𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚! 185 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.

On January 26, 1837, our beautiful mitten was granted statehood, which means the Great Lakes State is turning 185 years old!

1. We have the coolest shaped state

2. And the nicest people

3. Two peninsulas. One state.

4. 11,000 inland lakes larger than 5 acres

5. The greatest number of different foods grown of any state except California

6. Longest freshwater shoreline in the US & more shoreline than any other state in the lower 48 (yes, more than California)!

7. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

8. You don’t have to pay money to go to the beach

9. Yoopers and Trolls

10. The handy map, of course

11. Michigan rock hunting is the best on Earth

12. Sea Shells City’s Giant Clam

13. Cherry pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company and The Cherry Hut

14. Christmas time in Frankenmuth

15. Riding bikes around Mackinac Island

16. Surfing the Great Lakes

17. 3,177 miles of Great Lakes shoreline (and no sharks or stinging eyes!)

18. Rollerblading the TART Trail

19. Freshwater fishing. There is no bad fishing season.

20. Four seasons, each with its own allure

21. Cherry blossoms

22. Trilliums

23. Michigan barns have their own styles

24. Bonfires on the beach

25. Ernest Hemingway

26. Empire Asparagus Festival

27. Beaches and skiing both in the same state

28. Sunsets in Pentwater, Ludington, Manistee, Onekama, Frankfort, Empire, Glen Arbor, Leland, Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs … pretty much everywhere