Well, "up north" is definitely different when you have to stop at Lake Superior. I was visiting some friends in Grand Rapids back in September and they mentioned that they hunt "up north". I asked where. Apparently, they felt that the Cadillac area was as far north as Michigan went!
I was just thinking the same thing! Being from GR, I consider Cadillac the exact point where "up north" starts, with Houghton being as far "up north" as I care to go...
You can't go wrong with just heading north and ending up...where ever. My most common destination is the Manistee river to wet a line.
My family has a cabin on bear creek where i love to fly fish thats our up north for the weekend its only a few hour trip. but the lake superior coastline is the real up north and GODS COUNTRY at that
My wife's parents live on a lake in Hillman, near Alpena. We love going up there in the summer. Also we like to visit Mackinac since it's such a short trip from the lake.
My mom and step-dad have lived all over the state - Ann Arbor, Techumseh, Alpena, Rogers City, Newberry, Marquette and now North Branch, so I've been able to visit quite a few different places.
'Up North' for me growing up was always either Marquette or Houghton. Now that I'm going to school in Sault Sainte Marie, there really isn't an 'up north' for me. Up North from here would be crossing the bridge into Canada.
Wife's family has a place in Lewiston. We really enjoy going to the U.P. with our camper. If you have not been to the Porcupine Mountains yet, you are missing out.