Road to Chippewa Hills Pathway by Steve Jakubcin

15 Things We Are Thankful For in Alpena, Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

Posted on November 23rd, 2022

With Thanksgiving approaching on Thursday, this is the perfect time to reflect on our lives over the past year and be grateful for what we have, what obstacles we have overcome, and for what the future may bring us. This Thanksgiving we wanted to share everything we are grateful for that Alpena has to…

Top Haunted Places and Urban Legends of Alpena

Posted on October 24th, 2022

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 rich history that…

Leaves Are Falling and Autumn is Calling at Hemlock Hills on Mill Pond

Posted on October 21st, 2022

Whether you’re looking for the perfect relaxing autumn vacation or the perfect fall venue for your upcoming wedding, Hemlock Hills on Mill Pond has all of the above to make your perfect fall getaway! For the fall season vacationer, look into one or more of these properties: The Cottage on Pine…

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

Posted on October 19th, 2021

Grab your cameras and check out this list of some of the best places to see the shades of autumn in Alpena, hand-picked by our Facebook fans. Alpena Take a drive down Washington Ave. and as you look into Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, the colors of the trees above are brilliant shades of re…

Saddle Up in Alpena with Rose Creek Horse Adventures

Posted on November 4th, 2020

Alpena local, Amanda Sumerix has always loved horses and dreamt of one day working on a ranch in Wyoming. Little did she know that one day she would be living that dream and eventually owning her own horse riding business in her home town. Sumerix started riding lessons when she was 9 years old. “I loved…

Fall into Fun in the Alpena Area

Posted on October 13th, 2020

You haven’t truly experienced an authentic Autumn until you have traveled to Northern Michigan. October is the month of leaves, apples, donuts, and hayrides. As we leave summer, we transition into the season of cozy flannel shirts, hats, scarves, and gloves. You can experience everything fall ri…

Find Fall Color in Alpena’s Top Walks in Nature

Posted on September 27th, 2019

Overcast skies, colorful forest beds, stunning lakeside views, and rich pieces of history are just the beginning of what you’ll discover when you explore the Alpena Area. We have approximately 2 more weeks until our fall color is in full swing! Walks by the Water Besser Natural Area: Stretc…

Autumn Mornings on Blair Street Pier. Photo by Justin Christensen Cooper.

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. In February we advent…

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…