Guidebook for Alpena
Food Scene
Great for lunch or dinner. Fantastic food, full bar and there's often live music on the weekends. We're a little biased because a relative owns this restaurant, but we always stop here when we're in Alpena. The menu is very friendly to special diets (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).
19 preporuka/e lokalaca
Fresh Palate
109 N 2nd AveGreat for lunch or dinner. Fantastic food, full bar and there's often live music on the weekends. We're a little biased because a relative owns this restaurant, but we always stop here when we're in Alpena. The menu is very friendly to special diets (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).
Great spot for breakfast or brunch on the other side of the lake - very popular with locals! New owners in 2018 have made some improvements to an already great place. One popular improvement is the addition of an ICE CREAM counter :)
6 preporuka/e lokalaca
Parker House Restaurant, Cottages, and Motel
24732 US-23Great spot for breakfast or brunch on the other side of the lake - very popular with locals! New owners in 2018 have made some improvements to an already great place. One popular improvement is the addition of an ICE CREAM counter :)
Cabin Creek Coffee
201 N 2nd Avelocal downtown coffee shop near the drawbridge and river
Alpena's oldest historical saloon. In our opinion, the service & food isn't as good as some of the other area restaurants, but the interior is decorated like an old time saloon and worth checking out.
John A Lau Saloon & Restaurant
414 N 2nd AveAlpena's oldest historical saloon. In our opinion, the service & food isn't as good as some of the other area restaurants, but the interior is decorated like an old time saloon and worth checking out.
Good food & pizza; on the expensive side for Alpena. The restaurant bar is also a good place to grab a drink with friends.
15 preporuka/e lokalaca
Court Yard Ristorante
2024 US-23Good food & pizza; on the expensive side for Alpena. The restaurant bar is also a good place to grab a drink with friends.
Chinese & Thai restaurant close to our cottage. Good for takeout or sit-down. We like this place.
Chee Peng Chinese Restaurant
1237 US-23Chinese & Thai restaurant close to our cottage. Good for takeout or sit-down. We like this place.
Hunan Chinese Restaurant
1283 M-32Chinese restaurant that's near Meijer/Walmart/Home Depot.
Downtown Scoops
101 N 2nd AveIce cream shop in downtown Alpena
BIGGBY COFFEE
224 E Chisholm StThis franchise recently opened in Alpena. In a convenient location in downtown Alpena.
Seasonal (approximately April - November) restaurant in downtown Alpena. This used to be a food truck but it now operates out of the old Dairy Queen location. Yummy food and very popular with locals.
8 preporuka/e lokalaca
Hungry Hippie
510 North Ripley BoulevardSeasonal (approximately April - November) restaurant in downtown Alpena. This used to be a food truck but it now operates out of the old Dairy Queen location. Yummy food and very popular with locals.
Sightseeing
Open year round and appropriate for all ages. The center features many exhibits such as a full-size replica wooden Great Lakes schooner and shipwreck that visitors can walk through. The center is also where the glass-bottom boat shipwreck tours originate from (seasonal tours).
9 preporuka/e lokalaca
Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center
500 W Fletcher StOpen year round and appropriate for all ages. The center features many exhibits such as a full-size replica wooden Great Lakes schooner and shipwreck that visitors can walk through. The center is also where the glass-bottom boat shipwreck tours originate from (seasonal tours).
Parks & Nature
Great views of Lake Huron and views of the night sky. See the rockport brochure for more details on this site: http://www.visitalpena.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Rockport-Adventure-Guide.pdf
21 preporuka/e lokalaca
Rockport State Recreation Area
Great views of Lake Huron and views of the night sky. See the rockport brochure for more details on this site: http://www.visitalpena.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Rockport-Adventure-Guide.pdf
Great place to go for a walk or hike or cross country skiing in the winter months.
9 preporuka/e lokalaca
Norway Ridge Pathway Trailhead
2502-3450 Werth RdGreat place to go for a walk or hike or cross country skiing in the winter months.
Local beach on lake Huron. If you want to leave Long Lake and check out Lake Huron, this is the largest local public beach in town.
6 preporuka/e lokalaca
Starlite Beach
South State AvenueLocal beach on lake Huron. If you want to leave Long Lake and check out Lake Huron, this is the largest local public beach in town.
Small pier in downtown Alpena. Probably not worth a trip just to see the pier, but walk down the pier for the view of Lake Huron and Alpena if you're already walking around downtown Alpena.
Blair Street Pier
East Blair StreetSmall pier in downtown Alpena. Probably not worth a trip just to see the pier, but walk down the pier for the view of Lake Huron and Alpena if you're already walking around downtown Alpena.
Local beach & park on Lake Huron. If you want to leave Long Lake and check out Lake Huron, this is a smaller public beach that isn't usually as busy as Starlite Beach. Street parking only for this beach.
Thomson Park
South State AvenueLocal beach & park on Lake Huron. If you want to leave Long Lake and check out Lake Huron, this is a smaller public beach that isn't usually as busy as Starlite Beach. Street parking only for this beach.
From the city's website "Bay View Park is located on State Avenue on Lake Huron, adjacent to the Municipal Small Boat Harbor...It contains four tennis courts, three basketball courts, and a multipurpose open lawn area. There is an area of shoreline, space for picnics, and an open field for low profile activity. There is the Fine Arts Bandshell, which is used for summer band concerts, community celebrations, and by various groups for other occasions. [It also has a] fenced, fully equipped young children's playground..."
