Despite a pronounced downturn that has affected many manufacturing plants in Detroit itself, the state of Michigan remains the #1 state in the Union in regards to the production of both auto parts and motor vehicles themselves. If you buy an American-made car or truck, you're likely to at least have several parts of your car which were made in the State of Michigan.
Those aren't the only manufacturing jobs that are pivotal to the economy of Michigan. The state is also an industry leader in a wide variety of different processing lines and manufacturing niches, including strong imprints in machinery and tools, aviation equipment and airplane parts, refrigerators, hardware, furniture, and prepared cereals. If you're looking for an entry-level job in manufacturing or an office job within a manufacturing company, Michigan is always a good place to look.
The Wolverine State is well known for its lush forests and extraordinary greenery. Those forests are also extremely profitable for the bottom line of Michigan. Not only are they huge tourist attractions that contribute heavily with recreation funds and licensing fees, but the trees themselves are essential for a variety of different wood products and raw materials exported from the state.
Minerals and raw materials are big businesses in the Great Lake State. Michigan is a prime producer and provider of copper, iodine, iron, salt, lime, gravel, cement, bromine, and gypsum. All of these bring millions of dollars in export profits each year. Michigan's farms are also very important to the national agricultural industry, providing sugar beets, pears, grapes, potatoes, beans, cherries, and apples to businesses all around the nation and the world.
Are you into fishing? Are you big into water sports such as jet skiing? Michigan will be a slice of heaven for you. One of its huge tourism draws is the 10,083 inland lakes and 3,288 miles of shoreline on the various Great Lakes. These waterfront areas bring big money to the state and provide all kinds of recreational opportunities for residents and tourists alike.
There are also a ton of points of interest and historical sites for you to check out when in the Wolverine State. Places that need to be on your Michigan bucket list included Mackinac Island, both the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores, the lovely Greenfield Village out in Dearborn, and the wide selection of different summer resorts which lies on the inland lakes and lakeshores of the Great Lakes.
Our pick for a slice of Michigan history is the automobile factories of cities like Pontiac, Flint, Lansing, Detroit, and Dearborn. Many of these iconic automobile factories conduct tours and provide an inside look into what has been the heart of the automobile industry for a long time. If you're a history buff or just want a different perspective on things, these can be eye-opening and enjoyable experiences for the entire family.
When you ship your car or truck to your new home in Michigan, you'll have a unique opportunity that will present itself. If you've got your passport handy, there are nine different points of entry into Canada from the northernmost parts of Michigan. This includes the Ambassador Bridge which crosses the Detroit Rivers and functions as the busiest international border crossing in all of North America.
Are you hungry for some of the best lake-caught seafood in all of the world? The fish and seafood sold at many of Michigan's restaurants are all freshly caught from the surrounding Great Lakes. There is a bevy of amazing seafood restaurants on the waterfronts, and there are plenty of great ones inland as well. There are also some very unique Michigan delicacies for you to try, including Trenary Toast.
What is Trenary Toast, you ask? Were you or are you a fan of Cinnamon Toast Crunch? Imagine that sugary and cinnamon-strong flavoring but with large slices of bread instead of cereal. It's like French Toast got a huge sugary makeover, and it's one of the more fun and interesting Michigan dishes worth trying when you're in the Wolverine State.
Speaking of Wolverines, Michigan has a burgeoning sports culture that centers on the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. On college football game days, over 100,000 Michigan fans will pack into Michigan Stadium for an experience unlike any other in college sports. Nicknamed "The Big House," the sprawling Michigan Stadium feels a heck of a lot more intimate when it's jam-packed with a bunch of screaming Wolverines fans.
That's not the only source of sporting entertainment in Michigan, though. Detroit is home to four different professional sports franchises across the four major American sports – the Detroit Tigers (Major League Baseball), Detroit Red Wings (National Hockey League), Detroit Pistons (National Basketball Association), and Detroit Lions (National Football League) all make their home in the city of Detroit.
And if you're looking to go to a higher education institution somewhere in Michigan, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor is a great option but not your only one. The Wolverine State is home to a wide selection of public universities, private colleges, and community colleges. Michigan State University in East Lansing is the natural rival of the University of Michigan in sports, but it's also home to the eighth largest student body of any United States college or university.
Now that you’ve gotten a taste of what Michigan has to offer, it’s time to beef up your knowledge base about the Wolverine State. Let’s first take a look at the official living and inanimate symbols of Michigan:
That's just the tip of the trivia iceberg for Michigan. There are so many more interesting tidbits and trivia nuggets for you to learn about the Wolverine State. Here's a selection of some of the best and most intriguing:
Are you into finding some of the world's largest stuff? Well, the world's largest weather vane is in Montague, Michigan. This behemoth stands 48 feet tall and weighs a whopping 3,500 pounds. Also, its 26-foot long wind arrow is the longest on record.
Michigan car shipping with Nexus Auto Transport is your first step towards experiencing everything the state has to offer. Whether you want to catch a baseball game at Comerica Park in Detroit or visit one of the many lakeside resorts which dot the shorelines of the Great Lakes, having your vehicle with you in the Wolverine State is your ticket to some amazing memories. Michigan may get cold and snowy, but it’s always warm with cultural relevance and tons of things to do (indoors).
