Here's a quaint view looking through the upper window of our room. If anyone's looking for a great weekend getaway, check out the Brigadoon B&B in Mackinaw City sometime. It was wonderful!

When you buy a house that big an your not a millionair you have to rent out rooms to pay for heating it,the days of cheap coal are long gone

Wow - Neat shot! Thanks for the advice.....wish it was in our budget.

Picture caption: "Waking up in the U.P."???? Mackinaw City????

I agree 100% Yooper! When I think of the true UP it's west of Marquette. Mostly the copper country.

For us Southern Michigan folk, it's always enjoyable to see (or be) anywhere north of Gaylord, MI. This picture from the Mackinaw area is wonderful and brings delightful memories to mind of our many travels to that region.

I'm sure that you "true Yoppers" feel blessed to live in Copper country, but I feel just as blessed when I can visit Mackinaw City...so, I love any pictures, Mackinaw and beyond, that help me live closer to my dream, even if it's only in the way of a picture.

Thank you for sharing the Brigadoon from that vantage point with us...we've been inside to look around, but never stayed overnight. It's interesting that looking out from that view point, the big lake is just beyond those houses...you sure can't tell it...not with all the white, which I assume is ice.

I thought Mackinaw City was south of the bridge.(100% Yooper is correct) Still a nice pic though.

Indeed we do feel blessed. Basically the UP starts at the Houghton County line and actually continues West and North, with the "epicenter" being Houghton/Hancock. Ha Ha, just a little repartee for the rest of the UP, an affable banter if you will. Kudos on the vista from the top window.

Wheatman

So we changed the title to "Waking up near the U.P." I must admit, this morning when uploading the shot I was thinking about St. Ignace, even though Doug's message referred to Mackinaw City.

For us trolls below the bridge, anything North of Gaylord we call "Up North". I truely love the Keweenau, but at nearly 700 miles away, I just don't get up there as often as I'd like.

Mr. Wheatman--I always thought Calumet was the epicenter of the UP! Oh well, I guess it just depends on a persons frame of reference -or where your people are. I do find Mackinaw too commercial for my taste. Then again, it aint in the UP.

Hey Doug it's only 533 miles from Wixom to Houghton - just a hop, skip and a jump past Gaylerd (local spelling).

A matter of opinion indeed froggy, In my humble opinion, the "grass is greener" as you head South of Houghton, albeit a substantial populace would dispute that. The Copper Country in it's entirety, though, is definitely "UP defined" per se.

Wheatman

I'll add my two cents to the debate and say that I regard Calumet as the epicenter of the UP. I grew up in Ahmeek and went to Calumet High, Class of 71. And, even though I now live in Seattle (for the past 25 or so years) I am in the comfortable habit of beginning each day visiting Pasty.com. It's like "going home" every day.

Go Copper Kings!

Oh, and I always love the photos.

Sorry Wheatman, Ironwood, Menominee, Escanaba,Manistique, St.Ignace, The Soo(US)-- all
are Yoopers, and consider themselves such. No attempts at disenfranchisement, please.

No attempt at disenfranchisement intended. Just a little good natured kidding around. Its just that everyone has that favorite area or town that has a special meaning to them. All proud of their origins.

Once you cross the mighty Mac - North to South and East to West, from Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Straits of Mackinac is Da U.P.!! Some areas more beautiful than the others, but it's all within one beautiful peninsula!

Yah You Betcha and Linda, I second that Emotion !!! God Bless Michigan.

There is only one up, it starts at the northern most point of the bridge and from that point it extends north, west and east. All parts south are
hostile territory.

spelling correction U.P.

To Mr. Wheatman, South End: saying that the grass is greener on the south side of Houghton, I take it that you haven't been north of Houghton!!!
All kidding aside, good luck to the Calumet Copper Kings Hockey team on the trek across the great U.P. to Quarter finals, and may they continue the journey and head 'downstate'!!

