DEARBORN (WKZO AM/FM) — This coming Thanksgiving is expected to be another record breaker when it comes to travel.
AAA Michigan says over 1.6-million Michiganders will head over the river and through the woods to check out the Lions game, gobble some turkey, catch the big balloons and bands at the big Parade in Detroit, spend time with the relatives, hit the woods to bag a buck, hit the stores to bag a black Friday bargain and all the other things we do during the T-day weekend.
Some will be traveling just to get away. In fact if you consider the two most popular destinations identified by AAA, Orlando and Anaheim, you would think that the fourth Thursday in November had been set aside to celebrate Walt Disney.
New York, Honolulu and Las Vegas round out the top five.
1.6-million travelers in Michigan will be the most since 2007, and a 3.5% increase over the number last year.
The AAA poll says a strong economy and high consumer confidence are contributing to the desire to travel, or at least provide the finances. That despite gas prices which are 60 to 70 cents per gallon higher this year than last.
AAA VP Vickie Evans is predicting that “Thanksgiving kicks off the start of what will likely become the busiest holiday season in more than a decade…. And should help fuel consumer spending and generate a strong finish for the travel industry this year.”
If the weather cooperates and there are no major transportation disruptions and everything goes smoothly, it will be the eighth consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving weekend travel in Michigan, since the country emerged from the Great Recession.
