Great video! I'm a city kid from Chicago and lived off the grid in the UP for a full year. Still have my cabin up there surrounded by wilderness. Left because my work is internet based and that made it too challenging. The satellite dishes don't work well with all the rain and snow and the wind can move them around so they're useless. Then you wait for a couple weeks for the internet service guy to show up, who literally can drive 200 miles to visit you. After a couple year break, I'm looking to move back, this time on the grid... But I'll still look for something very remote. The UP is definitely not for everyone, but for a few of us, it's paradise.
i was looking for properties up there but the internet connection was a big issue for me as well. i suppose i coulda lived in marquette but then it takes away some of the allure of the isolation and solice up there. more recently ive kinda gotten hooked on the eastport area around torch lake but still head up pictured rocks and love it up there
I don’t know where you live, but here in Houghton/Hancock, there are two main grocery stores my family goes too. Walmart, and Pats Foods. Here we have a lot of shopping, plenty of random stores with clothing, toys, souvenirs, and more. We live on the canal, a few miles away from the open lake, and a few miles away from the lift bridge in Houghton. The open water is cold but the canal water is great for swimming, tubing, and boating. My family has to drive to a garbage dump once a week to drop off our garbage. If you are living in Houghton and Hancock, there are lots of shopping and city features. I bet you live in a really rural area because here in the city the UP is really active. We get pretty decent WiFi but the phone service is pretty sucky. The winters are hard and cold because we live on the canal but it’s really fun for my brothers and I to go skiing at Mount Ripley. The summer is really awesome. It doesn’t get too hot, but it is nice enough to go swimming in the canal. DO NOT go swimming in the open lake. My family took our boat out to there, and jumped in. It is VERY cold. Some state parks we’ve been to have really warm beaches. McLain State park is one of my favorite because of the eroding sand cliffs I like to jump off of. The city (Houghton/Hancock) has a lot of city features like lots of shopping including a Walmart, and is really just your average city. I haven’t really been to a lot of other places outside of our area, but I can tell you that where I have been, like copper harbor for example, is a bit rustic and rural. If you plan on moving here and are looking for a city, Hancock/Houghton is amazing. The other places are just more older rustic unique places in our country. Edit: I just remembered that the senior living center is right near the hospital and across the street from the funeral home. I thought that was funny and needed to be changed. Also, there are a few colleges in our city, Michigan Tech, and another I know about is Finlandia University, who’s acronym is FU, so don’t be offended if you visit and see an FU bumper sticker on someone’s car😂
your post is funny, informative and entertaining--im thinking of retiring on the peninsula somewhere--your post helps make my decision easier..........
Things must have REALLY changed in the 2.5 yrs since you made this video. My sister and her family live 10 miles east of Munising, which is pretty much the backwoods and they have great hi speed internet and all the other amenities associated with that like cable, hi-def tv, etc. and a Walmart is only an hour away which may sound like a long way, but you get used to it.
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
I had a great big long answer prepared for you. But upon reflection I'm just going to say this: I am 70 years old and and I would not live anywhere else in the country but here. I love it and I know you would too
@@butcharmstrong9645hi! i recently got married and my husband and i are trying to find a good place to settle down and start a family. the up seems to have everything we want, the only thing i haven't been able to find much info on is whether we can have a cow and horses there, have you seen others keep cows or horses in the up?
I've lived in Michigan my whole life and I would like to move up north maybe not as far as the U.P. but its beautiful up there. Between the waterfalls beaches and forests it's very relaxing
@@johnnyamicci3195The only thing protecting your beautiful rural lifestyle is the lack of internet and shopping. Trust me, I have spent my life moving to beautiful rural places, only to watch them get overrun with people and housing developments (mostly Californians if I am honest) as soon as there is shopping and internet made available. Count your blessings. Where I currently live was a nice tiny rural town when I moved here 6 years ago and bought an old Victorian on the edge of town surrounded by nothing but small local farms and wilderness. In just 6 years all the properties adjoining ours have sold and been turned into multi unit housing. There brought 5G up here, a land developer bought 2 large tracts of land and cleared the woods off and built an 800 unit housing development of suburban McMansions. They just started building 3 massive apartment complexes a mile away from me, and when I look out my window, instead of rural fields and woods, there is nothing but housing in every direction. There are still plenty of farms that luckily are on protected farmland, but my immediate area has been swamped. Taxes are of course shooting through the roof. While we only had 2 employees at the fire dept before and the rest were local volunteers, now our taxes are funding a huge expansion to the schools and fire dept to manage the explosion in population.
