From George Zimmermann’s resolution to attend Elvisfest and Dave Lorenz’s goal of going ice climbing, to Kirsten Borgstrom’s promise to try dog sledding in 2010, our team is resolved to travel the state in 2010 and take in as much Pure Michigan as they can.  Today, we’re introducing you to Maria Wygnal, and sharing her goals for 2010.

Maria is a travel marketing specialist with Travel Michigan/Michigan Economic Development Corp.  She grew up in the greater Lansing area and currently lives in East Lansing.  Her interests include travel, social media, graphic design and photography.  She’s also the voice of the Pure Michigan Twitter account, and you can see her out and about at many Pure Michigan events.  Here’s what she had to say when we asked her what her Pure Michigan resolutions were for 2010:

My personal list includes some of the typical blah resolutions, but when it comes to places I want to visit and things I want to do in Michigan… my aspirations are much more exciting! While growing up, my parents took my brother and I on many camping trips in Michigan and, during high school and college, I’ve enjoyed many other trips around the state with friends and family. I always thought I pretty much knew what Michigan had to offer. Over the past nine months, I’ve come to realize I was wrong. Since part of my job at Travel Michigan is creating and editing content for michigan.org and our social media channels, I’ve learned a lot about some of the destinations I’ve been missing:

Maria hanging out near the campfire at Tahquamenon Falls State Park with Lux

• Explore new wilderness in the Upper Peninsula – Last year, I spent my Fourth of July weekend camping at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. This year I’d like to experience one of the U.P. treasures I’ve been wanting to visit ever since I heard about it… Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon. As Michigan’s largest state park and only state designated wilderness, the “Porkies” has 60,000 acres to explore and contains the largest tract of old-growth forest in the Midwest. The idea of camping, hiking, canoeing, seeing waterfalls, secluded lakes and towering trees, and having the chance to photograph it all is #1 on my list!
• Visit Michigan’s largest spring – Another U.P. treasure… 200 feet across and 40 feet deep, an amazing 10,000 gallons a minute gush from the fissures of Kitch-iti-kipi (also known as “Big Springs”) at Palms Book State Park in Thompson. An observation raft allows you to view the fascinating underwater features of the crystal clear waters below. My mom said we went there during a family camping trip when I was young, but I don’t remember it. The photos I’ve seen have convinced me it’s worth going back.
• Discover Michigan shipwrecks – From what I hear, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena is a great place to do just that.  And, since scuba diving is on my list of things to learn this year, I’m hoping to see some wrecks on the bottom of Lake Huron! While in the U.P., I hope to check out the Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour in Munising for the first time as well.
• Visit Hitsville USA (the original home of Motown Records) –Visiting downtown Detroit is always a treat for me because I enjoy the chance to look at amazing historic buildings. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have a favorite old building that I always look for when I’m downtown for a Tigers game. Detroit is rich with history and culture… and one of its most popular tourist destinations is the Motown Historical Museum. It’s hard to believe I’ve never been, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to make it there on one of my trips to the D this year.
• Go downhill skiing – I always get slack for this one since I grew up in Michigan, but I have never been skiing… never. In eighth grade, my class was supposed to take a group trip to one of the ski areas and, for some reason that I no longer recall, the trip was cancelled. My skiing opportunities have been downhill (haha) ever since. Things are looking better for 2010 (thanks to a pretty nifty job). Watch out for me on the slopes!

Have you done any of the things on Maria’s list?  If so, and you have tips or advice to share with her, leave her a comment and let her know.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know some of our talented team here at Pure Michigan.  If you see them out at an event, feel free to stop them and say hello.  And remember, we would love to hear your Pure Michigan New Year’s resolutions – you can share them with us on our Facebook Fan Page, Twitter (using the hashtag #MIspy), or by leaving a comment below.

So far, we’ve shared the Pure Michigan Resolutions for George Zimmermann and Dave Lorenz.  Next up is Kirsten Borgstrom – and she has some great stuff planned for this year!

