Aleric Nielson and his family from Mason are headed Up North.

"We're going up to Cadillac," he says. "We've done this every year for the past five years. It's just a habit we've gotten into, going up to Pine rRver, going canoeing."

They're the kind of family Travel Michigan, the people who put on those "Pure Michigan" commercials, are banking on to help close what's been a fantastic tourism year.

"We don't have all the data in yet, but it sounds like we had a tremendous season. That's great news," says Dave Lorenz of Travel Michigan.

Lorenz says it looks like our state's tourism industry is up 4 percent from last year. It's a result, he says, of a strong "Pure Michigan" TV campaign and unbeatable weather.

"The hot, dry summer was certainly a factor in bringing people here," he says.

Of course, when it comes to traveling in Michigan, gas prices always play an issue. This year-- they weren't one.

"Gas is about the same as last year," says Mark Griffin of the Michigan Petroleum Institute.

Griffin says this summer, the prices stayed somewhat steady, giving people more reason to take that trip Up North.

"A big 20-cent swing shouldn't make you change your travel plans," he says.