My experience is quite different because I live in the "big city" of Escanaba, actually in Ford River, which you might call a suburb of Escanaba. I moved here recently from Grand Rapids. Escanaba is a small town by lower Michigan or national standards, but it's big enough to have most of the amenities of a bigger city. We do have a Walmart, along with a Meijer, a couple more great grocery stores, and a cool downtown shopping district. There are lots of great restaurants and most of the major fast food places. We have a community college, churches of all denominations, many arts organizations, a great city park, and good internet connections. The great thing about living here is that while I have all the amenities of the city, I don't have to drive very far to get out in the woods, and I live less than a mile from Lake Michigan.
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
The off road golf cart thing is either a Mule or a Gator (both are name brands). I work a federal job and have been considering a transfer up to the UP, or building a hunting cabin up there. I was born in Washington, but mostly raised in Michigan's lower peninsula. I was about 6 years old when I got my first exposure to Michigan country living at my grandparents place in Shiawasse County and I took to the woods like a fish to water and have loved it ever since.
Thanks for the video and information. I've been seriously thinking about moving there to live off grid. Your video gives me a lot to think about, especially about internet. I currently use my phone for my internet needs, and have a booster.
Hello all, if anyone is able i am looking for thoughts between marquette and duluth. what area do you feel is more beautiful? Thanks so much for your time and help
This sounds exactly like what someone who doesn't live here would say. I get curbside trash pick up, internet, a job, Walmart, Meijer within minutes of my house. Sorry but this video just isn't accurate.
I don't know where you live, but most of your cons are unfounded. It's true, there aren't Walmart's everywhere, but there are several spread around the U.P. There is plenty of culture in Marquette and dining as well. Craft breweries are popping up everywhere. Most people thinking of relocating to the U.P. would be looking for the outdoor experience. There certainly is plenty of that!!!
for me the biggest turnoff is the lack of reliable phone coverage and wifi for someone who wanted to live a bit further our but I suppose that could be a challenge anywhere. I totally agree the number one draw of moving to the op should be to do outdoors stuff otherwise why the hell would you move there.
Thanks for the info I live in downtown Grand Rapids MI and definitely looking for something a lot more quiet and peaceful to raise my two children I've definitely been looking at the U.P. to buy a home
@@johnnyamicci3195 I'm moving there for the winters! I grew up in the Mitten, and winters are my favorite memories. Woo hoo! And, you can get cell phone coverage through wifi these days, which is how I get it, and it works well.
@@johnnyamicci3195 Because real estate is so freaky cheap for one , because people are friendly but don't get in your business and pot is legal ..... oh yeah and the outdoors . Those are just off the top of my head . I would love to retire there but there is no way in hell my wife would do that .
How's the building codes up there? I transferred to Detroit for work but I am really interested in buying land and building a place to escape and possibly retire to.
I lived in the U.P. for 7 years and never hit a deer. There are Walmarts, McDonalds and even KFC so there are many things to do. Summer and Winter. You need to do more studies.
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
i love the up but recently checked out torch lake up a bit south of traverse city adn that area is amazing as well and a bit of a closer drive. definitely recommend checking it out
I live below the bridge and I never shop at Walmart mine is on Amazon. Everything is online so move to the U P especially if you're retired. I'm planning on moving to the Soo.😊
Lived in munising for 5 years (2008-13) hiking/canoeing/camping heaven. 50 mile drives (close to 100 round trip ) to Marquette or Escanaba for groceries once or twice a month. Buried by snow most winters I was up there. The swimming is great on Lake Superior and when we lived up there it wasn’t the tourist trap it would become a few years later…….local government was not great….lots of drug use…public drunkenness….no real bad crime though….its changed a lot since we left…chock full of tourists every year since 2015 or so when they paved the road through pictured rocks…wall to wall people in the summer now making it kinda hard to do anything local when we go up there (my mom owns ten acres in the area).
My mothers family live in the U.P and I love it there. I'm not a fan of where I live and would be much happier up there Because of where I live now people call me crazy for wanting to be up there lol. Still want to go theres also a Walmart in Ironwood Michigan
I'm wanting to move there to the Upper Peninsula, and live off grid. I'm just trying to figure out the best area with the fewest restrictions. Do you have any suggestions?
