Discover Alpena...A Port in the Storm

Situated on Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay, Alpena is a premier location for Great Lakes maritime heritage and recreation. Start your visit along the sunrise coast with a walk or bicycle along a 16-mile path winding through Alpena's plentiful public parks and beaches. Taste locally made wine at our country winery,  enjoy hot coffee and conversation at a downtown cafe or dinner at a local saloon that catered to rough and ready lumberjacks. Explore historic lighthouses by day or spend the night for a true taste of the life of a lighthouse keeper. Some of the best of Alpena lies off shore, so get out on the water for a Great Lakes fishing charter, take an afternoon sail aboard a tall ship, or grab some scuba gear and dive into history on one of the area’s 200 shipwrecks. To explore a shipwreck without getting wet, head to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center where you will find interactive exhibits that explore the exciting maritime history, shipwrecks, and archaeology of the Great Lakes. Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, or snorkeling, however you choose to explore Alpena, memorable experiences await the whole family.