Spring is a wonderful time to explore Michigan’s lower northeastern corner, known as the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes, before the busy summer season hits! Check out our top 5 places to explore in Alpena and the micropolitan region.

  1.  Downtown Alpena Mural Trail – Downtown Alpena boasts a variety of murals throughout the downtown district painted by artists both locally and from all over the country. Have you ever heard of Jesse Besser? If you haven’t before, you will when you come to Alpena! Check out the mural of one of Alpena’s famous innovators near Hopside Brewery and find out more about him at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.  Map it out by using our new Visit Alpena app powered by VisitWidget. Available on both Android and iOS
  2.  Presque Isle Lighthouses – Just a short drive north of Alpena to Presque Isle, two sentinels of the sea await you. Old Presque Isle Lighthouse and New Presque Isle Lighthouse are both unique in their own right and well worth the day trip to see! Lighthouses reopen for the season on May 23rd. 
  3.  Ocqueoc Falls – The lower peninsula’s largest waterfall and the nation’s first universally accessible waterfall lies just an hour northwest of Alpena. The falls offer four small rapids, a splash pool, and a beautiful six-mile Bicentennial Pathway for easy hiking.
  4.  Negwegon State Park – Mysterious, remote, and undeveloped, Negwegon State Park is a hidden treasure with 10 miles of hiking trails and one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Huron. Negwegon is located on US-23, 12 miles north of Harrisville. Drivers should be wary of the entry route to the park…part of it is a sandy two-track road. To get to the park, take Black River Road off of US 23 to the east 1.5 miles, turn north on Sand Hill Road and go 2.5 miles, turn right or east at the Negwegon State Park sign, and go 1.5 miles to the day-use parking area. No services, backcountry camping available. Negwegon is also a designated Dark Sky Park, making it the perfect location for stargazers!
  5.  Lady Michigan Glass Bottom Boat Ride – Find out why the Thunder Bay area is known as “shipwreck alley” when you board the Lady Michigan glass bottom boat. The crystal clear waters and the large ‘glass bottom’ viewing wells allow you to ‘dive’ the wrecks – without getting wet. During the 2-hour cruise, you will experience the magnificently preserved shipwrecks and the scenic shorelines of Thunder Bay. Learn the exciting tales of many famous ships and the history, legends, and lore of Lake Huron. Tours begin again on May 11th.

alpena

day trips

downtown

Lady Michigan

ocqueoc falls

Presque Isle Lighthouses

spring

View Archive