There are Walmarts. Not in every little town, but in most of the bigger ones- Marquette, Iron Mountain, etc. Even Houghton. No bigger stores though. Lots of bars and gas stations, lots of fast food. SO true about jobs though. They are just few and far between and not a lot of big companies or industry. Most people just get used to not being able to go to big stores or attend a lot of fancy cultural events. Though, the Calumet Theatre does do a lot of things like that, and the Native casinos have concerts of some fairly well-known bands. Many people shop at the local small stores or on line. Some go to Duluth or Green Bay once a year and do all their kids' school shopping. I don't do that, if I can't buy it locally, I look online, or just do without. Garbage, no, that isn't true. Even the smallest towns have garbage pick up once a week and for outlying areas, there is either a "transit station" or recycling place, or a truck sits at a gas station and you bring your garbage to it, $2 per bag, and they haul it away. Everything is 30-40 miles away from everywhere, unless you live in one of the bigger towns. And by bigger, I mean Escanaba, Marquette, Houghton, Soo Mich, etc. I am in Arnheim, not really even a town anymore. Internet is available with the top of the line service in my area, supplied by up.net. If you live in town, you can get in on the bigger companies like Charter, etc. The winters ARE long and if you live near Lake Superior, you're going to see A LOT of snow. The winters are much less severe than they were when I was a kid though, back in the early '70's. Don't move up here with a 2wd truck or little car and expect to have roads always plowed or rely on anyone else for anything. People from here just kind of grow up used to being prepared, being independent, and making do. Most people not living in town have a plow truck or tractor with a snow blower attached and plow themselves out, and when on your way to work in the morning and no time to plow, luckily you drive a 4wd truck and the snow in your driveway or on the main highway really doesn't affect you all that much. Most aren't even a few minutes late to work in a blizzard. Now moving here is a different story. I would advise getting set up ahead of time with a decent place, well insulated, and get your firewood made, get a tractor, truck, etc. Again, the job thing. Connections help for sure. The pluses are so many though! Beautiful scenery every day, low population, good hunting, all kinds of outdoor sports and recreation, you become pretty tough (SISU) and no matter what life throws at you, you manage. And when the economy goes to crap, it really doesn't matter, because we are already used to it ;) It's a good life, but hard enough that it keeps out the riff-raff, for the most part. Brush up on Native, Finnish, and French Canadian culture, get prepared, don't gate off your property and be decent to your closest neighbor a quarter mile down the road, and you will LOVE living here! I've lived here all my life and wouldn't go anywhere else, except maybe NWT Canada.
Someone mentioned medical clinics and airports in other comments. Airports are definitely small and few and far between. Most people I know just don't fly. Only plane I've ever had the need to go on was a float plane from Isle Royale in to Houghton in the 80's. Medical clinics, not true though. Every med-larger town has a hospital and several doctors, walk in clinics, urgent care, etc. Marquette General even used to be one of the highest ranking Cardiology hospitals in the country. We can fly anyone from any of the small hospitals to Ann Arbor or Mayos, etc, in an emergency that the hospital can't manage in less than an hour. Most people live within an hour drive from any hospital. EMS is provided by highly skilled volunteers, our neighbors, and an ambulance is never more than a half hour away. Yes, that is crazy when compared to an actual city, but again, we just kind of get used to it and it all works out :)
What is Downriver MIch? Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term. Another thing Yoopers do is not have a clue what goes on to our South ;) I had to look up Lake George. You hit a deer? UGH! Sorry! I hear they graze with the cattle down there. I've been to the LP, mom was from Adrian area, been there once 30 years ago. Been to Traverse City for hockey, been to Lansing once several years ago. My brother moved to Plainfield, Ill. I went there for his wedding in 1986. I was 16, drove down with my parents in an old F-250 and we didn't like that it was 90+ degrees there in June. HAHA! Yeah, you kind of lose touch with the rest of the world up here. But if you grow up here, you wouldn't trade it for anything, and if you are looking to get away and are a decent person, you'll make friends, be accepted, and never leave
metro Detroit collection of 18 communities I lived in 4 Lincoln park,allen park,wyandotte and southgate? now I am looking at a house in Oscoda next to tawas city get my headlight repaired tomorrow?
As this video was posted in 2017, most of the information has changed. There are fast food chains here, Walmarts here, Starbucks here...and high speed internet. So do your homework before making a decision! :-)
I know this is an older video and comment but i found a house up there that i love, i am a general contractor and can do all things, still worried about work or just staying busy.
Does anyone in here who IS from Michigan, happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
Quit encouraging people to move here! I don't mine people vacationing here, but I dont want people flooding the u.p. hells bells, that why we live here!
Failed to mention some other negatives...lack of close proximity to medical clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, urgent care centers when needed, snow issues..shoveling driveways, roofs, ice dangers (accidents, slip/fall), distance to go to higher education (college, university) making it hard to live at home and attend, unreliable internet impeding on-line education. Retired folks can find it difficult when they no longer can or have the ability to perform tasks needed to be done in a rural setting and can’t hire anyone to do them. Not everyone has willing family/friends/neighbors to help or the neighbors also are seniors and can barely do their own work. Also distance to airports or public transportation is a big problem if one wants to travel for business or pleasure. Raised Yooper, city in working life, retired northwoods for a decade and have sold and relocated south where the negatives don’t exist. Much easier to visit in the summer..rent a cabin, stay with friends, camp , ATV and get our ‘nature fix’ then live Yooper.
