I came here from Cleveland and I will be honest, there is some culture shock. It's a small town with very close knit groups, and it's shockingly conservative. Michigan has good politics overall, but Holland does not. I love Michigan's governor, but in Holland she's regarded with a lot of contempt. There is also a level of religious extremism here that I did not expect to find in a northerly state!

That being said, there is a decent chunk of the community that don't hold those attitudes, or the political and religious extremism. While I'm here, I want to be part of the positive change. People are pretty friendly when walking about downtown, the shops are cute, and the nature and beaches are fabulous! There are establishments that fly pride flags and some others that have Bible quotes. There's good coffee shops, a few cute indie bookstores, and some fabulous bars and restaurants. We (my fiance (27m) and me (33f)) plan on being here at least another five ears!

But... if you can afford it, look into Saugatuck or Douglas. Same beautiful beach town vibes but a lot more welcoming to all.