Lonely Planet Ranks Michigan's Gold Coast, GR, as #1 US Destination

[XLFD]

It's official!  Our area is the nation's #1 tourist destination spots to go to in 2014 according to renowned and acclaimed international travel website, Lonely Planet.  Rounding out the top ten list are other destinations often considered more glamorous: 

2. Yosemite National Park, CA
3. Boston, MA
4. Central Coast, CA
5. Jersey Shore, NJ
6. Kansas City, MO
7. Cumberland Island, GA
8. Las Vegas, NV
9. Sun Valley, ID
10. Lana‘i, Hawaii

The top of the list actually says "Grand Rapids & Lake Michigan's Gold Coast".  For those who might not be aware, the "Gold Coast" is the immediate beach areas extending from New Buffalo up to Traverse City, and thus includes our local areas like Ludington, Manistee, Pentwater, to name but a few. 

After a lot of discussion and debate, this chunk of West Michigan rose to the top because Lonely Planet’s Top U.S. Destinations is about shining a light on places in this country that travelers should add to their wish lists for 2014.

Some people don’t even know where Grand Rapids is, said Emily Wolman, editor-at-large for the Oakland, Calif.-based publication. She was introduced to the state by her husband, who grew up in Southwest Michigan.

“We really want to bring it to the forefront and put it on people’s radar for both domestic and international travelers as a destination," said Wolman. "It's not just for art and craft beer, which are two of the coolest scenes going on in the city right now." 

While Michigan's treasures have been highlighted with award-winning Pure Michigan commercials in recent years, a Lonely Planet spotlight could introduce the region to a new audience of dedicated travellers. Beside Lonely Planet's millions of monthly website readers, CNN will report on the list today, as reported in Mlive.

Here is the write up as it appears in Lonely Planet:

1. Grand Rapids & Lake Michigan’s Gold Coast

Beach bums, beer lovers, and art enthusiasts agree: there’s a lot to love about western Michigan this year. Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city, was voted best beer city in the US by the national Beer Examiner blog in 2012 and 2013, and its beer-tourism revolution rages on. Over 25 craft breweries pour in the area, and events like Cool Brews Hot Eats and the Winter Beer Festival (both in February), and the Summer Craft Beer Festival (August), keep the city festive year-round. Hops aside, the secret about Grand Rapids’ fabulous art scene is getting out. In addition to the impressive blooms and Rodin sculptures in the Frederik Meijer Gardens, and the excellent Grand Rapids Art Museum housed in a cool LEED Gold certified building, Grand Rapids is home to the world’s largest art competition, ArtPrize, in which more than 1700 creatives display their masterpieces.

A mere 30 miles away sprawls Lake Michigan’s Gold Coast, perhaps the USA’s most unexpected beach getaway. Some argue that these shores rival Hawaii’s and Southern California’s. Along 300 miles of seemingly endless beaches lie sugar-white dunes, wineries, antiquing, U-pick orchards and berry farms, cider houses, Hemingway haunts – you can even go surfing. In Michigan! So if you never thought you could head to the Midwest for a Cape Cod-esque beach vacation, think again.

Our (and everyone else’s) top-pick alehouse is rock-n-roll Founders Brewing Company, while the lake’s Oval Beach wins for smoothest sands.

Here is more information on how to explore Grand Rapids & the Gold Coast.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/travel-tips-and-articles/top-10-us-...

[XLFD]

You will notice, however, that the Lonely Planet's write up of the Gold Coast area leaves out special mention of Oceana, Mason and Manistee County beaches (mentioning several inferior beaches, in my humble opinion), so whereas we'll get the accolades for being number one, we won't be necessarily swarmed by tourists this next year.

[AQUAMAN]

I really kind of doubt that X. Once in West Michigan, everyone who knows anything about this area will be talking up Ludington and Manistee, as the carferry Badger is likely the brightest star and most favorite attraction to view. So, what I foresee, is more clusters with more and more people. It may be good for seasonal operations/businesses, but for my peace and tranquility mentality, I'd just as soon they put any other destination as #1, and leave us as an unknown, or down around #20. Last summer Ludington was the busiest cluster of a zoo I've witnessed in my lifetime. Shelves at grocery stores were half empty, gas stations had lines, restaurants had long waits, no-vacancies were posted daily, and the road traffic, oh boy, it took forever to just get into town, get a lunch, and get down to work. I felt more like I was in Chicago the last half of the summer, than Ludville. Then Labor Day came, and the flood gates emptied into a ghost town atmosphere again.

[Willy]

While I have to agree with the choice of Lake Michigan beaches I can't understand how Grand Rapids rates among the top tourists destinations in the U.S. I like Grand Rapids but in my opinion it doesn't rate this type of attention. If we are comparing cities near large bodies of water it's hard to beat towns like Seattle or San Francisco and they are sitting right on the water while Grand Rapids is miles away. I agree with Aquaman. The days after labor day or a blessing. I can finally turn east off Jebavy onto Ludington Ave. without waiting thru 3 light changes.

[AQUAMAN]

Exactly Willy, I've even sat thru 4 light changes there.