I’m within 15 minutes of two hospitals, a Walmart, and amazon prime gets here I two days. I can get to Chicago in half an hour on a plane. And still get all the bonuses of the UP. Seems like you haven’t been or spent time around Houghton/Hancock in the UP. And I only see 4-5 deer a year by the road.
Agreed... I live on the eastern end of the U.P. and it's an hour to any town of size. It's not backwoods living, but it can be a pain for older folks and medical / dental work.
I'm looking into moving to the UP I live in the LP by Grand Rapids. Never liked city life and the bs politics I just want to enjoy nature with down to earth folks and not have to deal with all that nonsense, If I move to the UP I might get StarLink as I heard good things from family members that use it in the sticks
I had 2 wolf's follow me and my black lab i live on the edge of national forest. I love it up here i need a job so I can move up full time any help would be appreciated. I'm 27 in iron river i work hard. Thanks buddy
How far did they follow you for? That had to be scary. I remember one night losing track of time and being stuck out on the beach and having to hike through the forest with no flashlights, not really enough layers on, was really freaked out thinking about wolves while cutting back through the forest
Too many deer? Dude, you live in THEIR neighborhood. I'm from Alabama and I will speak for the good folks of SC when I say, if you can't get a job in the south, it has absolutely. nothing .to. do .with .where. you're....... from.
I have lived in the up all of my life there is work but just if you want to work the up is always left out from the lower pinsela I could not live no where else there are Walmart in the soo and Marquette Escambia most people don't like the drive in the Winter you have to slow down it's not a rat race here and we can tell when someone is not from here we call them flat landers lol and most people from lower Michigan think that us in the up are stupid we not stupid we know how to survive
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
thats why u get born here so u are used to it and u dont have a prob with MI! even tho i was born in MN i lived here for most of my life moved when i was 2
Dude, please do better research. We have several internet options including Starlink and, there are at least 6 Walmarts in the UP. 🤣 Sounds to me like you might be an extrovert and in need of the big city. Please stay in Chicago.
Great video! I'm a city kid from Chicago and lived off the grid in the UP for a full year. Still have my cabin up there surrounded by wilderness. Left because my work is internet based and that made it too challenging. The satellite dishes don't work well with all the rain and snow and the wind can move them around so they're useless. Then you wait for a couple weeks for the internet service guy to show up, who literally can drive 200 miles to visit you. After a couple year break, I'm looking to move back, this time on the grid... But I'll still look for something very remote. The UP is definitely not for everyone, but for a few of us, it's paradise.
i was looking for properties up there but the internet connection was a big issue for me as well. i suppose i coulda lived in marquette but then it takes away some of the allure of the isolation and solice up there. more recently ive kinda gotten hooked on the eastport area around torch lake but still head up pictured rocks and love it up there
Im from chicago and im moving tommorow out by ishpeming in the sticks. Im worried about my internet for college. Im hoping it can work.
Wondering about doing something similar. Would StarLink be a good option?
The UP would be a good getaway spot on the weekends from Chicago
I don’t know where you live, but here in Houghton/Hancock, there are two main grocery stores my family goes too. Walmart, and Pats Foods. Here we have a lot of shopping, plenty of random stores with clothing, toys, souvenirs, and more. We live on the canal, a few miles away from the open lake, and a few miles away from the lift bridge in Houghton. The open water is cold but the canal water is great for swimming, tubing, and boating. My family has to drive to a garbage dump once a week to drop off our garbage. If you are living in Houghton and Hancock, there are lots of shopping and city features. I bet you live in a really rural area because here in the city the UP is really active. We get pretty decent WiFi but the phone service is pretty sucky. The winters are hard and cold because we live on the canal but it’s really fun for my brothers and I to go skiing at Mount Ripley. The summer is really awesome. It doesn’t get too hot, but it is nice enough to go swimming in the canal. DO NOT go swimming in the open lake. My family took our boat out to there, and jumped in. It is VERY cold. Some state parks we’ve been to have really warm beaches. McLain State park is one of my favorite because of the eroding sand cliffs I like to jump off of. The city (Houghton/Hancock) has a lot of city features like lots of shopping including a Walmart, and is really just your average city. I haven’t really been to a lot of other places outside of our area, but I can tell you that where I have been, like copper harbor for example, is a bit rustic and rural. If you plan on moving here and are looking for a city, Hancock/Houghton is amazing. The other places are just more older rustic unique places in our country.
Edit: I just remembered that the senior living center is right near the hospital and across the street from the funeral home. I thought that was funny and needed to be changed. Also, there are a few colleges in our city, Michigan Tech, and another I know about is Finlandia University, who’s acronym is FU, so don’t be offended if you visit and see an FU bumper sticker on someone’s car😂
Bella Plummer I guess that explains why they decided to call it UF instead of Florida University! 😎
your post is funny, informative and entertaining--im thinking of retiring on the peninsula somewhere--your post helps make my decision easier..........
