Travel

AAA Michigan projects nearly 3.6 million residents will head for vehicles, planes and rails this holiday season; four percent more than last year, and the most since AAA has been tracking holiday travel. Those heading out will be among the 112.million Americans traveling more than 50 miles from home, also up four percent.

Michigan consumers concerned about discretionary spending are seeking ways to make the most of gift giving budgets.

An estimated 1.4 million Michiganians said they will travel during the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period, a 6-percent decrease from last year, says AAA Michigan. AAA also forecasts a small decline in the number of holiday travelers nationally.

For seven years in a row, The 1913 Room at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids has achieved AAA Five Diamond status.

The 2008 fall color show is coming to a close, says AAA Michigan, with peak viewing conditions reported in the Southwest and Southeast Lower Peninsula. Good fall color conditions are reported in Grand Rapids, Holly, Jackson, Milford, Shelby Township and Tipton, with color development at 100 percent.

A few trees in some parts of Michigan have already started to show their fall foliage, and AAA Michigan says this may be a harbinger of what could be an excellent fall color season if Mother Nature cooperates.

An estimated 1.2 million Michiganians have Labor Day holiday travel plans, according to a recent survey by AAA. Of this number, 1 million will travel by car and 87,000 will travel by air.

AAA Travel Agency and WWJ Newsradio 950 are sponsoring a contest now through August 17, in which one lucky winner will enjoy a deluxe three-night cruise aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship from September 24-27.

Between now and Labor Day, a lucky sweepstakes winner will be chosen daily in Michigan and will receive a $50 American Express “Fill it Up®” card that can be used at any gasoline establishment where American Express is accepted, courtesy of AAA and News/Talk 760 WJR.