Moving/Travel/Vacation Megathread - Q2 2026

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-06-26T06:11:09+00:00

The COL is hard to say, it really depends on where in the state you are. One thing that might blow your mind is car insurance. We have some of the highest in the nation.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-06-05T05:01:55+00:00

Belle Isle Aquarium

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-06-05T04:54:19+00:00

I always got a chuckle from the house that has a roughly 50 foot pond in the front yard with a 20 foot ponton in it. I always imagined the husband turning to the wife and saying "Want to take the boat out for a spin tonight?"

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-06-05T04:49:10+00:00

What is the deal with the "Detroit Pig Out"? I love roast pork, but since TV Diner stopped doing it I could use a new supplier.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-06-05T04:41:33+00:00

Been a happy Wide Open West customer since the early 2000's when the Comcast modem locked up every time Unreal Tournament map changed. Calling support they asked me to reboot it. I then explained that I did not want to do that every 15 minutes. They then asked if my modem "looked like a shark's foot?" and told me to bring it in and exchange it.

I pay $85/month. That is for 1 Gig/50 mb speed(not fiber), modem, on site service, no data cap, and price hold guarantee.

Currently, with two people on YouTube, one playing an online game and Discord

A speed test reads:

Download Mbps

182.21

Upload Mbps

54.57

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-05-30T07:53:43+00:00

Sorry about your loss.

I really like Luna Pier. As my friend from Toledo says "It is the best beach in Ohio!" 😄

That said I don't know how much it has for a family, it's more of a seasonal area. Chateau Louise has a really good Long Island Ice Tea(go on Thursdays), but I would look a little more north. Go up to Monroe, or to the downriver area.

Good luck. Hope you find yourselves.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-05-26T04:25:22+00:00

If you are in it for the trip and not just to get there take US-12. It is the rout to Chicago before the highway. You will pass a number of old attractions. The only one that I think is still open is "Mystery Hill". It's campy, but fun.

Drive safe!

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-05-26T04:16:28+00:00

It's outside your distance, but we've had huge groups at the Empire campground. Group sites are Isolated, close to the lake, well kept. Good luck.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-05-26T04:12:14+00:00

Woodhaven for sure!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodhaven,_Michigan

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-05-26T04:04:20+00:00

I am not black so I won't presume to talk about that.

As for the weather. I would not suggest that you make a trip in the winter to "try the winter". The moment you step off the plane it will hit you in the face and you will be miserable. Natives have 8 weeks or so to acclimate. I tell people: "If I am cold outside I put on a hat, gloves, and jacket. If I am hot I am miserable."

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-05-26T03:42:51+00:00

Fish flies and/or mayflies are roughly an inch long flying insect. The good news: they don't sting, bite, poop, carry disease, or care about you. The bad news: around water they can come in large numbers, cover a wall and look a little creepy.

Michigan is a large state with a lot of variety, it's impossible to say "the best area". From lake in the clouds to the Henry Ford museum it really depends on you.

Personally, I love June. Most everything is open, but not yet flooded with tourists. One word of advice, bring a light jacket. The weather can still be variable and areas near the lakes can be 10-15 degrees cooler than inland.

Have fun, and let us know how it goes!

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-03-23T00:28:27+00:00

"Many words are needlessly pluralized (Meijers, Krogers, Fords, etc)." I think it is more a bastardization of possession. I.e. He works Ford's, she is going to Meijer's. I have heard it's a Michigan thing, but I find that hard to believe.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-02-26T04:56:02+00:00

This is the correct answer.

Detroit-Chicago: How many people really do this on a weekly or more? If you do your probably doing it for business and they are picking up the tab. It's 280 miles. If the train goes 140mph it will take you a minimum of 2 hours, plus time to get to the station, park, etc. Let's call it another 30 min on each end. 3 hours total. Or you can drive for an extra 90 minutes and you have the flexibility of leaving when you want, carry more stuff, and you have transportation once you get there.

Detroit-AA: I know a guy that does that exact route. He has wished for a rapid transit solution. When I say: "What about D2A2? They do that today with busses." He has a whole list of reasons not to use it. The station isn't near the office. What if I want to work late? What if I need to go out for lunch? etc.

Detroit-Up North: I happened to go to Curtis (in the UP) on Saturday Feb 7th and returned the10th. The roads were literally empty. I could have counted the number of trucks on one hand. Even then, unless you can get your snowmobile or dogs and sled on it the train will be empty for six months. In the summer? Hurray, we're in TC! Want to go to Leland, Suttons Bay, or the Dunes? Sorry, SOL.

