So you’ve got a friend who’s thinking of moving to Michigan, eh? Maybe they heard about the state’s big come back, affordable cost of living, and beautiful outdoor scenery. But there’s more to the state that they should know about. Michigan is about so much more than cars and fascinating ruins in Detroit. Here are some fun facts for anyone considering relocating to the Mitten.

  1. We love our Mitten State status

LadyDragonflyCC/Flickr Give me a break, Wisconsin, your sad shape never had a chance of competing with Michigan.

  1. But the Mitten really only tells you part of the story

Kyle Miron/Flickr The UP is like a 51st state, a world onto itself.

  1. You’d better be a sports fan, or learn to be one real quick

jpowers65/Flickr Do you have your Red Wings jersey yet?

  1. Just about all your favorite music has roots in Michigan

Lauren/Flickr

  1. The state’s bascially surrounded by Canada

Andrew Kaszowski/Flickr And what friendly neighbors they are.

  1. Believe it or not, we’ve got a pizza style that could put Chicago and New York-style to shame

@joefoodie/Flickr Cloverleaf Pizza, anyone?

  1. Yes, Coneys are a state hot dog staple

calamity_hane/Flickr You’ll want to familiarize yourself with that Michigan sauce, stat.

  1. But the state is also a hub for amaaaaazing Middle Eastern food, thanks to our sizable Arab American community

churl/Flickr Pictured here, Sam’s Bistro in Whitehall.

  1. Despite what anyone else says, we’ve got some of the best beaches in country - sans salt

AllieKF/Flickr Oh, and waves? Yeah, we’ve got ’em, but you don’t really have to worry about tsunami-sized ones.

  1. The state may have been through a lot…

Bryan Debus/Flickr

  1. But the state’s residents keep on fighting, because there’s so much Michigan beauty to hold onto

~flutterby~/Flickr Can you even imagine another place you’d rather live?

If you had to educate a newbie Michigander, what would you add to this list? Let us know!

LadyDragonflyCC/Flickr

Give me a break, Wisconsin, your sad shape never had a chance of competing with Michigan.

Kyle Miron/Flickr

The UP is like a 51st state, a world onto itself.

jpowers65/Flickr

Do you have your Red Wings jersey yet?

Lauren/Flickr

Andrew Kaszowski/Flickr

And what friendly neighbors they are.

@joefoodie/Flickr

Cloverleaf Pizza, anyone?

calamity_hane/Flickr

You’ll want to familiarize yourself with that Michigan sauce, stat.

churl/Flickr

Pictured here, Sam’s Bistro in Whitehall.

AllieKF/Flickr

Oh, and waves? Yeah, we’ve got ’em, but you don’t really have to worry about tsunami-sized ones.

Bryan Debus/Flickr

~flutterby~/Flickr

Can you even imagine another place you’d rather live?

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