Charlie, Ihave only one thing to say after the last couple of days. Bless you my child for being such a diplomat:)

Personally----- Mr. Wheatman sounds like a nice man and maybe he hasn't travelled the U.P. to see "greener grass". I have been to all corners and every place in between. I personally feel the Keweenaw is the most beautiful. Now that is not to say that The Porkies, Mqt, Munising and many other areas are not as nice. We all have our opinions of where that special place is here, but lets not argue with one another. Just be happy we have this beautiful place to enjoy. Can't we all just get along :)???

Forgot to add......
Doug----what a great shot.

If Houghton is the "Gateway to the Keweenau", would Mackinaw be the "Gateway to the U.P" then? I've always crossed it to get to the other side.

Who cares about the geography of where everyone lives, just feel blessed you live in such a beautiful state. Im originally from Battle Creek Michigan, my mom is Linda from Dowling, hi mom. Any way I now live in Oklahoma City. Dont get me wrong Oklahoma is a pretty state, but Oklahoma doesnt hold a candle to the beauty and wonder of Michigan!!! I enjoy Oklahoma but theres just something about Michigan wether it be the upper part or the lower part its all a FABULOUS STATE!

What a pretty view...do you know if those are summer homes or year 'rounders?
I wonder if the islanders are glad they are neither over or under the bridge?!

ooops...for some reason I was thinking it was on Mackinaw Island.
I'm not always the sharpest cookie in the jar :)

"Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice"

"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
It's all beautiful!

I yoosta be a yooper,from $Bay. Now i'am a looper.Once i head north for my 540 mile ride i get to see alot of this beauitful state of Michigan.First i leave behind Lake St.Clair, & the Blue Water Bridge.Then the ride becomes dull until i hit the 301 Wolverine & i feel a tingle of the north woods,the sign that says your at the 49 th. parallel halfway between the North Pole & the Equator my ears pop.Once i cross the Big Mac.i have a wonderful site to see ahead & in the rear view mirror.Once i'am in St.Ingnace you should consider yourself to be in the U.P.The ride along US-2 is like the white sand beaches of the Tropics.I got more then just a tingle going now.On windy days you can get a free car wash.The whole state has special places,Holland on the east coast,to Sleeping Bear Dunes.The Lower part of MI.could fill a calender of pretty pic's too.How many of you Yoopers have never been below the Mighty Mac.? I am blessed to have been just about everywhere in this state from Hell & U.P.We are just at the 1st. rung of the ladder down here,sure it gets nicer as you go up! Take look at the whole ladder, we have you anchored in tight down here.Once i cross over the Little Mac. between Houghton & Hancock i am just a glowing.It's a great place to come home to,when your home is away from home.There is something in the air up there. It's called clean.

I loved your comments "Yoosta Be"...I'm proud to be a "Michigander"...North, South, East, or West.
There are areas of beauty throughout the entire state.

My heart longs for the North country...but I can enjoy being right where I'm at...even if it is little ole Dowling.

ON the subject of good-natured Banter...

ONLY ONE MENTION OF MARQUETTE? You provincials.

DAT's da real hub of the U.P, especially if you add the gravitas of Ishpeming and Negaunee to the mix. The 'Tri-City' area, yeah, dat's it.

Gotta get back there soon... I miss the place. These Southern California winters are a pathetic joke. Santa Claus rollerblading down the boardwalk... Christmas ornaments melting in the sun...traffic accidents quadruple at the appearance of a light mist of rain.

im coming to visit your state for the first time in 2 weeks. i can't wait anyways i just come across this web site being nosey

I love Michigan, period. There is so much to be enjoyed all over the state. The Pigeon River Forest, you could spend a life time exploring that area, Sleeping Bear Dunes, a must see, Frankenmuth, a treat for the eyes, Mackinaw City and Island, mystic and enchanting, and after the Mighty Mac, you enter another blessed part of Michigan. The ride on US 2 is captivating. How many times have I driven that, even in winter, and had to pull over just to take it all in, Seney, Manistique, Calumet, Copper Harbor....its all good.