[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by baystater

Let me ask you this guys.

Would you consider the culture of Michigan closely related other Midwest states? Or is it something completely different?

Are there any influences from other parts of the country?

Culturally, there are alot of influences. In the Detroit metro area, you have African-Americans, Arabs, Polish, Italian, Southern Whites, Japanese, Mexicans, and alot of it has to do with the auto industry. In the western end of the state you have a sizeable Dutch population. In the UP there are populations people that are of Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Cornish, and Italian descent. You also have a sizeable Native American population in the UP. Hockey is popular in Michigan. You also have winter sports in Michigan as well as water sports.

[thaxil]

I moved from California to Mi in 2005 for school and notice the amount of rain and violent storms. They do have very lush vegetation during the summer and an explosion of colors during the spring and fall. The beach of the west side are very nice. However, it is rarely warm enough to swim in the water at the beaches, winter kills the bugs and all else which breaths, and just too gloomy in winter. I dont mind the cold so much the lack of bright sun light is depressing. Since graduating, I move to south carolina, and think I found a place not dry and dustly like Cali, and not bone chilling and gloomy as michigan. Plus the beaches feel like a pool of pee.

[Bydand]

Rarely warm enough to swim in the water at the beaches? Are you serious? Man you have to grow a pair, even my kids swim almost every day from the end of May to the beginning of September.

[northstar22]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Rarely warm enough to swim in the water at the beaches? Are you serious? Man you have to grow a pair, even my kids swim almost every day from the end of May to the beginning of September.

[suydam]

I think the issue in discussing culture is trying to pin down "Midwest."
I tend to think our culture is similar to other Great Lakes states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania to some degree).
I don't think Michigan is all that unique culturally.

Sure, there are things that are special and unique, but in terms of overarching cultural patterns, we're very similar to those others.

None of that really answers Mimzy's question though.... (s)he was talking about farming.... where the only real difference between Michigan and the rest of the midwest might be diversity. Iowa mainly grows corn, for example. Michigan's agricultural production is more diverse.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Rarely warm enough to swim in the water at the beaches? Are you serious? Man you have to grow a pair, even my kids swim almost every day from the end of May to the beginning of September.

Agree.... it's chilly in May, but the kids don't mind.
By June (and through the first half of September) I'm swimming in Lake Michigan along with 1,000s of other people (many of them tourists from warmer climates, so this isn't some northerner macho thing).

[michigan83]

The OP is right about Michigan farming if he's talking about the "big three" crops that are huge in most of the midwest - corn, soybeans, and wheat. Michigan is not bad, but doesn't compare to Iowa, Illinois, Indiana or Ohio. These are the most noticeable to someone who is just driving through the state.

There are parts of Michigan that have a very typical "midwest" look, though, characterized by flatlands and large, open fields. The "thumb" area, areas south and west of Grand Rapids, and much of mid- Michigan.

[michmoldman]

We went to lake Mi. beaches a few times last year and it was cold!!
It was July and they said it was usually not that cold, just a once in a while thing. My wife would not even get in the water, my kids played in the shallow pools, and I just waded around. I did not care it was cold...I just absolutely loved being there!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bydand]

Last year was kind of odd when it came to water temps along the west side of the state. One day bathwater warm, the next quite chilly. Made no sense at all.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Last year was kind of odd when it came to water temps along the west side of the state. One day bathwater warm, the next quite chilly. Made no sense at all.

Lake Michigan has undercurrents, which pull cold water from the deeper parts of the lake. We took visiting family from Denver to Holland State Park last Summer (July), and the day we were there, the water was only 52 degrees. The ranger at the ticket station said it has been 73 two days earlier. I kept trying to tell them that Lake Michigan isn't always that cold. Being from Denver, they were just excited to see water, period (that wasn't trickling through a concrete ditch).

But anyway, that might be a bit off the OP's topic.