Top Reasons to Stay at Thunder Bay Resort

• Located about 22 miles west of Alpena on the Thunder Bay River, the resort is situated on a forested plot of land that’s crisscrossed by miles of hiking and biking trails.
• Explore the Resort’s 160-acre Elk Preserve and get an up-close-and-personal look at Rocky Mountain Elk in their natural habitat by taking part in one of the resort’s optional four-hour elk viewing, carriage ride, gourmet dinner, and wine tasting at the Elk Antler Cabin (check dates).
• Golf is optional on the Resort’s challenging 18-hole course, and golf packages can be arranged to include other nearby courses.
• Guests can enjoy free admission to the Great Lake Maritime Heritage Center at the Marine Sanctuary. A glass bottom shipwreck boat tour is optional. Tour lighthouses and enjoy complimentary wine tastings at several wineries on the Sunrise Side Wine and Hops Trail.
• Visit the Clubhouse Grill for American breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, including sandwiches, burgers, and pizza.
• Suites, villas, and chalets feature fireplaces, free WiFi, and lots of room to stretch out and relax. Villas and chalets include a full kitchen. Suites have a mini kitchen.

Hillman, Michigan: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Lighthouses, and Hikes

On the Michigan mitten, the small town of Hillman lies somewhere near the fingernail of the index finger. Tucked away in the northeast corner of the state (in other words), Hillman is just 22 miles west of Thunder Bay, a cove on Lake Huron. While the scenery is picturesque, don’t be fooled; the bay is adjacent to some of the roughest waters in all the Great Lakes, earning it the nickname “Shipwreck Alley.”

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary contains one of the nation’s most historically significant shipwreck collections. More than 100 of over 200 known shipwrecked vessels have been discovered and explored. Experienced scuba divers can sign up for excursions to explore some of the submerged wrecks. You can also tour the area above water on kayaks or glass-bottom boats, or visit the free-of-charge Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center to feel the simulated wrath of a Great Lakes storm and view full-scale replicas of shipwrecked schooners.