise equipment.

About the location

Michigan is beautiful and often missed by international travelers to the United States who head for the east or west coasts. We're the Great Lakes State -- home to 20% of the world's freshwater and over 3,000 miles of coastline (the United States' "North Coast"). Our only reluctance about traveling abroad this summer is our long list of unchecked destinations here at home.

The greater Kalamazoo area is about 250,000 people and our home lies in a neighborhood that borders the countryside. We are a 15 minute drive to the small but bustling downtown area and minutes to open spaces. A trailway that is great for running, biking, and walks lies near our home and connects Kalamazoo with the beach town of South Haven, 30 miles from here on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Kalamazoo is a relatively small city but alive with great restaurants, several brew-pubs (including Bells Beer, one of the nation's largest craft beer makers), and cultural and arts events. Every weekend highlights a different festival downtown and a monthly Friday night "art hop" brings people downtown to view the works of local artists.

Within forty minutes you reach the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. Much of the 300 miles of Michigan's west coast is lined with towering sand dunes and dotted with picturesque lakeside villages like South Haven, Saugatuck, Pentwater, Ludington, and the great Sleeping Bear Dunes -- named the "most beautiful place in America" by one of the nation's most-watched morning news shows.

In the summer, Michigan is brimming with fresh fruits as the nation's second most agriculturally diverse states in the U.S. Locally grown-fruits include apples, strawberries, and especially blueberries. One of our favorite places is Traverse City and the surrounding area (about a three-hour drive from our home). Not only is Traverse City the "Cherry Capital" of America, but the region boasts rolling hills, sandy beaches, breathtaking peninsulas, islands, some of the state's best restaurants, and over 30 wineries that welcome visitors.

And our home in Kalamazoo is not far from Chicago, the Midwest's largest city. You can arrive in downtown Chicago from Kalamazoo in a little over two hours, either by car or train.

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