What is the weather like in your area in Michigan today? Storms? Muggy?

[glinda]

MN is having some tornados and storms. Husband and I have talked about moving on the future and Michigan is on the consider seriously list.

[louis-t]

1. Hot and sunny, low humidity. 91 deg.

Macomb County. We had our share of storms on Monday night.

[notadmblnd]

2. we get your weather a day later.

today hot and dry. Tomorrow, storms. Depending on where you live in Michigan, you may get less snow than in Minn.

[glinda]

4. I want more snow actually. MN has been having less snowy winters.

[Urban Prairie]

3. The Great Lakes moderate the weather within the state of MI somewhat

But Northern MI and esp the UP can have MN-like winters with a lot of lake effect snow near the eastern Lake Michigan coastline and the southern coastline of Lake Superior, esp around the Keewenaw Peninsula. We don't often get the -30 or more degree days like northern MN does, and the NW/NE part of the Lower Peninsula in summer is usually cooler near the lakes by 10 to 15 degrees but it can get hot and muggy too, just not as often.

[glinda]

5. That is good info. Thanks! The UP is what we have talked about.

[Festivito]

6. It was a beautifully comfy partly starry night last night.

Had to correct someone else's problem until five in the morning, but the night air was lovely.

Want snow? The UP. In Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet (once the largest city in Michigan) they can't plow because of so much snow. They just compact it. Hundreds of inches that melt by mid summer in spots.

Quiet up there. Real quiet.

Come to Michigan for forests, small towns, a few cities with mostly suburban life, lakes, rivers and streams -- especially forests, lakes, rivers and streams.

If you're not coming for work and can move pretty much anywhere, try the west end of the lower peninsula. Lake Michigan area. Too Republican, but fantastic area.

With lot's of money, try the Traverse City area. From there head north for solitude, west for skiing and forests, south for summer fun, beaches and quaint towns.

A swath of about 50 miles running north and south, east of the Lake Michigan shoreline is the snow belt for snow lovers.

Have fun.

[glinda]

7. Thank you. I like to know where Dem areas are. We live in Repub area now and it sucks.

and being older we want to be able to not drive hours and hours to get to groceries or hospitals.

[MichiganVote]

8. The state has a mix of both liberal Dem and very conservative hot spots

Contrary to the general view, Grand Rapids is not nearly as republican as it once was. That said, the tea bagger type of republicanism is not firmly entrenched in the metropolitan areas. Grand Rapidians are not enamored of extremes of any type. Republicans in Grand Rapids, Holland, Grand Haven are usually Dutch and favor a guy like Hoekstra. He's a douche but that's the type of republcian candidate they tend to favor. Its Gerald Ford land.

In Ann Arbor you will find a mix of the GR type of republican with a diverse line of Democrats ranging from the DLC types to the those on the progressive end. Much depends on age, occupation etc. Obama appealed to both groups.

In Detroit you have largely progressive Obama supporters. Move over toward Oakland and there are some real head cases. Some tea baggers but largely corporate headed republicans. Income decides most of it.

In Northern Michigan toward the Traverse city area, you have people with a diverse view but rural areas are tea bagger types. Same for rural areas in southern michigan, especially Allegan county. Rural areas in both the lower portion of the state and in the UP can include some die hard racists.

In the UP the usual view is republican but not tea bagger and not the GR Gerald Ford type of republican. What appeals to most of the UP residents from the so called republican platform is that they do not support more taxes, government interference in their daily or business affairs. People who live in the UP generally do so to get away from bureaucracy so they don't favor democrats for the most part. However the voting patterns of residents int he UP are pretty poor so whatever.

The UP does have a lot of snow. Less than I knew as a kid but it surely sticks around as long. The UP usually has more sunshine than SW michigan. There are many beautiful areas to tour in the UP.

Northern Mi. also gets a lot of snow but it tends to come in off the lakeside in waves. So when it comes, pay attention.SW and SE Michigan usually get a few big storms that wreak havoc but the biggest problem in terms of driving is ice. Once you learn to drive on Michigan ice you'll drive on anything.

Property prices on homes are as low as you'll ever see them so its a good time to buy if that is your bent. Fishing, hunting and nature enjoyment is all through the state. Just pick your pleasure.

We love Michigan. It is a beautiful state and vastly underrated. You just have to be prepared for several kinds of weather each day. Keeps it interesting.

[glinda]

9. Sounds like a lot of Republicans and Tea Baggers from what you said.

I don't fancy that but I do fancy nature.Is Marquette fairly progressive or are there not progressive areas?

[MichiganVote]

10. Nah...not too much tea bagging. The state is teetering on the brink of a republican

for Governor largely b/c of the slow growth of the state economy, jobs etc. But the line up is piss poor.

Marquette, like most college towns is progressive.

[JNelson6563]

21. Marquette goes blue

I could tell when I first went there, they really invest in their community. Then I looked into and my suspicions were confirmed.