Things must have REALLY changed in the 2.5 yrs since you made this video. My sister and her family live 10 miles east of Munising, which is pretty much the backwoods and they have great hi speed internet and all the other amenities associated with that like cable, hi-def tv, etc. and a Walmart is only an hour away which may sound like a long way, but you get used to it.
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
I had a great big long answer prepared for you. But upon reflection I'm just going to say this: I am 70 years old and and I would not live anywhere else in the country but here. I love it and I know you would too
@@butcharmstrong9645hi! i recently got married and my husband and i are trying to find a good place to settle down and start a family.
the up seems to have everything we want, the only thing i haven't been able to find much info on is whether we can have a cow and horses there, have you seen others keep cows or horses in the up?
I've lived in Michigan my whole life and I would like to move up north maybe not as far as the U.P. but its beautiful up there. Between the waterfalls beaches and forests it's very relaxing
While the rural nature of the UP is what I love I also wish getting internet and shopping were a bit easier. It sure is beatiful up here though.
@@johnnyamicci3195The only thing protecting your beautiful rural lifestyle is the lack of internet and shopping. Trust me, I have spent my life moving to beautiful rural places, only to watch them get overrun with people and housing developments (mostly Californians if I am honest) as soon as there is shopping and internet made available. Count your blessings. Where I currently live was a nice tiny rural town when I moved here 6 years ago and bought an old Victorian on the edge of town surrounded by nothing but small local farms and wilderness. In just 6 years all the properties adjoining ours have sold and been turned into multi unit housing. There brought 5G up here, a land developer bought 2 large tracts of land and cleared the woods off and built an 800 unit housing development of suburban McMansions. They just started building 3 massive apartment complexes a mile away from me, and when I look out my window, instead of rural fields and woods, there is nothing but housing in every direction. There are still plenty of farms that luckily are on protected farmland, but my immediate area has been swamped. Taxes are of course shooting through the roof. While we only had 2 employees at the fire dept before and the rest were local volunteers, now our taxes are funding a huge expansion to the schools and fire dept to manage the explosion in population.
I’m am a misplaced Yooper. I love it from DeTour, Soo, Calumet to Manisitque. Enjoy you life back in Chi town
My experience is quite different because I live in the "big city" of Escanaba, actually in Ford River, which you might call a suburb of Escanaba. I moved here recently from Grand Rapids. Escanaba is a small town by lower Michigan or national standards, but it's big enough to have most of the amenities of a bigger city. We do have a Walmart, along with a Meijer, a couple more great grocery stores, and a cool downtown shopping district. There are lots of great restaurants and most of the major fast food places. We have a community college, churches of all denominations, many arts organizations, a great city park, and good internet connections. The great thing about living here is that while I have all the amenities of the city, I don't have to drive very far to get out in the woods, and I live less than a mile from Lake Michigan.
I grew up in Trenary. Went to Bay-De-Noc community college back in 78-79
Lived here my whole life. I have never hit a deer yet. Thank the Lord. 🙏
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
@@OtomoTenzi I love it up here. Many People live alone up here. It is great for that. As far as transportation i recomend getting a vehicle.
Escanaba has a Walmart too plus the small towns Munising has small stores.
Plus it has a the paper plant that pays good.
The off road golf cart thing is either a Mule or a Gator (both are name brands). I work a federal job and have been considering a transfer up to the UP, or building a hunting cabin up there. I was born in Washington, but mostly raised in Michigan's lower peninsula. I was about 6 years old when I got my first exposure to Michigan country living at my grandparents place in Shiawasse County and I took to the woods like a fish to water and have loved it ever since.
Thanks for the video and information. I've been seriously thinking about moving there to live off grid. Your video gives me a lot to think about, especially about internet. I currently use my phone for my internet needs, and have a booster.
I don't think you live in the U.P.. Or you just moved there yesterday..
I agree with you.
Hello all, if anyone is able i am looking for thoughts between marquette and duluth. what area do you feel is more beautiful? Thanks so much for your time and help
This sounds exactly like what someone who doesn't live here would say. I get curbside trash pick up, internet, a job, Walmart, Meijer within minutes of my house. Sorry but this video just isn't accurate.
what city are you in up there? I have to get out of Detroit
Jason Venema depends where you live too (obviously) where do you stay at? To Jason ^
I don't know where you live, but most of your cons are unfounded. It's true, there aren't Walmart's everywhere, but there are several spread around the U.P. There is plenty of culture in Marquette and dining as well. Craft breweries are popping up everywhere. Most people thinking of relocating to the U.P. would be looking for the outdoor experience. There certainly is plenty of that!!!
for me the biggest turnoff is the lack of reliable phone coverage and wifi for someone who wanted to live a bit further our but I suppose that could be a challenge anywhere. I totally agree the number one draw of moving to the op should be to do outdoors stuff otherwise why the hell would you move there.
