Visit Alpena: Sanctuary of the Great Lakes

01/03/2025

In our blog below, we offer 10 different ideas for incorporating the Danish concept of hygge into your daily activities here in Alpena. From checking out a book at the Alpena County Library to sipping on spirits or coffee at your favorite cafe, there are a variety of ways to live your best hygge life this winter!

What does a "hygge" lifestyle look like for you in Alpena?

Hygge – pronounced “hoo-ga”, is a Danish concept that cannot be translated into a single word but encompasses the overall cozy feeling of contentment and well-being by enjoying the simple things in life. This is especially popular during the winter months when everyone seeks warm, cozy content...

01/02/2025

Today's takes us back to images of heavy snowfall in downtown Alpena in 1910, proving winter enthusiasts have always enjoyed biking through the snow. Can you imagine biking through this amount of snowfall before the invention of fat tire bikes?!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year, Alpena!

12/31/2024

Alpena may not be the Land of the Midnight Sun, but we’re gonna try to get the sun to rise at midnight anyway! We are, after all, the sunrise side. As part of Downtown Alpena’s New Year’s Eve festivities a sphere of light will be raised at midnight in lieu of the traditional ball drop! 🌅

Other downtown NYE activities include:
🍪 Dessert and cocoa bar at the Sunrise Side Co-op from 5-9pm
🍫 Smores in the Pocket Park (next to Mangos) from 6-8pm
🍎 PIFCider New Year’s Eve Party (with apple drop at 10pm) from 7-10ider New Year’s Eve Party (with apple drop at 10pm) from 7-10pm
🍹 Mocktails and noodles at Friendly Foodees from 9pm-1am
🎹 Music in the alley from 9pm-1am with an electronic set from Dion Stepanski from 9-11:15pm and Chris Chrzan from 11:15pm-1am
Many downtown restaurants and bars will have food and drinks until 10pm or later.

Check the Downtown Alpena event page for full details.

12/30/2024

Yum! Add Black Sheep Pub to your New Years bucket list! The Black Sheep

The fish and chips at this pub are out of this world! https://familydestinationsguide.com/michigan-british-themed-pub/

12/27/2024

✨ New Year, New Adventures in Alpena! ✨

As the clock strikes midnight on Tuesday and we welcome 2025, it's time to think about New Year's resolutions and maybe even dream up a bucket list! 🎉 Whether you’re looking to explore new hobbies, spend more time outdoors, or just try something new, Alpena has so much to offer.

Here are a few ideas to kickstart your Alpena bucket list:

The new year is coming and it’s time to leave 2024 in the past! Whether you are a local or a tourist, a bucket list is a great way to explore your backyard and Michigan treasures. As the official Sanctuary of the Great Lakes, Alpena is particularly full of treasures; you just need to know where

12/26/2024

to the joyful Christmas season of the 1960s in Alpena!

to the joyful Christmas season of 1960! The house is beautifully decked out for the holidays, and even the family's dog, Pixie, is nestled by the Christmas tree.🎄✨

This heartwarming photo is part of our Fred Trelfa Collection at the museum. What a cheerful reminder of holiday magic from the past!

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau!

❤️,
Mary Beth, Nicole, & JoEllen

12/24/2024

It's Christmas Eve and Santa is once again on his way to Alpena! 🎅

As we say every year, there have been debates about whether this photo is real, but just like Santa, sometimes you have to believe!

Santa: Bill Fetter
Photographer: Foto Art by Doug, taken around 1989.

12/23/2024

Are you home in Alpena for the holidays? Check out these upcoming, fun events!

🎹 December 26th - Live Electronic Music with D-Step at PIFCider
https://www.facebook.com/events/894760869408083
🥂 January 31st - Sunrise Side New Year's Eve Celebration in Downtown Alpena sponsored by HPC Credit Union & Alpena DDA
https://www.facebook.com/events/902511588496358/
🎸 January 31st - New Year's Eve Party with High Speed at The APlex - Alpena Events Complex
https://www.facebook.com/events/858817726158386

12/20/2024

It's the last weekend to visit Santa Claus in downtown Alpena at Culligan Plaza!

Santa will be in his house today, Friday, Dec. 20th from 5 - 7 pm, and tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 21st from 12 - 4 pm! Free and open to all ages.

12/20/2024

12/19/2024

Today’s takes us back in time to the Holiday Parade of 1966 in Downtown Alpena. 🎄❄🎅

Photo Courtesy: The Alpena News Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library.

12/18/2024

Check the maps in this post to see which days Santa will be driving by in your neighborhood!

12/17/2024

Exciting news at the Besser Museum For Northeast Michigan!

12/17/2024

🐰 It can be easy to fall down the rabbit hole, especially one as cute as this one-of-a-kind downtown Alpena shop! Located at 312 W. Chisholm, The Rabbit Hole has tea ready-made for shoppers coming through the door and offers a unique selection of items you won’t find anywhere else in town.

Organic tea 🍵, Plant Therapy essential oils, original and reprint of art (acrylic on canvas, photography, home décor, and many other fun stuff! Follow The Rabbit Hole on Facebook to stay up to date on new product alerts and special holiday discounts/sales. Has your curiosity sent you down to The Rabbit Hole yet?

The Rabbit Hole is open for business Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm (4 pm on Saturdays) inside of the Wallace Firm, P.C. Stop by today and find that perfect last minute gift!

12/16/2024

The historic Henry house also happens to be for sale right now and would make a beautiful Bed & Breakfast 👀

Coming into Alpena from the south on 23, you can’t miss this magnificent stone house that looks like a castle facing towards Thunder Bay. The house was built in 1902 by Charles R. Henry, after he died in 1926, it was inherited by his son the prominent Alpena attorney Carl R Henry, who was the president of the Michigan Bar Association in the 1930’s.

Most of the stones use in the construction 18″ thick walls of the house, which took two years to build, came from Cathro north of Alpena, but some of the stones were given to Mr. Henry by friends. One of the largest stones came from the Bottom of Lake Huron when it was brought up in a fishing net. There are stones from Hubbard Lake, Black Lake, Long Lake and Onaway and one stone from Colorado.

If you or someone you know, loves exploring Michigan or reading about its strange and historic places, I hope you will take a look at Lost In Michigan books that are available on my Amazon affiliate link HERE https://amzn.to/3Npvgae

12/13/2024

These below-freezing, frigid temps are helping the ice on Fletchers Pond thicken up nicely! These pics were taken yesterday, on the left is Jack's Landing Resort, and on the right is Fletcher's Landing Resort. Both resorts book up quickly during the winter months for ice fishing so make sure you make your reservations now! 🥶🌬

🎣 Fletcher's Landing Resort 989-742-4166 https://www.fletcherslanding.com/
🎣 Jack's Landing Resort 989-742-4370 https://www.jackslanding.com/