With record-breaking rainfall and cool temperatures, this summer has been an unusual one. Chamber of commerce directors across the Northwoods have different opinions regarding the effect of the weather on tourism. Unsurprisingly, communities that primarily rely on outdoor activities have been the hardest hit, as Three Lakes Chamber Director Skip Brunswick describes.
“If you want to get out of the city and come up and enjoy the lakes and if you have 70 MPH winds, you don’t want to be on the water. Everyone is trying to get Mother Nature to join their chamber, and I’ve not been successful in doing that.”
Similarly, Boulder Junction Chamber Director Theresa Smith says people are looking for more things to do inside as the unpredictable weather confuses plans.
“Here in the chamber office, we’ve seen a lot of people coming in and looking for things to do that are in indoors, but yet they’re still trying to get out in between the rain and different storms that we’ve been seeing so much of, using the bike trail and fishing when they can.”
Rhinelander seems to be bucking the trend of decreased tourism, though. Director Maggie Steffen says the bad weather is bringing in tourists from these other communities into Rhinelander to explore and shop.
“They’re exploring more, they’re shopping more, they’re going to different places that maybe they wouldn’t have gone, like ArtStart. So they’re looking for more things to do as opposed to just staying at the cabin and enjoying the water.”
For more information, events, and things to do, visit your community's Chamber of Commerce website
