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Keweenaw's Explorer Blog

April 2025 | Industry Newsletter

The Keweenaw’s visitor economy plays a vital role in our region’s quality of life and future prosperity. To keep local leaders and stakeholders current on issues impacting the industry, Visit Keweenaw created this monthly newsletter to share information on topics such as economic trends, destination and community investments, and other pertinent news.

We hope you find this a valuable resource to stay up to date on the Keweenaw’s visitor economy and encourage you to share it with parties you think would benefit from the information. As always, we look forward to sharing what makes the Keweenaw a special community to both live in and visit.

Within this newsletter, you'll find: 

 

A Note From the Executive Director

As we head into the Summer 2025 travel season, the outlook for the Keweenaw is very encouraging. Nationally, travelers are seeking affordable destinations that offer high value without high prices — and the Keweenaw is perfectly positioned to meet that demand.

Our region’s small-town charm, outdoor recreation opportunities, and rich history provide visitors with memorable experiences at a price point that makes extended stays possible. Early indicators show travel demand remains strong with many travelers prioritizing road trips and nature-based getaways that deliver meaningful experiences without breaking the bank.

Visit Keweenaw’s team is fresh off attending the Governor’s Conference on Tourism earlier this month, and we are ramping up marketing efforts to highlight the Keweenaw’s exceptional value. We encourage businesses to be ready for early-season visitors beginning in late May, with steady traffic expected through September. Travelers will be looking for lodging, dining, attractions, and experiences that offer great quality.

Thank you for being an essential part of the Keweenaw’s welcoming spirit. Together, we can ensure Summer 2025 is a successful, vibrant season for our entire community.

 

A mother and father joyfully swing their daughter in front of ruins.

 

A Chilly Start to Spring

April showers couldn’t have come soon enough after a whopping 314.25 inches of snowfall – according to Keweenaw County. The 2024-25 winter was a knockout year for snowboarders, snowmobile enthusiasts and silent sports lovers across the region. The Keweenaw boasted a vibrant winter event season with its excellent powder product and near-daily accumulation in February packed a good base. In fact, some areas of the Keweenaw are still thawing out!

For the first time, the Visit Keweenaw Snowfall Guessing Competition ended in a tie! Congratulations to David Myron and Randall Matson for nailing the exact total. They'll each be taking home some Keweenaw swag. Thanks to everyone who joined the fun — we’ll be back next season with more snow, more swag, and maybe more winners!

 

Hunter’s Point Park Up for Best Beach in Michigan

USA Today’s 10Best contests love the Keweenaw! For the second year in a row, Hunter’s Point Park in Copper Harbor is in the running for Michigan’s Best Beach. With its stone-lined shore, this scenic spot showcases the Keweenaw’s rugged, copper-veined coastline — and it’s the perfect place to dip your feet on a hot day.

Hunter’s Point Park needs your vote to win! You can show your support for Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula by voting once a day until Monday, May 19 at noon. The winners will be posted on Wednesday, May 28. USA Today has recently recognized other Keweenaw attractions like Mount Bohemia for their regionally/nationally acclaimed features.

 

A spit reaches out into Lake Superior

 

Vault Hotel Nominated for Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice

For a third consecutive year, The Vault Hotel was nominated for a Readers’ Choice Award from Conde Nast Traveler. It’s a testament to its exceptional service, stylish design, and the unforgettable experiences it offers right here in downtown Houghton. This prestigious recognition places The Vault among the best in the Midwest and highlights the growing appeal of the Keweenaw Peninsula as a luxury travel destination. Congratulations to the team at The Vault for continuing to raise the bar!

 

a historic building glows softly with accent lighting during evening's fall

 

Visit Keweenaw Joins Destination Think’s Global Collective

Visit Keweenaw has joined Destination Think’s Global Collective, a carefully selected group of destinations from around the world working together to make tourism a workforce for good. While every destination in the Collective is unique, all share a common goal: to protect what makes their communities special while welcoming visitors in a way that supports local people, places, and values. The coalition includes a select group of destinations including Copenhagen, Denmark; Bend, Oregon; and Seattle.

“We’re proud to join Destination Think’s Global Collective and align with destinations focused on reshaping tourism,” said Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw Executive Director. “Through our Destination Development Fund, we’ve already invested in trails, outdoor amenities, and infrastructure that benefit both residents and visitors. As we continue building out experiences in our slower seasons, this partnership offers a chance to take our sustainability efforts to the next level, learning from global leaders how to keep the Keweenaw’s tourist economy vibrant and continue positively impacting our community.”