Thanks for the info I live in downtown Grand Rapids MI and definitely looking for something a lot more quiet and peaceful to raise my two children I've definitely been looking at the U.P. to buy a home
@@johnnyamicci3195 I'm moving there for the winters! I grew up in the Mitten, and winters are my favorite memories. Woo hoo! And, you can get cell phone coverage through wifi these days, which is how I get it, and it works well.
@@johnnyamicci3195 Because real estate is so freaky cheap for one , because people are friendly but don't get in your business and pot is legal ..... oh yeah and the outdoors . Those are just off the top of my head . I would love to retire there but there is no way in hell my wife would do that .
How's the building codes up there? I transferred to Detroit for work but I am really interested in buying land and building a place to escape and possibly retire to.
If anything there's too much fast food around here, and not enough locally owned stuff. As others have noted, there are some WalMarts around.
Born and raised in the upper peninsula . In my mid fifties n moved down state . To old for cold n snow when your health starts going down hill .
I lived in the U.P. for 7 years and never hit a deer. There are Walmarts, McDonalds and even KFC so there are many things to do. Summer and Winter. You need to do more studies.
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
Thanks for info always dreaming about moving there.
i love the up but recently checked out torch lake up a bit south of traverse city adn that area is amazing as well and a bit of a closer drive. definitely recommend checking it out
There is a walmart in ironwood.
I love Ironwood lmao
That’s not the Upper Penninsula I know well, except for the weather which you can adjust to.
Weather , what weather ? You must mean from Nov. to May lol
for someone living in the u p you don't seem to know what it's really like.
Are you referring to the same UP?
There is Apple bees, Burger King, McDonald’s, Culvers, red lobster, Taco Bell all in houghton and a Walmart
I live below the bridge and I never shop at Walmart mine is on Amazon. Everything is online so move to the U P especially if you're retired. I'm planning on moving to the Soo.😊
Lived in munising for 5 years (2008-13) hiking/canoeing/camping heaven. 50 mile drives (close to 100 round trip ) to Marquette or Escanaba for groceries once or twice a month. Buried by snow most winters I was up there. The swimming is great on Lake Superior and when we lived up there it wasn’t the tourist trap it would become a few years later…….local government was not great….lots of drug use…public drunkenness….no real bad crime though….its changed a lot since we left…chock full of tourists every year since 2015 or so when they paved the road through pictured rocks…wall to wall people in the summer now making it kinda hard to do anything local when we go up there (my mom owns ten acres in the area).
My mothers family live in the U.P and I love it there. I'm not a fan of where I live and would be much happier up there
Because of where I live now people call me crazy for wanting to be up there lol. Still want to go theres also a Walmart in Ironwood Michigan
totally innacurate. Jobs everywhere. 6 walmarts in the UP. Meijer, Target, Lowes, Menards, tons of fast food and health care jobs
There's jobs if you dont mind part time 9/hour but compared to the rest of the country the jobs are garbage. It's the price we pay to live here.
This was recorded 3 years ago 😯
@@royce1041 it's still pretty accurate though.
There are like 7 Walmart’s 😂😂 where do you live ?
I'm wanting to move there to the Upper Peninsula, and live off grid. I'm just trying to figure out the best area with the fewest restrictions. Do you have any suggestions?
I’m from Iron River
Yep! Sure! Everything in this post is accurate! Take it from a native...you wouldn't like it here. Stay away.
