Go Pure Michigan

Often the poster child of the country's economic depression, Michigan has been down in the dumps for a while. But residents (yes, I was one once so I'm an authority on the subject) know that the lakes and the pristine glory of northern Michigan are its best-kept secret. (That, and the abundance of fresh water that will be available to them when the rest of the world goes into water wars.)

But Michigan's natural beauty is no longer a secret and the state finally has a more positive claim to fame. Today, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore located on the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula, was voted by Good Morning America viewers as the most beautiful place in the country.

Watch the announcement here:

Michelle Begnoche, spokesperson for Travel Michigan, which is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said she's not surprised by the Good Morning America viewers' choice and that she thinks this promotion will play a role in increasing Michigan's tourism.  Tourism, though not the answer to saving Michigan's economy, does play a part.

"Last year, 10,000 new jobs were created because of tourism in the state," Begnoche said. "And for the first time, out-of-state tourism spending surpassed in in-state."

Even though summer is drawing to a close, there's still time to fit in a trip to the Most Beautiful Place in America for a pasty, fudge and anything cherry.