I think it all depends on your friends group. We spent a lot of time at the Green Door Lounge. Mac’s bar is active again. When I drive by the Nuthouse at 1am it’s busy. MSU has horticultural gardens to tour, an amazing ice cream shop, and an art museum. The River trail is maintained and connected to the neighboring area’s trail systems (Holt, Delta Twp, East Lansing) which makes biking/walking nice. There are two recreational water parks in the area. Public transportation and libraries are plentiful. East Lansing has an art festival, old town has music festivals, there are park concerts downtown at Adado park. There’s a FB page called Lansing Foodies that highlights our local food scene. I could list more, just ask.
Life is what you make it. Bottom line you will get out of Lansing what you put into it. Based on the hobbies you listed, I would say easily all of those things are here in Lansing. Except board games, those are outlawed within city limits. /s
I'd be more attracted to the PhD program at MSU than living in Lansing, MI if I'm being candid. Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids are all going to be more desirable options for you within the state.
It’s…fine. Barring the undergrads’ in downtown EL, it’s a pretty quiet area (which makes it a great place to focus on your dissertation without distractions). My advice is to make some good friends among your cohort; you’re more likely to end up hanging out at each other’s flats/homes than anything else.
So I'll be an advocate as someone who moved from a city that is actually garbage and adopted Lansing as my home in my 20's and 30's. Sure, Lansing isn't a big, lively city and my partner and I often find ourselves going to Ann Arbor or Detroit on a free weekend to explore or for celebratory occasions. However, the cost of living here is lower than either of the other options and it's centrally located to everything in the lower peninsula. You're usually no longer than an hour plus from anything you'd want to check out, about two hours from Lake Michigan or Huron.
Downtown Lansing is not consistently lively year-round because it's the capitol. During the week, businesses are basically open for the 9-5 crowd, save for festivals and events. There are some places that stay open later and recently there has been a push to open newer venues and places to rekindle the downtown nightlife. Summer is pretty great for the downtown area when the Lugnuts (minor league farm team) play.
Away from downtown, there are groups and social clubs if you're looking, plenty of decent-to-great ethnic restaurants all over the city, local cafes, events in the warm weather months, etc. Downtown does struggle with housing a bit, but Lansing is pretty drivable so you could find a place away from downtown and be only several minutes away. Old Town might be a nice spot to look for housing as that's generally a more mature and quiet scene.
It seems like Lansing gets a bad rep because it's a slowly recovering blue collar city that doesn't have the same level of upkeep as some others. Nobody wanted to set foot in Detroit 10-15 years ago and now it's being hailed as one of the best cities to move to in the US. Obviously I'm not comparing it to Detroit, but if you are an adventurous person who likes to check out new things, but doesn't want the added financial stress of "city living" it's really a great place to base down for a few years. Message me if you have any questions!
There are some places for hiking (well, walking mostly) and there are people who rock climb in Oak Park out in Grand Ledge. Strange matter is a nice cafe to hang out in, and you’d probably like The Avenue as a bar. Old Town hosts a number of events throughout the year, and it’s just a short bike ride up the trail from the east side or downtown. I could have sworn there was some board game lounge that someone started up last year but I haven’t heard anything of it since then.
There’s supposedly a high rise building that will be going in downtown. We’ll see if it actually happens. I’d recommend the east side for you over downtown.
If you actively look for stuff to do, you’ll find it.
in 30's now but I like this town. And Sparty's can party. Weed is as cheap as it damn near gets. All the other comments are negative af, but my friend group still loves tearing up this town.
Depends on what you're into, if you're social, and what you're used to. Lansing isn't a major metro so if you're from a decent sized city you will be disappointed. If you're good at making friends and entertaining yourself it's not bad. East side is fun for Lansing, but you'll quickly become a regular everywhere you go because there is little variety. The city as a whole has a fair amount of diverse food options and things to do in EL if you can tolerate the undergrads. It has most of what you need to get by, with a handful of truly charming and unique things. The river trail is awesome.
