Is life better in the UP or LP? (Traverse City, Ontonagon: house, travel)

[baystater]

Hello Michigan.

I throwing this question out just to see what types of reponses I get from native Michiganers.
Now I'm not from Michigan (will be in the UP this summer) but I do read your blog. I've noticed that there has been a lot of posts mentioning the UP and the LP (the Mitten). I have done some research on the Upper Peninsula and the Lower part of Michigan. I understand that the LP is more developed in economy and in infrastructure. And the UP is much more rural, very picturesque, and great for outdoor type activies.

But I like to here from you guys what you think of each and which has the better Jobs, education system, senery, lifestyle, ect.

Thanks
baystater.

[Siberia]

Land up in the UP is veeeeery, veeery cheap....sometimes a few hundred dollars an acre. Land in the LP is often 10-30 thousand dollars an acre.

There are reasons for such a cost/acreage gap...and I'm guessing it has to do with incomes, jobs, and availability of "creature comforts". As far as scenery...the UP is absolutely amazing, at least in summer. I've never been brave enough to go to Canada..uh, I mean the UP, during the winter months...

[dianeeileen]

Yopperville 101

They call it Gods country for a reason, It is very very pretty and rural. People are friendly and very simple life style. Hunting and fishing and winter sports. Education is good with small classes and three universities. Ontonagon is my person favorite for a small town (Dad was from there). The porkies are beautiful. that being said would I live there, NO WAY, love to visit, enjoy the sights , visit family and eat lots of pasties. However back flys, may flies, moscoutios, BIG BEARS no jobs, long travel time for hospitals, college, movies, and shopping are difficult. That being said if you like to shop on the internet, fish and hunt, snow moble and don't mind 20 inches of snow in your drive way and don't have to worry about work than the UP is for you. The quality of life is amazing. My cousins kids have six and 14 kids in their classes, the scout troop has 10 kids, and their beautiful house on five acres cost under 100 000 dollars. That being said he drives to work about sixty miles one way in very bad weather, the hospital is two hours away, and for anything other than groceries you drive sixty miles to a bigger town that might have a wally mart or a k mart. My cousin would never leave, He dosen't lock his front door, cars, or boat. The kids play all over and the only preditor you have to look out for are bears. Crime does happen espically to cabins left vacant for long periods of time, and cars go missing , drugs do exisit however on such a small scale that most people never experience it. Hope this helps

[touchdowntommy]

For the best of both worlds, move to Northern Lower MI near Traverse City or...I live in Alden, MI at Torch Lake. 1 word...BEAUTIFUL!

[Michigansnowflake]

Above the 45th parellel is life at its finest in Michigan!

[Coldjensens]

Right now: UP

Last Month: LP

[Bluefly]

I think your original question answers itself.

If you want creature comforts, big cities, the potential for rewarding employment, the Lower Peninsula.

If you want to have gorgeous beaches and forests in an area with minimal growth pressure and are willing to not be satisfied with your employment and can handle snow in October and May (just a little that doesn't stick - it usually melts by the end of April), then the UP would probably be better.

People in the UP aren't really trying to change the world, so it's a rather insular culture of contendedness. That's good or bad, depending on the person.

[jeeg]

Sighs......

As usual, the misconceptions of the U.P. are unbelieveable!! Sad! Pathetic!!

But on second thought..... that's probably a good thing so we are not overrun with people seeking the next best thing. Therefore I'm just going to let those pathetic misconceptions stand with no interference from me!

[Bluefly]

^^
Are you referring to my post above yours?

I've lived in the UP for years. I haven't seen the expected "the UP is a backwater of ignorance and inbreeding" posts that usually pop up, so I don't know why you think it has been mischaracterized. I think people have described it quite accurately so far.

Most people here do have jobs they are not passionate about just to pay the bills. I have a friend from the UP who's almost 50 and just moved to another state for first time. She was raving about what it's like to actually have a fulfilling job. She'd never experienced that before.

Sad and pathetic are rather harsh charges to level against another human being. Please, interfere.

[JimmyInGreatLakes]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

People in the UP aren't really trying to change the world, so it's a rather insular culture of contendedness.

I love the UP but that just increases my love even more. Imagine, people who get on with their lives without protesting or lamenting to the world about the latest "problem of the day/week/month". God bless them all!