Northern Michigan - or more properly Northern Lower Michigan - is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan, popular as a tourist destination, resort area, and vacation area. It is home to several small- to medium-sized cities; extensive state and national forests; lakes and rivers; and the Great Lakes shoreline. The region has a significant seasonal population much like other regions that depend on tourism as their main industry.
A major draw to Northern Michigan is Tourism. Real Estate, especially condominiums and summer homes, is another significant source of income. Because money spent in the real estate and tourism market in Northern Michigan is dependent upon visitors from southern Michigan and the Chicago area, the Northern Michigan economy is sensitive to swings in the automobile industry and other industries. See Also: Economy of Detroit and Economy of Chicago.