1. Your Hand Makes For A Perfect Map
If an out-of-towner asks a Yooper where they’re from, they’ll give a name of a town that no one has ever heard of. But then, to further clarify, they’ll hold up their hand turned sideways, conveniently shaped like the UP, and point to a spot that corresponds with where they live.
2. Yoopers Don’t Wear Pasties, They Eat Them
In Yooperland, the pasty reigns king. It’s a fluffy meat-filled treat that the Upper Peninsula does better than anywhere else in the world, perfect for warming up on a cold day.
3. Yoopers Go Cheesehead Over Lions Any Day
While the rest of Michigan is stuck cheering for the Detroit Lions, Yoopers love the Green Bay Packers. The team is much closer to the Upper Peninsula and the people that live around the region are much more similar to Yoopers than the city slickers from Detroit.
4. The U.P. Is Way Different Than The Rest Of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the same large cities and typical tourist attractions that the Lower Peninsula does. The U.P. has very harsh winters, lots of empty space, and the people that live there have to face very different challenges during their daily lives. However, no one is complaining, Yoopers love their land.
5. One Bite Of Pannukakku In The U.P. Will Ruin All Other Pancakes
These Finnish pancakes will instantly become any out-of-towners favorite breakfast food. They’re oven baked, custardy, and topped with whatever topping sounds delicious at them time.
6. If You’ve Got Sisu, You’re No Sissy
The Finnish word for grit, strength, and determination, Yoopers are full of Sisu. The life they live, somewhat separated from the rest of the country with long, harsh winters has made them as tough as nails. There’s almost no scenario that a Yooper can’t handle.
7. Yes, People Actually Ice Fish Here
While most of America thinks ice fishing is reserved for people much closer to the North Pole, ice fishing is a pretty big deal among Yoopers. It’s a great means of getting fresh food during the winter as well as a very social hobby.
8. The U.P. Is Not Canada
It might be close to America’s neighbors to the North, but the U.P. is NOT Canada. Some of the cultural aspects seem to blend, but Yoopers are proudly patriotic Americans, just like the rest of the country.
9. But Yoopers Do Say “Eh”
While Yoopers are in no way Canadian, the famous Canadian “eh” seems to pop up frequently in conversation. Out-of-towners should know to just ignore it.
10. You Need A Board For Some Card Games
A popular pastime in the Upper Peninsula is playing cribbage. It’s a card game that involves moving pegs around a small wooden board. It’s different than games most out-of-towners will have encountered before.
11. Aces Won’t Always Win Your Hand
Another local favorite is Euchre. It’s a game where Jacks are high and the favorable suit can change every hand. If an out-of-towner didn’t grow up in the Midwest, it will probably take them a few games of people watching before they really catch on.
12. Don’t Say “Mack-I-Nack!”
While “Mackinac” might look like “Mack-i-NACK,” the “c” at the end is pronounced like a “w.” It’s “Mack-I-GNAW,” and saying anything else will have an out-of-towner looking like just another tourist.
13. A Yooper Scooper Has Nothing To Do With A Pooper Scooper
A Yooper Scooper is basically a shovel on steroids, a necessity for dealing with the heavy snowfall in the U.P.
14. Folks In The U.P. Don’t Panic When They Hear A Gunshot
Lots of people have guns in Yooperland, not because it’s dangerous and they need protection, but because almost everyone is obsessed with hunting. With so much rural space, it’s not too strange to hear gunshots in the distance. It’s probably just someone practicing their shot or shooting their dinner. Nothing to worry about.
15. “Pop” Isn’t Just A Sound, It’s A Cool, Refreshing, Carbonated Beverage
Some places it’s “Coke,” some places it’s “soda,” in Yooperland, it’s “pop.” It’s just a lot more fun to say.
16. Lots Of People “Get Sick” On November 15 In The U.P.
Hunting season in the Upper Peninsula is such a big deal that opening season has a tendency to cripple the area. Tons of people call in sick to work and skip classes so that they can head out to the woods in hopes of snagging the first big buck of the season.
