By Danielle Devota

Alpena has some beautiful and fun delights for any traveler. I planned a trip there recently, as it had been a while since I last visited.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena is a must-visit. Located on Lake Huron, this sanctuary offers plenty to explore by land and sea. I’ve been on one of the glass-bottom boat tours before, where I got to see many of the shipwrecks in the lake. This time around, I decided to check out Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, which houses several exhibits. It was a great immersive experience that also provided some really interesting history of the Great Lakes.

Once I had my fill of the exhibits, I decided to walk around Alpena and do some snacking and shopping. First, I grabbed a smoothie from Blu Blends Smoothies & Acai to hold me over while browsing the many shops nearby. Parallel 45 Books & Gifts was first on the list. This locally owned and independent bookstore has a great selection of best-sellers and Michigan authors. From there, I ventured to Rusty Petunias Marketplace, a home decor and gift shop. They even offer wine and craft beer at their wine bar, which you can sip while you shop!

Birch Hill Grocery was next—this shop offers everything from baked goods to chocolates, vinegars, spreads, and more. All the food started to make me hungry, so I stopped at Mango’s Express for a late lunch. This is a grab-and-go style restaurant where you can build your own burritos and bowls. After this quick and delicious bite, it was back to more shopping at Soaps and Such, Noise & Toys, Traveling Ladders, and more.

By this time, I needed to head to my scheduled Alpena Ghost Walking Tour! This was a fun and spooky experience, during which I visited some of Alpena’s most haunted sites. The tour was about 60 minutes and the perfect cap to my day of exploring. After all that walking, I needed a sit-down meal. Alpena has no shortage of options to fit any palate. I decided on something a little more upscale—Courtyard Ristorante. I love a good fish entree when I eat out, so I got the panko-encrusted walleye with fingerling potatoes. Delicioso!