[HighlandsGal]

The 4 seasons
Camping in Pentwater
Apple cider and fresh doughnuts from Robinette's in GR
Lake Michigan sunsets
Tigers baseball
U of M football

[Bydand]

The real list for me would be:

Fireworks in Pentwater with friends,
Hot summer days at the beach,
Real fish to catch, (Maine has nothing but little brook trout inland)
The BookMark in Ludington,
kitschy tourist traps like Sea shell City, Mystery Spot, Da Tourist Trap, etc...
Knowing we live, where people dream of vacationing.
The smell of the beach after a Spring thunder and lightening storm.

[mackinac81]

I'm a recent college graduate (teaching). I grew up in W. Michigan but expect to have to leave next year for a job (against my will, for sure). So what will I miss about Michigan if I move?

--the Cherry orchards in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties
--Climbing the BIG dune at sleeping bear
--Coming into downtown Grand Rapids, coming from the south on 131
--The fruit harvests in Van Buren County
--Fireworks over Lake Michigan on the 4th of July
--The Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Island
--The fall colors in the Manistee National Forest
--fluffy white snow
--good, decent people who value familiy and community
--Apple Season in September
--Deer season. I don't hunt, but it's part of our culture
--The U.P and Lake Superior
--Walking the campus of UofM
--Camping outside Petoskey
--Parasailing on choppy Lake Charlevoix
--The tulips in Holland in May
--The tidy farms that dot the state
--All the lake Michigan towns and their summer festivals

I'm sure I've missed something. Just listing this makes me sad to leave it. I sure hope to stay, or if I have to leave, to come back some day

[Coldjensens]

, So Cal has it's charms...I do miss the mountains and the ocean. And nothing beats a Cali sunset.."


We are in a similar situation (grew up in MI moved to Cali for 18 years then moved back to MI 2 years ago). We also miss the mountains and the ocean (although lake Michigan is a close replacement - and it has lighthouses!). We also miss the desert. But there is a lot here to replace all of that. We found the same advantages that you did (no smog, no traffic to speak of, les crowded). However one ting we always missed when in CA was the beautiful Michigan sunrise/sunsets. the only time we saw anything to compare in CA is when the fires filled the air with ash or the smog was really heavy.

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Here are some things that are tops on my list:
- Snowshoeing around the ghost town in Fayette, gazing out over the Bay, and hearing the wonderful sound of snow crunching beneath your shoes
- Riding my bike for miles on gravel roads, seeing deer dart across the road just feet from you, and just stopping, taking a drink of water, and taking in the majesty of it all
- Driving a dogsled team around Big Bay, ending up sideways against a big pine while the dogs take a turn at their pace - not yours, trying to remember the the three rules of dogsledding "Never let go of the sled, never let go....."
- Hiking with the dogs through the Hiawatha National Forest
- Ice cleating through ice caves around Whitefish Point

[Coldjensens]

This thread led our family to compile a list of what we like about Michigan so far and hat we miss about Southern California.

Our list is a bit long:

Sunrise/sunset over water or woods.

Taking a deep breath of fresh air and not choking.

Traveling 30 miles in less than an hour.

Fishing in your front yard.

Waking up and finding your yard full of deer, or rabbits, colorful birds, hawk, or an eagle, etc.

Fresh snowfall.

Fall trees - well everything about fall actually.

Puffy Clouds in the sky.

Having your car break down and someone actually stops to help.

Sitting at a restaurant and getting to know the people at the next table.

Being near family.

Having friendly neighbors.

Snuggling by a warm fire on a cold day.

Fresh apple cider.

Canoeing/kayaking - anywhere.

Swimming in lakes and rivers.

Hot air balloons.

Ground that stays put.

Maple trees!

Not knowing what your neighbors are doing.

History and appreciation for history.

Warm summers with cool nights.

Slower paced lifestyle.

Squirrels.

Taquamonon falls.

Change of seasons.

Spring flowers.

Snow. (Sledding, tobogganing, snow forts, skiing (both kinds) snowballs, snow angels . . .

Christmas and thanksgiving that feel right.

Free high quality schools.

School busses.

Back yards.

Lighthouses.

Hiking in the woods.

Forests.

Ann Arbor.

Landing in an airplane and looking out at a sea of emerald green beauty.

No termites.

Frost on windows.

Thunderstorms!

Freeways where cars are actually moving most of the time.

Drinking tap water.

Drivers who can actually control their vehicle in adverse weather conditions.

Quaint, small towns.

Picturesque bridges.

Outstanding and affordable college choices.

U-M Medical center.

The Smell after a heavy rainstorm.

The Big House.

Small town high school football.

Parades.

Heterosexual boy scout leaders.

Driving to work without dodging protesters.

Raising chickens.

Having a garden.

Cultural diversity (odd, but true - more variety of heritage here than in California).

Huge discounts at Meyers.

Meiiers.

Absence of black widows.

Quality health care.

Short/no lines.

Truly blue skies.

Drive to the east coast.

Uncountable numbers of trees in our yard.

Living on an island.

Rivers with water in them. (CA rivers are dry 95% of the time)

Sand Dunes.

Western Michigan beaches and beach towns.

Sleeping bear dunes.

Metroparks.

Incredible sales.

Churches of different denominations that work together.




Things we miss:

Carls Jr.

Mountains.

Ocean.

Dolphins.

Whales.

Friends.

Wearing shorts to church.

Absence of mosquitoes.

Walking to work (all year long)

Silverado Canyon/Cleveland National forest.


Pop’s Café.

Huge variety of quality Restaurants.

No smoking in public buildings.

Rising real estate values.

Mexico

Sunshine.

Growing roses all year.

Reasonable drive to great skiiing.

National parks.

Absence of mud.

L.A. Dodgers and Dodger Dogs.

Better shopping.

Swimming in November.

Riding on trains and the Subway

Ahhhrnold! (The Governator)

Laughing at the freaks on Venice Beach.

[100%Michigan]

Michigan just being Michigan...

[malamute]

My favorite things about Michigan -- long summer days, lakes and the woods.

[malamute]

I also like hearing the Michigan accent and how people talk up there.

[Maxine3]

Originally Posted by malamute

I also like hearing the Michigan accent and how people talk up there.

Michigan people don't have accents, everyone else does