I wonder just how insane the Fourth of July weekend will be?
At work I get a direct look at how the tourism industry is doing in the city. Being just a block down the hill from one of Marquette's biggest hotels I always see a stream of visitors making their way into downtown and to the lake. And, if I had to guess, that guess would that next weekend—the Fourth—will be insane.
Absolutely insane.
Now, this is not based on any scientific evidence other than my own observations. But the amount of people I have seen exploring my particular part of downtown, a part filled more with offices than shops, has been, at least in the past few days, staggering. I don't think I've ever seen more people on the sidewalks aside from, say, a big weekend like the Fourth.
And we're still a week away from that.
I know people haven't been able to travel in the past year and there's all this pent-up demand (and money) waiting to get used. Add to that the fact that the sidewalks are already at a Fourth-level of traffic, and I just have a feeling where this is going. So don't be surprised if, in the next 10 or 12 days, you have a little trouble getting around, getting a table, or just getting some unwanted attention.
People have travel steam to release, and we'll be the release valve for a lot of them.
We're actually adding to that travel steam, as two of Loraine's nephews are coming up for the Fourth. They were up a couple of years ago, back when you could still travel, and they've been looking forward to seeing what a holiday weekend up here is like.
Hopefully, they won't be overwhelmed by the whole thing.
So don't be surprised by anything you see in the next week or so. Remember that it's all good—for our economy, for the minds of people visiting, and for this weird reputation we're developing as one of the best places in the country to visit.
No matter how insane it gets.
Have a great weekend, and be happy—Washington Street in downtown Marquette is finally open again!
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