With that said, I'm in Traverse City and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. There's plenty of liberals here in this red county. Michael Moore's great State Theater is here and there's lots of culture, a community college, Interlochen Arts Academy and awesome events summer and winter. I live and work downtown so I am lucky to walk everywhere (mostly). Rolling green hills a ten minute drive away, awesome farmer's market, u-pick orchards and farms, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. And sparkling blue water everywhere.

I ask you, what more could anyone want?? ;-)

Julie

[1gobluedem]

11. Ann Arbor is extremely Democratic

As was stated earlier, there are a few Republicans about (fiscal conservatives, social progressives) but the town is so blue we haven't even had a serious Republican candidate for anything in years. Our mayor, city council, county commissioner, state rep, state senator, US rep, and US senators are all Democrats.

We do get a Republican governor from time to time but once the idiots that vote them in realize that only the rich and corporations get the tax breaks and the rest of us get lousy services and crumbling infrastructure they wise up.

Marquette is a nice town and has everything you list; you can live close to hospitals and shopping, it gets a lot of snow, and it's not too big even though it's the UP's largest city. I just read that it has a population of 65,000 which seems very inflated; the last I heard was 24,000.

[glinda]

12. Husband says he doesn't like Ann Arbor for some reason but Marguette

needs to be taken a serious look at. He likes Traverse City but....hmmmmmm.

[MichiganVote]

13. Ann Arbor is a neat town. The college of course adds hugely to the culture.

Marquette is a nice town. It combines some rusticity, some of the college town feeling and some of the neighborly feel that others like. The natives are usually heavy into sports and recreation such as hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Not glamorous but fun and interesting.

For more of the upscale up north feel Traverse city, Suttons Bay, Leelanau are the areas you will want to visit. There are many wineries in this part of the state which can be a lot of fun to visit and enjoy. Trendy foodspots, shopping and the like are fun for kids or their mothers in these areas. Great lake fishing/sailing charters are available all along the Lk. Mich. coast. Be sure to visit the Sleeping Bear dunes which is a beautiful area. The Ludington and Wilderness State camping areas are the best in my opinion. Lake of the Clouds is in the Wilderness camp ground and is very lovely.

The bigger inland lakes in northern Michigan are Torch Lake, Hamlin, Higgins, and Mullett to name a few.

For things like canoeing and kayaking, just about any of the rivers will do. People usually favor the Pine river and the Pier Marquette. The Muskegon river is very nice and relatively easy for tubing as well as canoeing. The town of Newaygo is a neat place and attracts a many tourists.

There is a smaller town on the coast of Lk. Michigan called Gladstone (see Escanaba) which has a very nice bay and marina. It is a very pretty town and if smaller is better for you, you could check that out.

[glinda]

14. Thanks for the great information. We have Arts backgrounds

and I can work from home (Studio). But we are in our 50-60's so access to supplies, medical, etc... is very important. We prefer not living inner Cities but yet near one. Husband is retired Prof so College towns and wineries, festivals would be very nice. Considered Vermont but fear it would be difficult financially. WI. has a lot to offer but don't know yet. Severe storms/tornados freak me out. Love snowstorms though.

[MichiganVote]

15. Most tornadic activity in Mi. occurs in the SW areas near the lake. Rare in the UP.

All of the wineries offer their goods in both grocery and specialty stores/restaurants throughout MI. You can also order wine online. Traverse City has a big cherry festival each year. In Grand Rapids you have the options of the annual Arts festival and now we have Art Prize which is a lot of fun for people. Ann Arbor has an Art Fair each year as do other small locale such as Saugatuck and East Grand Rapids. Farmer's markets abound in most metropolitan areas.

All of the tourist areas have multiple galleries ranging anywhere from the usual to the unusual.

[glinda]

17. Ummmmm. Traverse appeals to husband because of the Cherry Festival. LOL!

I personally cannot get north enough though. Not enough $ to move to Canada so looking for an alternative.

[MichiganVote]

20. MIT is in Houghton about as Northern as you can get.. Marquette has Northern University.

Traveling from the UP to Northern Mi. is not that much of a stretch. Sometimes tricky in winter and occasionally the bridge is closed when the winds are really heavy. But its all doable. Its all good.

Whatever you decide, hope you enjoy your visit or your stay.

[1gobluedem]

23. Ann Arbor was voted one of the best places to retire in the country

Based on our incredible hospital system: UM Health System (one of the top in the country), Veterans Hospital, and St. Joseph Mercy Medical System. Health care here is outstanding.

[dmr]

16. I'm in TC. Love it here.

Lots to do. Love the weather. Love the snow. I just love Michigan!

[glinda]

18. Amazingly great info! Love your kitty also.

[glinda]

19. Forgot. Just got out of my basement after two hours under tornadoes.

[glinda]

22. Looked like you got some tornadic activity yesterday. How was the UP?