Tourism has the power to shape communities — for better or worse. That’s why Visit Keweenaw is deepening its commitment to thoughtful, sustainable travel. As part of the Collective, the organization will collaborate with global peers to share ideas, solve challenges, and help ensure that the Keweenaw remains wild, resilient, and welcoming for generations to come. Visit Keweenaw has long been committed to sustainability in many aspects. In just the past two years alone – Visit Keweenaw started a local Sustainable Tourism Series, and a new campaign called Love the Keweenaw based on Leave No Trace principles.

 

Visit Keweenaw Leads New Event to Kick off Summer in Hancock

Visit Keweenaw is the lead organizer of the new Juhannus Summer Solstice Celebration in Hancock taking place June 20-22. The Finnish Long Drink came in as a presenting sponsor to help Visit Keweenaw and the City of Hancock blend Finnish traditions with a modern twist. The weekend heats up with two Long Drink bars and a Juhannuskokko (midsummer bonfire) at Porvoo Park. The Finnish Long Drink will help run a Long Drink Ice Plunge Challenge and pop-up at Small Craft Friday night until the fire burns out.

Saturday’s activities will take place on the Quincy Green – including all-day lawn games, a Long Drink beer garden from 1-6 p.m. and a midsummer pole raising in the morning. The event was planned intentionally by Visit Keweenaw to help bring visitors into Hancock and the greater Keweenaw during an empty weekend in early summer. This demonstrates the value Visit Keweenaw brings to the community with a brand partnership and launching an additional new event to bring more visitors to the region, support local businesses, and elevate the Keweenaw’s profile as a premier destination.

Visit Keweenaw continues to seek sponsors and volunteers for Juhannus. Please email jesse@visitkeweenaw.com or call (989) 551-3191 if you’re interested in sponsoring or sending volunteers for Juhannus.

 

Juhannus Summer Solstice Celebration 2025

 

Upper Peninsula History Conference Comes to Houghton

Visit Keweenaw is excited to share the 2025 Upper Peninsula History Conference coming to Houghton this June 27-29. Visit Keweenaw is an official sponsor. This is the type of event that puts heads in beds, boosts our hotels and downtown businesses, and shines a spotlight on the Keweenaw’s outstanding cultural assets.

Visit Keweenaw knows that bringing in more science, outdoor and culture-based summits align with our region’s strengths. Events like this don’t just celebrate our past – they help fund the future with more local recreation investment and growing our visitor economy in a meaningful way.

 

Visit Keweenaw Goes to the Governor’s Conference on Tourism

Visit Keweenaw’s staff, including Executive Director Brad Barnett, Content Manager Amanda Makela, and PR/Events Coordinator Jesse Wiederhold, recently attended the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Novi. This annual gathering focuses on industry trends and innovations in travel and tourism across the state.

Attending the conference is important because it gives us a chance to check in on how we're doing compared to the broader industry — and we’re proud to report that we believe Visit Keweenaw is performing exceptionally well. It's also an opportunity to connect with our marketing and Pure Michigan peers, sharing ideas, building relationships, and staying energized. Seeing the creative work being done across Michigan inspires us to bring new ideas home, adapt successful strategies, and continue elevating the Keweenaw as a top travel destination. Events like this fuel our passion and ensure we stay connected, current, and ready to grow.

 

seven people stand in formal wear smiling for a photo

 

Voter’s Choice Awards

Visit Keweenaw is proud to announce the launch of the Keweenaw Voter’s Choice Awards, celebrating the businesses, attractions, and experiences that define the Keweenaw Peninsula. A panel of industry experts has carefully selected top nominees across multiple categories — from outstanding pasties and cocktails to iconic trails and historic sites.

Now, we’re turning to the public to help us recognize the Keweenaw’s finest experiences.

Voting runs May 1–13, with results announced later in the month.

This is a great opportunity to showcase the exceptional experiences our region offers and rally community pride. We encourage everyone to spread the word, engage your audiences, and support our local nominees. Every vote helps elevate the Keweenaw as a top destination.

 

Keweenaw Voter's Choice

 

Upcoming Events

Ride the Keweenaw (May 23-25) brings a wave of mountain bike enthusiasts for a weekend of enduros, group rides and fun from Adventure Mine to Copper Harbor! It features family friendly bike events over Memorial Day weekend and shows off the Keweenaw’s extensive mountain bike trail network.

  • Keweenaw Pridefest (June 7) will take place at the Calumet Colosseum – creating a welcome place to celebrate diversity. The event returns for its third year with a free, all-ages celebration of LGBTQ+ pride featuring live music, games, food trucks, and community activities.
  • Bridgefest (June 12-15) celebrates the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and features an extended weekend of activities on both sides of the Portage Canal.
  • Pasty Fest (Aug. 16) returns in full force with its medieval theme. Folks can expect the Pasty Eating Competition, Pasty Pull and Vote Sample Platters – all in mini-ren fair glory.

 

In the Headlines