TRAVERSE CITY -- George and Sue Bunker can't do much more than hope for the best.
The couple hails from tiny Temperance, a town near the Ohio border in Monroe County. Sue lost her manufacturing job when her plant shuttered its doors without notice in 2007, and George retired from his contracting job 14 years ago.
The sluggish economy wasn't far from their mind as they enjoyed the bustle of the National Cherry Festival this week. Insurance costs, food prices, taxes and more are on the rise, and it's enough to knot their stomachs.
"It's scary, it's real scary," Sue, 65, said. "You lie in bed at night and worry; you worry about how you're going to come up with the money."
A large number of visitors to Traverse City and the Cherry Festival altered vacation plans this year in the face of a tough economy, and many expressed concerns about their financial future and the nation's continued economic troubles.
Some shortened trips to the region, while others looked to be more thrifty than usual as they wandered around the festival's attractions.
The Bunkers, who purchase most of their insurance out of pocket, recently were forced to sell property. They're not in imminent financial danger, though they choose to keep a careful eye on their spending.
A fancy, $8 bottle of vinaigrette offered by a festival vendor caught Sue's eye, but she thought twice.
"Normally, I'd buy it," she said. "Today, I don't think so."
The two have attended the festival for many years, and saw no reason not to this year. A thick wallet isn't a requirement for a good time, they said.
"We do a lot of stuff that doesn't cost money," George said. "It's free entertainment; watch the water, watch the people. I had enough money to buy this popcorn. Three bucks. What more do you want?"
A different approach
Kalkaska residents Robert and Dorothy Emory generally travel in the warmer months, but this year chose to stay close to home for financial reasons.
"We didn't make any plans; we're kind of laying low this summer," Dorothy, 64, said as she and Robert meandered around the festival's food court.
The Emorys took their visiting grandchildren to the festival over opening weekend. It's a fun, cost-effective event that makes more sense than spending money on a vacation elsewhere, they said.
"Even if you have the money, you don't feel like you should be spending it," Dorothy said.
Elisa and David Solak, of Saginaw, came up to camp in Interlochen and took a trip to the festival grounds Tuesday morning. They regularly camp in the region, but this year is different.
"I think usually we leave the camp a lot and do a lot of day trips, but this year, we're not," Elisa said. "We're just being more cautious."
Sarah Franke and her four children took in the festival Wednesday morning. The Traverse City resident, like many others, sought out less expensive attractions this year.
"We try to do more of the kids' stuff where it doesn't cost as much," she said.
Bob and Sandy Berry of Flint regularly come up for the festival. But this year the retired couple made a day trip out of it instead of spending money on a hotel.
"You look at things a little bit different than you used to ... usually in the summer we'd stay more than that," Bob said.
Robin Hardie and Ron Bollenberghe of Colorado Springs, Colo., found themselves in Traverse City during the heart of the festival. The couple first visited Bollenberghe's family in Detroit, then decided to venture north for a few days.
They're traveling less this summer in a cost-saving move, so it made sense to expand their previous plans instead of scheduling additional trips.
"You tack it onto a trip you have to take," Hardie said. "If you're already paying for that, then you just add on a few days of fun."
Joy and Jim Tompkins, of Traverse City, haven't altered their summer schedule because of the weakened economy, though they're conscious of the tough times.
"I think the economy's affecting everybody," Joy said as the couple waited in line for food. "For us personally, it hasn't changed our plans, but we just have jobs that are pretty stable."
Crowds are here
Shoppers crowded the downtown area during festival week, despite the weak economy. And some hotels are outpacing last year's numbers, owners said.
Brian Daily, owner of Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe on Front Street, said festival crowds usually ebb and flow with the presence of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels air show. The Angels are here only on even years, but Daily's staff hasn't noticed a drop this year.
"We're seeing the same crowd ... knock on wood, Formica and everything that looks like wood," he said.
But he has noticed a larger concentration of people from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and other areas within driving distance.
"Great Lakes people are going up north; it's less expensive than going to Florida," he said.
Alex Raphael, who works in the wine bar at nearby Cherry Stop, noticed the same thing.
"More Midwestern people for sure," she said. "I don't see as many people from the south this year."
The Holiday Inn West Bay is near capacity, general manager Deborah Brown said, and recent booking numbers are ahead of last year's.
"I think all hotel people were very leery of what to expect," she said. "We have been very, very pleasantly surprised."
Though the guests came, they generally booked stays with much less advance notice than in years past, Brown said.
It's largely the same story at Comfort Inn on Munson Avenue. General manager Brad Smith said overall June and July bookings are ahead of 2008 numbers, though early festival bookings weren't as strong.
"The opening weekend of Cherry Festival was not as good as last year, but some of that has to do with the Blue Angels," he said.
Jerilyn deBoer, co-owner of Cousin Jenny's restaurant on Union Street, said the Cherry Festival and summer crowds are strong.
"I'm surprised; it's been pretty good," she said. "It's down from last year, but not very much."
The past two years have been especially tough, deBoer said, but she's optimistic about the future.
"I'm definitely encouraged by the summer," she said. "I don't know what winter's going to bring."
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