Southwest Michigan residents don’t need a reminder about how beautiful our part of the world is, but it is nice when others give it the recognition it deserves.

Condé Nast Traveler, a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, recently published its “20 Best Places to Go in 2020” issue. Among places like Australia, Brazil, Morocco, Spain and other exotic locales, the magazine ranked southwest Michigan as a top destination for the coming year.

In addition to our lakeshore offerings, the magazine made particular note of another of our region’s strengths — agriculture and, more specifically, agritourism. It wrote about the many farms, vineyards and orchards that are characteristic of the area that produce our favorite wines, ciders and microbrews, as well as award-winning restaurant options.

Be sure to check out Condé Nast Traveler at your favorite newsstand or read online at cntraveler.com/gallery/best-places-to-go-in-2020.

With so much to offer, it’s no wonder tourism is a such vital part of our region’s and the state’s economies. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in 2017, more than 5 million people visited Michigan for leisure and recreation, and these visitors spent a whopping $2.1 billion. Indeed, our welcome guests help our communities thrive.

It’s always a good time to plan your family’s next adventure, and while you’re at it, why not consider a “staycation” right here in Southwest Michigan?

Whether you’re a lifelong resident, new to the area or want to show an out-of-state guest a good time, the southwestern Michigan Tourist Council is a wonderful resource with all the information you’ll need to make your outing a great one. Visit SWMichigan.org to get started.

Where is your favorite place to visit in Southwest Michigan? Stop by my Facebook page at facebook.com/SenKimLaSata to share and compare.