[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by CatzPaw

I grew up in a northern suburb of Detroit. Several summers, before we started camping, my family would spend an August week at a mom-and-pop motel with cabins on Lake Huron's great beach in Oscoda.

On the trip up, we would always stop in Pinconning at one of the cheese stores to buy bread and cheese for the week. Still in farm country, we would have lunch at one of the old places in Standish. That, and then crossing the Au Gres River meant to me we were entering "up north." Especially once you got a glimpse of Lake Huron near Alabaster.

I stopped at a big cheese store in Pinconning a few months ago. None of their cheese was made in Pinconning. It was all imported from Wisconsin. Even their Pinconning cheese was made in Wisconsin.

May as well go to Kroger.

[jaynarie]

I have family in the Tawas-Oscoda area, so the route from the Flint area, up 23 to Tawas is one that has been well traveled for me. "Up-North" starts in Standish. When you leave the expressway behind.
The water slide that AuGres used to have was one of the first landmarks I watched for.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by michigan83

I agree. Up North starts further south on the west side of the state. The Manistee Ntl Forest is a big reason for that. I think of the Newaygo/Hardy Dam area almost as Up North Lite. It really has more in common with northern MI than southern MI.

Going north from Lansing, for example, it takes a lot longer to hit Up North. Definitely no sooner than Clare.

To those who mentioned the tip of the thumb... I agree, there are parts of the Thumb that have hints of Up North. There are noticeable patches of birch trees, tall pines, etc up there. It also has that remote feeling of Up North. But as far as labels go, I'll stick to calling that "The Thumb."

This is where this discussion turns (and turned) interesting.

"Up North" is not a degrees latitude, that's for sure. I think it's a state of mind. Or it revolves around certain biological characteristics (as in the number and composition of forests, particularly evergreen forests?"

[GraniteStater]

In terms of where "northern Michigan" begins, it is going to be the dividing line geologically where the Canadian Shield begins with a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest- along and north of Clare, Newaygo, and Au Gres. North-central Michigan is certainly "up north" as the coldest temperature in state history was recorded in Vanderbilt, MI north of Gaylord at -51F. No location in the UP has recorded a temperature as low as that. Population density thins out as one heads further north, with towns fewer and further between and no metropolitan areas. The western UP is really forgotten about as I don't think the state capitol focuses nor cares much about that area. A strong independent streak, getting things done yourself, and expecting the unexpected are common themes in the UP. Strangely enough, that is the area of northern Michigan I'm most familiar with along with northern Wisconsin.

[homeschooldad1]

Amasa has that beat now at minus 53. Also the interior UP is by far the coldest part of Michigan on average.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by homeschooldad1

Amasa has that beat now at minus 53. Also the interior UP is by far the coldest part of Michigan on average.

Where is the data source for that? I agree that anywhere elevated and a bit removed from the Great Lakes will be colder as a rule. North-central WI south of Lake Superior is the coldest area of that state, with Couderay holding the state record of -60F in Sawyer County.

[CatzPaw]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

I stopped at a big cheese store in Pinconning a few months ago. None of their cheese was made in Pinconning. It was all imported from Wisconsin. Even their Pinconning cheese was made in Wisconsin.

May as well go to Kroger.

Well, that's disappointing! Nothing is like the '60s. It used to be great to stop in a roadside park and have a snack of that delicious Michigan cheese and fresh crusty bread off the tailgate of the nine-passenger station wagon.

I heard a story on NPR last week that some guy in Wisconsin has a campaign going to remove the slogan "America's Dairyland" from their license plates. Cows aren't sexy enough to attract contemporary bidness evidently.

I like Wisconsin cheese and I've bought it here in Texas. But in Pinconning, I would prefer to nosh on local Michigan cheese.

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

At the bridge.

The Zilwaukee?

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

I stopped at a big cheese store in Pinconning a few months ago. None of their cheese was made in Pinconning. It was all imported from Wisconsin. Even their Pinconning cheese was made in Wisconsin.

May as well go to Kroger.

YEP..but Wheeler's is still in Standish and the H & H bakery is pretty good as well..

We also picked up a few cheese boxes...empty of course cause we now go to Kroger for cheese when we are in Pinnconning.

OOO...do not forget the A & W on the north end of town.

[Nodpete]

Originally Posted by homeschooldad1

Amasa has that beat now at minus 53. Also the interior UP is by far the coldest part of Michigan on average.

How the he-- do you know Amasa ? I'm from there originally. I've never met anyone anywhere that was from there.

I have a photo that I took of a wall in the old depot that some one called Vern wrote temperatures down and on Jan 9th, 1977 he recorded -52. I'll try to get the photo posted here.