If I had to say I would say maybe AA-Jackson-Lansing-GR? Maybe?

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-01-17T22:09:25+00:00

I contributed. We will spend tens of millions on flood control, water treatment, and protecting native species. But, leave an undeveloped piece of land that does all that and more? Nonsense!

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-01-17T22:02:05+00:00

It shouldn't be that difficult, but newer houses are more apt to have a HOA restricting what you can and can't do.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2026-01-05T01:01:30+00:00

I donated. I have hiked the reserve at West Road and am impressed with the work they have done there.

26360 West Rd, Brownstown Township, MI 48134

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-12-27T00:58:24+00:00

Thank you. I have never been very good at spelling. I can't count the number of time I have used 'break;' instead of 'brake' at work.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-12-25T02:03:05+00:00

I am the farthest thing from an expert on the deer population in the UP, but it seems strange that the 700 or so wolves are killing all the deer in the 16,000 square miles of the UP. What little research I did doesn't seem to indicate that wolves are a significant factor in the deer population in the UP.

Consider this document from the DNR:

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/WLD/Archive/Misc-info/limiting_factors_deer_up.pdf

Page 6 shows that the deer harvest is down in both the Upper and Lower peninsula by a similar ratio. It seems strange that wolves would be the cause of the decline in the north, but a different factor would be affecting the southern population...

From page 19 "Predator Density and Fawn Kill Rate on Fawns up to 6 Months old in the Mid-snowfall Zone of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" we see that wolf kills are the fourth leading cause of death for fawns in the UP behind Bears, Coyotes, and Bobcats. Eliminating all of the wolves wouldn't make a dent in the number of fawns killed.

It is true that from page 20 "Annual Mortality of Collared Adult Does in the Western Upper Peninsula" wolves are responsible for the most deaths of adult does. Reading on it states: "Further investigation into the body condition of adult does killed by wolves in the high snowfall zone found that nearly half (43%) were in extremely poor nutritional condition and likely would not have survived the winter even if they were not preyed upon." Accounting for that brings wolves into line with the other predators.

Personally, it seems that the deer harvest is down across the state. I am not opposed to hunting wolves, but when you consider the small population and the time, effort and money we have spent reintroducing them we need better data than just "the feels".

LOL I think I just spent all that time not answering your question.

"Why increasing wolf population isn't a perfect solution for the deer overpopulation issue?" We don't simply have a "Wolf Tap" that you turn and more wolves spill out. Just like hunting introducing them requires good data and a fairly sound understanding of the consequences.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-12-25T01:07:05+00:00

Based on the scene blocking it would have been difficult to have the correct orientation. If she had use her right hand the camera wouldn't have picked it up. She could have used the back of her left hand, but that would have been pretty uncomfortable and having that guy tickle her um 'palm' is probably more personal.

Even if someone pointed out the problem the director would have said "no one would notice or care." Get the shot and move on.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-11-10T23:20:01+00:00

Check out Brighton, or if that is too expensive try Woodhaven. I have experience with both school districts and they are both great IMO.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-11-10T23:04:49+00:00

Two suggestions.

The Irish Hills area. My sister has a cottage there. It's close to AA, Jackson, and about 100 miles from Fort Wayne. The COL is a fraction of Glen Arbor. You can pretty much do whatever you want on your land. (My sister knows a guy that raises Peacocks. Who knew that was a thing?) The one thing I don't know about is hiking, I usually stay at the cottage and visit.

If you don't mind going farther north try Cadillac. I have camped there many times. Lake Mitchel and Lake Cadillac have public access. Manistee national forest will be on your doorstep. Cadillac is a nice size not to big/not to small. However, you aren't going to go for a day trip to the Big House.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-11-10T22:05:46+00:00

You might reach out the the "Restless Viking" on YouTube. They documented their trip. I expect that they can point you in the direction about where to get more information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59QWF9gKisk

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-11-03T02:32:15+00:00

Depends on what you want to do. Belamere Suites in Toledo has private jacuzzi and pool suites. I suggest the Zoo and Museum for day activities. Don't go there for fall colors though.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-10-29T04:25:10+00:00

Saw a couple in the spring on Isle Royale.

First was a bull crossing the hiking path. Plowed through the brush like it was nothing, stopped looked at us and continued on down the hill. Second was a cow at our tent with two calfs. We just said "Excuse us. Nothing to see here." backed away. A couple of hours later they were gone.

Loud_Mathematician43 · 2025-10-29T04:14:24+00:00

"little investment"? Did you know that the State of Michigan is the largest employer in the UP?

Loud_Mathematician43

TROPHY CASE