Station/Boat Location~
Station Marquette
Date there~
Birth - 2006 (It's my hometown!)
Weather~
June - Aug: Summer. Gorgeous. Expect different weather from day to day. Some days are HOT, and sometimes it's in the 50's. Every year is different, especially lately! Sept-Oct: Fall. Sometimes you might see a snow shower or two. The color season is amazing, but short. Nov - March: SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! Expect to see temps below 0 for stretches of time. April - May: Melting snow. Cold and mild temps. This is the season of dirty snowbanks! The weather motto for the UP - "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. It'll change." It sounds scary to people from warmer climates, but you get used to it.
Military facilities~
NONE. There's the CG Station, which has been replaced with a brand new building since we left. It used to be a house from the 1800's, but the new station opened in 2009. There's just the one big building with the boathouse and that's it.
Medical~
Tricare Prime Remote. You see civilian providers. You will pay co-pays. Ask the families there about who they see at the Medical Center.
Housing~
You have to live on the economy there. Your best bet is to look at The Mining Journal's website in the classifieds section. There are barracks for the crew to stay in overnight when they're on duty.
Shopping~
Well... There is a "mall". The Westwood Mall has a Kohl's, JcPenney, Younkers, Maurices, and a lot of little stores. There is a Super Walmart and Target separate from the mall. Green Bay, WI is the closest area with real shopping facilities, which is 3.5 hours away.
Child Care/Schools~
The childcare centers and schools in this area are very trustworthy. Marquette is the biggest town in the Upper Peninsula, but it's smaller compared to what most people know. It's safe. There are multiple elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in MQT.
Adult Schools~
Marquette is the home to Northern Michigan University. The town thrives when school is in session. It's decent sized and reputable. Their mascot is the Wildcat. NMU is best known for its hockey program!
Fun Activities~
Since most of your year is spent indoors, you need to make some good friends at STA MQT! There are some spots with decent nightlife on the weekends (ie. The Upfront and Matrixx). If you are into the outdoors, then you are in luck! Skiing, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, boating, biking, etc. The people who live in this area are very outdoorsy. There are a lot of festivals in the Lower Harbor in the summertime. Downtown Marquette is super quaint and historic. In the past decade they have been redeveloping the downtown and it's cute. Lots of new restaurants! You have to get out of your house during the winter months, or you will go bonkers! In the summer, you can go to the private beach at the CG station. Good luck with getting in the water, but there is definitely beach bumming potential during the summer months. There are many beaches all the way down Lakeshore Dr.
Additional Info~
Lake Superior is an impressive body of water. It's like an ocean! It's as far as the eye can see, and super deep. The winters are so long, but that's what makes the crew and their families become close! I miss MQT, not only because it's my hometown, but that station is where I, and many friends that I made, became a part of the CG family!
Homeport MI
Station Marquette
Date there~
Birth - 2006 (It's my hometown!)
Weather~
June - Aug: Summer. Gorgeous. Expect different weather from day to day. Some days are HOT, and sometimes it's in the 50's. Every year is different, especially lately! Sept-Oct: Fall. Sometimes you might see a snow shower or two. The color season is amazing, but short. Nov - March: SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! Expect to see temps below 0 for stretches of time. April - May: Melting snow. Cold and mild temps. This is the season of dirty snowbanks! The weather motto for the UP - "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. It'll change." It sounds scary to people from warmer climates, but you get used to it.
Military facilities~
NONE. There's the CG Station, which has been replaced with a brand new building since we left. It used to be a house from the 1800's, but the new station opened in 2009. There's just the one big building with the boathouse and that's it.
Medical~
Tricare Prime Remote. You see civilian providers. You will pay co-pays. Ask the families there about who they see at the Medical Center.
Housing~
You have to live on the economy there. Your best bet is to look at The Mining Journal's website in the classifieds section. There are barracks for the crew to stay in overnight when they're on duty.
Shopping~
Well... There is a "mall". The Westwood Mall has a Kohl's, JcPenney, Younkers, Maurices, and a lot of little stores. There is a Super Walmart and Target separate from the mall. Green Bay, WI is the closest area with real shopping facilities, which is 3.5 hours away.
Child Care/Schools~
The childcare centers and schools in this area are very trustworthy. Marquette is the biggest town in the Upper Peninsula, but it's smaller compared to what most people know. It's safe. There are multiple elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in MQT.
Adult Schools~
Marquette is the home to Northern Michigan University. The town thrives when school is in session. It's decent sized and reputable. Their mascot is the Wildcat. NMU is best known for its hockey program!
Fun Activities~
Since most of your year is spent indoors, you need to make some good friends at STA MQT! There are some spots with decent nightlife on the weekends (ie. The Upfront and Matrixx). If you are into the outdoors, then you are in luck! Skiing, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, boating, biking, etc. The people who live in this area are very outdoorsy. There are a lot of festivals in the Lower Harbor in the summertime. Downtown Marquette is super quaint and historic. In the past decade they have been redeveloping the downtown and it's cute. Lots of new restaurants! You have to get out of your house during the winter months, or you will go bonkers! In the summer, you can go to the private beach at the CG station. Good luck with getting in the water, but there is definitely beach bumming potential during the summer months. There are many beaches all the way down Lakeshore Dr.
Additional Info~
Lake Superior is an impressive body of water. It's like an ocean! It's as far as the eye can see, and super deep. The winters are so long, but that's what makes the crew and their families become close! I miss MQT, not only because it's my hometown, but that station is where I, and many friends that I made, became a part of the CG family!
Homeport MI
