1. Wolverines Or Spartans: Pick A Side
There’s a bitter rivalry that’s been brewing in
Michigan for decades between the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans. If you’re new to the area, you’ll need to pick a side and stick with your decision for life.
2. Learn How To Give Directions Using Your Hands
Telling someone where you live in Michigan is as easy as pointing to your hand. Conveniently, both the upper and lower peninsula resemble this body part, and more times than not, when someone from Michigan is telling you where they’re from, they’ll just point instead of trying to describe it.
3. You’ll Get Four Seasons
The Great Lakes State experiences four seasons throughout the year, but due to Michigan’s size, weather tends to vary greatly depending on where you’re at in the state. The southern city of
Detroit averages 71 degrees during the summer months and stays around 30 degrees during the winter.
However, the further north you go in Michigan, the more frigid it gets, with cities like Marquette in the Upper Peninsula region averaging 62 degrees during the summer and 23 degrees during the winter with plenty of snow. It’s definitely an intense winter, but the people that live there do just fine knowing that the beautiful spring will roll around soon.
4. Win Or Lose, This State Loves The Lions
Plagued by injuries, poor officiating, and overall bad luck, the Detroit Lions are far from the best team in the NFL. This doesn’t seem to affect their fan base though, as people keep showing up to the games to cheer them on regardless of their record.
Home to some of the most diehard fans in the country, if you’re moving to Michigan, you’ll need to start giving the Lions all of your support.
5. Michigan Is The Land Of Yoopers And Trolls
Two slang terms used to describe where in Michigan someone is from, a Yooper is someone from the Upper Peninsula and a troll is someone from the Lower Peninsula, commonly called the Mitten.
It’s easy to see where the “Yooper” name originated from, but the troll nickname is a little trickier. This comes from the fact that the people on the Mitten live below the Mackinac Bridge, thus living under the bridge like a troll.
6. Get Used To Spotting Canadian Change
Thanks to Michigan’s close proximity to Canada, it’s nearly impossible to keep Canadian change out of your pockets while you’re in the Great Lakes State. Some cashiers won’t notice, but others will demand that your pennies are coming from the correct side of the border before letting you leave with your purchases.
7. The “Michigan Left” Will Catch You Off Guard
The “Michigan Left” is similar to pulling a U-turn after passing through a traffic light when you miss a left hand turn, but it’s totally acceptable and safe when you do it at the intersections in this state that facilitate this traffic maneuver.
It will feel a little weird the first few times you do it, but when you realize you’re no longer waiting in the middle of an intersection for minutes before you might get the chance to turn left, you’ll start to wonder why all left hand turns aren’t built this way.
8. Craft Beer Reigns King In Michigan
With over 100 craft breweries spread throughout the Great Lakes State, good beer is never far. A few of the more famous breweries in this state include Founders Brewing Company and Bell’s, but every place you go will have something unique to try.
9. The Start Of Hunting Season Is Basically A State Holiday
With vast forests stretching for miles across the state of Michigan, hunting is a big deal here. Every fall when deer season rolls around, expect a noticeable portion of population to disappear for several days into the woods, casting aside their responsibilities at work and school for the chance to grab their first big kill of the season.
10. Your Dollar Goes Farther In Michigan
When it comes spending money, Michigan is one state that delivers a great bang for your buck. The cost of living in Michigan averages out to score 89 points on a scale that keeps the national average at 100. Detroit is even cheaper at 82. To put that in perspective, New York City is over twice as expensive, scoring 167.
11. Don’t Be Too Shocked If It Smells Like Worms
Due to Michigan’s close proximity to the Lakes and the many other natural water sources around this state, it tends to smell like worms when it rains in Michigan. It can be a little off-putting at first, but eventually it becomes a warm reminder that you’re home.
12. There’s A Big Contrast Between Big Cities And Small Towns When It Comes To Crime Here
According to FBI data, the crime rate for the state of Michigan is around 2,750 reported criminal acts per 100,000 residents. This ranks low amongst other states, but it’s important to keep in mind that certain larger metropolitan areas like Detroit have significantly higher rates closer to 8,000 criminal acts per 100,000 residents.
13. Fridays Are Reserved For Fried Food
A popular tradition in Michigan, “fish frys” get held regularly throughout the year, bringing delicious locally caught fried fish to the plates of Michiganders around the state. Often community or neighborhood events, it’s a great excuse to get together, have a few beers, and eat some delicious food.
14. Pasties Will Be Your New Favorite Snack
Fluffy, flaky pockets of dough stuffed with a healthy portion of meat, a pasty is the perfect handheld treat for a cold day in Michigan. The people around here love them, especially the Yoopers. It’s basically a general rule of thumb that every time you see a new pasty stand you have to give it a try.
15. Getting Around Michigan Is A Breeze
The average commute time in Michigan statewide is around 23 minutes, with outliers on both ends of the spectrum in places like Detroit with an average commute time of 26 minutes and Marquette with an average commute of only 12 minutes. Unless you’re dealing with big city traffic during rush hour, getting around Michigan is usually quick and stress-free trip.
16. Snow Driving: It’s A Way Of Life
If you can’t drive well in the snow, you’re going to have a rough time in Michigan. With some areas of the state getting more than 160 inches of snow every year, learning to drive when the roads are slick is a necessity.
Do yourself a favor and practice in an open parking lot before taking to the streets and slowing down the entire flow of traffic.
17. The Unemployment Numbers Can Be Deceiving
Michigan has an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent, slightly higher than the national average of 6 percent. However, when you take into account that Detroit is an extreme outlier at roughly 14.8 percent unemployment, it’s easy to see how Michigan’s statewide average might be a little inflated.
Many smaller towns around the state have unemployment rates under the national average, like Marquette for instance, with a very low 4 percent.
18. If You’re From Ohio, Hide It Well
Another bitter rival of the Michigan Wolverines football squad, fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes shouldn’t wear their colors on game day in Michigan. The two teams compete on a regular basis during an event that’s become known as “The Game,” with Michigan currently leading the series 58-46.
19. Detroit’s Not As Bad As You’ve Heard
Often thought to be one of the “worst cities in America” by outsiders, Detroit is actually on the up and up. It’s still got its problems, but with a revitalization of the downtown area and beyond, many believe there’s a promising future ahead for the Motor City.
20. Sometimes A Jack Will Win The Game
A favorite card game around Michigan, you’ll need to learn how to play euchre. It’s a pretty unique card game in that the most powerful suit can change every single hand and that the highest card in the deck isn’t an Ace or King, it’s a Jack.
It can seem pretty confusing at first, but the easiest way to learn it is to just watch a few hands being played before hopping in and trying it for yourself.
21. The Natural Beauty Never Stops Around Here
With tons of lakes, wooded areas, and sandy beaches, Michigan is one of the most beautiful states in the country. It’s a great place to get outside and get moving during the warmer months of the year, with its many accessible hiking trails, bike routes, and rolling hills. If you want to see what’s debatably the prettiest part of the state, head to the coast of the Upper Peninsula.
22. Don’t Toss That Can In The Trash!
A law was passed in 2004 making it illegal to dispose of beverage containers in Michigan as part of a recycling effort. It’s worked, as an estimated 95 percent of the cans and bottles here get turned for a little redemption cash every year.
23. A Michigander’s Pride Never Dies.
A state filled with vast natural beauty, huge bustling cities, quaint small towns, some of the best universities in the country, and the friendliest group of people you’ll ever meet, once you fall in love with Michigan, you’ll be hooked for life.
Michiganders don’t just talk about Michigan like it’s the place they’re from, they talk about it like it’s their home, and after spending some time there, it will be easy to see why.
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
