From: Subject: Lake St. Clair star of tourism effort | freep.com | Detroit Free Press Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:46:59 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAA964.711ADC90" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAA964.711ADC90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.freep.com/article/20100207/NEWS05/2070521/Lake-St.-Clair-star-of-tourism-effort Lake St. Clair star of tourism effort | = freep.com | Detroit Free Press
=

Metro=20 Detroit

Local news main: Detroit | Oakland | Wayne | Macomb | Michigan | Politics | Lottery

Posted: Feb. 7, 2010

Lake St. Clair star of tourism effort

Destinations along its shoreline highlighted

BY MELANIE D. SCOTT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Metropolitan Beach, the Grosse Pointe War = Memorial and=20 Belle Isle are three of more than 50 sites organizers of the Lake St. = Clair=20 Tourism Initiative hope residents and visitors will explore this summer = through=20 a newly created tour.


The group is to launch its Lake St. Clair = Circle the=20 Lake Tour campaign Saturday at the Detroit Boat Show at Cobo Hall. A = tour map=20 will highlight attractions, restaurants and other destinations along the = shoreline of the lake from the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit to the Blue = Water=20 Bridge in Port Huron that are reachable by car or boat, in hopes that = people=20 will take the self-guided tour.

"Our initiative isn't about attracting people = from=20 Chicago, but people from Oakland or Livingston and other counties to = visit the=20 lake because it's a great asset to the area," said Brad Simmons, = executive=20 director of the Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative.

Patterned after the state's circle tours = highlighting=20 the Great Lakes, organizers of the nonprofit Lake St. Clair Tourism = Initiative=20 want to bring the same attention to the smaller lake, which is within a = one-hour=20 drive for more than 8 million southeastern Michigan residents.

The Macomb County Economic Development Office = has been=20 involved with the initiative since the group was formed in May = 2008.

"There are a lot of great destinations around = the lake=20 and not enough people know about them," said Justin Robinson, senior = economic=20 development specialist. "If we help educate others and increase the = awareness, I=20 think it will spur additional growth."

For lifelong area residents, such as Leonard = Hines, the=20 tour presents an opportunity to discover new places without spending a = lot of=20 money.

"Everybody knows about Lake Shore Drive and = Metro=20 Beach, but I would like to learn about new places around here," said = Hines, 59,=20 of Detroit.

Communities such as Harrison Township, with = tour=20 destinations like the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, support the=20 initiative.

"I think it's a fantastic idea because it's = about time=20 we market our natural resource," said Anthony Forlini, township = supervisor.

Related materials


Graphic:=20 Map of area (click to see larger version)

A version of this story appears on page 12A of the Sunday, Feb. 7, = 2010,=20 print edition of the Detroit Free Press.

More metro Detroit headlines

  • Snow,=20 high winds could make for dicey commutes
  • Metro=20 security breach leaves many on edge
  • $= 337,000=20 is awarded over lead
  • Today's=20 decisions
  • Local=20 news briefs: Resolution on imam death praised
Get=20 breaking news alerts sent to your phone.
Enter your phone number:
Your=20 info (optional)
Sex:   FemaleZip: Age:
T=20 & C | Privacy | Cancel=20 Alerts
Powered by 4INFO. Standard Messaging Rates or other charges = apply. To=20 Opt-out text STOP to 4INFO (44636). For more information text HELP to = 4INFO=20 (44636). Contact your carrier for more = details.

most = popular

most popular, = most=20 comments & most recommended

  1. Beh= ind Dave,=20 Jay and Oprah
  2. Ma= n,=20 62, is burned in rocket sled stunt
  3. Gr= anholm:=20 Carp battle is urgent
  4. Five=20 most important recruits in U-M's '10 class
  5. = Manning,=20 Colts let another opportunity slip away
  6. = Road-rage=20 suspect freed in wake of fatal shooting
  7. = Teen sues=20 Oxford schools in alleged sex assault by ex-teacher's husband
  8. Sn= ow, high=20 winds could make for dicey commutes
  9. = Johnny=20 Damon likes Yzerman, Tigers
  10. = ESPN=20 writer not sold on Red Wings
Contextual linking provided by Topix =
=20

PAUL ANGER

We=20 salute 4,300 reading volunteers

There are now about 4,300 volunteers, and counting. See their names=20 here.

=20

PHOTOS, VIDEO, PANORAMA

Take=20 a look at the Detroit Ice House

A photographer and architect are teaming to encase a Detroit house in = ice.

=20

MomsLikeMe.com

Would=20 you romance someone from work?

Today's poll: Is letting love brew in the office a good idea, or = recipe for a=20 career tailspin?

=20

Detroit Metromix

Hot=20 shots: THAW's Cocktails for a Cause

Local personalities mixed it up at the fund-raiser aimed at helping=20 Detroiters stay warm.

=20

MIKE THOMPSON CARTOON

Saints=20 and Lions

The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl XLIV! Proving to Lions fans = that=20 anything's possible

site index

=20

see today's newspaper

3D"See

View today's edition of the Free Press including all advertising, = coupons, comics and puzzles.


Copyright =A9 2010 ... Use of this site = signifies=20 your agreement to the Terms of=20 Service and Privacy = Policy/Your California Privacy Rights, updated March = 2009.