What is A Michigan Thing?

My earliest memories as a little girl are of sitting on the beaches of Michigan with a sand shovel in one hand and bright green pail right beside me. Over my lifetime, after several moves around the Midwest including through Ohio and Indiana, I always found myself returning here. By the time I reached my mid-life and had kids of my own, I had migrated from the soft flat stoned beaches of Lake Huron to the white sand beaches of Lake Michigan. There is just something special about Michigan.

Michigan has a beauty that is ageless and timeless and our seasons change with anticipation. In the fall we get such a glorious splash of color. Mother Earth becomes a canvas of red, gold and tawny brown. Soon, our winters drive us outside to dance and play in the big fat delicate snowflakes. We watch, we play, we bear the cold, oh yes, but always with the hope that underneath the virgin white snow lies the hope of another Michigan summer.

Loving Michigan means so many things. It is the first hint of summer hitting the air, and getting in the car to drive all the way to the beach just to make sure it is all still there. It's checking online every week---sometimes every day to see what the water temps are so we can look forward to taking that first swim in what the locals affectionately call "the BIG lake". It's listening for the marine forecast and the flag status at the state park. It's unpacking the picnic basket and thinking ahead to family, friends and the good times that are sure to come.

As the concept for this site began to take form, we took stock in all those things that make this such a unique and wonderful place. Our summers mean dinner and drinks on the deck of our favorite restaurants. It's long walk at sunset on the beach after an afternoon spent strolling through the shops. It's dieting all winter to offset the extra pounds the ice cream is sure to put on you in the summer. It's living, and celebrating summer every day.

My only caution to you is Michigan people are different. We LIKE sand in our shoes. That's normal. Having shoes WITHOUT SAND in them is weird. (It's unnatural and should be strongly discouraged.) You can expect people from Michigan to be happy to see you, helpful, and neighborly. You can expect us to stop and help when you are having car trouble and point you in the right direction when you lose your way. Maybe it's the sand dunes, the sunshine, the festivals and the endless ways to enjoy it. Michigan people are just plain different.

It's out of our love for Michigan that we developed this web site. It is our desire to affectionately infect all who visit here with the enthusiasm we have for Michigan. Here are the tools to make your travels plans easier. This is our opportunity to show off, and to give you this formal invitation. We can't wait to see you and we're looking forward to your visit. This summer won't be the same without you.

Sincerely,
 
Carol Charron
Sales & Marketing Manager
A Michigan Thing, LLC