Thumbcoast Articles

Every trip begins with your choice of accommodation. Port Huron offers a variety of options, including boutique-style and water-view hotels. Click the button below for a full list of places to stay.

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LUNCH TIME

Kate’s Downtown is one of the favorite scratch-made lunch spots. Visitors and locals alike love the friendly atmosphere here. Other equally wonderful options include Chef Shells, Senor Tequila, and Bella Bolla Pizza. See a complete list of small-business dining in Port Huron.

CULTURE

Visit Port Huron Museums‘ four locations, which include Michigan’s oldest lighthouse, the Huron Lightship, the Thomas Edison Depot, and the Carnegie Center. Admission to the museums is free through June 2025, with the only exception being the lighthouse climbing. Additionally, the museums offers themed narrated trolley tours.

DINNER TIME

The Vintage Tavern features a roof deck with stunning views in a beautifully renovated 1800s building. Our must-try menu picks include:

• Wine Flight
• Dill Pickle Soup & Build Your Own Salad
• Rack of Lamb

ENTERTAINMENT

Downtown has an official Social District! It’s a lot of fun strolling around downtown with a cocktail. In the summer, there’s an outdoor stage with free concerts at the McMorran Plaza Park at Casey’s on the Plaza Beer Garden. Click the link to see the full schedule.

BREAKFAST

The Raven Café is a unique breakfast, lunch, or dinner eatery themed after Edgar Allan Poe. It features an outdoor deck with a marina view. For a lighter breakfast option of pastries and coffee, visit Exquisite Corpse or Electric Coffee Co.

PICNIC BASKET

The Country Style Marketplace is an inviting gourmet boutique grocer located downtown. It’s your one-stop shop for ready-made foods, snacks, and drinks. It’s the perfect place to stock up your cooler for a picnic lunch.

FUN IN THE SUN

The sandbar is calling! Lakeside Park is a visitor favorite, so arrive early to secure a parking spot. It’s a crowd favorite due to its smooth sandbars, anchored boats, concessions, and sports activities. If you prefer a quieter beach, consider visiting the north end of Lighthouse Beach, Krafft Rd., or Keewahdin Beach.

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DINNER TIME

Casey’s is a fantastic place to relax with a drink. The lively atmosphere makes it perfect for catching the game and dining al fresco. Our menu favorites are:

• Ron Burgundy Cocktail
• Avocado Egg Rolls
• OMG House-Made Drippy Breadsticks
• Michigan Cherry Salad

WALK IT OFF

If you overindulged in the delicious food at Casey’s, you can take a walk at the Blue Water River Walk to burn off those extra calories. Along the walk, you can view passing freighters, art sculptures, urban wetlands, and shoreline reefs. At the south end of the walk, there is a tunnel featuring murals created by local artists.

WRIGLEY CENTER ENTERTAINMENT

For a lively night out in Port Huron, The Wrigley Center has billiards, fowling, darts, several bars, live entertainment, an arcade, a candy bar, delicious food, and golf simulators. For a unique cocktail experience, look for the hidden speakeasy in a “laundry room.”

BREAKFAST

Freighters Eatery & Taproom, inside the DoubleTree Hotel & the Blue Water Convention Center, is a great place to enjoy the sunrise with views of the Blue Water Bridges & Canada. Our menu picks are:

• Blue Water Breakfast Mule
• Glazed Doughnut Waffle & Bacon
• Avocado Toast

RIVER CRUISE

Step aboard the iconic Huron Lady II sightseeing cruise and enjoy a 90-minute narrated cruise touring the St. Clair River and Lake Huron, going under the Blue Water Bridges into Lake Huron from the St. Clair River.

COCKTAILS & LUNCH

Bootleggers Axe Co. is a sporty yet relaxing waterfront spot for cocktails, lunch, and even axe throwing. There’s a secret speakeasy located somewhere in the building, but shh, it’s a secret!

• Gangster’s Martini
• Texas Smoke Brisket or the Sweet & Spicy Cucumber Salad
• Jam Jar Cheesecake