CBS Early Show Visits Mackinac
"...what I learned is just how much American history there is in Michigan that a lot of people I don't think are aware of." - Dave Price, CBS Early Show
By Eric Fish

At left: CBS Early Show Weatherman Dave Price prepares to fire the Fort Mackinac cannon June 22. Mr. Price was on Mackinac Island as part of the network's Great American Vacation series.

Weatherman Dave Price of the CBS Early Show was on Mackinac Island Friday, June 22, filming footage at several Island locations as part of the network's second annual Great American Vacation series.

For the series, Mr. Price traveled the country, giving away Caribbean vacations to viewers.

"We've been fortunate enough on the show to be able to travel all over the world, to literally every corner, and all over the country, as well," Mr. Price said. "When we got here, the only way I could describe this place was 'breathtaking.' It's beautiful, and this is where work equals vacation for us."

Mr. Price started his day on Mackinac Island at historic Fort Mackinac. He arrived shortly after 10 a.m. with Early Show associate producer Rebecca Resnik, cameraman Arnie Cantu, and sound technician Jason Pawlak.

He entered the Fort wearing a polo shirt and khaki shorts, but quickly changed into a soldier's uniform for training with the fort's interpreters.

Dave Price poses on Andy, a horse from Cindy's Riding Stable, prior to riding from Fort Mackinac to Market Street June 22. Mr. Price will return to the Island August 23 for a live broadcast from Grand Hotel, where CBS will broadcast the footage shot this week and award a free vacation to a viewer.

"If I only would have had this for my bar mitzvah, it would have been a very different affair," he joked about the soldier's uniform.

Mr. Price's first order of duty was the firing of the Fort Mackinac cannon. He was guided through the basic technique by fort interpreter Trace Dominguez, who explained that the cannon could fire to a point as far away as Round Island.

"I wish I could forecast that far ahead," Mr. Price joked. "To come to Mackinac and be able to say I shot a cannon while I was there is a pretty cool thing."

Following the cannon firing, Mr. Price drilled with fort interpreters and fired a musket, all while closely shadowed by the film crew.

Dave Price (right) and Fort Mackinac Interpreter Trace Dominguez.

"It's fascinating to kind of see the behind-the-scenes of the whole process and how they film everything," Mr. Dominguez said.

Mr. Price then rode into town on horseback, guided by Veronica Gough of Cindy's Riding Stable. Their path traveled past Grand Hotel, and down Cadotte Avenue.

She considers Mr. Price an average rider, Miss Gough said, and enjoyed guiding him into town.

"He seemed really fun-loving and happy," she said. "When he introduced himself, he immediately said, 'Hi, don't be shy.' He was really fun."

Mr. Price picked up a tandem bicycle from Orr Kids and cruised around town, looking for a riding companion, piloted a Shepler's ferry boat, and made fudge with Ron Steensma, the general manager of Murdick's Fudge.

"It was just kind of a fun thing, actually," Mr. Steensma said. "It was a lot of fun. He was easy to work with."

Another humorous moment came when Mr. Steensma informed Mr. Price that barometric pressure determines the temperature at which fudge can be cooked.

"He got a kick out of that," Mr. Steensma said. "He said, 'You need us weathermen to cook fudge.'"

The visit to Mackinac Island was an experience enjoyed by the CBS crew.

"I feel like when you come here, any worries that you have, they fade away," Miss Resnik said, contrasting the atmosphere to that of her home in Manhattan, New York. "It's so wonderful to come here and for there to just be this peace.

"Mackinac Island is amazing. It's one of those places that you see it, and it's so different from anywhere else in the country. I'm really excited that we could come here, noting the history and culture of the Island."

Mr. Price was even able to pick up on a few tricks of native Michiganders. He learned how to locate his geographical whereabouts in the state by using his hand, and was corrected on occasion in the proper pronunciation of "Mackinac."

"I know how to say Mackinac," he joked, pronouncing it correctly. "I don't know what happened."

While he only sleeps about four hours a night while traveling for the show, Mr. Price said he loves it. He has a year-around home in New York City, but he's on the road about 60% of the year. With the hustle and bustle of his daily schedule, Mr. Price doesn't get a lot of downtime.

Noting the friendliness of the islanders, Mr. Price said that Mackinac Island is a place he wishes he could stop and stay for awhile.

"There are a couple of things I knew about Michigan coming in that were just reconfirmed," he said. "One, it's so stunning, it's so beautiful. Number two, the people are incredible. But number three, what I learned, is just how much American history there is in Michigan that a lot of people I don't think are aware of.

"This place is packed with pretty much something for anybody: nature buffs, history buffs, adrenaline junkies, and people who just want to do nothing, and relax."

The CBS stop on the Island may do wonders in terms of its promotion, also. Mackinac State Historic Parks Director Phil Porter said that recent national programming has been scarce, but has included A&E and The Today Show. Now the Island can soon add The CBS Early Show to the list.

"It's a great opportunity anytime you get national exposure," Mr. Porter said. "We all know and realize what a special place Mackinac Island is, and people who come here always go away so impressed with it, but to be able to share that story with peo- ple around the country is really just a great opportunity. We really do have visitors from all 50 states every year, so in a sense, we're speaking to our audience."

Mr. Price and CBS will return to the Island for a live broadcast August 23, when the network will reveal the footage shot June 22 in addition to awarding a Caribbean vacation to a viewer. The broadcast will occur on the porch of Grand Hotel.

"When we're back here doing the show on August 23, it would be just phenomenal if everyone who is on Mackinac that day came out and was part of our audience," Mr. Price said. "It's a great time to spotlight an incredible place for the rest of the country."

The CBS Early Show airs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Other stops this summer are at South Padre Island, Texas, Aspen, Colorado, Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota, Key West, Florida, Savannah, Georgia, Outer Banks, North Carolina, Niagara Falls, New York, and Bar Harbor, Maine.