Most people would never consider Port Huron, Michigan as a place to spend a vacation. However, they would be surprised to know that although it’s a small city of 30,000 people, it has unique areas that are worth a trip, such as the Blue Water Bridge, Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Vantage Point, and historical areas.
The first thing to do when visiting Port Huron is take the Blue Water Trolley Tour. It gives a nice overview of the city and the guide points out good places to eat as well as historical places to visit. Best of all, it’s only 10 cents! I’ve lived here almost my whole life and I didn’t even know about most of the things the guide pointed out!
The Blue Water Bridge, which connects Port Huron, Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario, is the must-see of Port Huron. It’s a great spot to watch the freighters go by up close. It’s quite the experience to see the famous 1,000 footers from only a few yards away! You can also ride your bike or bring your roller blades thanks to the nice boardwalks that border the St. Clair River. It is also a frequent diver and fishermen destination.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse has been recently redone and is now open to the public for tours. It was the very first lighthouse in the state of Michigan and offers a great view of the St. Clair River. It’s also another great place to watch the boats go by.
For those who are familiar with BoatNerds.com, Vantage Point, which is located in the downtown area of Port Huron, is the worldwide headquarters! Vantage Point offers information on every freighter that goes by its building as well as events such as the Sturgeon Festival and the Farmer’s Market. It is a wonderful place to get an ice cream and watch not only freighters, but residents’ boats pass by during the summertime.
Port Huron is also the proud hometown of the famous Thomas Edison! While he was a child here, he sold newspapers and tested his early inventions. Sights such as the Edison Depot and the Thomas Edison Boyhood home site are historical must-sees when you are in the area. The Port Huron Museum also has information on the city and interesting artifacts from the area. A newer historical sight, the Ice Museum, contains items that were used back in the day to get ice from Lake Huron.
The Blue Water Fest is held during the third week of July to celebrate the summer with music, carnivals, parades, activities, and most of all, the Port Huron to Mackinac Sailboat race where sailors from all over compete. It is also the perfect time to take a tour on the Huron Lady II tour ship to show you the sights from the water. This is by far the best time of the year to visit Port Huron. Lake Huron is (finally) warm, the beaches are beautiful and you couldn’t ask for better weather to sit outside at Casey’s Pizza and Subs, Quay Street Brewing Company, or the new Vintage Tavern!
Port Huron may be a small town, but it sure does have a lot to offer, no matter your interests! If you want to visit a quieter town with beaches, a lake, ships and history, Port Huron is the place to go. Although there are some events held during the winter, notably the Silver Sticks Hockey Finals, summer is the best season to visit. Don’t let the small population hold you back from visiting! It is definitely worth the trip.
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