[Coldjensens]

Diamond Girl. Some suggestions for exploring:

A good time to venture into Detroit is during the winterfest. It is hokey but a lot of fun and it is directed to younger kids. It is in February. A great opportunity to explore downtown. Be sure to ride the silly people mover and stop in greektown to look around, but do not plan a day with kids around greektown.

Some great museums and library downtown, but call first every time I have tried to go they were closed.

Got to Eastern market in the spring. It is ok in the winter, but obviously very nice in spring time or fall when more produce is available.

Greek town is awesome, but not a great place for the kids. Not bad for them, just not a lot to interest them there and too many places (bars and casino) that they cannot go into.

The rencen often has a magician, balloon guy, clown etc on weekends. I am not sure how it is determined when they are there. If you want to know, I will try to find out.

In the summer, Detroit and Canada share costs for independance day fireworks. It is at the end of June or very beginning of July. It is one of the best fireworks displays in the US. I have also been to Boston common for the 4th of July and although the music is better in Boston, the fireworks are better here. Go early and get a spot near the ren cen or go to Canada and watch from there. It is less crowded and crazy and a bit safer on the Canadian side. People say that the Detroit side is risky, but we have gone several times with small children and had no problem. It i s a lot more exciting on the Detroit side.

If you want to see lake Eerie, you can go to Eerie Metropark. Get an annual metro park sticker, you will want one anyway (Kensington Metropark has the best sledding hills and toboggan runs that I have ever seen anywhere, plus nice beaches and boat rental for warm weather. Lake Erie is visible from Gibraltar, Newport, and possibly parts of Monroe. The southern part of Grosse Ile sticks out into Lake Eerie, but that is all private access.
Lake Erie metropark has a wave pool, but that is obviously a summer only thing. Bundle up extremely well if you go to lake eerie int he winter. Cold cold winds off the lake. Even the Detroit river is very pretty when you get down near lake erie. It is very wide here (about 2 miles plus I think). You can see the Canadian shore. It is pretty. From Wyandotte or Grosse Ile, you can watch the freighters go by on the river, it is really neat.
Once it gets nice go west to lake Michigan. The beaches are absolutely beautiful. the water is crystal clear but cold. it is very very shallow i all the places that I have been so great for kids if you go in late summer. Lots of pretty rocks, shells and occasionally a petosky stone to find too.

As you get up north Maninac Island (pronounced Mackinaw) is a great place for families. either stay on the island or camp near one of the ferries ont he Michigan side. Rent bikes on the island no cars are allowed. Taquamenon falls is also an awesome place in the summer. You can wade right out into the lower falls (very slippery, but shallow and slow) and the hike to the upper falls is rigorous (all day to hike there and back, or go one way and have one of the adults drive up for a pick up. It is one of the most beautiful places.


Spend a day in Ann arbor when you can. If you take kids go to the hands on museum among other places. If you go with hubby and like jazz, I strongly recommend the Bird of Paradise.

I started a thread about day trips near detroit and got some execellent suggestions. If you can find it, that will help you find exploring options. We have been here going on three years (plus I grew up near south Lyon) and we are still exploring new paces regularly.

Welcome.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Would love to see the report you have that shows that the Michigan economy is 75% Automotive. Maybe the SE corner, but not the majority of the State. Facts need references to hold any weight, without links and proof, they are just numbers picked out of thin air and have no meaning.

Don't hold your breathe Bydand. Zales = Driller2, Driller3 and a bunch of other usernames.

He also likes to post in the Arkansas and Wichita sections and berate those areas too. Can you say "suicide watch".

[TigerDan]

Lake Erie would be nice, but I think you can find beaches that are just as nice and maybe a bit cleaner on Lake Huron. The water is comprable to Lake Michigan - 4 Cs - crisp, cool, clear and clean. Lake Michigan does have an excellent coastline with the dunes and all, but the Lake Huron coast is very nice as well. That's nothing against Lake Erie, I'm sure it is nice too, but if you moved to Utica you are actually closer (with far less traffic) going to Lake Huron. The closest beach to Utica would be Metro Beach on Lake St. Clair. It would be great for a few hours, but if you're planning a day trip, go to Lake Huron or Lake Erie. The beaches are nicer and less crowded and the water is cleaner than Lake St. Clair. Save Lake Michigan for a weekend, as it will be at least a 2.5 hour drive or more each way depending on where you go.

