What's Wrong With The Soo

[jeff^d]

I am a single male in my late 20s who has lived in Marquette and Houghton, and I currently live in the Soo. Unfortunately, I would rank the Soo as my least favorite of the 3 UP cities I've lived in.

I love the outdoors, but I am not a hunter or a snowmobiler; I like the "silent sports" like cross country skiing, biking, snowshoeing, hiking, etc. These opportunities just do not exist in the Eastern UP in the same quality/quantity as they do in the western UP. There are 2-3 decent places within spitting distance of the Soo, but really there is no comparison to Marquette, Houghton, or even Iron Mountain. Soo Canada has some excellent opportunities, but they require a 30-60 minute drive and a border crossing, which can be a pain for an after work jaunt.

I am also a full time bike commuter (I work a good job and own a car, but I choose to bike for health, economic, and environmental reasons), and I've been frustrated with the lack of bike friendliness in the Soo. Drivers often yell or shout at me, even though my route is mostly 35 mph streets and I dress appropriately in visibility clothing. Compared to Marquette and Houghton, people in the Soo seem to be in more of a rush, less concerned about others.

Regarding Lake State, I've found it to be much less connected to the community than Northern Michigan or Michigan Tech. There are less cultural events as well. There is no graduate school, so the student body is younger and has a different feel to it. There are also no coffee shops in town that regularly stay open in the evenings, something which baffles me.

Just my point of view. Please take what I say with a grain of salt -- I would much rather live in the Soo than the majority of downstate Michigan, and I have met many friendly people here. My perspective is also not that of a family person, common visitors to these forums. I only wanted to share my opinion in case someone similar to me is considering moving here. The Soo has a unique feel to it due to being a border town, and also "the end of the line" on I-75. I think many people end up here trying to escape lower Michigan who don't consider going further west.

[RangerT]

Originally Posted by Bydand

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.

haha, it was a big deal to go to the soo and eat at mcdonalds when i was a little kid...lol

[RangerT]

Originally Posted by jeff^d

I am a single male in my late 20s who has lived in Marquette and Houghton, and I currently live in the Soo. Unfortunately, I would rank the Soo as my least favorite of the 3 UP cities I've lived in.

I love the outdoors, but I am not a hunter or a snowmobiler; I like the "silent sports" like cross country skiing, biking, snowshoeing, hiking, etc. These opportunities just do not exist in the Eastern UP in the same quality/quantity as they do in the western UP. There are 2-3 decent places within spitting distance of the Soo, but really there is no comparison to Marquette, Houghton, or even Iron Mountain. Soo Canada has some excellent opportunities, but they require a 30-60 minute drive and a border crossing, which can be a pain for an after work jaunt.

I am also a full time bike commuter (I work a good job and own a car, but I choose to bike for health, economic, and environmental reasons), and I've been frustrated with the lack of bike friendliness in the Soo. Drivers often yell or shout at me, even though my route is mostly 35 mph streets and I dress appropriately in visibility clothing. Compared to Marquette and Houghton, people in the Soo seem to be in more of a rush, less concerned about others.

Regarding Lake State, I've found it to be much less connected to the community than Northern Michigan or Michigan Tech. There are less cultural events as well. There is no graduate school, so the student body is younger and has a different feel to it. There are also no coffee shops in town that regularly stay open in the evenings, something which baffles me.

Just my point of view. Please take what I say with a grain of salt -- I would much rather live in the Soo than the majority of downstate Michigan, and I have met many friendly people here. My perspective is also not that of a family person, common visitors to these forums. I only wanted to share my opinion in case someone similar to me is considering moving here. The Soo has a unique feel to it due to being a border town, and also "the end of the line" on I-75. I think many people end up here trying to escape lower Michigan who don't consider going further west.

we are currently in the planning stages for a bike trail that is going to run from brimley state park to irqious pt. lighthouse in bay mills. it's coming along nicely and it's too bad that it's taken this long to get going.