[M TYPE X]

Soo Canada is more grimy, but there's more there, too. The downtown is semi-real (kinda dead, but not fully dead) and there is shopping and restaurants. I have not been through recently, because I really don't care for skiing at Searchmont all that much.

Soo Michigan will experience a turnaround as soon as Antlers goes out of business. You heard it here first. (I really don't like Antlers.)

[Beesa]

well, if you have lived in the Soo all year long you will find out quickly it is very bias. If your name is not one of the accepted families it is very hard to find a job other than gas stations or serving tables in the local restaurants.
If your father or mother had a job with the city or similar venue then you will be OK. If not then you are destine to find life very hard. Even the casino's are very picky about who they let work for them. The drug life there is very real, with heroin and meth as easily purchased as marijuana. The children who start drinking Early in their lives find nothing to do but go to a movie once in awhile or go to the endless parties for underage drinking.
Yes, the downtown is timeless and fun to shop and see the tourist traps and eat fudge. Then, Watch the boats and ships and lazily walk around in Brady Park and the Locks. Take a nice Sunday drive along the lake shore and may be go to Clyde's and eat the wonderful burgers to be found there and see the ferry carry cars and people to Sugar Island. But all this is just the surface. The police are very harsh when it comes to underage drinking and never forget a face of slight. There is prejudice galore in the way they persecute the ones they have targeted early in the game. But it's their job and they wholly embrace the harsh tactics that they have received thru passed down jobs. But is the city beautiful with history and sweet air...? Yes.. Is it glorious to live there if you have money and a way to buy food and gas...? Yes... Are the churches full and welcoming ...? Yes... But for the lower class it is a harsh life indeed and the youth are willing to waste their lives in drugs and booze for a chance to forget that they are miserable and have no true future if their parents haven't the ways and means to purchase their education and future. It is very hard life indeed to love and hate the Soo. I wish I only was able to afford to live there in the summer and wile away my summer going for drives and dinners. But take a look around you... the ones pumping your gas, giving you your change after your pizza purchase, and tending to your table are stuck and unhappy. Do I wish I was there this moment...? Yes. The Soo is a powerful draw into depression.

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by Beesa

well, if you have lived in the Soo all year long you will find out quickly it is very bias. If your name is not one of the accepted families it is very hard to find a job other than gas stations or serving tables in the local restaurants.
If your father or mother had a job with the city or similar venue then you will be OK. If not then you are destine to find life very hard. Even the casino's are very picky about who they let work for them. The drug life there is very real, with heroin and meth as easily purchased as marijuana. The children who start drinking Early in their lives find nothing to do but go to a movie once in awhile or go to the endless parties for underage drinking.
Yes, the downtown is timeless and fun to shop and see the tourist traps and eat fudge. Then, Watch the boats and ships and lazily walk around in Brady Park and the Locks. Take a nice Sunday drive along the lake shore and may be go to Clyde's and eat the wonderful burgers to be found there and see the ferry carry cars and people to Sugar Island. But all this is just the surface. The police are very harsh when it comes to underage drinking and never forget a face of slight. There is prejudice galore in the way they persecute the ones they have targeted early in the game. But it's their job and they wholly embrace the harsh tactics that they have received thru passed down jobs. But is the city beautiful with history and sweet air...? Yes.. Is it glorious to live there if you have money and a way to buy food and gas...? Yes... Are the churches full and welcoming ...? Yes... But for the lower class it is a harsh life indeed and the youth are willing to waste their lives in drugs and booze for a chance to forget that they are miserable and have no true future if their parents haven't the ways and means to purchase their education and future. It is very hard life indeed to love and hate the Soo. I wish I only was able to afford to live there in the summer and wile away my summer going for drives and dinners. But take a look around you... the ones pumping your gas, giving you your change after your pizza purchase, and tending to your table are stuck and unhappy. Do I wish I was there this moment...? Yes. The Soo is a powerful draw into depression.

I was born and raised in Michigan, but without choice had to leave in the early 70's. I haven't lived there since then. I lived in So. California must of my life and just moved to Oklahoma. last summer.
I drove through Mich. from Ohio last year, all of the way up to Mackinac City and to the UP.
Reading the comments on the Mi, forum I can see that alot of people are negative and/or depressed about the direction that Mi. is taking. Most complaints are legitimate. Michigan is a beautiful state and I hate getting the thaught that, "I'm glad that I don't live there anymore".
I propose that Michigan make "The Wreck of The Edmond Fitzgerald" the Official State song.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Beesa

