Memorial Day is less than two weeks away. It of course kicks off the start of summer. After enduring a wicked winter, Michiganders will start the season by traveling in record numbers. That from AAA Michigan officials
“I think people have had it with rain, sleet and snow and they are ready for sunshine and the beaches in Michigan and they are ready for sunshine and the beaches and a good time in Michigan and kicking off Memorial Day in a safe and happy way.”
That’s Susan Hiltz. Public Affairs Director for AAA Michigan. She says nearly 1.3 million Michiganders will travel this Memorial Day weekend, which kicks off in about eight days for many. As Susan mentioned, it’s been a tough winter and residents are ready for a change. The vast majority of travelers will be hitting the road. Even higher gas prices won’t keep them from traveling.
“It might be something that people gripe about when they’re at the pump. In having to fill up their tanks, but most people, we’ve had such a wicked winter that I think people are throwing caution to the wind and just saying, we need to get away, enjoy the beginning of the summer and enjoy summer in Michigan which is always a great time in our state.”
This is the sixth consecutive year of growth in Memorial Day travel which Susan says comes as good news.
“We’ve got a nearly 5 percent increase. This is the most travelers we will have seen in a dozen years. So that’s great news for the travel industry and for the economy.”
AAA also reports about 70-thousand or so will travel by air, which is close to an 8% increase while about 53-thousand will take either the train, bus or take a cruise.
