Street Talk: The Story Behind Alpena’s City Streets

Posted on January 11th, 2019

We’ve told you about some of the namesakes surrounding Alpena history in our previous blogs, “Alpena: What’s in a Name?”, and “The Names, the Myths and the Legends of the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes”, but have you ever wondered about Alpena’s stree…

Exploring sinkholes. Photo by Josh Stephan.

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? From the interior of a dense forest to fresh breezes off Lake Huron, camping provides an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of our region and reconnect with friends, family, or even just the solitude of our own daydre…

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate National Bike Month in Our Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

Posted on May 10th, 2018

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. Communities all around the country, from the east coast to the west coast, participate every May. Here is how you can too, right here in Alpena! Whether you bike for the sport, to commute to work, for your health, or all…

Do you know the history of Alpena’s Second Avenue Bridge?

Posted on December 1st, 2016

In 1862, before Alpena’s first bridge was built across the Thunder Bay River, a ferry boat was the only means of travel between the north and south sections of this rapidly growing Northeast Michigan town. The ferry was a 30 ft. long flat bottom scow that had a long iron pole extending up from the…

Home for the Holiday: What to Do, What to See, Where to Go?

Posted on November 23rd, 2016

Coming home for the holidays does not have to mean vegging around all day in front of the TV in between meals. Unless of course, that is what you look forward to! However, if you and the family are looking for things to do and things to see in Alpena since you’ve been away, may this be your adventure…

A Day in the Life on the Draken Harald Hårfagre

Posted on July 21st, 2016

Have you ever wondered what it’s like sailing across the ocean in the world’s largest Viking ship? When the Draken Harald Hårfagre moored in the Thunder Bay yesterday evening, we asked David Short, a member of the Viking Expedition America 2016 team, about this exceptional ship an…