The Best Town to Visit on Lake Huron: A Weekend in Alpena

For those who tell me, “West Coast is the best coast,” I like the banter rebuttal, “You might think that, but the East Coast is the peaceful coast.” 

On a weekend when hoards of beachgoers are fighting for parking spots along Lake Michigan, I find myself reading a book on Ossineke State Forest Beach, a little over 10 miles from Alpena. My three adventure cats are roaming between the beach and the brush, and only one other person has passed me in the last twenty minutes. 

The shores of Lake Huron are calm & sandy. I walk barefoot through the water, scaring minnows with each glided step. I look out at the water and know there are over two hundred shipwrecks in the area, one of which I’ll go kayaking over later in the day. 

I think about how lucky I am to have this place for myself and feel sorry for anyone who is anywhere else. 

Although I’ve been blogging about Michigan for over a decade, I haven’t been to Alpena since I was a kid. When I returned, it quickly skyrocketed to the top of my list for the best town to visit on Lake Huron and quite possibly the entire Up North. 

Dare I say, it feels like an unpretentious Traverse City, with its delicious downtown restaurants, easy access to stunning beaches, and cozy Northern Michigan atmosphere. If you asked me to spend a week in TC or Alpena, my choice would be easy. 

The Best Town on Lake Huron: Visit Alpena

Where to Stay 

Ossineke State Forest Campground: During my three-night stay in Alpena, I stayed at Ossineke State Forest Campground, which has a little over 40 sites next to Lake Huron. About 25 of the sites have direct beach access. It is perhaps one of my favorite lakefront campgrounds in Michigan. Just watch out for the poison ivy! 

Holiday Inn Express & Suites: The best location of any hotel in Alpena, located just across the river from the Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour and walking distance to everything downtown. And trust me, you’ll want to spend time downtown! 

Big Bear Lodge: I have a special place in my heart for Michigan motels that remind me of my trips Up North as a kid in the 90s, and Big Bear Lodge looked just like one of those. Also located across the street from Thunder Bay, Starlite Beach, and Mich-e-ke-wis Park. 

What to Do 

Besser Natural Area: Great hiking and perhaps the best-hidden beach in Michigan. Perfect sand & a shallow, protected cove area perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming. Better yet, the area has both a ghost town and a shipwreck that can be explored. The Portland sank in 1877 and is marked by a buoy about 250 feet off Bolton Point at the northern end of the beach. On a calm day, you can swim, paddle, or snorkel out to the wreck, which I highly recommend! 

Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour: Sticking on the theme of sunken ships, there are daily shipwreck tours leaving from downtown Alpena that explore various shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The entire sanctuary is home to over 200 shipwrecks, while the tour sticks to exploring one of the 20ish shipwrecks located in Thunder Bay. This is a MUST if it’s a calm day, as you can clearly see the shipwrecks from the second story of the boat when the water is calm. 

Old & New Presque Isle Lighthouse: Located near Besser Natural Area, this is the perfect stop for history & lighthouse lovers! Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to 1840. The New Presque Isle Lighthouse has some neat attributes, including being the tallest light on the Great Lakes that the public can climb. The two lighthouses are located just over a mile from each other and are open from mid-May through mid-October. 

Dinosaur Gardens: A unique spot that started as a passion project and is now a fun, pet & family-friendly roadside attraction. Besides the 27 life-sized dinosaurs it has on the grounds, it also offers putt-putt golf, fossil digs, ice cream, and a gift shop.

Island Park: If you are interested in enjoying a SUP, kayak, or canoe Up North without having to pack your own, Island Park offers rentals that can be secured via a QR Code on your phone within a matter of minutes. Show up at any time, fill out the waiver, select your rental time, and get the code to unlock your rental. And it’s cat-approved! 

Where to Eat & Drink 

Cabin Creek Coffee: Best iced chai and $7 build-your-own breakfast burritos. Need I say more?

HopSide Brewery: Huge menu for both beer and food. The worst part about dining here is deciding what to order! I was a big fan of the Rex (strawberry blonde ale) & the Hawaiian chicken burger. 

Austin Brothers Beer Co: Best known for their 45’er IPA, Austin Brothers was my favorite restaurant in Alpena. When you go, order the Brussel Sprout appetizer. You won’t be disappointed! 

Connie’s Cafe: Located just outside of Ossineke State Forest, this place is famous on the east side of Michigan for its gigantic cinnamon rolls and hearty breakfasts. I was stuffed by the end of breakfast but really wanted to try their cookies, so I ordered ½ dozen to go. Warmed them up in the microwave later, and WOW…those were the stars in my eyes. 

Thunder Bay Winery: Yes, there are even wineries in Alpena, one of which has a tasting room right downtown. The vineyards are located just down the road in Ossineke, and they opened a second tasting room in Petoskey in 2021. They have everything from your classic red/white wines to fruit wines and port wines. 

PIFCider: Presque Isle Farms Cider, known locally as “PIF”, is a cider bar. Yup, you read that right, a cider bar! The perfect place for a refreshing afternoon drink. It hosts a ton of neat local events. We went on a poetry night, and there wasn’t an open seat in the bar. The people of Alpena truly show up for their community. 

A Weekend in Alpena: The Best Town to Visit on Lake Huron 

My only regret during my visit is not staying longer, and I hope I get a chance to return in the near future to check some new items off my Alpena to-do list. The cats were very unhappy when we left town, so it looks like they’ll have to come back with me! 

**My visit to Alpena was part of a paid partnership. All opinions, details, and writing are my own.