Opinions Forging Ahead Summer is the time to explore Pure Michigan
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Forging Ahead
By Greg Main
President & CEO,
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
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The warm weather is finally upon us, and I want to encourage every Michigander to explore the wonderful place we call Pure Michigan on your vacation or weekend getaways this summer. Whether you seek camping, golf, boating and fishing, unique special events or big-city dining and nightlife, we have it all here in West Michigan.
A Michigan vacation is an affordable way to reconnect with nature, with culture and with your family. Time away from your daily routine gives your entire family a chance to learn new things, get new perspectives or just plain relax after working hard on the job, at school or in the home.
But there is another reason to travel in Michigan this summer — to help Michigan businesses and their employees in every corner of this state — hotels, restaurants, wineries, gas stations and art galleries — all kinds of businesses in big cities and small towns. Travelers spent $15.1 billion at Michigan businesses last year, and that spending by visitors employs 142,000 Michiganders. And unlike some other economic development activities and initiatives, tourism produces results for both peninsulas, for every region in the state, and for every county in Michigan.
With all the great things there are to see and do in Michigan, how do you get started? I recommend you start at michigan.org, the state of Michigan’s official tourism Web site. Here you will find information on thousands of great activities, attractions, events, parks, hotels and bed and breakfasts — plus great deals and discounts on all of the above. From michigan.org, you can order a copy of our Michigan Travel Ideas magazine, a beautiful, glossy publication packed with great stories on traveling in Michigan. And you can also link from michigan.org to all of our Pure Michigan social media channels — on Facebook, Twitter, our travel blog, YouTube and Flickr. If you would rather pick up some great Michigan travel information in person, stop by one of our 14 welcome centers, located all over the state.
Count legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson among those who are impressed with all that Michigan has to offer. They are returning to our great state later this summer for a charity skins game on Aug. 10, and then in 2012 and 2014 for one of the major championships for the best over-50 golfers in the world: the Senior PGA Championship.
Whirlpool Corp.’s KitchenAid brand will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Senior PGA for at least the next four years, and in 2012 and again in 2014 the senior major championship will be played in the company’s backyard in Benton Harbor at the newly constructed The Golf Club at Harbor Shores.
Harbor Shores, a 530-acre real estate development spearheaded by Whirlpool and on Whirlpool land, is finishing construction on the final holes this spring after opening some holes to limited play last summer. It is an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course and design that stretches through parts of Benton Harbor, Benton Township and St. Joseph in the southwestern corner of Michigan.
The golf course is the centerpiece of a $450 million redevelopment project over the next 20 years. Plans call for two hotels, a town center, health and fitness center, boutique lodge and spa, conference center, marina village and marinas, water park, river walk, retail shops and residences. Also, 12 residential neighborhoods are planned with nearly 800 residences, including cottages, condominiums, townhomes and custom homes.
So, whether you plan to hit the links at Harbor Shores, or take in Detroit’s car-enthusiast-favorite, the Woodward Dream Cruise, or view downtown Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize competition, Michigan has a summer full of fun just waiting for you. I hope you will take advantage of the many great summer events and activities Michigan offers. And remember, as Tim Allen always says at the end of our Pure Michigan commercials — your trip begins at michigan.org.