On the weekend of June 16-18, an exciting group of visitors will be in Huron and Tuscola County.  The Huron County Park System is hosting Kayakers and canoers from throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio in Lighthouse County Park, Port Hope, MI.  In collaboration with local heritage and cultural tourism groups, the parks have determined it was time to promote the excellent parks, county and state, that line the shoreline of Lake Huron. 

The Huron County Parks meet the needs as identified by paddlers that are a major component in drawing visitors to the area for more than one or two nights.  Each park: is located near historical tourism areas; has suitable access and egress accommodations to the lake, has been identified by GPS coordinates; is located close to not only camping but motel, and bed and breakfast overnight accommodations; provide campsite cooking and/or are close to restaurants.  As the local partner in the pilot for Michigan’s Great Lakes Heritage Shoreline Water Trail, Huron County Parks have collaborated with local stakeholders including Bed and Breakfasts, hotels, motels, restaurants, boutiques, gift shops, museums, historic buildings and sites,  local recreation and conservation sites to identify the assets of Huron County as a site for destination tourism.

Events such as the Paddlers’ Weekend  June 16-18, 2006 are a unique blend of experience for the tourism industry.  It combines the environmental and physical experience of offering an extending active camping experience with the opportunities to engage the traveling public in a range of accessible art forms, educational experiences, sites, heritage events and cultural traditions. 

For additional information on the Paddlers’ Weekend, you may contact  the project facilitator ,  The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Society,  at 989-856-4505 or e-mail at cjvalent@glis.net.