Welcome to Part 2 of our grand and glorious shout-out to you—our peeps—and that big, vibrant, irrepressible spirit of the Northerner.  In Part 1 of our list we bragged about everything from copper mines to road salt.  Now a few more items that make us proud to be from Up North.

Got more to add to our list?  Of course you do—you’re an opinionated Northerner.  Add your own ideas to the list on our Community!

Northern Landmarks: You can’t miss ’em!

The Incredible, Edible Whitefish: Generations of Northerners have been sustained (and delighted) by feasts of Whitefish.  We share some of our favorite whitefish dishes.

Tales of a Roadkill Hunter: Roadkill for dinner?

Northern Know-How: Not-so-hidden but deep in Missaukee County cornfield country, two 350-foot-tall wind turbines spin their giant arms in the north wind. The man behind them is local energy mogul Marty Lagina

The King of Color: It’s Grand Hotel on Mackinac that he counts as the most pet of his projects.

This Northern Life: Elda Chapa

Black Eden of Michigan: From the 1920’s through the mid-1960’s, one of Michigan’s most unforgettable ethnic tales played out around a small lake near Baldwin.

Field Trips Every Northern School Kid Must Abide

On the Map: Sufjan Stevens

Inventions: Sprang from the Brains of Your Brethren

True Up North Gatherings: Nothing says Up North like ice, snow and beer

Our 540–year–old Virgin: Ancient pines live, thanks to the efforts of a local photographer

The Magnanimous Mr. Moore: Love him? Hate him? We say the Oscar-winning filmmaker deserves a place tight to our Northern bosom for shining a light into our historic downtown theater

Our Favorite Asylum: The Village at Grand Traverse Commons turned the State Hospital into the nation’s largest historical renovation project

Smoked Fish, the Art: Jack Cross, third-generation fish smoker at John Cross Fisheries, Charlevoix

Sauna Whisking: Of all the accoutrements to the sauna, the vihta, or whisk, is the one that keeps you coming back.

Consummate Northern Hostess: We check in with Katie Brown, cook, crafter, designer, author, television celeb and Petoskey native.

Made in Michigan: Manhole covers, Moomers, what are you most proud of?

Skivvies: The “union suit” never goes out of style

Ode to Joy Ride: The power, the adventure, the feeling of accomplishment…

Characters du Nord: Pop culture icons we claim as our own

Photo(s) by Todd Zawistowski