There are Walmarts. Not in every little town, but in most of the bigger ones- Marquette, Iron Mountain, etc. Even Houghton. No bigger stores though. Lots of bars and gas stations, lots of fast food. SO true about jobs though. They are just few and far between and not a lot of big companies or industry. Most people just get used to not being able to go to big stores or attend a lot of fancy cultural events. Though, the Calumet Theatre does do a lot of things like that, and the Native casinos have concerts of some fairly well-known bands. Many people shop at the local small stores or on line. Some go to Duluth or Green Bay once a year and do all their kids' school shopping. I don't do that, if I can't buy it locally, I look online, or just do without. Garbage, no, that isn't true. Even the smallest towns have garbage pick up once a week and for outlying areas, there is either a "transit station" or recycling place, or a truck sits at a gas station and you bring your garbage to it, $2 per bag, and they haul it away. Everything is 30-40 miles away from everywhere, unless you live in one of the bigger towns. And by bigger, I mean Escanaba, Marquette, Houghton, Soo Mich, etc. I am in Arnheim, not really even a town anymore. Internet is available with the top of the line service in my area, supplied by up.net. If you live in town, you can get in on the bigger companies like Charter, etc. The winters ARE long and if you live near Lake Superior, you're going to see A LOT of snow. The winters are much less severe than they were when I was a kid though, back in the early '70's. Don't move up here with a 2wd truck or little car and expect to have roads always plowed or rely on anyone else for anything. People from here just kind of grow up used to being prepared, being independent, and making do. Most people not living in town have a plow truck or tractor with a snow blower attached and plow themselves out, and when on your way to work in the morning and no time to plow, luckily you drive a 4wd truck and the snow in your driveway or on the main highway really doesn't affect you all that much. Most aren't even a few minutes late to work in a blizzard. Now moving here is a different story. I would advise getting set up ahead of time with a decent place, well insulated, and get your firewood made, get a tractor, truck, etc. Again, the job thing. Connections help for sure. The pluses are so many though! Beautiful scenery every day, low population, good hunting, all kinds of outdoor sports and recreation, you become pretty tough (SISU) and no matter what life throws at you, you manage. And when the economy goes to crap, it really doesn't matter, because we are already used to it ;) It's a good life, but hard enough that it keeps out the riff-raff, for the most part. Brush up on Native, Finnish, and French Canadian culture, get prepared, don't gate off your property and be decent to your closest neighbor a quarter mile down the road, and you will LOVE living here! I've lived here all my life and wouldn't go anywhere else, except maybe NWT Canada.
Someone mentioned medical clinics and airports in other comments. Airports are definitely small and few and far between. Most people I know just don't fly. Only plane I've ever had the need to go on was a float plane from Isle Royale in to Houghton in the 80's. Medical clinics, not true though. Every med-larger town has a hospital and several doctors, walk in clinics, urgent care, etc. Marquette General even used to be one of the highest ranking Cardiology hospitals in the country. We can fly anyone from any of the small hospitals to Ann Arbor or Mayos, etc, in an emergency that the hospital can't manage in less than an hour. Most people live within an hour drive from any hospital. EMS is provided by highly skilled volunteers, our neighbors, and an ambulance is never more than a half hour away. Yes, that is crazy when compared to an actual city, but again, we just kind of get used to it and it all works out :)
good to know Lori I am from Downriver Michigan moved to Chicago visited near lake George Fri Hit A deer?
What is Downriver MIch? Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term. Another thing Yoopers do is not have a clue what goes on to our South ;) I had to look up Lake George. You hit a deer? UGH! Sorry! I hear they graze with the cattle down there. I've been to the LP, mom was from Adrian area, been there once 30 years ago. Been to Traverse City for hockey, been to Lansing once several years ago. My brother moved to Plainfield, Ill. I went there for his wedding in 1986. I was 16, drove down with my parents in an old F-250 and we didn't like that it was 90+ degrees there in June. HAHA! Yeah, you kind of lose touch with the rest of the world up here. But if you grow up here, you wouldn't trade it for anything, and if you are looking to get away and are a decent person, you'll make friends, be accepted, and never leave
metro Detroit collection of 18 communities I lived in 4 Lincoln park,allen park,wyandotte and southgate? now I am looking at a house in Oscoda next to tawas city get my headlight repaired tomorrow?
zip code 48632 on realtor .com surrey ct a house selling for $29,000
Where is it where you lived you never mentioned a city. Are they all the same ?
Iron mountain has a Walmart I worked out of Tomah WI Walmart Distribution Center. I delivered to Iron Mountain Walmart once.
so johnny. why did you move there? just curious
Moved from downstate 3 years ago. If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you never will……..
As this video was posted in 2017, most of the information has changed. There are fast food chains here, Walmarts here, Starbucks here...and high speed internet. So do your homework before making a decision! :-)
There is more work in places in the UP than this video would lead you to believe.
Umm yeah ok!! Where lol
I know this is an older video and comment but i found a house up there that i love, i am a general contractor and can do all things, still worried about work or just staying busy.
have you tried satellite Internet?
Does anyone in here who IS from Michigan, happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
If you're into, law, health (mental/physical), social work, some I.T., seasonal recreations, then that's the place you might have a chance......
Lol you’re making it sound like the Alaskan interior or a town of 15 in Wyoming. It’s not that remote, difficult or cold here.
Is it very very cold up there?
naw its 85 and sunny 9 months of the year
@@donsmith3857 funny
There are no cons. Oh well this will keep the trolls out
Not to mention no poisonous Snakes in the U.P.!
Jared & Heidi Carroll well...I’ve seen rattle snakes
or not to likely to have tornados and no hurricanes!
Jared & Heidi Carroll we have brown racoses
Quit encouraging people to move here! I don't mine people vacationing here, but I dont want people flooding the u.p. hells bells, that why we live here!