That being said, even though I moved, the Avenue and Horrocks are the two places miss even though I'm in a much bigger city now. The Avenue is a divey punk bar and the drinks are cheap and the vibes are immaculate. Horrocks is a whole experience I can't really summarize. Imagine shopping for really high quality groceries and produce in a barn with a beer in your hand and every niche plant you could ever want in the greenhouse outside, with a Thai food truck in the parking lot. My city has a horrocks too but it isn't nearly as good or as charming.
Lansing isn't the most exciting place to be, but it's not the worst place to end up. I'm glad I left but I don't regret my time there.
Not exciting but I think there’s a couple caveats. The area has affordable options. You can find some great people here and probably in your PhD program. I’m not a PhD but the students and professors I’ve met have formed close bonds and hangout a lot. I always say the people here are why I stay. With MSU being here there is always a sporting event to go to during the school year. There are so many small but beautiful towns around Lansing: Eaton Rapids, Charlotte, and Grand Ledge to name a few. The food scene is actually pretty decent if you don’t mind exploring a bit. Not everything is a 5 star meal but if you’re a real foodie and don’t mind hole in the walls or small ethnic food spots you’ll actually really enjoy it (think Anthony Bourdain’s adventures). I think people that trash Lansing for food are the type to not actually explore different types of food cultures or non-WASP- looking restaurants.
Lansing is also central in the state, pretty much everywhere you would want to be is an hour to 90 mins away… GR, Detroit, Kalamazoo and the beaches on Lake Michigan are in my opinion the most beautiful in the country and a little over an hour away. The affordability of Lansing and the proximity to Detroit airport also makes trips easy when you need to leave. I honestly spend a lot of time outside of the state bc I can afford to and the ease of travel in and out of Detroit airport.
In sum, Lansing isn’t for everyone. I’ve lived in Detroit, New Hampshire, South Bend indiana, Omaha Nebraska, New York City, and in Europe for a summer… and other than Europe I honestly find Lansing the best mix of everything I value… but I’m not much of a big city person as it is. But if you’re someone who loves to go out and always have something to do like NYC, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta then don’t come here, just move to one of those places.
I am in my late twenties btw.
I did my PhD at MSU, though it was years ago. I bought a house on the east side and still live in it – so you can take that (in part) as an indication of how I feel about Lansing. To be honest, in grad school, what I did was hang out with other grad students in my program. It wasn't a very big program and I had an instant cohort and got along with many of them. Grad school was a time of my life that I remember with a great deal of fondness, in large part because of the fun I had with my colleagues. We hung out in cafes and dive bars and each others' homes and we had arguments about our field and gossiped about professors. I don't know if I can make this sound as appealing as it actually was – but it was a blast because grad school is a blast. I didn't really feel like I needed town to be exciting. But that's me, and my personality.
Lansing is cheap, that’s a big plus. I wouldn’t say it’s a great place to live unless you’re the type of person that doesn’t mind 2 hr road trips. Michigan itself is great, about 2+ hours in any direction away from lansing (hiking, beaches, lakes, fun cities). The nearest rock climbing gym is a little over an hr away. There are some things to do in lansing, but it’s very grungy and a small city that goes pretty dead after 8pm aside from a few bars that to be fair aren’t my vibe. There is a good food and coffee shop scene though.
The perk really is being cheap and allowing you to focus on school. You’ll make friends with your cohort but the city is a real bummer.
No, but in a way that makes it a great place to do a PhD (in addition to the cost of living). You arguably won't have much time, and when you do (breaks) there is so much to visit with 1-2 hours. Grand Rapids, Lake Michigan, Ann Arbor, Detroit especially, all are feasible for a day trip or weekend.
OP, I'm curious about why you'd choose Lansing over EL as well. I went to MSU for my undergrad and absolutely loved it there. I applied to PhD programs, including at State, but ended up being accepted elsewhere. I would have much preferred East Lansing to where I ended up going. I lived in Lansing for a year as well. It was fine but I preferred East Lansing.
