I used to hate living in Michigan. I'm not a fan of the snow or the cold.

It wasn't until I lived somewhere else for four months that I realized I will always be proud of my state, and there is no other state I'd rather live in than Michigan.

So, here are the 10 reasons there's no home quite like Michigan:

1. The Upper Peninsula

You have not seen true beauty until you set your eyes on the U.P. the summers are beautiful, the water, and the openness makes it a popular, favorite camping spot by many. The falls with the changing of the leaves is a surreal type of beauty, and if you like winter or snow you will find it to be breathtaking.

2. Tigers, Lions, Wings, Pistons.. Oh My

The Michigan sports are one of the parts that make Michigan what it is. Names as Gordie Howe, Ernie Harwell, and Matthew Stafford are iconic that represent Michigan sports. The summers are consisted of Tiger games, the fall brings upon the Lions and the winter is hockey and basketball. Next year with the building of the new Wings stadium Little Caesar arena, the Pistons will be moving there making all of the sports teams locations in Detroit. My favorite memories came from the stadium of Comerica Park during the summers watching the boys do what they do best, lead us to playoff games. Plus, Cabrera is pretty decent to look at.

3. Festivals Festivals everywhere.

Traverse City Michigan is known for cherries and the cherry festival. There are music festivals from Faster Horses at Brooklyn International Speedway in the summer, the jazz festival held in Detroit, and Warped Tour in July at the Palace of Auburn Hills. There is also the Renaissance Festival, Mackinaw City Winter fest and the world famous International Auto Show. The festivals are one of a kind, and there is nothing else in the world like the Car show. People from all over the world come to Detroit to see the new car reveals.

4. Great Colleges, Great Education.

One infamous question is: Michigan or Michigan State? The rivalry between the two colleges is tough. Michigan is harder academically to get into than State as the requirements are higher, however they are both great schools. One of my favorite schools in Michigan is Grand Valley, it is one I never would have had the grades to get into, but is the one my sister attended. It is on a beautiful campus of Grand Rapids. The winters are freezing with the lake effect snow, the summers with the Art Prize festival are fun and gorgeous. The education at any school you go to in Michigan is known to be great even if it isn't the iconic Green & White or Blue & Yellow.

5. Famous People From Michigan

Michigan has some of the best legends in the entertainment and sports industry. Allison Schmidt Olympian and winner of the Women's Swimming is from Canton Michigan, a town that is 5 minutes from where I live. Other legendary names are Madonna, Tim Allen, Stevie Wonder, Kid Rock, Eminem, Big Sean and Sonny Bono. Eminem lived off of 8 Mile, and the movie is based on his life. Tim Allen has a boat at the harbor a cousin in my family runs near Traverse City. Some of the best in the business are from Michigan, we can't forget Michael Jackson.

6. Faygo, Kellog, Sanders, Jiffy Mix

Some of the most well-known brands on the grocery store shelves have originated in Michigan. Kellogg originated in Battle Creek, and Jiffy was started in Chelsea. Sanders was started in Detroit. Faygo a Michigan "pop" was also created in the great state. My favorite field trip in elementary school was seeing the Jiffy Factory.

7. Berry Gordy, Motown.

Hitsville U.S.A Detroit Michigan where Motown originated. My favorite time period of music was invented in Detroit. Smokie Robinson, The Jackson 5, The Temptations. Stevie Wonder. Martha Reevs, Four Tops and Diana Ross to name a few are famous and still listened to today and will always be Detroit favorites. The Tigers host a Motown night every summer, I have seen the Four Tops perform the National Anthem and get a standing ovation. There isn't any music like Motown, and there never will be.

8. Motor City

Thanks to Henry Ford creating Ford Motor Co. Detroit was once the driving force for the world with automobiles being the "Motor City" Chrysler, General Motors and Ford are still in existence in Detroit however, other cities and countries have become popular automobile places. The bail out that took place between 2008 and 2010 with the automobile crisis was devastating on the city. We are still a driving force in the automobile industry and will always be known as being the Motor City.

9. The history.

Michigan in itself has great history, from Mackinac Island to the Daisy Air rifle being built in Plymouth Michigan, and the many "ghost" sightings in Detroit especially at the Whitney. There is so much history behind the beautiful state. During the 1840's Iron and Copper was discovered in the U.P, In 1948 the J.W. Westcott II became the first water vessel U.S. post office. It's the only floating vessel in the world that delivers mail to ships and the Mackinac ridge that connects the two peninsulas together is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world being five miles long.

10. Michigan Is Acceptably Cold As It Is The Shape Of a Mitten

Michigan is acceptable to be cold since it is shaped like a mitten and is given the nickname "The mitten state."