Through the Lens: A 2018 Instagram Recap of Alpena, Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

Posted on January 4th, 2019

Do you follow @sanctuary_of_the_great_lakes on Instagram? If not, don’t miss out on another year of Alpena’s best photo-ops! Here is a recap of our fan favorites for the year of 2018: Nothing stopped us from going to the beach…not even the month of January. Alpena boat harbor. P…

Changing the Narrative, One Scoop at a Time

Posted on November 28th, 2018

When Aaron Buza and his wife Kari were approached about taking over ownership of Downtown Scoops in Alpena, they were honored and excited. Established in 2011 by Chris and Missi LeFave, Downtown Scoops has delighted local residents and visitors with their homemade waffle cones, unique flavor var…

Alpena Fall Scavenger Hunt

Posted on November 1st, 2018

Halloween may be over with, but the fall fun doesn’t have to be! If you’re looking for something fun and out of the ordinary to do on Sunday Fun-days with friends and family, why not try out our fall scavenger hunt? The rules are simple: the first one to check off all of the items on the list wi…

Top 10 Haunted Places and Urban Legends of Alpena

Posted on October 25th, 2018

A bump in the night, a whisper in your ear. Is it your imagination? Perhaps it’s the wind. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s something else. Hauntings, urban legends, and Native American folklore are cultural experiences that can be found all over the world. Alpena is no exception with a r…

Alpena Shades of Autumn: Where to Find Nature’s Color Palette

Posted on October 10th, 2018

The fall colors have not peaked yet in the Alpena area, but it is only a short time until this beautiful display of fall foliage occurs! When it does, grab your cameras and check out this list of some of the best places to see the shades of autumn, hand-picked by our Facebook fans. Alpena– Take a d…

A Peek Inside the Posen Potato Festival

Posted on September 6th, 2018

Local Experience Writer Lara King gives readers an inside look at a familiar favorite in Northeast Michigan. Alpena’s neighbor to the Northwest, Posen, has been celebrating the local potato harvest in Northeast Michigan for 67 years. Generations of families have grown up learning how to dance …

8 Inspiring Ways to Go Camping in Alpena: Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

Posted on August 2nd, 2018

Camping, Glamping, Survivalist, Tenting. What kind of camper are you? Negwegon State Park is a beautiful site for rustic style camping. Photo courtesy Josh Stephan From the interior of a dense forest to fresh breezes off Lake Huron, camping provides an opportunity to enjoy the natural beau…

16 Things We Are Thankful For in Our Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

Posted on November 22nd, 2017

Exploring your “blue space” adventure is only 5 minutes away in Alpena. Photo courtesy of Paul Gerow. With Thanksgiving approaching this Thursday it is important to remember that there is more to this annual holiday tradition other than stuffing our faces with turkey and cranberry s…

Shop Local in Alpena This Holiday Season!

Posted on November 16th, 2017

Downtown Alpena shoppers; captured by Leslie Male ‘Tis the season! It’s that time of year when many are out and about, searching for the perfect gift to give friends and family members as a token of love and appreciation. Did you know that by shopping local, you also show the same love and…

The Names, the Myths and the Legends of the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes, Pt. 1

Posted on November 9th, 2017

Sunrise over Squaw Bay. Photo by Chuck Bennett How did Alpena get its name? Why do we pronounce Presque Isle like ‘Presk-eel’? What’s up with name Mich-E-Ke-Wis, and how did we come up with Ossineke and Negwegon? You’ve wondered, and we have your answers! The 3 most influe…