well, if you have lived in the Soo all year long you will find out quickly it is very bias. If your name is not one of the accepted families it is very hard to find a job other than gas stations or serving tables in the local restaurants.
If your father or mother had a job with the city or similar venue then you will be OK. If not then you are destine to find life very hard. Even the casino's are very picky about who they let work for them. The drug life there is very real, with heroin and meth as easily purchased as marijuana. The children who start drinking Early in their lives find nothing to do but go to a movie once in awhile or go to the endless parties for underage drinking.
Yes, the downtown is timeless and fun to shop and see the tourist traps and eat fudge. Then, Watch the boats and ships and lazily walk around in Brady Park and the Locks. Take a nice Sunday drive along the lake shore and may be go to Clyde's and eat the wonderful burgers to be found there and see the ferry carry cars and people to Sugar Island. But all this is just the surface. The police are very harsh when it comes to underage drinking and never forget a face of slight. There is prejudice galore in the way they persecute the ones they have targeted early in the game. But it's their job and they wholly embrace the harsh tactics that they have received thru passed down jobs. But is the city beautiful with history and sweet air...? Yes.. Is it glorious to live there if you have money and a way to buy food and gas...? Yes... Are the churches full and welcoming ...? Yes... But for the lower class it is a harsh life indeed and the youth are willing to waste their lives in drugs and booze for a chance to forget that they are miserable and have no true future if their parents haven't the ways and means to purchase their education and future. It is very hard life indeed to love and hate the Soo. I wish I only was able to afford to live there in the summer and wile away my summer going for drives and dinners. But take a look around you... the ones pumping your gas, giving you your change after your pizza purchase, and tending to your table are stuck and unhappy. Do I wish I was there this moment...? Yes. The Soo is a powerful draw into depression.

Oh get over yourself already. I graduated from the SOO and lived on Maple Street on the East End. So no I didn't have a silver spoon, shoot we didn't even have a silver plated spoon anywhere in the house. No I wasn't born there, and no I didn't have an established last name to draw on, but I still have some good friends that I keep in touch with even after 25+ years out of school. I not once felt any bias toward me or my family. My two best friends were what you get in the SOO, one lived up on top of Easterday hill in the nice section and his family had some serious cha-ching for the time, and the other lived over by me down on the East End close to Shunk Road. His family made mine look simply rich. We hung out every day for years and our circle of friends involved Jocks, rich, poor, a complete cross section of the town. Some had the "Names" others didn't. I still go back there and enjoy every second meeting up with friends I have had for 30+ years. Some are successful, others not so much so, but it has nothing to do with their last names or the family they came from.

Yes there are a few that are stuck on themselves or their family, but they are the exception and NOT the rule. Just like every other city on the face of the planet. Drugs? Sure, they are there, just like every other town/city. The SOO isn't perfect, but it isn't a ****hole either. It has to be the most down to Earth city I have ever lived in, I still love the SOO and the entire UP. Just like it more September - May, than I do during tourist season.

[dianeeileen]

People keep saying there is nothing to do in the Soo. But as I read these posts, I hear that their are MovieTheaters, Cansino's, concerts in the parks. The casinos bring in a lot of concerts, some shopping, a University that holds events, libraries, nature activities, swiming, boating, snow shoeing, snow sports, hockey. Life is what you make it and if a lot of kids are drinking underage it is 1. The parents probably are drinking a lot too. 2. Their parents are probably not making the efforts to keep them occupied enough. I grew up in Detroit, and we still complained there was nothing to do. Kids need direction, get them volunteeing at the hospital, old folks homes etc. Have them plant and take care of a garden, take them to the library, start a family business like selling used items on ebay. Keep them busy and you will keep them off of drugs, and drink. It sounds like there is enough to do in the Soo, just not the motivation to do it. I feel sorry for those who can't entertain them selves or their kids. And no it doesn't take a lot of money to do it. You just need to be creative and caring.

[RangerT]

FYI for those people who say there is nothing to do up here unless you like hunting and fishing and the outdoors....what do did you expect when you came here?...lol. I grew up 15 miles from the soo in brimley and loved it. I now live on the outskirts of the soo and don't really mind it. I want to get back into a little more of a country setting someday. It can be depressing in the winter to those who don't enjoy snowmobiling or other outdoors stuff. The way just got cleared for a super walmart and the I500 track just got sold to make way for a huge mall, theatre, water park, hotel complex. I have lived in other states and spent a lot of time downstate for work and you couldn't pay me to live anywhere near detroit.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by RangerT

FYI for those people who say there is nothing to do up here unless you like hunting and fishing and the outdoors....what do did you expect when you came here?...lol. I grew up 15 miles from the soo in brimley and loved it. I now live on the outskirts of the soo and don't really mind it. I want to get back into a little more of a country setting someday. It can be depressing in the winter to those who don't enjoy snowmobiling or other outdoors stuff. The way just got cleared for a super walmart and the I500 track just got sold to make way for a huge mall, theatre, water park, hotel complex. I have lived in other states and spent a lot of time downstate for work and you couldn't pay me to live anywhere near detroit.

Haven't been in years, but I thought they still ran the I-500, do they have a new location for it? I was going to bring the kids up for the next one if they still have it. Brimley? Man you must feel like you are in the "City" now , just kidding I always like Brimley.

[Waves5]

Yea, its for sale. It's a good place though

[Waves5]

Originally Posted by Rapunzll

Sorry, I think the Soo is one of the ugliest cities in America. It ranks right up there with Pigeon Forge, TN, Coos Bay, OR and Corsicana, TX!

Hahaha, Coos Bay Oregon. I hung out there for a couple days after a workshop. The lady behind the desk of the 70's decor hotel was selling books about being a nice Christian, while she looked at me like I was Satan's child and was totally rude. The cab ride was 10 bucks to go down the road, a Taco Bell and a grocery store. The thrift store and yarn shop wasn't too bad. After that I saw the whole town on foot, no more 10 buck cab rides. So many memories of those 2 days. Though I highly recommend seeing what is on the outskirts of that place.

[Waves5]

Maybe people will flock when they put the mega mall and bio dome in, can't wait to see if that goes through.