**Q: What is the capital of Michigan?** **A:** Lansing, located in the central part of the Lower Peninsula.
**Q: What is the largest city in Michigan?** **A:** Detroit.
**Q: What is a "Yooper"?** **A:** A colloquial and affectionate term for a resident of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.).
**Q: What is a "Troll" in Michigan slang?** **A:** A playful term for a resident of the Lower Peninsula, because they live "under the bridge" (the Mackinac Bridge).
**Q: Does Michigan have a state income tax?** **A:** Yes, Michigan has a flat-rate state income tax.
**Q: What is the sales tax in Michigan?** **A:** The state sales tax is 6% (groceries and prescription drugs are generally exempt).
**Q: What is "Pure Michigan"?** **A:** The highly successful, long-running tourism advertising campaign for the state.
**Q: Can you drive a car on Mackinac Island?** **A:** No, personal motorized vehicles are completely banned on the island.
**Q: What is a pasty?** **A:** A traditional baked pastry filled with meat, potatoes, and root vegetables, famously popular in the Upper Peninsula, originally eaten by Cornish miners.
**Q: What is the state bird?** **A:** The American Robin.
**Q: What is the state flower?** **A:** The Apple Blossom.
**Q: What time zone is Michigan in?** **A:** Most of the state is in the Eastern Time Zone, but four counties in the western Upper Peninsula border Wisconsin and observe Central Time.
**Q: How cold do winters get?** **A:** Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing. "Lake-effect snow" brings heavy snowfall, particularly to the western edges of both peninsulas.
**Q: What are the main airports?** **A:** Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is the major international hub. Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids is the second busiest.
**Q: Are there bears in Michigan?** **A:** Yes, there is a healthy population of black bears, primarily located in the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula.
**Q: How do you show someone where you live in Michigan using your hand?** **A:** Michiganders famously use their right hand to represent the Lower Peninsula (shaped like a mitten) and point to the spot representing their hometown.
**Q: What is the deposit on cans and bottles?** **A:** Michigan has a 10-cent deposit on most carbonated beverage containers to encourage recycling.
**Q: What is the nickname of Michigan?** **A:** The Wolverine State (and sometimes the Great Lakes State).
**Q: What is Devil's Night?** **A:** The night before Halloween (October 30), historically associated with pranks and vandalism in Detroit, but successfully transformed in recent years into "Angels' Night," a massive volunteer community patrol effort.
**Q: Does Michigan touch the ocean?** **A:** No, but the Great Lakes are so massive they are often referred to as "inland seas" and experience significant waves, tides, and shipping traffic.