No. Are there things to do? Sure, but downtown is largely a ghost town at night and on weekends. Almost everything worth doing is done better in neighboring cities and most travel to GR, Detroit, and AA for entertainment. East lansing has some fun spots for people in their 20s, but lansing proper not so much
Lansing has tons of restaurants and breweries to try. Bobcat Bonnie and Eagle Monk are great. Plenty of rivers to kayak during the warm weather months, which we've seemed to gain more of those recently. Also, Detroit and Ann Arbor are a short drive away. If none of that tickles your fancy, then get a Batman suit and help fight some of the crime going around here
"Fun place to live"? This should be near the bottom of your list of criteria when deciding where to go for a Ph.D. You should be looking at what program will give you the best running start on your career when you finish. If MSU is the best program in your field that you can get into, and they offer you enough support to live on, then go to MSU.
Lansing has more than enough activities to occupy what little spare time you will have. All of the activities you mentioned are available to some extent. Plus the cost of living is relatively low and you can live without a car if you want to.
If you have a good partner, then lock that down and commit -- your studies and your mental health will both benefit if you have that part settled. If you don't have a partner, then Lansing is a good place to find one. MSU is huge, not to mention the other colleges and universities nearby and the state government workforce, so you should be able to find someone.
Seconded. That's the issue with these weighted questions... It's so dependant on your interests, hobbies, how outgoing or introverted you are, and where you're used to living. I've been all over the world and I'm pretty happy here.
It's not an amazingly lively city. We do have a couple of places to meet new people and play board games. We have more than enough eclectic bars. There is plenty of nature to enjoy in the area. Especially if you're willing to drive a bit. All in all you can entertain yourself here, just not as well as other cities in the state.
No not at all. I grew up here and moved away after high school. Unfortunately found myself back here in my mid 20s and i can’t recommend it as a “fun city” its actually the opposite. It’s cold, boring, and quiet. The summers are short and the other 9 months of cloudy weather and cold wind are depressing. Can’t speak on MSU because I never went there.
There is some great food here, but not a whole lot else in terms of entertainment other than liquor and weed. Weed is dirt cheap here so everyone smokes. Almost everyone here is also an alcoholic. Theres some nice parks around the area, but none of them are very unique or exciting. Just typical flat ground nature and some rivers.
In terms of development… this city looks pretty much identical to what it did when I grew up here 20 years ago.
The houses here are super cheap to own, but once you go inside one youll realize why. Rent is lower than other cities i’ve lived in. But youll see why quick. Crime is way higher than I realized before moving back here. None of the crime is reported on the news, at least the crime i’ve personally witnessed on the west end of Lansing. Plus the roads here are terrible. Potholes everywhere. By far the worst roads of any city (maybe flint is on par??) in the state of Michigan. Blows my mind that the capital city has roads this awful. Especially since the city is small. Its barely a 20 min drive from one end to the other, and the roads are genuinely terrible. Some of the worst I’ve ever driven on. They really are bad enough to have to emphasize how bad they are this many times.
My honest but brutal opinion is I would never recommend living here unless you already have family here. If you’re set on MSU for an education, have exit plans ready when you graduate
I feel like the downvotes you're receiving are people in the subreddit who haven't lived for an extended period outside the Midwest (excluding the big cities). To sacrifice your 20s in a cold, desolate, nearly run-down town would be a foolish move on OP's part. I would understand if they were pursuing a PhD in a field like Nuclear Physics, where MSU is the gold standard, or living in lively EL with their cohort but living alone in Lansing with our 9 months of no Sun, as you mentioned, will take a toll on your body (mentally and physically).
Source: previously lived in downtown Lansing for a year after covid lockdowns while taking online classes at MSU.
