Houghton County businesses invited to get acquainted with Keweenaw destinations
Read more: Local, Copper Harbor, Tourism, Keweenaw Peninsula, Houghton County
COPPER HARBOR -- Their trolley took off from the Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in Houghton Monday morning and headed north for a day of entertainment and education.
More than a dozen employees from different tourist-frequented businesses in Houghton County began their adventure at the Delaware Mine before continuing on their way up US-41 to the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.
"It’s great,” said Kyle New, a front desk clerk at the Holiday Inn Express. “I'll be able to recommend a lot more now because I’m new to the area, so I wasn't very familiar with things up here."
Later the group ran into some interesting characters at Fort Wilkins State Park.
The jam-packed tour came compliments of the Copper Harbor Improvement Association, also known as C.H.I.A., which hosted a similar event last year. They know that businesses in the southern Keweenaw can help boost tourism up north.
"People aren't always aware of what's going on in Copper Harbor or what they can do here,” said Peg Kauppi, owner of The Mariner North. “But it does seem that a lot of managers do want their employees to be able to talk to customers about it."
The tour wasn't only about the sites to see, but also the adventures tourists can try when they come to Copper Harbor. For much of the afternoon, the group got to kayak, mountain bike, hike, and explore the town.
"They were offering kayaking,” said Laura O’Neill, General Manager of the Ramada Inn. “I had a quick class and it was a blast. Now I can tell people first-hand that anyone can do it."
C.H.I.A. says they'll plan another tour next summer, but in the meantime, they hope to see new and old friends coming to visit.
