Last year’s crush of visitors stunned businesses and this summer promises a sequel: from sold-out campgrounds to heavy demand for boats, kayak and bikes and, likely, more novice hikers needing to be rescued from state and national parks.
Website expands coverage to Upper Peninsula, launches contest for free stay
Greg Tasker
Mymichiganbeach.com, a travel website launched in 2019, has expanded its coverage to include the best spots to stay, eat, play and the beaches in the Upper Peninsula.
“Our data shows that the U.P. is really having a moment: folks from around the country are discovering the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the opportunities it brings in terms of outdoor activities from hiking to biking to skiing to kayaking and beyond. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase it,” says Jill Halpin, a Plymouth resident and a former journalist and librarian who launched the travel site.
Credit uptravel.com
Tom Nemacheck is Executive Director of the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association. He says this past winter was tough because snow arrived later in the season, but spring tourism should see a huge jump.
“We’re going to see potentially record visits as compared to previous springs, even back many years.”
Nemacheck says when the first two COVID-19 vaccines were approved in December people started planning for the summer.
“Immediately traffic to our website went up very fast in people researching summer trips. It was like, instantaneous.”
People are flocking to the region because the very nature of the U-P promotes social distancing, Nemacheck says.
DNR photo
An ice angler enjoys an afternoon on an Upper Peninsula lake.
ESCANABA The winter tourism landscape looks different this year, both figuratively and literally. Delta County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vickie Micheau points out that COVID-19 restrictions, as well as the late arrival of snow and ice have caused a decline in tourism.
“The lack of snow has put many outside activities behind schedule in the Escanaba area,” said Tammy Thiel, a director on the Visit Escanaba Board of Directors and owner of Bay View Motel. She added, however, that it is better for ice fishing to not have snow yet. “You don’t want the snow till the ice is thick,” she said.