Copper Harbor Local Customs

A common expression you will hear in the U.P. Copper Country is “eh?” which follows many questions and statements. This expression is similar to asking for agreement. ---- The U.P. would be a great place to visit, eh? Say ya to da U.P., eh? I was surprised, the first time we sailed to Ontario, Canada, to find that they also say eh? there also.A common expression you will hear in the U.P. Copper Country is “eh?” which follows many questions and statements. This expression is similar to asking for agreement. ---- The U.P. would be a great place to visit, eh? Say ya to da U.P., eh? I was surprised, the first time we sailed to Ontario, Canada, to find that they also say eh? there.

If you love ice cream, you just have to have some Jilbert. Jilbert is an Upper Peninsula dairy that takes pride in using cream and milk from cows that are not given hormones to increase milk production. They also use the freshest cream possible, giving the ice cream a fresh, clean taste. You will only find this ice cream in the Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island, and northern Wisconsin. So if you have traveled far to get here, this is your chance for a special treat you may not find at home. Jilbert’s Dairy has been in business since 1937 and although it has moved its operation three times, it has always been in the Upper Peninsula. In 1937 they processed 10,000 lbs of milk per month. Today they process over 4,000,000 lbs per month. My husbands and my favorite is Jilbert’s Mackinac Island Fudge. Oooooo I wish had some right now! It is a better vanilla, with great, semi-sweet Mackinac Island chocolate pieces. Another popular local flavor is the Yooper Mud slide, which is chocolate ice cream with fudge sauce and brownie pieces mixed in. It’s good, but I can’t get past the Mackinac Island Fudge. Get the fudge, or maybe try a scoop of each. There are various places in Copper Harbor that sell Jilbert ice cream, including the Berry Patch, located at the far side of town.

Thimbleberries grow naturally in the U.P. They are a lot like rasperries. You can find lots of places around the U.P. that sell jam made from Thimbleberries.