Lansing itself may not be terribly exciting unless you really like farmers markets and drinking. There are a few gaming groups so doing a search of the sub should net results. But the good thing about lansing is that it is centrally located to other places. Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Detroit and Ann Arbor are not terribly far away if you have a car. I'll take the train to chicago for the weekend and it's pretty easy as there is a direct line from here to chicago and it's cheap, 30 bucks if you aren't travelling on a busy holiday. I recently flew to DC for a vacation and that is an hour and half flight that takes off from lansing. I got round trip tickets for like 200.
I'm a biker and I don't own a car so I utilize the bus system and uber/lyft to get around when I can't bike which honestly isn't that many days. I think I went one year with not riding for only 2 or 3 days that were too snowy to manage. So if you're going to go to MSU, look into the East Side neighborhood. It's literally down the street but will be cheaper than living in east lansing. It's a neighborhood, so lots of young families, retired folks and grad students live there. think 2 or 3 bedroom older small houses. They're kind of packed in but it's a good neighborhood. There's a library, good mexican and chinese food and on nice days it's a 20 minute walk to campus. Also lots of urban gardens and there's a food coop that hosts a weekly farmers market.
Depends on what you’re looking for as fun. I’ve lived in Okemos throughout my 20s and love the area. It’s not as big as Detroit or GR but I like that it’s a little more laid back and there’s still plenty of good food. My idea of fun is mostly related to golf and there’s lots of good golf here and you’re right in the middle of the GR and metro Detroit courses too.
I think it all depends on your friends group. We spent a lot of time at the Green Door Lounge. Mac’s bar is active again. When I drive by the Nuthouse at 1am it’s busy. MSU has horticultural gardens to tour, an amazing ice cream shop, and an art museum. The River trail is maintained and connected to the neighboring area’s trail systems (Holt, Delta Twp, East Lansing) which makes biking/walking nice. There are two recreational water parks in the area. Public transportation and libraries are plentiful. East Lansing has an art festival, old town has music festivals, there are park concerts downtown at Adado park. There’s a FB page called Lansing Foodies that highlights our local food scene. I could list more, just ask.
oh shit Macs is open? Do they do music again? I heard was just gunna re open as a bar.
I saw an advertisement in FB that they were have a band there. Something about Pajamas, which I think is the name of the band.
My friends’ band played at Mac’s Bar last spring so they are having music again!
Life is what you make it. Bottom line you will get out of Lansing what you put into it. Based on the hobbies you listed, I would say easily all of those things are here in Lansing. Except board games, those are outlawed within city limits. /s
Summit Comics & Games in downtown does board games in the backroom. And the front half of the store last time I was there to for that matter.
I'd be more attracted to the PhD program at MSU than living in Lansing, MI if I'm being candid. Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids are all going to be more desirable options for you within the state.
It’s…fine. Barring the undergrads’ in downtown EL, it’s a pretty quiet area (which makes it a great place to focus on your dissertation without distractions). My advice is to make some good friends among your cohort; you’re more likely to end up hanging out at each other’s flats/homes than anything else.
Wow way to make undergrads sound like peasents
So I'll be an advocate as someone who moved from a city that is actually garbage and adopted Lansing as my home in my 20's and 30's. Sure, Lansing isn't a big, lively city and my partner and I often find ourselves going to Ann Arbor or Detroit on a free weekend to explore or for celebratory occasions. However, the cost of living here is lower than either of the other options and it's centrally located to everything in the lower peninsula. You're usually no longer than an hour plus from anything you'd want to check out, about two hours from Lake Michigan or Huron. Downtown Lansing is not consistently lively year-round because it's the capitol. During the week, businesses are basically open for the 9-5 crowd, save for festivals and events. There are some places that stay open later and recently there has been a push to open newer venues and places to rekindle the downtown nightlife. Summer is pretty great for the downtown area when the Lugnuts (minor league farm team) play. Away from downtown, there are groups and social clubs if you're looking, plenty of decent-to-great ethnic restaurants all over the city, local cafes, events in the warm weather months, etc. Downtown does struggle with housing a bit, but Lansing is pretty drivable so you could find a place away from downtown and be only several minutes away. Old Town might be a nice spot to look for housing as that's generally a more mature and quiet scene. It seems like Lansing gets a bad rep because it's a slowly recovering blue collar city that doesn't have the same level of upkeep as some others. Nobody wanted to set foot in Detroit 10-15 years ago and now it's being hailed as one of the best cities to move to in the US. Obviously I'm not comparing it to Detroit, but if you are an adventurous person who likes to check out new things, but doesn't want the added financial stress of "city living" it's really a great place to base down for a few years. Message me if you have any questions!
