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Moving to a new city means new experiences, new challenges, and making new friends!
Wondering where to even start when it comes to meeting people in the area?
We know it can be both exciting and intimidating to get to know new people and form friendships in a new city. But don’t give up! Remember, making friends can take time, and also putting yourself out there can be tough, but so rewarding!
So even if you’ve lived in WMI your whole life and are just looking to get more involved, or you just moved here, I hope that this post will give you some ideas on how to get plugged in and meet some new people in the community!
PRO TIP: Ask yourself where your interests lie and start there.
Here are some great sports clubs we recommend in West Michigan (click to visit their website):
And more!
Are we missing any? Email [email protected] to be added to the list!
Love baking? Meet others with the same love and share your favorite recipes!
From House Rules:
“Every. Single. Thursday. $5.
No partner? Don’t care. No reservation? Don’t need it. Just get here by 6:45, or your seat’s gone.
Prizes for loners, winners, almost-winners, and even the loser.”
Love learning how to dance? Love meeting other people who love it as well? Check out GR Swing Society, which meets at the GR Public Museum in the winter and at Rosa Parks Circle in the summer every Tuesday!
GR Parks and Rec offers any fitness class you could think of. They offer classes for a fee all year round, but also have their free summer fitness series that happens every year and is a crowd favorite!
My Chunky Table teaches classes in the Bekins Kitchen in Grand Rapids of all kinds. Whether you love baking or cooking, she offers both, and they are also a great way to meet others!
6. Cookie Decorating Classes at Her Daily Bread
Take a cookie decorating class at the Downtown Market with Her Daily Bread Co! They have a featured class monthly, and it is a great way to meet others.
7. Join a Mini Golf League at Big Mini Putt Club
We’ve all heard of different sports leagues (like volleyball, basketball, bowling leagues, etc), but did you know that Grand Rapids offers mini golf leagues at Big Mini Putt Club? This is a great way to meet people as well!
7. Home Repair Services Free Hands-On Workshops
Did you know you can get free classes to learn all things remodeling? Is a home remodel something you’re hoping is in your future, but you feel like you don’t know anything? Check out their calendar of free classes that will turn you into a pro, and you get to meet new people and make new friends while doing it!
Bring your furry friend with you to meet other furry friends, and while you’re at it, talk to other pup parents. It’s a win-win; you both walk away meeting new faces. Here are some dog parks around town we suggest:
Seriously. This one is more for the daredevils, but sometimes your local gym is the best place to meet people from all walks of life. Plus, if you’re both at the gym, then you’re both pretty motivated, and if you find a good friend there, hopefully that motivation could transfer over into friendship as well!
Here are some local gyms that are great if you aren’t already plugged in:
Volunteering also offers opportunities to meet new people!
Looking for places to volunteer? Here are our West Michigan recs:
West Michigan is known as the place with a church on every corner, which means there are a ton of options when it comes to your choice in church/denomination/etc. Getting plugged into a church community is a great way to meet people and make friends, and most churches have programs such as small groups and bible studies throughout the week! Just look up churches in your area and visit them or check out their website for weekly events.
You can even step out of your comfort zone a bit and start a conversation with a stranger at a coffee shop or local lunch spot, and even though this sounds a little bit far-fetched, people truly love spontaneous conversations amidst their mundane schedules, and you could really connect and get along with someone after a conversation as simple as complimenting their shoes! Even saying hi to the person sitting next to you and simply asking how their day is going can make a big difference!
It’s hard for us to pinpoint a favorite coffee shop, but here are some great ones to walk into and start a conversation:
Browse active listings in the area or contact us for off-market listings.
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