thunderstruck88
New member
MACKINAW CITY, MI -- The oil spill in the Gulf certainly isn't helping tourism there this summer, but 1,300 miles north, some communities are seeing an increase in vacationers.
Several families cancelled their annual trips to the Gulf Coast and came to Northern Michigan.
When in doubt, chose Northern Michigan. I caught up with five families from St. Louis, Missouri who did just that. Their annual trip is usually to the gulf coast, where there's a lot of doubt.
"Things kind of changed. We were heading down to Destin, Florida, and with the oil scare, we all decided to move up here to Northern Michigan," said vacationer Larry Molitor.
Molitor said it's the first time the itinerary has changed to the beaches of the Great Lakes and it's the first time they've visited Michigan.
"I wasn't quite sure of it. We heard it'd be cold and windy, we heard a lot of windy stories, and it wasn't like that at all, it's been beautiful," said St. Louis resident Becky Huddleston.
"We've found new territory, obviously, we've seen three Great Lakes, which was something that wasn't available for us down in Destin," said vacationer Sarah Benne.
"Rided bikes, went to the beach," said youngster vacationer Cody Tuepker.
The families say it's not as warm here as it would be in Destin, but they are refreshed to know their kids aren't getting into harmful tar balls. And at the same time, they've found a hidden treasure.
“It's a bit safer. I don't know what kind of health risks are down there right now, but I feel a lot better my kids are up here and in a safer environment," said Molitor.
“This was one of the places I've always thought of, going to the great lakes, we've always heard great stories about it, and now we actually get to get up here and experience it, it's been beautiful," said Benne.
"We'd recommend it to everyone, it's been great!" said Huddleston.
The families all agree the Great Lakes offer great times, and safe times.
A brother of one of the men visiting still decided on Destin.
He says he's on the beach in swimming trunks, with men in Haz-Mat suits a stones-throw away from him.
Several families cancelled their annual trips to the Gulf Coast and came to Northern Michigan.
When in doubt, chose Northern Michigan. I caught up with five families from St. Louis, Missouri who did just that. Their annual trip is usually to the gulf coast, where there's a lot of doubt.
"Things kind of changed. We were heading down to Destin, Florida, and with the oil scare, we all decided to move up here to Northern Michigan," said vacationer Larry Molitor.
Molitor said it's the first time the itinerary has changed to the beaches of the Great Lakes and it's the first time they've visited Michigan.
"I wasn't quite sure of it. We heard it'd be cold and windy, we heard a lot of windy stories, and it wasn't like that at all, it's been beautiful," said St. Louis resident Becky Huddleston.
"We've found new territory, obviously, we've seen three Great Lakes, which was something that wasn't available for us down in Destin," said vacationer Sarah Benne.
"Rided bikes, went to the beach," said youngster vacationer Cody Tuepker.
The families say it's not as warm here as it would be in Destin, but they are refreshed to know their kids aren't getting into harmful tar balls. And at the same time, they've found a hidden treasure.
“It's a bit safer. I don't know what kind of health risks are down there right now, but I feel a lot better my kids are up here and in a safer environment," said Molitor.
“This was one of the places I've always thought of, going to the great lakes, we've always heard great stories about it, and now we actually get to get up here and experience it, it's been beautiful," said Benne.
"We'd recommend it to everyone, it's been great!" said Huddleston.
The families all agree the Great Lakes offer great times, and safe times.
A brother of one of the men visiting still decided on Destin.
He says he's on the beach in swimming trunks, with men in Haz-Mat suits a stones-throw away from him.