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

Posted on December 29th, 2021

The new year is coming and it’s time to leave 2021 in the past along with 2020! 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 is particularly full of treasures; you just n…

Little Red Lighthouse. Photo by Judy Hart.

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

Posted on December 16th, 2021

The historic port city of Alpena is nestled between a vast emerald forest and a clear blue bay. Fishing and Lumbering 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…

Road to Chippewa Hills Pathway by Steve Jakubcin

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

Posted on November 24th, 2021

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 t…

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 Autumn in Evergreen Cemetery Take a drive down Washington Ave. and as you look into Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, the colors of the trees…

A Peek Inside the Posen Potato Festival

Posted on September 9th, 2021

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 …

Your Summertime Guide to Outdoor Dining in Alpena

Posted on July 29th, 2021

Summertime and the livin’s easy in your Sanctuary of the Great Lakes! Nothing like relaxing on the patio with some good eats and a cold beverage, right? If you want to skip the effort and mess of cooking at home this summer, here are some great spots for outdoor dining in Alpena: Downtown Alpena:…

8 Ideas for a Rainy Day in Alpena

Posted on July 7th, 2021

The arrival of spring and summer brings us warmer weather, greener foliage, and bluer skies. We often credit rainy days for spoiling our plans with somber days inside. Kick those rainy day habits to the side and let mother nature take a day to rest and grow while you follow these 8 ideas to making the mos…

10 Must See Lake Huron Beaches in the Alpena Area

Posted on June 24th, 2021

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 cor…

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…