This port city is located on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, creating optimum recreational and leisure possibilities. Avid boaters and fishers are naturally attracted to Escanaba, because over one third of the developed land has direct waterfront access to Lake Michigan and Little Bay de Noc. The layout of the area also benefits the economy by enabling the shipping of lumber and iron ore to other Great Lakes ports such as Chicago and Milwaukee. Although Escanaba is located in Michigan, geographically its proximity to Wisconsin and Illinois creates stronger cultural ties and much of its tourism traffic originates from these neighboring communities. Aside from outdoor recreation, arts and culture play a strong role in the city's community. The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center hosts performing arts events and enables visitors to take a tour of international exhibits, and participate in interactive workshops; while the East Ludington Gallery tends to cater to the retail end of the local commercial artists. A deep sense of culture and history compliment the vista views of a park dotted landscape fringed with sandy beaches. Together this draws visitors to this outdoor recreational haven.