17. Yooper Pride Is Unbreakable
It gets real cold in the Upper Peninsula, people have to be strong and rely on their neighbors to thrive. Because of this, residents from the Upper Peninsula are very proud of where they’re from. The term “Yooper” unites them all, as locals often wear their love for Yooperland on their sleeve.
18. Everyone Here Knows Trolls Really Do Exist
The term “troll” pops up in normal conversation among Yoopers. They’re not referring to individuals leaving mean comments online or to the hairy mythical creatures in fairytales. It refers to people that live in the Lower Peninsula.
There’s a bridge that separates the two parts of Michigan, people that live below the bridge are trolls. They come up during the winter months to take advantage of the beautiful U.P. landscape and leave when the times get a little tougher.
19. Don’t Plan On Driving To The Grand Hotel
Mackinac Island is a beautiful getaway for people in the Upper Peninsula, especially when it’s not in the heat of tourism season. If an out-of-towner is headed that way, make sure they know that their car can’t come with them, as personal vehicles aren’t allowed anywhere on the island. Visitors must rely on horse-drawn carriages and bikes.
20. The U.P. Has It’s Very Own “Big Mac”
Forget the golden arches, in Michigan the “Big Mac” refers to Mackinac Bridge, the divider of the Upper and Lower Peninsula.
21. Yoopers Aren’t The Biggest Fans Of Tourists
Yoopers are very protective of their lifestyle and they know that if tons of people start moving to their towns it will change. It usually takes locals awhile to warm up to an out-of-towner.
22. Yoopers Love Nothing More Than An Ice Cold Beer
Just like the rest of Michigan, the U.P. has plenty of craft breweries with awesome local beer. If the drinks tasted that good wherever an out-of-towner was coming from, they’d be drinking a lot too.
23. Mosquitos Should Be The State Bird
Source: Flickr User edenpictures
While the summers in the Upper Peninsula are awesome, the huge mosquitos that come with them are not. They’re everywhere and they’re vicious, seemingly swarming in intelligent packs. Make sure an out-of-towner knows to always bring their bug spray along.
24. It’s Impossible To Not Take A Picture Of The Pictured Rocks
Huge and full of bleeding colors, the Pictured Rocks on the coast of the Northern Upper Peninsula are a must see for any out-of-towner. They’re truly spectacular and definitely worth the visit.
25. Snowmobiles Trump Four-Wheel Drive In The U.P.
Many Yoopers would prefer to have a nice snowmobile than a running car, after all, it seems like more money is spent on the trails than county highways. With so much snow on the ground so many days out of the year, a snowmobile is often the best way to get around.
26. Frost Inside Of The House Is Totally Normal
It gets real cold in the Upper Peninsula. So cold that at times the weather simply can’t be kept out. It’s normal for ice to accumulate on the inside of doors, windows, and walls. It just means another blanket might need to be tossed on the bed that night.
27. Folks In The U.P Know, Bambi Tastes Great
People love to eat venison in the Upper Peninsula. While an out-of-towner might be a little weary of snacking on game meat at first, after a couple bites they’ll be begging for more.
28. Yoopers Actually Like The Winter Months
With snow on the ground most of the year, many out-of-towners wonder why anyone would want to live in the Upper Peninsula. However, Yoopers don’t fear the snow though like many Americans, they embrace it. To them it means it’s time to bring out the skis, snowmobiles, and hunting rifles, making it one of their favorite times of the year.
29. But The Summers Are What Convince Them To Stick Around
While Yoopers might like the winter, it’s impossible to beat an Upper Peninsula summer. The land springs to life, with nature blooming everywhere. Beautiful lakes, streams, and coastlines become completely accessible, making it one of the best places to be in the world when the warmer weather hits.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about the Upper Peninsula? Tell us in the comments below! 
