[6.7traveler]

OP here giving an update. We checked out both Traverse City and Marquette. We were leaning towards the UP until we got an awesome deal in Alaska we couldn't turn down. So that's where we have been for the last month and if I ever return to Michigan I will be sure to update the thread. Thanks for all the help and replies.

[darstar]

Interesting, for some reason Marquette has a lot of Alaska folks. I was in Starbucks the other day, and to my surprise there was a crab fisherman visiting and unrelated two people transplanted from Anchorage. You see Alaska car tags all over town,.mostly p /u trucks.

[Carol1829]

Marquette is a much friendlier, more liberal place. Traverse City is filled with people who hate--Indians, Blacks, The Poor--just to name a few. They are all about money, and nothing else. The most conservative, hate-filled people I have ever met. Marquette is just the opposite--friendly people who mind their own business and not yours, accept just about everybody, and are great to be around. Plus gorgeous scenery and no pollution to speak of.

[FenderBass]

Carol, as someone who has lived in Traverse City since 1987 I could not agree with you more!

[Nephler]

Originally Posted by darstar

Interesting, for some reason Marquette has a lot of Alaska folks. I was in Starbucks the other day, and to my surprise there was a crab fisherman visiting and unrelated two people transplanted from Anchorage. You see Alaska car tags all over town,.mostly p /u trucks.

You're right, quite a few people have moved to the northern and western UP from AK. There are also a good number here in the tip-of-the-mitt, myself included, thought I'm from here originally. I just had friends move here in the past month.
Last year while in Copper Harbor, I learned that the owner of the only gas station in town was from AK and his family still live there. Because I still had my AK plates on the Jeep, we ran into quite a few people from AK living from about Munising west and on up through the Keweenaw. Many that have lived in both state call the northern and western UP Alaska Junior.

[kathyt865]

One thing you should absolutely do before making any decision between TC and Marquette is travel the area during the summer months. Mqt is scenic and doable while TC is a major traffic jam. TC is not huge but with summer traffic you can wait through 4-5 traffic lights before you and make your left hand turn (and IN the turning lane). Another thing: You will NEVER find airline tickets less expensive flying from TC. Marquette prices win hands down every time. So if you are into a flight to Vegas, CA or FL for a change of pace you do not want to fly from TC - or even Pellston (Petoskey area). Good luck. I love TC, visit fairly often but am really glad to leave the hassle of the traffic behind when I head home.......small town on northern shore of Lake MI,

[darstar]

Originally Posted by kathyt865

One thing you should absolutely do before making any decision between TC and Marquette is travel the area during the summer months. Mqt is scenic and doable while TC is a major traffic jam. TC is not huge but with summer traffic you can wait through 4-5 traffic lights before you and make your left hand turn (and IN the turning lane). Another thing: You will NEVER find airline tickets less expensive flying from TC. Marquette prices win hands down every time. So if you are into a flight to Vegas, CA or FL for a change of pace you do not want to fly from TC - or even Pellston (Petoskey area). Good luck. I love TC, visit fairly often but am really glad to leave the hassle of the traffic behind when I head home.......small town on northern shore of Lake MI,

Good post , just one more plus for MQT. !

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by Carol1829

Marquette is a much friendlier, more liberal place. Traverse City is filled with people who hate--Indians, Blacks, The Poor--just to name a few. They are all about money, and nothing else. The most conservative, hate-filled people I have ever met. Marquette is just the opposite--friendly people who mind their own business and not yours, accept just about everybody, and are great to be around. Plus gorgeous scenery and no pollution to speak of.

I didn't know that about TC, but several people have said it.
As a visitor I did think it seemed to be conservative "business-friendly" development-gone-wild, ruining what used to be a nice peaceful and scenic waterfront. I can remember when mall shopping was a distance away. I even "befriended" an old lobo in that little zoo.
That lakefront highway, which used to be a peaceful drive, is now a cattle run with views of condos, malls, and hotels, somebody's idea of "scenery" I guess. Marquette probably ain't there yet.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by detwahDJ

I didn't know that about TC, but several people have said it.
As a visitor I did think it seemed to be conservative "business-friendly" development-gone-wild, ruining what used to be a nice peaceful and scenic waterfront. I can remember when mall shopping was a distance away. I even "befriended" an old lobo in that little zoo.
That lakefront highway, which used to be a peaceful drive, is now a cattle run with views of condos, malls, and hotels, somebody's idea of "scenery" I guess. Marquette probably ain't there yet.

And we don't intend to be ether ! Marquette has set aside it's waterfront for public axcess. More walks, bike trails, than anywhere in the country. Yes we are growing fast and new buildings going up all the time , but at the same time new green areas are being built and improved. Hopefully the hi rise era is over, has been for some time. All the new structures are three story or less. .....I guess the best we can hope for is a balance , and still have the tax revenue to provide a better city for our people.

[313 TUxedo]

Originally Posted by darstar

Interesting, for some reason Marquette has a lot of Alaska folks. I was in Starbucks the other day, and to my surprise there was a crab fisherman visiting and unrelated two people transplanted from Anchorage. You see Alaska car tags all over town,.mostly p /u trucks.

I've never been to Alaska, but I do have reasons to believe there are parallels between AK and the U.P. (at least in comparison to the lower peninsula). Like Alaska, the UP has wide swaths of undeveloped land, great forest cover, and somewhat isolated towns. In both resource industries are and have been a major part of the economy.

Munising, in particular, reminds me of Alaskan towns I have seen in pictures and movies, being surrounded on three sides by steep tree-covered slopes, stunning blue water in the other direction, and the islands in the water.

Perhaps MaBell knew what they were doing when they assigned the area codes 906 and 907.