Kirsten is the media relations manager for Travel Michigan/MEDC. She grew up in Ludington, and currently lives in East Lansing with her husband Joe and kids Kate (5) and Jack (1). When she’s not hard at work (which is very rarely!), her interests include travel, cooking and chasing two kids.  This year, she wants to:

Kirsten, with her husband Joe

• Take more culinary classes, especially those focusing on cooking with Michigan products including morel mushroom, fresh Michigan peaches and blueberries.
• Learn to dog sled. I love being outside during the winter. As a family we go snowshoeing and cross country skiing. This winter we need to turn it up a notch and try our hand at dog sledding.
• Go on a Michigan beer tour. I’ve been on many of the wine tours in the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, this year I’m changing it up and going on a beer tour.
• Put my feet in 3 of the Great Lakes, in one day! This summer the family and I are heading to the Upper Peninsula where we can put our feet in the water (or swim) in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior all in the same day.
• Take in a movie at the Capri Drive-In, one of Michigan’s drive-ins and a top-10 American Drive In.

If you tips or advice for Kirsten on any of her resolutions, please leave a comment and let her know!  And remember, we would love to hear your Pure Michigan New Year’s resolutions – you can share them with us on our Facebook Fan Page, Twitter (using the hashtag #MIspy), or by leaving a comment below.

Yesterday, we shared our Vice President, George Zimmermann’s 2010 Pure Michigan Resolutions.  Today, Dave Lorenz is sharing his Pure Michigan goals for 2010.

Dave is the manager of Public & Industry Relations for Travel Michigan/Michigan Economic Development Corp. He grew up in Cloverville (yes, the one near Fruitport and Nunica) and currently resides in Norton Shores. His interests include travel, running and trying to be a good husband and father.  Here are his resolutions:

Dave Lorenz

• I’m hoping to try my hand, or hands and feet, at Ice Climbing in the Marquette/Munising area. I learned the basics of climbing last winter on a waterfall at the base of Hogback Mountain (great name, huh?) in Marquette. I’m hoping to climb more than 30-feet this year.
• Run at least two Michigan marathons this year. I had a rotten running year in ‘09 - the result of an injured knee and a busy schedule – but I’m hopeful that I will run Traverse City’s Bay Shore Marathon in May after a warm-up in Grand Rapids at the Fifth-Third Riverbank race. In the fall I hope to either run Detroit or Grand Rapids marathons. I have run both in the past and they are both GREAT!
• Get back to Isle Royale National Park, to hike and kayak among the moose and wolves. I’ve hosted travel writers there before but there is so much more to explore.
• I love Detroit! My wife and I are planning to show off the city to a group of friends this spring. You can feel the rhythm of the city over a weekend but I’m hoping to spend more than a few days enjoying the sights and sounds of a great American city.
• We live near the Lake Michigan shoreline and we have gotten out of the habit of taking those occasional weeknight walks along the beach. There is nothing like a twilight stroll as the waves are softly caressing the shoreline (OK…a bit much maybe, but true) and we have so many public access spots, including Muskegon’s Pere Marquette park, and our many state parks like PJ Hoffmaster State park .

If you’ve already done any of the things on Dave’s list, and have some tips or advice for him, leave a comment and let him know.  We’ll be following up with him throughout the year to see how he’s doing on his resolutions. 

We would love to hear your Pure Michigan New Year’s resolutions – you can share them with us on our Facebook Fan Page, Twitter (using the hashtag #MIspy), or by leaving a comment below.

For our team, traveling in Michigan isn’t just a job, it’s a passion.  This week, we want to introduce you to four of our team members – the ones you are most likely to see in the news and out at events.  And since it’s a new year, and time for new resolutions, it seemed only appropriate to find out what Pure Michigan things they have resolved to try in 2010. 

First up is George Zimmermann.  George is the vice president for Travel Michigan at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He live in Okemos with his wife, Carol, and Boots, the family dog.  When he’s not working, George enjoys sailing and classic cars.  Here are his 2010 Pure Michigan Resolutions: 

George and Boots

•  Attend the Michigan Elvisfest in Ypsilanti, an event that’s been on my list for years, but I have yet to experience.
• Kayak at least one new river or stream in Michigan.
• Get to the 2^nd ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, after their phenomenal launch in 2009 (which I didn’t get to).
• Take another of the guided walking tours of downtown Detroit with the women from Inside Detroit, who know the city – its history and current happenings – better than anyone I’ve met.
• Improve my cross-country and downhill skiing (and by improve, I mean learn how to!).

If you’ve already done any of the things on George’s list, and have some tips or advice for him, leave a comment and let him know.  We’ll be following up with him throughout the year to see how he’s doing on his resolutions. 

We would love to hear your Pure Michigan New Year’s resolutions – you can share them with us on our Facebook Fan Page, Twitter (using the hashtag #MIspy), or by leaving a comment below.