I live in Michigan, the state surrounded by 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Michigan is relatively isolated from the rest of the US, it takes hours to get out of the state since we have water, not land boundaries. Thus, we tend to be kind of internal. Most people vacation within the state and keep their travel limited to the state too. We've had some tough economic times recently on account of the auto industry (and many small business who made parts or tools for the auto industry). Our second major industry is tourism, and since most of our tourism is internal and THOSE people don't have any money ...
Michigan, including the water, is the largest state in the eastern US. We also have the largest percentage of water of ANY state. Boating, fishing, hunting, snow-mobiling and off-roading are very popular. We have a lot of federal and state forest, especially in the northern part. We lead the United States in production of cherries and dry beans and also grow a lot of sugar beets, apples, peaches, dairy products, blueberries, cranberries, potatoes and iron ore. The Keweenaw Peninsula in the extreme north is one of 2 places in the world where pure copper can be found (northern Chile is the other). Michigan was also the last home of the extinct elephant-like American Mastodon. The most recent remains were found near Flint and date to 6,000 YA (around the same time civilization was rising in Sumeria).
Our dialect is also a little closer to Canadian than the rest of Midwestern English. We use words like "pop" for soda or soft drinks, tend to stretch out our "ou" sound but not to make an "oo" like Canadians do, eh? This is more pronounced in the Upper Peninsula than the Lower. A card game called "euchre" is very popular. Many schools in northern Michigan also give Nov. 15, the opening day of deer season with rifles off. You'll also see me refer to myself as a Michiganiac. The correct demonym is wither Michigander or Michiganian, but there has been ongoing debate about that. Michigander was originally an insult at a presidential candidate for this state (refrring to him as a goose--gander). Famous rock star Ted Nugent calls himself a Michiganiac, mainly because the man is mildly crazy (in a good way). He's big into hunting, the environment, self-sufficiemcy, gun rights, that sort of thing.
We also have fairly cool summers. We begin to complain when it gets above 80 degrees farenheit. Winters are cold and snowy. It is also fairly humid here and most days are at least partly cloudy and windy.
For me, I love this state. I love trees, water, rolling hills.
First picture is Lake Superior near Munising
Mackinac Bridge (pronounced MACK-in-awe)
Au Sable River, about 45 min north of my house. Flows into Lake Huron
My yard after a snowstorm
Local wildlife, a ruffed grouse