Michigan Road Trip: Full Trip Report

Random as it may seem, there was a lot of thought that went into our decision to vacation in Michigan this summer.  When I first got the itch to plan a trip back in May, I had it in my mind that we would check out the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I was in the mood for some good, solid beach time and the Outer Banks are about a 13 hour drive from our home in Boston. (An important fact in light of Dave’s hatred of air travel.)

I obsessively researched house rentals, asked friends who vacation in the Outer Banks for their recommendations, and was darn close to putting a hefty deposit down on a cute, not-quite-beachfront rental when… I looked at a map. I eyeballed the distance to North Carolina, and then curiosity got the better of me and I eyeballed that same distance in every other direction, wondering where 15 hours of driving could potentially take us.

Hmm, I thought to myself. There are several large bodies of water due west. I’ve never seen the Great Lakes, except during a trip to Chicago when I was 9. Wonder what it’s like out there?

And this is where I become a case study for you marketers and advertisers out there. My mind immediately went to those awesome Pure Michigan ads that have been running on TV nonstop. You know, the ones that show kayaking and beaches and vineyards and lighthouses, with the score from Cider House Rules playing in the background? (John Irving is one of my favorite authors.) No? Ok, I’ll show you:

I am a sucker for a well-done ad. And after realizing that this is an area that could really use our tourist dollars right now, the decision to go to Michigan was easy. Hey, at least I’m a socially-conscious sucker.

So, that was my thought process. The end result was the Great Michigan Road Trip of 2009. Enjoy!

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Intro | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10