Being a Traverse City, Michigan native blinds you from the truly beautiful and amazing things the city has to offer. Everyone knows that Kid Rock song that goes, “It was summertime in Northern Michigan.”

But have you ever been to Traverse City? You’re lucky to visit, so imagine living there.

But, if you do live there, these 15 signs will most definitely ring a bell:

1. Summertime in Traverse City is the best, but you know “fudgies” are the WORST.

It's what we call tourists.

2. If you haven’t been to J&S Hamburg downtown past midnight, have you even been there? NO.

Just no.

3. The famous hippie tree.

…or the tree where stoners will tell you it’s a portal to hell.

4. When you tell people you’re from Traverse City and they always respond with, “Oh, my family and I go vacation there!”

So yeah, we live where you vacation.

5. Wearing your M22 sweatshirt anywhere else in MI and people just think it’s a highway.

M22 is NOT just a highway.

6. Everyone else is drinking and getting engaged on New Year’s Eve but you’re standing in the cold for 2+ hours at the Cherry-T Ball Drop.

7. Driving by the bay and nearly dying 12 times because you’re staring at the gorgeous blue water.

Worth it.

8. Driving all the way to Pyramid Point to either hammock, hike, take pictures, or trying to climb back up the steep ass hill for three hours.

But where else can you get a view like this?

9. If you haven’t gotten a milkshake from Dons Drive-In, I advise you to stop reading this, pack up the car, and get one.

Like now.

10. CHERRY FESTIVAL, CHERRY FESTIVAL, CHERRY FESTIVAL.

That is all.

11. Going to the State Hospital when it gets dark out and you swear to God you saw a face in the window!

Creep AF.

12. When you turned 16, you didn’t JUST learn to drive. You learned to drive in 4 feet of snow because school NEVER closed.

13. The food trucks at the Little Fleet is the best food you ever ate in your life.

For real.

14. All our mothers have dragged us to the Sara Hardy Farmers Market early in the morning during the summer.

But I don’t regret it. At all.

15. You know you're from America’s hidden gem.

And you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.