1. Home of the Cherries

In Traverse City, Michigan, lies one of the most convincing reasons to love Michigan… Cherries! Imagine Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but instead of chocolate, it’s cherries! There’s cherry juice, cherry chocolate, cherry wine, cherry candy, cherry peanut butter, cherry tea, cherry everything! Who wouldn’t want to visit the cherry capital and enjoy the city, the wine, the food, and shops?

2. Universities

Another reason to love Michigan is that it's the home of wonderfully diverse education. If you're looking to apply to college, check out the colleges in Michigan. University of Michigan, Michigan State, Wayne State, Central Michigan (my Alma Mater), Western Michigan, Oakland University... I could go on and on listing Michigan's great colleges with interesting programs, and in sizes ranging from tiny to gargantuan! Check 'em out! You'll love at least one.

3. Great Lakes

Did you know that Michigan is the only state that touches 4 of the 5 Great Lakes? No matter where you are in Michigan, you're never more than 85 miles away from a Great Lake! If that’s not amazing, I don’t know what is!

4. Four Seasons

Unlike many other states, Michigan has four distinct seasons. Unfortunately it’s common for one day to have 4 seasons, but for the most part, having 4 seasons is a wonderful thing. Being either cold or hot all year could get boring. In Michigan, there’s a white Christmas, a hot summer, and a colorful spring and fall!

5. Hand Map

One of the coolest reasons to love Michigan is that wherever you go, you have a map handy! Your hand! How convenient! In Michigan, when someone doesn't know the city where you're from or where you're going, just lift up your hand, and point to it! Without doing any statistical analyses, I can confidently say that more than 90% of Michigan residents use their hand as their Michigan map. The best part is... it's only a Michigan thing! Well... technically Oklahoma could use the hand map, but I don't think they do!

6. Motown

If you love Motown, another reason to love Michigan is because it’s Motown’s birthplace! Berry Gordy founded the Motown museum, Hitsville U.S.A., near Detroit’s east side in 1959. If you’re a fan of The Temptations, Jackson 5, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and other great musicians in the Motown genre, you’ll appreciate this museum where it all began.

7. Hell Freezes over

When you hear someone say, "Sure, when Hell freezes over," you can hold that person to it, because Hell, Michigan actually freezes over! It’s that cool?

8. The Michigan-U

The Michigan- U is the main reason I love Michigan. If you aren't familiar with it, the Michigan-U is a safe, legal and easy way to make a U-turn that doesn't involve a near death experience every time you want to get to the other side of the street. If I miss a turn when I drive in other states, I'm always on the brink of a panic attack, because I can never find a way to turn around! Other Michiganders know what I'm talking about; once you visit Michigan and experience a Michigan-U, you'll never want to go back!

I may have biased eyes, because I live in Michigan, but there’s no denying that there are plenty of reasons to love it! Have you ever visited and gotten to experience any of the reasons why I love Michigan? What are some other cool reasons to love this amazing state?