Failed to mention some other negatives...lack of close proximity to medical clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, urgent care centers when needed, snow issues..shoveling driveways, roofs, ice dangers (accidents, slip/fall), distance to go to higher education (college, university) making it hard to live at home and attend, unreliable internet impeding on-line education. Retired folks can find it difficult when they no longer can or have the ability to perform tasks needed to be done in a rural setting and can’t hire anyone to do them. Not everyone has willing family/friends/neighbors to help or the neighbors also are seniors and can barely do their own work. Also distance to airports or public transportation is a big problem if one wants to travel for business or pleasure. Raised Yooper, city in working life, retired northwoods for a decade and have sold and relocated south where the negatives don’t exist. Much easier to visit in the summer..rent a cabin, stay with friends, camp , ATV and get our ‘nature fix’ then live Yooper.
thats why we have choppers (helicopters) Michigan Tech is the third best college in MI
They are all over the place if you look.Like any state.
I’m within 15 minutes of two hospitals, a Walmart, and amazon prime gets here I two days. I can get to Chicago in half an hour on a plane. And still get all the bonuses of the UP. Seems like you haven’t been or spent time around Houghton/Hancock in the UP. And I only see 4-5 deer a year by the road.
Agreed... I live on the eastern end of the U.P. and it's an hour to any town of size. It's not backwoods living, but it can be a pain for older folks and medical / dental work.
I'm looking into moving to the UP I live in the LP by Grand Rapids. Never liked city life and the bs politics I just want to enjoy nature with down to earth folks and not have to deal with all that nonsense, If I move to the UP I might get StarLink as I heard good things from family members that use it in the sticks
Never been to ironwood mi, all people from wi shop there
Haha... This was hilarious. Way to not do any research at all before making this.
It sucks. Go somewhere else. Florida seems nice or maybe Branson, MO? Just don't come here.
I had 2 wolf's follow me and my black lab i live on the edge of national forest. I love it up here i need a job so I can move up full time any help would be appreciated. I'm 27 in iron river i work hard. Thanks buddy
How far did they follow you for? That had to be scary. I remember one night losing track of time and being stuck out on the beach and having to hike through the forest with no flashlights, not really enough layers on, was really freaked out thinking about wolves while cutting back through the forest
It is dead quite,. You actually can hear snow flakes hitting the ground
For real.
Sounds just like northern New York
sault ste. marie
2 bedroom apartment in the up 350$ monthly but jobs are scares.
Is thaT $350.oo a?monTh. I'm paying $694.oo aWEEK4moTeL6in San diego& thinking of reLocaTing.
Never seen a wolf until I went to the up.
😂 worst mustake i ever made was moving upper michigan . Expensive as hell.
Suped up golf cart: Side by side
Too many deer? Dude, you live in THEIR neighborhood. I'm from Alabama and I will speak for the good folks of SC when I say, if you can't get a job in the south, it has absolutely. nothing .to. do .with .where. you're....... from.
I have lived in the up all of my life there is work but just if you want to work the up is always left out from the lower pinsela I could not live no where else there are Walmart in the soo and Marquette Escambia most people don't like the drive in the Winter you have to slow down it's not a rat race here and we can tell when someone is not from here we call them flat landers lol and most people from lower Michigan think that us in the up are stupid we not stupid we know how to survive
My friend, do you happen to know if this would be a nice livable place for average single people (without families)? How is public transportation over there? Is getting around town gonna be OK even like for people who don't own a car? I am on a fixed income, and do not plan on commuting to Detroit much. I just wanna live in a nice safe quiet neighborhood all alone by myself; that is close proximity to basic amenities like grocery shopping, general stores, and public transportation. Absolutely DO NOT plan on raising a family anytime soon. Just lookin' to rent or buy a small home to live ALONE in peace, and possibly even RETIRE there if the quality of life is DECENT. What is your advice or opinions on this? 🤔
Stayed in Gwen.
So it’s not a good place to live for a single woman... 😔
Don't see why not?
Not interested in finding work.
No preservative laced fast food
I'm in iron river gotta lake house. I live in shitcago
I'm in Chicago as well. I wouldn't mind moving out to Stevensville or possibly up by Torch Lake
Those 'golf carts' are sidebysides probably.
Who is this dude?????
There are wakmarts
Your totally wrong!
thats why u get born here so u are used to it and u dont have a prob with MI! even tho i was born in MN i lived here for most of my life moved when i was 2
This sounds horrible!
Dude, please do better research. We have several internet options including Starlink and, there are at least 6 Walmarts in the UP. 🤣 Sounds to me like you might be an extrovert and in need of the big city. Please stay in Chicago.
Trust me it's not for you...visit if you must ...spend your money and then GO HOME!!!
Walmarts
Take it from me it's God's country. If you enjoy extremely wild bear wolf coyotes mountain lion's and moose wouldn't live anywhere else.