I've spent all 20 years of my life living in a small quaint town called St. Joseph. With its five miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, several high end beaches, countless parks, an indoor carousel, and splash pad featuring eight water cannons; St. Joe is the tourist hot spot to spend your summer days. As a local however, we often find the influx of tourists aggravating.
Reasons why living in a tourist town drives locals nuts during the summer months.
1. The driving
Getting cut off at the last second because they don't know where they're going and then being stuck behind them going 30 mph in a 45 is a common occurrence. Just a tip, traffic laws still apply to you. Also, the State Street intersection with the hill is NOT an all-way stop. Check your surroundings.
2. Crowded beaches
As a local, as sad as it is I avoid many of the beaches due to the fact they're overpopulated. To the point where you must weave in and out people just to reach the water. Throughout the years I've learned the less tourist-filled spots and stick to those.
(Silver Beach in St. Joe, normal summer day.)
3. Parking
Parking is an ABSOLUTE nightmare. I give myself an extra 30 minutes at the minimum in order to find parking before work. Sometimes giving in and paying to park in the beach lot, when it's not at capacity. Fourth of July week I either walk, or get dropped off because it's not even worth trying.
4. Busy
Everything's more busy. Sidewalks, restaurants, roads, beaches, people are everywhere.
5. Prices
Hotel prices sky rocket over 400 percent between the months of May-September. You heard that correctly, 400 percent. Apparently people pay to stay? Of course this doesn't affect me as I have a house to live in. However, locals getting married are hard pressed to find reasonable places for their families to stay.
6. Many believe they're entitled
I'm sorry, but when did you learn that it's okay to treat decent people like garbage? I experience this especially working in the restaurant industry. I understand you're hungry and your kids are getting finicky; but continuing to yell at me about how quickly your table or food will be ready will not make things go faster. I can't kick people out; and it's not that I don't want to seat you, I do. Mostly so you stop making people feel like inadequate pieces of shit.
7. Being asked for directions on a regular basis
Honestly, this doesn't bother me much, I'm all for helping people out. It just always seems to happen when I just finished pumping gas and am in a time crunch. Or awkwardly at a stop light. (Just avoid eye contact at all costs if you're in a hurry, try to not look approachable.)
Although I complain often about FIPS, FOPS, really tourists all alike, I also must admit we need them. They're the reason I have a job, they're the reason us locals are able to succeed in the small business world. From a small business owners daughter, although I may not always like you, I appreciate you. No matter how frustrating living in a beach tourist town, nothing can ruin the unbelievably beautiful sunsets.
