[malamute]

Originally Posted by bluestar2

The population in TC and some of the surrounding areas has greatly increased in the past 5 years. Traffic can be an issue at times, especially since most of the roads are 1-lane. No one seems to like the tourists up here, but I think the tourism industry is big $$$ so the locals should be more accepting! Many of the tourists also fall in love with the area and relocate up here full-time so it keeps the housing market from falling apart! Many people come up here and don't want to leave.

People get mad at the tourists I think because the locals have to put up with the snow and cold all winter and then the most perfect day of the year will invariably be on a workday and it's even harder having to fight traffic to get to work on time and see all the tourists laying and playing on the beaches, and heading out in boats, if you're lucky you can work in an office with a view of the tourists having a great time.

[Sparrow_temp]

If you own a business that caters to tourists then they should be your best friends. For the majority of people in the area -- they're nothing but a nuisance resulting in traffic, overcrowding, and higher prices.

[Rathagos]

I don't know if any of you can answer this, but does it seem to follow that when tourists come up to visit, that there's a spike in crime around TC? Also, with all the layoffs and the mass exodus of people from the major city areas down south, has the northern parts of the state seen an increase in crimes? I figure the unemployment might spur more of that and make it more far reaching.

[bluestar2]

Originally Posted by Rathagos

I don't know if any of you can answer this, but does it seem to follow that when tourists come up to visit, that there's a spike in crime around TC? Also, with all the layoffs and the mass exodus of people from the major city areas down south, has the northern parts of the state seen an increase in crimes? I figure the unemployment might spur more of that and make it more far reaching.

There is very little crime in TC and extremely low violent crime. I think the only murder in the last 2 years was a wife who killed her husband and claimed she was an abused wife. The only crimes I've heard about are a few in-town store burglaries after hours and minor vandalism commited by teenagers. I haven't found there to be more crime during the tourist season and there hasn't been an increase in crime relative to the ecomonic problems downstate. The people that move up here from other parts of the state or from out-of-state tend to relocate for other reasons. Usually they either have relatives up here, have previously lived up here and loved it, or have visited and fallen in love with TC - - nothing to do with the problems downstate. As for the tourist season, I personally find the traffic, overcrowding issues to be very overblown - just my humble opinion. As a military spouse, I have lived in many areas around the country, both smaller towns and bigger cities. TC doesn't have a traffic or overcrowding problem during the tourist season. Maybe Meijer (large supermarket, like a Super Wal-mart) is a little more crowded in the summertime, but actually Meijer is crowded with locals all year long. Again, just my opinion, but I think the locals should be more appreciate of the tourists since a large part of the TC economy depends on tourism.

[touchdowntommy]

Northern MI is the best place ever!

[Jswee]

Very low crime rate in the Traverse City area, mostly vandalism or cottage break-ins but as mentioned very little violent crime. The area has changed a lot in the past ten years but still retains a small town atmosphere. 46 year old TC native here.

If you are looking for housing with a little bit of acreage, I would look on the west side of Grand Traverse county and in Southern Leelanau County. Housing prices are depressed up here right now and there are some very attractive properties, including a lot of foreclosures, available.

Would be happy to answer any questions that you have about this area.

[Rapunzll]

I lived out on Old Mission for ten years and loved it. It is close enough to town to be convenient, but feels like it's worlds away.

[Rapunzll]

Originally Posted by Sparrow_temp

If you own a business that caters to tourists then they should be your best friends. For the majority of people in the area -- they're nothing but a nuisance resulting in traffic, overcrowding, and higher prices.

I totally disagree with that. Let's be honest, the vast majority of us wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for the tourism industry, and the tourists who naturally are part of that. It's been my experience that only a very small percentage of people are annoyed by them.

[Jswee]

Originally Posted by Rapunzll

I lived out on Old Mission for ten years and loved it. It is close enough to town to be convenient, but feels like it's worlds away.

I grew up on the Peninsula and it is still a great place to live but even in a depressed market, peninsula real estate commands much higher prices than some of the other nice areas around TC. If he is looking for a home with acreage he'll get a lot more bang for his buck on the west side in Long Lake or Elmwood or Bingham townships. But your right, OM peninsula is a very special place.

[Jswee]

Originally Posted by Rapunzll

I totally disagree with that. Let's be honest, the vast majority of us wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for the tourism industry, and the tourists who naturally are part of that. It's been my experience that only a very small percentage of people are annoyed by them.

In my opinion, most locals are less annoyed by the fudgies than they are by recent arrivals who move to TC and then want to immediately turn it into Ann Arbor or Gross Pointe instead of taking some time to assimilate into the local population and gain some perspective about both the unique qualities that we possess and some of the unique challenges that we face as a region.