10 Must See Lake Huron Beaches in the Alpena Area

2025-11-04T18:25:50+00:00June 25, 2025|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Outdoor Activities|

Picture this: the “Big Lake” breeze dancing through your hair while blue waves lap at the golden sand under your feet. The air is warm and unsalted. Alpena is welcoming you! The coastal beaches of Alpena and surrounding areas are little gems. Gems tucked away in this Northeastern corner of the Mitten, just waiting to be […]

Pet Friendly, Alpena

2025-11-04T19:40:27+00:00July 28, 2023|Family & Kids Activities, Inspiring Alpena|

Traveling with your furry family member is a fun and memorable experience! Our special CVB Correspondent, Greg, and our Work-from-home Employee of the Month (for 24 consecutive months), Thora, have the inside scoop on all things pet-friendly!  Take the worry and stress out of whether or not your pet will be welcomed with our tips […]

12 Day Trip Ideas with South Bay Car Rental

2025-11-05T16:08:47+00:00May 12, 2023|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Local News|

Ever find yourself up for an adventure but lacking wheels? Exploring hidden gems in the Alpena area is made easier with help from Alpena’s South Bay Car Rental. Whether it’s for a day trip, a long weekend, or an extended time, South Bay Car Rental will hook you up with the perfect vehicle for you and […]

A Peek Inside the Posen Potato Festival

2025-11-06T15:31:11+00:00September 7, 2022|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Festivals & Events, Food & Drink, Inspiring Alpena, Local News|

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 68 years. Generations of families have grown up learning how to dance the polka, sharing family recipes for potato latkes, and […]

Dinosaur Gardens: America’s Last Great Roadside Attraction

2025-11-05T18:44:29+00:00September 1, 2022|Family & Kids Activities, Local News, Outdoor Activities|

Dinosaur Gardens: Over 80 Years as One of America’s Favorite Roadside Attractions What is considered one of America’s last great roadside attractions, Dinosaur Gardens offers a prehistoric walk through time. A T-Rex stomps through the pine trees, a family attempts to secure a wooly mammoth for dinner, and you can almost feel the breath of […]

A Day Disconnected: Discovering Alpena Without Your Smartphone

2024-06-21T15:56:20+00:00March 2, 2020|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Local News, Outdoor Activities|

You read the title right. We are suggesting the unimaginable…the unthinkable…the unfathomable act of leaving your phone at home! Or at least in your car. It’s time to discover Alpena, disconnected. Don’t get us wrong, we want you to share your photos and tell all your friends about what a great time you had in […]

9 Ways to Spring Break in your Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

2024-06-21T15:59:47+00:00March 27, 2019|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Festivals & Events, Local News|

It’s Spring Break in your Sanctuary of the Great Lakes and it seems Old Man Winter has left our area *knocks on wood*. Although we are still in 30-40 degree temps, there are still lots of fun indoor activities to keep you and your kiddos occupied this week.  Spring Break Family Matinee: 5 different films will […]

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

2024-06-21T16:00:48+00:00January 4, 2019|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Festivals & Events, Local News, Outdoor Activities|

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 adventured with 4-legged friends. In March, local Morning […]

Changing the Narrative, One Scoop at a Time

2024-06-21T16:01:26+00:00November 28, 2018|Activities, Family & Kids Activities, Food & Drink, Inspiring Alpena, Local News|

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 varieties, old-fashioned ice cream parlor feel, and friendly customer […]

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