Cool-cations in the Copper Country

With the Upper Peninsula entering into sunnier days visitors will soon begin traveling far distances. Over the last few years Visit Keweenaw has seen a growing trend of southerners traveling north to seek out cooler vacations spots. Cool-cation trends have the southern United States looking to cool off amid a heat wave. 

They tend to vacation down south, , maybe the Caribbean or what have you. But I’ve noticed particularly since COVID that people are starting to travel to smaller towns, particularly in the Midwest like Houghton-Hancock and the Keweenaw here. I think they’re just looking for a different experience. There’s not the large crowds, its nicer weather in the summertime. And they just love finding small towns like this. – Jason Swain, Owner, Keweenaw Boat Tours

Keweenaw Boat Tours Owner Jason Swain says that he and other business owners have seen the trend coming to the Keweenaw Peninsula in real time. The recently released tourism study from the western Upper Peninsula planning and development region also confirms that southern residents are visiting. 

I think the cool-cation trend is a long-term trend. We’ve seen people come to the Keweenaw for decades to come and jump in Lake Superior, do things like that, go hike in the forest. Those are things you do to stay out of the sun a little bit. But what we are noticing is an uptick, particularly as the summer’s warm, people are intentionally planning vacations to avoid warmer climate locations. And so the Keweenaw is strategically positioned given its proxies. location and gain access to Lake Superior. We would expect more and more people to start making their way north. – Brad Barnett, Executive Director, Visit Keweenaw

There are a lot of fantastic cool-off activities around the copper country. Even away from the water. Barnett says that visitors especially enjoy touring the region’s mining history. With trips below earth while on tour with the Quincy mine. Or chasing the stars and northern lights at night.

The key point to remember is that when people are coming up here, oftentimes there’s a 20 to 25 degree difference in ambient temperature. So just coming making their way this far north, there is there’s something special about it. You hear people often reference things like the freshness of air. When they get to the copper country, a lot of that has to do again with the cooler temperatures. But then again, once they get here, a lot of us take advantage of the things that maybe many of us take for granted here in the Keweenaw, which is again. Staying up late, checking out the stars. The temperature drops a little bit. We cozy up next around the campfires and things like that. Enjoy each other’s company. But a lot of this is again, being able to get outside, enjoying nature, but not being smothered by intense heat. – Brad Barnett, Executive Director, Visit Keweenaw

Cool–cation trends are a growing aspect of the Upper Peninsula’s tourism industry. Around the Keweenaw Peninsula in the summer visitors often enjoy a day at the beach, hiking one of the many trails, or checking out one of the hundreds of waterfalls. Those interested in learning more about summer vacation and recreation opportunities in the Copper Country can find more details at visitkeweenaw.com.