100 Favorite Things About Michigan: The Mitten State We Love

At Sunshine Arts Shop Co, we believe in celebrating the little things that make life brighter—and in Michigan, there are a lot of those things. From lake sunsets to quirky food traditions, this mitten-shaped wonderland is overflowing with charm. Whether you’re a lifelong Michigander, a proud Yooper, or just someone who once fell in love with a Petoskey stone, here are 100 favorite things about Michigan that prove why it’s truly one-of-a-kind.

🌊 Nature & Outdoors

1. The Great Lakes (Michigan touches four out of five)

2. Mackinac Island’s no-car rule 🚲

3. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

4. Tahquamenon Falls (“Root Beer Falls”)

5. Isle Royale National Park (wolves vs. moose saga)

6. Pictured Rocks cliffs in Munising

7. Petoskey stones on the beach

8. Torch Lake’s turquoise water

9. Northern Lights in the U.P. 🌌

10. Frankenmuth’s charming covered bridge

🚗 Cars, Roads & Quirks

11. Detroit = Motor City history

12. Woodward Dream Cruise 🚘

13. The Mighty Mac (Mackinac Bridge)

14. Detroit–Windsor Tunnel to Canada

15. Michigan Left turns

16. License plates with Great Lakes pride

17. Big Three automakers (GM, Ford, Chrysler)

18. Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village

19. Frozen-lake car testing ❄️

20. Snowmobile highways in the U.P.

🍽️ Food & Drink

21. Coney dogs (American vs. Lafayette rivalry) 🌭

22. Vernors ginger ale (a Michigander cure-all)

23. Faygo (Redpop reigns supreme)

24. Better Made potato chips

25. Pasties (the U.P. power meal) 🥟

26. Michigan cherries 🍒

27. Apple cider & donuts at the mill

28. Oberon Ale from Bell’s Brewery 🍺

29. Detroit-style square pizza 🍕

30. Cherry festival treats in Traverse City

🎶 Music & Arts

31. Motown Records legacy 🎶

32. Eminem’s Detroit roots

33. Kid Rock & Bob Seger road trip classics

34. Madonna’s Michigan upbringing

35. Jack White & The White Stripes garage rock

36. Techno music’s birthplace = Detroit

37. Interlochen Arts Academy 🎭

38. Ann Arbor Art Fair

39. Detroit Institute of Arts

40. Meadow Brook Amphitheatre concerts

🏒 Sports & Pride

41. Detroit Red Wings 🏒 “Hockeytown”

42. University of Michigan Wolverines 🟡🔵

43. Michigan State Spartans 💚🤍

44. Detroit Tigers ⚾

45. Detroit Lions 🦁 (eternal hope)

46. Detroit Pistons 🏀

47. Little Caesars Arena

48. Spartan Stadium tailgates

49. The Big House (largest U.S. stadium)

50. Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry

🌲 U.P. Life & Wilderness

51. Yooper accents & hospitality

52. Copper Harbor adventures

53. Mining town history

54. Pasties: ketchup vs. gravy debates

55. Record snow in Marquette ❄️

56. Lake Superior agates

57. Soo Locks ship watching 🚢

58. Hiawatha National Forest

59. Wild blueberry picking

60. Black bear sightings

🏠 Traditions & Culture

61. Using your hand as a map 🖐️

62. Vernors + ice cream “Boston Coolers”

63. Detroit Thanksgiving Parade

64. Holland Tulip Festival 🌷

65. Hamtramck pierogi feasts

66. Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk

67. Michigan State Fair

68. Renaissance Festival near Holly 🏰

69. Frankenmuth’s year-round Christmas spirit 🎄

70. Ice fishing huts on frozen lakes

💡 Random Cool Things

71. Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids

72. Detroit’s colorful street murals

73. Belle Isle aquarium & conservatory

74. Detroit RiverWalk strolls

75. ArtPrize festival in Grand Rapids 🎨

76. Kalamazoo (yes, it’s real!)

77. Hell, Michigan (also real!) 🔥

78. Cherry Republic shops 🍒

79. Fall corn mazes 🌽

80. Summer fireflies at dusk

🌟 Pure Michigan Vibes

81. Sunsets over Lake Michigan 🌅

82. Sand sledding at Silver Lake dunes

83. North Country Trail hikes

84. Hunting season traditions

85. Early morning fishing 🎣

86. Weekend cabins “up north”

87. Beach bonfires 🔥

88. Seasonal ice cream stands

89. Drive-in movie theaters 🎥

90. Small-town Fourth of July parades

🧡 The People & Spirit

91. Yooper friendliness

92. Detroit’s comeback grit

93. Saturday farmer’s markets

94. MSU Dairy Store ice cream

95. Michigan medical & research breakthroughs

96. Craft breweries in every corner 🍻

97. Indie bookstores & record shops

98. Lake-life personalities

99. “Party store” meaning liquor store

100. Michiganders measuring distance in hours, not miles

✨ Final Thoughts

Michigan is more than a state—it’s a way of life. It’s the smell of fresh cider in fall, the sound of hockey skates on ice, the glow of a Lake Michigan sunset, and the laughter of family “up north.” At Sunshine Arts Shop Co, we’re inspired by these little slices of Michigan magic every day, and we love turning them into art, gifts, and keepsakes that spread the same cozy, joyful vibe.