Your Summertime Guide to Outdoor Dining in Alpena

Posted on June 3rd, 2021

Summertime….and the living is easy in your Sanctuary of the Great Lakes! Throwback to when Sasquatch himself enjoyed outdoor dining in Alpena for the filming of Major League Fishing. Nothing like relaxing on the patio with some good eats and a cold beverage! Want to skip the effort and mess of…

Making Waves with Great Lakes Great Responsibility

Posted on April 20th, 2021

Alpena local and environmental community leader, Meag Schwartz, is making waves for a positive and cleaner future. Meag is the creator and founder of Great Lakes Great Responsibility (GLGR), a non-profit organization whose purpose is to empower and educate individuals to take action to protect…

5 Ways to Tell Spring Has Sprung in the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

Posted on March 26th, 2021

Spring may have been “official” on March 20th, but a well-seasoned Michigander knows that spring is not really here until mother nature tells us so! Here are 5 ways for you to remember how to tell when spring is “official” here in Alpena… 3 pretty Robin eggs; pho…

Everyone Is Irish On St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 15th, 2021

On March 17th, everyone is Irish! This week we will celebrate the annual tradition of St. Patrick’s Day and our Irish heritage by wearing green, drinking green beer, and eating corned beef and cabbage. But where did this all come from? The traditional Irish St. Patrick’s day feast consisted of p…

Alpena’s Bucket List: The New Year’s Resolution Edition

Posted on December 29th, 2020

The new year is coming and 2020 really did a number on us all, so it is time to be excited (or maybe cautiously optimistic) about 2021! Whether you are a local or a tourist, a bucket list is a great way to explore your own backyard and Michigan treasures. As the official Sanctuary of the Great Lakes, Alpena…

Let it Snow! 5 Fun Things to Do After a Snowstorm in Alpena

Posted on December 17th, 2020

There are so many things to do after an Alpena snowstorm, like shovel…plow…snow blow…you know, the adult stuff. Set that aside for a couple of hours of care-free fun with these MUCH better ideas, from us to you! Check out this awesome snowman! Construction and photo courtesy o…

Top Haunted Places and Urban Legends of Alpena

Posted on October 20th, 2020

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 histo…

Thunder Bay Winery Weighs in on Vineyard Sustainability and Sheep

Posted on September 17th, 2020

What do wine and sheep have in common? No, this is not a pun, it’s sustainable harvesting practices of course! We caught up with Thunder Bay Winery owner/operators Jeremy and Janis Sahr to find out more about these gentle, wooly creatures and how they help around the vineyard. Vineyard golden…

Little Red Lighthouse. Photo by Judy Hart.

Our Backstory: A Historic Look at the Port City of Alpena

Posted on May 7th, 2020

The historic port city of Alpena is nestled between a vast emerald forest and a clear blue bay. Founded in 1871, Alpena began as an early commercial fishing port and soon grew to be one of the nation’s most profitable lumber harvesting locations. Lumber camps dotted the region and logs were f…

A Complete Guide to Unconventional Pizza on Pi Day in Alpena

Posted on March 11th, 2020

It’s Pi Day, and we’ve gathered up a list of unusual, unique, and one-of-a-kind specialty pizza pies. You can find all of these unconventional pizzas at locally-owned restaurants right here in Alpena. Where will you venture off to tonight? Court Yard Ristorante– P…