So much to do, so much to see!

Want to plan a fun, long weekend on my side of the state but don’t know where to start? Let me help! While I’ve planned this to be a 3 night trip, the timeline is easily adjustable and would even work for someone who lives in the area. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM HOURS OF OPERATION/SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AS THEY MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE SEASON. This was intended for the summer months when the days are long but it would be beautiful any time of year. (Suggested events and times would need to be adjusted based on sunrise/sunset times.)

Be sure to bring: a picnic blanket, water shoes/sandals,

Thursday: Check into your accommodations in either Tawas or Oscoda at 3/4pm. There are many great options to choose from, just keep in mind you really won’t be spending much time there. Once you are settled in go out and explore some local shops before they close for the night. My personal favs: East Tawas- Village Chocolatier, The Local Basket Case, Windjammer, Brew Krew and Ben Franklin. Oscoda- To the Moon and Back, Cathy’s Hallmark. There are a lot of good restaurants to choose from for dinner. After dinner options include:

1- A FREE Summer Concert series band concert @7 at Oscoda Beach Park (bring your blanket). You can walk the pier or beach, or even take a dip in the lake while you listen to one of our popular local bands.

2- An evening movie at the historic Lake Theater in downtown Oscoda.

3- Karaoke with Mad Dog Mac at the Tawas Bay Beach Resort. If you opt for karaoke be sure to check out Bikini’s Beach Bar at the same location. Don’t stay out too late, you’ll be up early the next morning!

Friday: Start out by watching the sunrise over Lake Huron. I KNOW it’s early and you’ll be tempted to sleep in, but get up anyway! Head to Oscoda Beach Park and find a bench along the boardwalk or sit on your blanket on the sand. I suggest getting there about 20 minutes before sunrise (google the time to day before). Now that you’ve seen the sunrise you can go back to your hotel room and get ready for you day.

Pack up your stuff and head to the Red Fork in Greenbush for Breakfast. Try to be there when they open as it’s a popular location.

After a delicious meal you’ll drive north for about a half hour to Sturgeon Point Lighthouse. Spend up to an hour here. The lighthouse is open for tours at certain times of the year as is the old Bailey schoolhouse. The beach here is a treasure for rock collectors. See if you can find a Petoskey stone!

Back to US -23 Heritage Route headed north towards Alpena. If you have kids or dinosaur lovers with you, make a pitstop at Dinosaur Gardens in Ossineke. You can also take a picture with Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox in this town. Just before Alpena you’ll drive through a nature area with the 45th parallel sign. It makes for a cool photo op, just make sure you put on your hazard lights and carefully pull off the side of the road.

Once you hit Alpena I have a few suggestions. Pick one or two to visit today and maybe save one to visit on the way back.

1- The Alpena Marina has a great pier along the harbor. Check out the boats and maybe some muskrats and ducks too.

2- The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is free to the public and has some great displays. It showcases many Great Lakes ships, wildlife and history of the area. If you have time you can also do a glass bottom boat tour from this location out into Thunder Bay. I would suggest calling for reservations ahead of time.

3- If you like walking trails be sure to visit Duck Park. This unique island within a park has a great walking trail with lots of photo ops and even a covered bridge. You can also rent a kayak at certain times of the year.

It’s got to be close to lunch at this point. I’d suggest either Mango’s (yummy Mexican food in downtown Alpena) or Austin Brothers Beer Co. just a couple miles away.

Back on the road again. Next stop, 40 mile point Lighthouse. This is another lighthouse with tours at certain times and you may even spot the remnants of a shipwreck! (There are a couple of roadside parks/overlooks you can stop at along this section but honestly the views are just ok. The roadside beach just past Roger’s City before you get to 40 mile point lighthouse is my favorite place if you want to stop and snap a pic.)

If you have stuck with my suggestions, you should be in Mackinaw City between 3 and 5 to check into your hotel room. (I don’t have any personal suggestions here, just go with the best deal.) Explore whatever Mackinaw City shops and attractions catch your eye. Be sure to visit the park next to the Mackinac Bridge for some great photos. Walk UNDER the bridge for some cool shots. Dinner suggestion- Rusted Spoke Brewing Co. or Wienerlicious. After dinner drive OVER the bridge and get to Bridge View Park in St. Ignace. It will be on your left side as you go through the toll booths but you will need to be in the RIGHT lane to exit at 344A and make your way over to the park. I have found this to be the best sunset view. The setting sun throws beautiful light on the bridge.

From here you can explore St. Ignace or go back to Mackinaw City. Either way be sure to see the bridge lights once it is fully dark before you head back to your hotel room for the night.

Saturday: (if you have an extra day then I’d suggest inserting it here and doing a day trip to Mackinac Island) You don’t have to be up for the sunrise, but you don’t want to sleep in too long. I’d suggest having breakfast and being ready to hit the road by 9:30am.

Colonial Michilimackinac if a historic fort/reenactment of a fur trading village that has daily shows and exhibits. If you enjoy history you will want to spend a couple of hours here. If not then that just gives you more time later on in the day to explore other areas.

Once you are back on US-23 headed South, your next stop will be Ocqueoc Falls. It’s a little off the route but it is worth the detour to see the largest waterfalls in Northern Lower Michigan. You can actually walk out into the water at points and there is a hiking trail. Splash around here for awhile and then head back to US-23 towards Alpena. Before you get to Alpena you will visit the Presque Isle and Old Presque Isle lighthouses. Watch the the signs about 12 miles past Rogers City. Both lighthouses have seasonal tours and are awesome photo locations. You’ll probably spend 30-45 minutes at each location.

After the lighthouses you aren’t far from Alpena. Here you can have lunch and visit the places you weren’t able to see the day before. From Alpena you are going to enjoy the drive back to Oscoda.

Now that you are back in the Oscoda/Tawas area you can check back into the hotel from Thursday night, try someplace new, or if you don’t mind driving at night push on back towards home. If you decide to stick around town, I highly suggest catching the sunset at the Foote Pond Overlook along the AuSable River. Take your blanket, sit on the ledge and take in the views. It’s my favorite place in town to watch the sunset! To get to it you’ll take River Road in downtown Oscoda west and it becomes the River Rd Scenic Byway. This overlook is on the right side of the road a few miles west of Old Orchard Campground/Foote Pond.

If you do opt to stay the night on Saturday and have time before heading home on Sunday, a morning kayaking trip along the AuSable is a great way to end your trip. Oscoda Canoe rental has canoe and kayaks trips available. A Whirlpool drop off back to the store will take around 2.5 hours. Mornings are my favorite time of day for this trip and it would put you back on land just in time to grab lunch before heading home. Hilltop Bar & Grill is just down the road and is a local favorite with simple food and affordable prices.

I hope you enjoy your visit to the Sunrise Side. Again, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM HOURS OF OPERATION/SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AS THEY MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE SEASON. If you have any questions please comment below or you can send me an email @ shannonebondie@gmail.com.