We are now officially licensed in the great state of Michigan! In light of this, we’ve decided to compile a list of things we love about the mitten—and while there are literally dozens, we narrowed it down to just a few. So, in no particular order, below is a list of 10 THINGS MORTY LOVES ABOUT MICHIGAN.
1. The Great Lakes
(Lake Superior, National Lakeshore)
Michigan’s mitten landscape is contoured by four of the five Great Lakes—the largest bodies of fresh water on the planet. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet beneath the Mackinac Bridge, connecting the lower peninsula with the upper peninsula (“the UP”). We love that the Great Lakes are an accessible summer hotspot.
2. Sleeping Bear Dunes
“The Dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona and the Yosemite is to California. They constitute a signature of time and eternity.”
-Poet, Carl Sandburg
In 2011, Sleeping Bear Dunes was named the most beautiful American destination by Good Morning America. Formed by ancient glaciers, the sprawling landscape is made up of 64 miles of sand and forest hovering over Lake Michigan.
3. A Heated Sports Culture
(Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There are two kinds of people in Michigan—the “Go Blue” crowd and the “Go Green” crowd, otherwise known as University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Fans of each big 10 school co-exist peacefully until the moment football and basketball season rolls around and a fierce rivalry forms a deep divide within the state. We love the intensity and die-hard passion of two exceptional teams, equally matched, facing off.
4. MoTown
The original MoTown Studio purchased and operated by founder, Berry Gordy is now a landmark museum in the heart of Detroit. We love that you can experience such an iconic moment in music history with a guided walking tour through the building that once operated as both a business and a household. Original instruments, costumes, records, and artifacts from icons like Diana Ross & The Supremes, the Jackson 5, and The Temptations have been preserved and displayed in all their original glory.
5. Diego Rivera in Detroit
Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry in the lobby of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is literally one of the most breathtaking masterpieces of art in the world. The vast 27-panel mural depicts the motor city’s automobile manufacturers of the 1930’s. Experts consider it “one of the finest Mexican murals in the United States” and “the artist thought it the best work of his career” (DIA’s website).
6. Breweries
“Finally a kick-ass beer that tastes good, but I can drink more than four or five of these.”
—Mike Stevens, CEO of Founders Brewing Co. on Founders All Day IPA
Bell’s Brewery and Founder’s Brewing Co. were both born out of two major Michigan cities and draw in beer enthusiasts nationwide. Filled with 122 craft breweries, Michigan ranks fifth in the nation in the number of breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs (Pure Michigan’s website).
7. You Have a Map on You At All Times.
(Photo from Imply by Design)
Why use Google Maps when you can use your hand?!?
8. Pączkis
(Photo Courtesy of John Gonzalez at MLive)
Pączkis are Polish donuts. Thick, fried, buttery dough, with fruit or custard filling on the inside. Detroit’s high volume of Polish-American immigrants has made this heavenly delicacy wildly popular. On Fat Tuesday, locals (Catholic or Polish or not) will stand in line at one of the dozens of bakeries selling the treat. Even if you’re not in Michigan for the end of Lent, chances are you can track down pączkis almost anywhere in Michigan.
9. Mackinac Island
“You have an Island where the automobile never replaced the horse and carriage.”
—The Official Website of Mackinac Island
Setting foot on Mackinac Island is like stepping back in time, which is funny considering that’s basically the title of the film shoot for which it’s most famous (Somewhere in Time). Sitting in Lake Huron between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a 3.8 square-mile, car-less haven. There, you’ll find 19th Century Victorian homes, fudge shops, bike rentals, horses and carriages, and a Revolutionary-era war fort. It is the perfect blend of quaint tranquility and historic charm; a vacation favorite in the summer months.
10. People Say “Pop” Instead of Soda
Michigan is one of the few states to commit to this term. But pop actually makes the most sense when you think about it. As we all know, soda pop is a carbonated beverage. That means it contains bubbles. And what do bubbles do when they expand? They pop! Are you ready to convert??
Have we convinced you to buy a home in Michigan yet?! If so, head on over to morty.com and get started!
