Michigan's M-22 Color Tour Route Explores One of America's Great Scenic Drives

09-17-2008

(NORTHWEST MICHIGAN) – The changing of the leaves to brilliant shades of gold, amber and garnet is an invitation to head north and explore the magnificent fall season among the rolling hills and coastal villages of Northwest Michigan

 

The premier route, which follows M-22 through Manistee, Benzie and Leelanau Counties, has been rated one of the top five greatest driving tours in America by Rand McNally. Officially designated as a State of Michigan Scenic Route, this spectacular scenic byway is now featured online at www.M22ColorTour.com.

 

“We’re a four season destination, but there’s no question that autumn is a personal favorite of many locals and visitors alike,” said Judy Ball, Executive Director of Manistee County Convention & Visitors Bureau “There’s just something special about the changing of the seasons in Northwest Michigan and we hope people will visit us to experience it for themselves.”

 

Traveling through quaint harbor towns, such as Manistee, Frankfort, Beulah and Glen Arbor, the M-22 Fall Color Tour route skirts the Lake Michigan shoreline and the bluffs, dunes and beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Along the way, visitors are introduced to unique galleries, vintage antiques, world-class restaurants, award-winning wineries and historic orchards and farms.

 

Visitors are welcomed by the sound of rustling leaves and the crispness of the autumn air, where Michigan’s most colorful season awaits with open arms. Recreational opportunities, such as championship golf, biking, paddling, fishing and even soaring the skies above the trees, are available to visitors looking to experience the fall color season from a different perspective.

 

Visitors can also expect to find value-filled packages and special seasonal lodging rates, as well as a cornucopia of fall festivals and harvest celebrations that the whole family will enjoy. What’s more, the M-22 Color Tour is a one tank trip for many in the Midwest, making it an affordable day-trip or weekend get-away for those wishing to escape to escape to this quite Northwest Michigan refuge.

 

“Visitors will find interesting shops, galleries, wineries, exquisite dining, superb recreational activities and comfortable accommodations along the way,” says Jamie Jewell, Representative of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau.  “It’s a wonderful way to enjoy fall color in northern Michigan.”

 

The M-22 Color Tour is a collaborative effort of the Benzie County Visitors Bureau, the Manistee County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau, who banded together earlier this summer to pool resources and marketing dollars to promote the fall color route that traverses through their counties. In addition to the website – www.M22ColorTour.com, the group printed 10,000 rack cards which are being distributed in their respective offices, at businesses throughout the area and at State of Michigan Welcome Centers.

 

“Being able to cooperate with other small bureaus like ours gives us a greater opportunity to reach new travelers,” stated Mary Carroll, Executive Director of the Benzie County Visitors Bureau.

 

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