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Local treasures
I’ve been to Alaska three times, but I’d be embarrassed to recite the list of cities in Michigan I’ve never visited. And while I’ve toured the headquarters and training facilities of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) in Regina, Saskatchewan, I never made it to Cereal City in Battle Creek, Michigan, before it closed forever.
Why do we do these things? Or is it just me?
Why is the far flung and faraway so appealing? What is the lure of long-distance destinations? Years ago, my brother and I published a small booklet called Michigan First. In it we described a handful of simple and little-known Michigan attractions. It was the ‘70s, and gas prices were climbing. All of a sudden, it made good sense to travel less (at least fewer miles) and enjoy it more.
Our message was simple: in tough (expensive) travel times, see Michigan first. It was an idea that a lot of people were waiting to hear apparently because our little booklet sold very well as a simple mail-order product. Well guess what? Over the years, I’ve forgotten my own advice.
With years of steadily rising across-the-board prices, higher gas prices now seem a way of life—an unpleasant fact of living that’s here for the long haul. But local attractions are still out there. In fact, we’re surrounded by them, and they’re increasing every day.
So what does all this mean? Only that I think it’s high time we paid a little attention of some of our local treasures.
Did you know, for example, that within an hour’s drive of my home is a spectacular bed and breakfast regularly ranked among the top ten in the United States? That’s right, one of the best in the entire nation right under our noses.
Antiques, you say? Well, travel no further than Kalamazoo to find one of the premier outlets for American oak and walnut furniture in the Midwest. It’s a haven so well known for its selection that dealers from all over the country flock here. Yup, right on our doorstep.
If gems like these aren’t enough to get you to think locally, let me add our unique retail shops, quaint (and elegant) restaurants, down-home coffee shops and—well, you get the idea. If you don’t, look around. Take notice of where you are and what you miss every day. That’s exactly what I’m going to start doing.
In fact, every so often, I’m going to use this column to draw your attention to one of our local treasures. Now mind you, they won’t all be world-class travel attractions. But they will be first on the list of what makes this area so interesting, relaxing, intriguing, mysterious, delicious, appealing and delightful.
These gifts are there for the taking. They’re local because they’re right under our noses. And they’re treasures that do not deserve to be buried any longer under our indifference. It’s time to stop seeing our local color in black and white.
Right here and right now, in front of all of you, I pledge to start paying more attention to our local treasures. And every so often, I’ll remind you to do the same by holding one up for a better look . . .