Whenever people ask me where I’m from, I obviously answer Michigan. The first follow up question I almost always get is “Do you live in Detroit?” Oh my goodness. There is more to Michigan than just Detroit. I respond with no, and explain where I’m from. Then I like to ask people if they have ever been to Michigan. That answer is mixed. But then I get to thinking, what does Michigan have to offer? What makes Michigan a fantastic state and place to live in? Well, here is what I think makes it great, in no particular order, of course.
1. The Beaches.
When most people think of the beach, they think of places like Hawaii, California, Florida, the Carolinas, and so on. When I think about the beach, I think of the West Michigan Shoreline and Lake Michigan. Michigan offers a whopping 3,200 miles of shoreline, and is often not that far away. In fact, we have so much sand on our shorelines that we have the largest freshwater dunes in the world. Yes, you read that correctly, the world. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park is one of the most beautiful places in America. When you go to the beach in Michigan, you have a great time catching some sun, playing in the sand, and cooling off in the lake. But then you stay for the sunset. We have some of the most breathtaking and beautiful sunsets in Michigan. They’re so good that people will clap after the sun has set and I’m not kidding either. I remember seeing the sunset on the Fourth of July one year, and right after the last bit had dipped below the horizon, there was a thunderous applause.
2. Mittens.
How many people can say that they can tell you where they live with their hand? Well, I can tell you that for sure (No Wisconsin does not count, it doesn’t look like a glove at all). People from Michigan proudly carry their map to home with them all the time, no matter the place or circumstance. Michigan is also the only state that has two peninsulas, and let me tell you, they probably could be considered separate states.
3. Oh the places you’ll go.
Michigan has many places to visit that are all full of unique quirks and items. An interesting fact, Michigan is the only place in the world where you can go from Hell to Paradise without leaving the borders. Yup, we have a Hell and Paradise, Michigan. We also have a place called Fishtown Leland, and yeah, there’s a lot of fishing up there. Speaking of up there, when most people in Michigan go on vacation, they usually go Up North. The northern areas of the Lower Peninsula is known for being a prime destination for anyone looking to rent or own cottages and escape the busy world. Up North is a beautiful destination, mostly because of the gorgeous lakes, near pristine forests, and temperate climate during the summer. The Upper Peninsula, or the UP, is full of untouched forests for thousands of acres, and multiple locations full of interesting and fun things to do for those seeking entertainment. We have an island called Mackinac (mack-in-aw) Island, and there are no cars. Only bikes and horses, and they makes some fantastic fudge.
4. We've got the food.
Oh man, thinking of all the great things about Michigan has got me hungry. But again, we've got it great up here in Michigan. First of all, if you’ve ever seen the movie American Pie, the whole story and location is based off of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was filmed in Michigan as well. Part of the movie features the world famous Yesterdog. When I say world famous, I mean it. Presidents have gone as far to come to get their hands on some of the best hot dogs you will ever taste. The high number of people with Polish descent in Michigan means we also get another scrumptious set of platters, including paczkis, among other amazing foods. We also have pasties. No, not the things women use to cover up, I’m talking about a good ol Michigan pasty. What’s a pasty? Oh, it’s only a mouthwatering meat pie that you hold in your hand. My goodness those are some delicious things to eat. Writing all about that is making me hungry.
5. Want a drink with that?
Want to wash that all down? Well, why don’t you have some pop? Yeah, I said it. Well, have yourself some Faygo! Here in Michigan, we have Faygo pop, and it comes in many flavors. I think that it’s better than some of the other pops on the market, and you can get it in a ton of flavors too! Not a fan of pop? How about some Vernor’s ginger ale, a local favorite of Michigan. Not a fan either? Alright, how about a beer? Michigan has one of the highest concentration of microbreweries in the United States, and Grand Rapids has been named “Beer City, USA” for a couple of years straight now. So when you go to a bar here in Michigan, don’t you dare ask for just a Bud. Instead, try one of the massive variety of beers and ales to pick from.
6. Did I mention berries?
Looking for something a little more natural? Well, here in Michigan you can find an orchard almost anywhere. The nice weather makes it nearly perfect to grow some of the best fruits, like apples, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, and Cherries. Traverse City, Michigan has a festival that draws huge attention every year simply because the entire theme is just Cherries. Michigan cherries are the best I have ever had, and I will challenge anyone that says otherwise. During the festival, the best delicacies made from cherries emerge, and you can taste cherry anything, from hot sauce to dessert topping to sandwiches!
7. Did I miss anything?
Our state is pretty great. We also have a famous botanical garden in Grand Rapids, called the Fredrik Meijer Gardens, where they have a Japanese garden. Not many places can say they have that. They also have a ton of famous sculptures and host art shows every year. There is a summer concert series featuring some fantastic bands like the Doobie Brothers, WAR, and Gavin Degraw. Speaking of concerts, ever heard of Electric Forest Music Festival? That happens in Rothbury, Michigan every year, and hosts some of the best names in Electronic Music, like Glitch Mob, Skrillex, Bassnectar, Zed’s Dead, and many others. We have a couple of weeks in the fall called Artprize, where artists from all over the world converge to turn Grand Rapids into a giant piece of art and feature works all over the city in different locations. These pieces of art are all in competition to win a prize of over $1 million! Holland, Michigan, hosts the Tulip Time Festival every year too, growing a huge variety of tulips of different colors. There, you can also find authentic windmills that are still used today.
There is so much here that I haven’t even touched yet, and Michigan is a place that you should definitely put on your map for the future. When you hear all the ads about our fantastic state on the radio, I can confirm that what Tim Allen says is indeed true, and that it is a Pure Michigan.
