4th of July Travel

CREATED Jul. 2, 2012

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  • Fourth of July is falling on a Wednesday for the first time in five years. Video by nbc26.com

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DOOR COUNTY, WI - Fourth of July is falling on a Wednesday for the first time in five years. Does this unusual day have travelers confused about which weekend to celebrate? Or does it mean an entire week-long boom for tourist destinations in northeast Wisconsin?

“Whenever the holiday falls on a weekday, it's a bonus,” said Geri Ballard, who owns Black Walnut Guest House, a Bed & Breakfast in Sturgeon Bay.

They were complete booked last weekend and are completely booked starting Wednesday night through next Sunday. Ballard said they didn't know quite what to expect with the middle-of-the-week date, but so far it's working well for them.

“We look at it as a good thing,” said Ballard. “Because we think we're going to get people for the holiday and then for both weekends.”

And the date may be helping some tourists, who need an alternative plan, especially when you work weekends.

“It worked out well for us to do Sunday through Wednesday and then get back home for the regular grind on the weekend again,” said Nick Letsinger, who is visiting Door County from Rockford, Illinois. He said they could not take the entire week, but could do the middle.

But others are taking a little more time.  

“We actually decided to celebrate both weekends, on the weekend before, and the weekend after,” said Denise Larson from Minnesota.

That means more money pouring into the county.

“The downturn in the economy is finally starting to turn around, dollars are starting to loosen up a little bit,” said Jack Moneypenny, President and CEO of the Door County Visitor’s Bureau.

Moneypenny is predicting a record year. He said nearly 2,800 more people have visited the welcome center, which is good news for Door County, no matter what weekend you want to celebrate the 4th of July.