How One Couple Is Enjoying Their New Lifestyle in the Muskegon Lakeshore Region
After moving all over the country for medical school, residencies and clinical rotations, Dr. Hunter Ross and Dr. Vicki Sharma decided Muskegon was the perfect city to call home. Hunter is an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon, and Vicki is a general surgeon at Muskegon Surgical Associates.
“We interviewed all over the country, but kept coming back to the offers in Muskegon,” Hunter says. “It had pretty much everything either of us wanted. We both lived in bigger cities for medical school and our residencies, and we wanted a place with a smaller-town feel but a big-city surgical experience.”
In seeking an ideal environment for their young family, the couple decided to move to Muskegon in August 2023. In this conversation with Livability, they share how they’re settling in.
In This Article
What do you love about living in Muskegon?
Vicki: In the summer, it has everything we like, and there’s a great state park. When we came here, one of Hunter’s partners took us out on his boat, and there are all these little bars and restaurants that you pull your boat up to right on the lake.
You would never have guessed that it would be in the middle of Michigan. We wanted to live in California, but this is even better because it doesn’t have California prices.
Hunter: Living on the lake – a dream of mine. We have a boat, and the lake is just amazing. It’s large enough that it feels like you’re on the ocean. This little place really comes alive in the spring and summer. We love being on the water, and we love the community.
What was your housing search like, and why did you choose your neighborhood?
Vicki: When we got here, we weren’t familiar with the area at all. Muskegon has been revitalizing its downtown area, and it’s beautiful. It has a large farmers market and a bunch of new restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques. Randomly, they had an area of empty lots, with a picture saying they were selling modern homes, but there were no houses up yet. So, we called the real estate agent and chose our lot. We were the second house built, and we moved right in. I think there are 12 houses, and 10 have been moved into now. It’s a brand-new community right on the lake across the street from downtown.
Hunter: We have a really cool rooftop. We can look over the lake on one side and downtown on the other. We have a kitchen upstairs and can hang out with our daughter by the fire pit and watch the lake or see fireworks on the Fourth of July. There are really cool bike trails practically outside our front door that go right to Lake Michigan, and we love the little downtown area. We are seven minutes from the hospital. Since we needed to be close in case we get called in, it’s the perfect location.
What are your favorite restaurants and coffee shops?
Vicki: Right downtown, there are a bunch of little places. We love Aldea Coffee. There’s a little speakeasy called Capone’s, and another restaurant called 794 Kitchen & Bar. We love smoothies and acai bowls, and we go to a place called Rootdown that has a really nice hot yoga studio in the back.
Hunter: Rad Dads’ Tacos is great along with Early Owl for breakfast. On the water, we love Bear Lake Tavern. A new marina called Adelaide Pointe just opened, and there is Muskegon Brewing Co. and a new food hall that has five restaurants and a bar in the middle. We’ve been a few times and loved it every time.
Where do you go to see live music?
Hunter: We go to a place called The Deck. In the summertime, they have live music on the white sand beach with a really cool restaurant. The beach is literally as good as if not better than San Diego where I grew up.
Vicki: It’s on Pere Marquette, and they have live music every night.
Discover the Buzz
Watch Muskegon is a vibrant campaign celebrating the growth, spirit and opportunities within Muskegon County, showcasing everything from its thriving arts and dining scenes to its beautiful natural landscapes. It’s a call to witness the exciting transformation and community pride that defines this dynamic area. Come experience the energy and see why everyone is watching Muskegon. You can find out more by visiting watchmuskegon.com.