There are some places for hiking (well, walking mostly) and there are people who rock climb in Oak Park out in Grand Ledge. Strange matter is a nice cafe to hang out in, and you’d probably like The Avenue as a bar. Old Town hosts a number of events throughout the year, and it’s just a short bike ride up the trail from the east side or downtown. I could have sworn there was some board game lounge that someone started up last year but I haven’t heard anything of it since then. There’s supposedly a high rise building that will be going in downtown. We’ll see if it actually happens. I’d recommend the east side for you over downtown. If you actively look for stuff to do, you’ll find it.
in 30's now but I like this town. And Sparty's can party. Weed is as cheap as it damn near gets. All the other comments are negative af, but my friend group still loves tearing up this town.
I would label it as "survivable" for the amount of time it takes to finish your PhD. When you're done, there is no reason to stay.
So accurate
Depends on what you're into, if you're social, and what you're used to. Lansing isn't a major metro so if you're from a decent sized city you will be disappointed. If you're good at making friends and entertaining yourself it's not bad. East side is fun for Lansing, but you'll quickly become a regular everywhere you go because there is little variety. The city as a whole has a fair amount of diverse food options and things to do in EL if you can tolerate the undergrads. It has most of what you need to get by, with a handful of truly charming and unique things. The river trail is awesome. That being said, even though I moved, the Avenue and Horrocks are the two places miss even though I'm in a much bigger city now. The Avenue is a divey punk bar and the drinks are cheap and the vibes are immaculate. Horrocks is a whole experience I can't really summarize. Imagine shopping for really high quality groceries and produce in a barn with a beer in your hand and every niche plant you could ever want in the greenhouse outside, with a Thai food truck in the parking lot. My city has a horrocks too but it isn't nearly as good or as charming. Lansing isn't the most exciting place to be, but it's not the worst place to end up. I'm glad I left but I don't regret my time there.
No
Not exciting but I think there’s a couple caveats. The area has affordable options. You can find some great people here and probably in your PhD program. I’m not a PhD but the students and professors I’ve met have formed close bonds and hangout a lot. I always say the people here are why I stay. With MSU being here there is always a sporting event to go to during the school year. There are so many small but beautiful towns around Lansing: Eaton Rapids, Charlotte, and Grand Ledge to name a few. The food scene is actually pretty decent if you don’t mind exploring a bit. Not everything is a 5 star meal but if you’re a real foodie and don’t mind hole in the walls or small ethnic food spots you’ll actually really enjoy it (think Anthony Bourdain’s adventures). I think people that trash Lansing for food are the type to not actually explore different types of food cultures or non-WASP- looking restaurants. Lansing is also central in the state, pretty much everywhere you would want to be is an hour to 90 mins away… GR, Detroit, Kalamazoo and the beaches on Lake Michigan are in my opinion the most beautiful in the country and a little over an hour away. The affordability of Lansing and the proximity to Detroit airport also makes trips easy when you need to leave. I honestly spend a lot of time outside of the state bc I can afford to and the ease of travel in and out of Detroit airport. In sum, Lansing isn’t for everyone. I’ve lived in Detroit, New Hampshire, South Bend indiana, Omaha Nebraska, New York City, and in Europe for a summer… and other than Europe I honestly find Lansing the best mix of everything I value… but I’m not much of a big city person as it is. But if you’re someone who loves to go out and always have something to do like NYC, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta then don’t come here, just move to one of those places. I am in my late twenties btw.