Bay View Park
208 N 1st AveFrom the city's website "Bay View Park is located on State Avenue on Lake Huron, adjacent to the Municipal Small Boat Harbor...It contains four tennis courts, three basketball courts, and a multipurpose open lawn area. There is an area of shoreline, space for picnics, and an open field for low profile activity. There is the Fine Arts Bandshell, which is used for summer band concerts, community celebrations, and by various groups for other occasions. [It also has a] fenced, fully equipped young children's playground..."
Arts & Culture
Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan
491 Johnson StLocal fine arts center with a gallery and classes (check events section of website).
11 preporuka/e lokalaca
Art in the Loft
109 N 2nd AveLocal fine arts center with a gallery and classes (check events section of website).
Paint your own pottery & canvas studio. Located in the local mall. https://www.cobbygoose.com/
Cobbygoose - the place to paint & more!
150 North State StreetPaint your own pottery & canvas studio. Located in the local mall. https://www.cobbygoose.com/
Cooperative gallery. Another place to view art created by local artists. We've purchased art for our son's bedroom here & love it.
Thunder Bay Arts Council
127 W Chisholm StCooperative gallery. Another place to view art created by local artists. We've purchased art for our son's bedroom here & love it.
Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library
211 N 1st AveWe have a great local library.
Everything Else
Walmart Supercenter
1180 M-32Local tackle store close to our lake - this is a good place to go if you need anything fishing related. They usually have the scoop on fishing on Long Lake and Grand Lake.
Buck's Bait & Tackle
8501 US-23Local tackle store close to our lake - this is a good place to go if you need anything fishing related. They usually have the scoop on fishing on Long Lake and Grand Lake.
Essentials
Meijer
1251 M-32Locally owned grocery store. We'd recommend Neiman's if you want to get bagels and/or donuts in the morning (there's a separate entrance for the bakery).
7 preporuka/e lokalaca
Neiman's Family Market
2205 US-23Locally owned grocery store. We'd recommend Neiman's if you want to get bagels and/or donuts in the morning (there's a separate entrance for the bakery).
Locally-owned smaller grocery store - close to our cottage and it can be easier and faster to shop here than to shop at one of the larger stores in town. Perch's also has a fantastic meat selection - this is one of the places we recommend if you want to find something yummy to grill when you're in town!
6 preporuka/e lokalaca
Perch's IGA
1025 U.S. 23 NLocally-owned smaller grocery store - close to our cottage and it can be easier and faster to shop here than to shop at one of the larger stores in town. Perch's also has a fantastic meat selection - this is one of the places we recommend if you want to find something yummy to grill when you're in town!
We're a little biased because our neighbors own this market, but Marine Market has a great meat selection that you don't want to miss if you're looking for something to grill.
Marine Meat Market
515 S Ripley BlvdWe're a little biased because our neighbors own this market, but Marine Market has a great meat selection that you don't want to miss if you're looking for something to grill.
Produce market with a meat counter. They also have plants and a few other products. Great place to stock up on vegetables and usually faster to shop here than go into a larger grocery store.
Kipfmiller's Produce & Meats, Inc.
2584 US-23Produce market with a meat counter. They also have plants and a few other products. Great place to stock up on vegetables and usually faster to shop here than go into a larger grocery store.
Located across the street from our cottage. This is a seasonal market that has snacks, ice, beer and take-out pizza. We pop over here all the time to get ice, chips, and other essentials.
Long Lake Supermarket
9538 W Long Lake RdLocated across the street from our cottage. This is a seasonal market that has snacks, ice, beer and take-out pizza. We pop over here all the time to get ice, chips, and other essentials.
Great local market open on Saturdays. Located in Downtown Alpena May - October (8am-1pm) and at the Alpena Mall October - May (10am-2pm).
Local Farmers Market
257-299 Park PlGreat local market open on Saturdays. Located in Downtown Alpena May - October (8am-1pm) and at the Alpena Mall October - May (10am-2pm).
Rite Aid
2140 US Highway 23SChain pharmacy
Walgreens Pharmacy
1011 M-32Chain pharmacy
Le Fave Pharmacy and Home Medical Equipment
1202 W Chisholm StLocal pharmacy
Entertainment & Activities
AMC CLASSIC State 3
206 N 2nd AveThe only movie theater in town.
Thunder Bay Theatre
400 N 2nd AveYear-round nonprofit theater.
Local arena with various events throughout the year (open skating, roller skating, boat show, snowmobile show, roller derby, hockey games, etc.). There is also an indoor walking track at the arena. Check the website for event listings http://www.northernlightsarena.com/
Northern Lights Arena
751 Woodward AvenueLocal arena with various events throughout the year (open skating, roller skating, boat show, snowmobile show, roller derby, hockey games, etc.). There is also an indoor walking track at the arena. Check the website for event listings http://www.northernlightsarena.com/
Local bowling alley. Check website for open bowl times http://thunderbowlinc.com/
Thunder Bowl Inc / the Shooters Pub
2192 U.S. 23Local bowling alley. Check website for open bowl times http://thunderbowlinc.com/
Great local golf course that is very close to our cottage. If you're only playing 9 holes, we like the back 9 a little more than the front 9 :)
Alpena Golf Club
1135 Golf Course RdGreat local golf course that is very close to our cottage. If you're only playing 9 holes, we like the back 9 a little more than the front 9 :)
Lee's Miniature Golf
1016 S State AveMini golf in downtown Alpena.