It reminded me that our little corner of the world is a pretty important player in the boating community. Glancing through the show directory we found listings for dozens more exhibitors from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Both were displaying large motor yachts. In each booth we visited with the folks from back home. There is shuttle service provided to get you from site to site.
Seminars cover topics ranging from sportfishing to choosing the right catamaran.
There is a festival atmosphere. Food and beverages are readily available. In all there are more than 2,300 exhibitors and 2.5 million square feet of exhibition space. There is no possible way to experience this show in a single day. Yet everywhere you turn is a small reminder of boating back home and winter seems to have gotten just a little shorter.