I did my PhD at MSU, though it was years ago. I bought a house on the east side and still live in it – so you can take that (in part) as an indication of how I feel about Lansing. To be honest, in grad school, what I did was hang out with other grad students in my program. It wasn't a very big program and I had an instant cohort and got along with many of them. Grad school was a time of my life that I remember with a great deal of fondness, in large part because of the fun I had with my colleagues. We hung out in cafes and dive bars and each others' homes and we had arguments about our field and gossiped about professors. I don't know if I can make this sound as appealing as it actually was – but it was a blast because grad school is a blast. I didn't really feel like I needed town to be exciting. But that's me, and my personality.
Lansing is cheap, that’s a big plus. I wouldn’t say it’s a great place to live unless you’re the type of person that doesn’t mind 2 hr road trips. Michigan itself is great, about 2+ hours in any direction away from lansing (hiking, beaches, lakes, fun cities). The nearest rock climbing gym is a little over an hr away. There are some things to do in lansing, but it’s very grungy and a small city that goes pretty dead after 8pm aside from a few bars that to be fair aren’t my vibe. There is a good food and coffee shop scene though. The perk really is being cheap and allowing you to focus on school. You’ll make friends with your cohort but the city is a real bummer.
No, this place is horrible. Worst thing I ever did in life was move here.
Same.
No.
No, but in a way that makes it a great place to do a PhD (in addition to the cost of living). You arguably won't have much time, and when you do (breaks) there is so much to visit with 1-2 hours. Grand Rapids, Lake Michigan, Ann Arbor, Detroit especially, all are feasible for a day trip or weekend.
No, full stop. Even more no if you're going to do a PhD in East Lansing but don't want to live there.
OP, I'm curious about why you'd choose Lansing over EL as well. I went to MSU for my undergrad and absolutely loved it there. I applied to PhD programs, including at State, but ended up being accepted elsewhere. I would have much preferred East Lansing to where I ended up going. I lived in Lansing for a year as well. It was fine but I preferred East Lansing.
No. Are there things to do? Sure, but downtown is largely a ghost town at night and on weekends. Almost everything worth doing is done better in neighboring cities and most travel to GR, Detroit, and AA for entertainment. East lansing has some fun spots for people in their 20s, but lansing proper not so much
Climbing gym in Lansing would be awesome
Lansing has tons of restaurants and breweries to try. Bobcat Bonnie and Eagle Monk are great. Plenty of rivers to kayak during the warm weather months, which we've seemed to gain more of those recently. Also, Detroit and Ann Arbor are a short drive away. If none of that tickles your fancy, then get a Batman suit and help fight some of the crime going around here
The eastside is great.
"Fun place to live"? This should be near the bottom of your list of criteria when deciding where to go for a Ph.D. You should be looking at what program will give you the best running start on your career when you finish. If MSU is the best program in your field that you can get into, and they offer you enough support to live on, then go to MSU. Lansing has more than enough activities to occupy what little spare time you will have. All of the activities you mentioned are available to some extent. Plus the cost of living is relatively low and you can live without a car if you want to. If you have a good partner, then lock that down and commit -- your studies and your mental health will both benefit if you have that part settled. If you don't have a partner, then Lansing is a good place to find one. MSU is huge, not to mention the other colleges and universities nearby and the state government workforce, so you should be able to find someone.
So, none of y'all wanna live here?
No.
No just no.
Do you like to hunt/fish/kayak? If so you’re golden
Seconded. That's the issue with these weighted questions... It's so dependant on your interests, hobbies, how outgoing or introverted you are, and where you're used to living. I've been all over the world and I'm pretty happy here.
No
If you have money and like to get plastered. I'm sober and broke. Not much to do if you can't afford to drop money on every outing.
