[Tiger Beer]

Well, the last 3 posts, is certainly making me think of Lansing once again. It has the ingredients, even if sorely lacking in it's current state.

[jhway314]

I sure hope I'm not too late! I just saw this forum and needed to respond pronto!


I was born in Lansing and lived in Jackson for the first eight years of my life (2005 -- mid 2014). Obviously, I would say that Jackson is a contender for a major city in Michigan, not just because of nostalgic memories. It does have a lot of history to it, and it seems a pity that its population is what it is today. The downtown has undergone some major revitalization. Uncovering the Grand River and making a riverwalk took place, Michigan Ave and Louis Glick Hwy have both become two way streets (Michigan Ave went east and Louis Glick Hwy went west when I lived there). The downtown area has become a lot nicer as well. Hinkley Bakery (voted best donut in the state several years in a row), is another town icon. When the old Avalon Hotel burned down (the thing was a dump anyway; it needed to go one way or another), they put in a Courtyard and a TownePlace Suites, two very nice, higher-end hotels. They've also done a really good job repurposing old businesses in Jackson Crossing. As old businesses have faded out, newer and nicer ones have come in to take their place (HobbyLobby took the place of Sears and Dunham's Sports took the place of Toys-R-Us). In addition to all this, I-94 is being widened through town. I'd say that Jackson has more infrastructure and better infrastructure than when I lived there. But still people are moving away and it keeps losing population. This baffles me.


Another city I think is a contender is Dearborn. There's a lot of history here and history that is important the world around. Henry Ford was the primary spearheader of the automobile era, and his legacy is important. The city itself is quaint, and the Henry Ford Museum adds an attraction that draws people in.


Though none of these next cities are "major" I think they could go on the list because they have a lot of charm. Downtown Clare (north of Mt. Pleasant and NW of Midland) has a lot of charm, and Cops n Donuts makes it popular.


Mackinaw City, though small is famous. Its location by the well known Mackinac Bridge, and situated right on the water makes it feel like a small beach town (almost like Michigan's Santa Monica).


Michigan has a lot of neat places in it, and there is a lot of variance in which is the best. But I think that there isn't a best place. The best place is different for each person.

[Coldjensens]

1 Marquette
2. Wyandotte
3. Marshal
4. Petosky
5. Traverse City
6 Ann Arbor
7 Ferndale

8. Charlevoix
8. Gaylord
9. Royal Oak
10. Rochester


Next week I may think of a very different list. There are a lot of very nice cities, a lot of fun cities, a lot of cool cities. Which are best? Depends on the mood I am in and where I have been most recently.

[Heather67]

1 Marquette
2. Wyandotte
3. Marshal
4. Petosky
5. Traverse City
6 Ann Arbor
7 Ferndale

8. Charlevoix
8. Gaylord
9. Royal Oak
10. Rochester

I've been to five of those, and I'd be quite happy to go back. Which makes me think I should check out the other five, too.

[Regajohn]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

I'm dying to get up to Bay City to do some exploring. I've heard Saginaw has some Victorians as well.

Visit Harbor Springs for a lovely Victorian houses all over town and of course if you walk East on Beach Drive, from downtown, you’ll pass lovely Summer cottages. There’s also YouTube videos

Also also the enclave of Bay View (Petoskey) has lovely Victorian Summer cottages