If you get here and find yourself in love with the water (like so many of us have), I'd suggest getting a boat, if it is within your budget. It's a great time for a family, and I think one of the best ways to enjoy a beach is pulling up to the sandbar and anchoring in 3 ft. of water. I would recommend something less than 26 feet. It will cost less and use less gas. Plus you can trailor it to many of the Great Lakes, rivers and inland lakes mentioned here. I personally have a 19 ft. SeaRay that I can launch 3 blocks from my house, but have trailored as far as the NW Lower Peninsula to Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake. It doesn't seem like it's a good investment when the boating season is basically from mid or late May through September, but a few nice days on the water make it all worth while.

[M TYPE X]

I love that idea. Cash out of Alberta and move to Michigan!

Now, I just need a job in Alberta that I can cash.

[FERRETI]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

I love that idea. Cash out of Alberta and move to Michigan!

Now, I just need a job in Alberta that I can cash.

Honestly,there is too many states that appeal a lot more than our state does.Check out Florida and the rest...

[Frankawitz]

Well if the Governor stays with the Renewable Energy we will do very well, I am designing a windmill that will power any residental home. I should have my product for sale with in six months. If the State will give Tax credits for Renewable Energy we can lead the Country if we all get on the same page, meaning auto industry, Farmers, Power companies like MicCon, Consumers and DTE we will be number one. and the auto industry will do it's thing. Michigan will be back you just watch and see. even if unemployment is at 7.8% showing only the people who can collect but with all the others added in it's more like 14% unemployed. but who cares we have a chance at something other then auto's. GO MICHIGAN!!!!!

[mostie]

Michigan isn't going down any worse than any other state, seriously- If we have a recession, it will be all over, not just here~ on the up side....the housing prices are falling like rain, and if you want to own a piece of property to call your own? I don't think it gets any less expensive than this!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by mostie

Michigan isn't going down any worse than any other state, seriously- If we have a recession, it will be all over, not just here~ on the up side....the housing prices are falling like rain, and if you want to own a piece of property to call your own? I don't think it gets any less expensive than this!

This year's national recession, if it does come to fruition, will mainly hit housing markets and retailers. Hundreds of thousands of jobs related to the housing sector across the country (mortgage workers, inspectors, appraisers, title companies, developers, builders, their suppliers, title companies, real estate agents, furniture stores, decorators, etc.) are going to be lost in the aftermath. That's for 2008. The funny thing is is that most of these jobs have already been shed in Michigan, starting in 2004. There may be a few people who will still be hit, but most of the fat has long been trimmed in Michigan. Most of the large new home builders in West Michigan have severely downsized already.

It's the state's where housing has been a boom for them in the last 3 years where there will be a bloodbath. Especially in many states where 2/3's of new jobs have been directly related to increased population/housing. In some markets already, housing sales have dropped 50% over just a year ago. That's already a lot of people out of work or about to be laid off.

Housing crisis casts a cloud over Sunbelt

Whether the housing market translates into other areas of the economy will be the question. As the value of the dollar has weakened significantly, orders of U.S. goods has gone up tremendously and several manufacturers in our area have gone gang-busters. Also, increased military spending, especially in new orders to Boeing, has brought a lot of jobs to our area at local suppliers.

[angel10f]

Michigan is in bad shape if you ask me i've lived here all my life (33 yrs) and it does not seem to be getting any better! As far as Homes no one is buying but everyone is selling due to relocation out of this state. If i did not have a battle with 50/50 shared time of my daughter, We would move to a better state. Michigan is pretty but so is a lot of states. Personally im sick of michigan and would love to move.

[diamondgirl45]

Well, I am here now, and I like it. we are house shopping, and it isn't as easy as I thought. There are lots of homes...but they are selling quicker now than when we first started looking. And the prices are higher than they were when we started too...
I keep hearing how bad the market is here...but it is a lot better than other places across the country. In Austin Tx, for instance, houses are a lot cheaper than in this area...for the same square footage.
I will just keep looking until we find what we are wanting, but hopefully it won't take too long.