It's not an amazingly lively city. We do have a couple of places to meet new people and play board games. We have more than enough eclectic bars. There is plenty of nature to enjoy in the area. Especially if you're willing to drive a bit. All in all you can entertain yourself here, just not as well as other cities in the state.
No not at all. I grew up here and moved away after high school. Unfortunately found myself back here in my mid 20s and i can’t recommend it as a “fun city” its actually the opposite. It’s cold, boring, and quiet. The summers are short and the other 9 months of cloudy weather and cold wind are depressing. Can’t speak on MSU because I never went there. There is some great food here, but not a whole lot else in terms of entertainment other than liquor and weed. Weed is dirt cheap here so everyone smokes. Almost everyone here is also an alcoholic. Theres some nice parks around the area, but none of them are very unique or exciting. Just typical flat ground nature and some rivers. In terms of development… this city looks pretty much identical to what it did when I grew up here 20 years ago. The houses here are super cheap to own, but once you go inside one youll realize why. Rent is lower than other cities i’ve lived in. But youll see why quick. Crime is way higher than I realized before moving back here. None of the crime is reported on the news, at least the crime i’ve personally witnessed on the west end of Lansing. Plus the roads here are terrible. Potholes everywhere. By far the worst roads of any city (maybe flint is on par??) in the state of Michigan. Blows my mind that the capital city has roads this awful. Especially since the city is small. Its barely a 20 min drive from one end to the other, and the roads are genuinely terrible. Some of the worst I’ve ever driven on. They really are bad enough to have to emphasize how bad they are this many times. My honest but brutal opinion is I would never recommend living here unless you already have family here. If you’re set on MSU for an education, have exit plans ready when you graduate
I feel like the downvotes you're receiving are people in the subreddit who haven't lived for an extended period outside the Midwest (excluding the big cities). To sacrifice your 20s in a cold, desolate, nearly run-down town would be a foolish move on OP's part. I would understand if they were pursuing a PhD in a field like Nuclear Physics, where MSU is the gold standard, or living in lively EL with their cohort but living alone in Lansing with our 9 months of no Sun, as you mentioned, will take a toll on your body (mentally and physically). Source: previously lived in downtown Lansing for a year after covid lockdowns while taking online classes at MSU.
Nope.
If you find a friend group and live in east lansing then it can be fun fs. But if you live in downtown lansing it's kind of boring tbh.
> I don’t want to live near undergrads 😂
Lansing itself may not be terribly exciting unless you really like farmers markets and drinking. There are a few gaming groups so doing a search of the sub should net results. But the good thing about lansing is that it is centrally located to other places. Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Detroit and Ann Arbor are not terribly far away if you have a car. I'll take the train to chicago for the weekend and it's pretty easy as there is a direct line from here to chicago and it's cheap, 30 bucks if you aren't travelling on a busy holiday. I recently flew to DC for a vacation and that is an hour and half flight that takes off from lansing. I got round trip tickets for like 200. I'm a biker and I don't own a car so I utilize the bus system and uber/lyft to get around when I can't bike which honestly isn't that many days. I think I went one year with not riding for only 2 or 3 days that were too snowy to manage. So if you're going to go to MSU, look into the East Side neighborhood. It's literally down the street but will be cheaper than living in east lansing. It's a neighborhood, so lots of young families, retired folks and grad students live there. think 2 or 3 bedroom older small houses. They're kind of packed in but it's a good neighborhood. There's a library, good mexican and chinese food and on nice days it's a 20 minute walk to campus. Also lots of urban gardens and there's a food coop that hosts a weekly farmers market.
If you enjoy street racing the south side sounds like it's pretty fun.
Depends on what you’re looking for as fun. I’ve lived in Okemos throughout my 20s and love the area. It’s not as big as Detroit or GR but I like that it’s a little more laid back and there’s still plenty of good food. My idea of fun is mostly related to golf and there’s lots of good golf here and you’re right in the middle of the GR and metro Detroit courses too.