Exploring Alpena, Michigan

Join me for a day of exploring Alpena, Michigan in the Up-North!
Links:
www.DraytonCallison.com
www.WorldsGreatestKiting.com
You can support Dray’s World at / draysworld
www.alpenaligh...
Music : Ravines - ELPHNT
#Alpena #PureMichigan #ExploreMichigan #DraysWorld #UpNorth
#ThunderBay #ThunderBayTheatre #RoadTrip #AlpenaLighthouse #Lighthouse #GreatLakes

[@dev_twistedspirit7654]

I, myself, a 14 year old live in and am from Alpena, Michigan and we are actully considered a "City"! We have 28,700 people and are the third most populated city in the Northern Michigan region! We are ALSO known for being home to the world's largest shale quarry/cement plant called LaFarge North America - Alpena Plant. Shale and limestone are extracted from the earth and mixed with other ingredients to make raw cement which is shipped out from Alpena via freighters on the Great Lakes.

[@DraysWorld]

Cool. Can’t be wait to make it back there some day! You live in a great place

[@dev_twistedspirit7654]

@@DraysWorld I agree! Alpena is a great place to live. You will have a blast next time you visit! I just know it! :P

[@laurac5451]

i wish when people went around cities they would show the grocery stores and wherever else a person moving there would need to go. Little Red looks like a Darlik.

[@DraysWorld]

Good thought. And yes, it is in bad shape. Thanks for watching!

[@dev_twistedspirit7654]

I live in and am from Alpena, Michigan and we have Alpena General Store, Save A Lot, Big Lots, Perch's IGA, Walmart Supercenter, Meijer, Gordon Foods Service Store, Meijer Deli, Kipfmiller's Products & Meats, Inc., Marine Meat Market, Walmart Deli, 2 Dollar General's, Nowicki's Sausage Shoppe Alpena, Alpena EZ Mart, IGA Deli, Alpena West EZ Mart, Cracker Barrel Party Store And Market, Dollar Tree, Shalla's Market, Meijer Bakery, and an Aldi that is projected to open in the second quarter of 2024.

[@kitebum]

Those monofilament recycling tubes are at a lot of the popular fishing spots around the entire state. Fishing line becomes a real problem if you have nothing to throw it away in and those tubes help keep our waters clean. It's a GREAT, cheap investment! Looks like you had a chill day around Alpena ❤️

[@DraysWorld]

Very chill. Makes sense.

[@abitoftheuniverse2]

14:40 There are 30,000 inhabitants of Alpena County and 10,000 residents, living in the city of Alpena. 🤔 Thereabouts... I've lived here 40/45 years of my life. The city peaked at about 14,000 people in 1960 and the county peaked at about 38,000 in 1980. The census data, says otherwise, but it is not perfect; there were many people who missed their chance to be noted in the census, as their are, every decade. Also, the numbers have changed over the years, from source-to-source, of the census data itself. Perhaps I, had the wrong data as a child, but I do recall saying 40,000 in the county, when the records I read said 38,000+ Despite drop overtime, the rate of population decline is decreasing, for the city, at least. People who live in the county, outside the city, have migrated into the city, for work. Old homes are being converted to apartments, and families are moving in, from the the farm and wood lands, as the elderly population passes on. That said, residential prices are still too high and will never go down at this rate. $300 apartments, 20 years ago, are now in the $450 to $600 range, and $600 rental houses, 20 years ago, are now on the market for $900 to as much as $1500, per month. Most people, who are looking in the market for an apartment, house or even a room to rent, can barely afford to live here, yet, they can't afford to leave, either. There is just not enough money, in Alpena's economy. Big corporations take more away from the community than they give back, and it is unsustainable. The rich-est, get richer, (Doctors, Lawyers, Waltons, Meijers, Fletchers...) while, most others sell their lives and their property, just to break even, until the next bills come... It's concerning. And tourism is not the solution, it only makes it worse, as money goes to the wealthy families that own major stakes in the town, and everyone; everyone's money, is vampired by gasoline corporations. Big, pyramidal changes, need be considered.

[@darylturcott]

On my short list, just to visit the big gun. That is from the battleship maine that blew up in Havana harbor, cuba. Leading to spanish American war. The ship was raised years later and many artifacts sent around the country before it was scuttled in the Florida Strait.

[@ozoneavenger]

Excellent video! I'm from Alpena, I love it here. I'm glad you enjoyed your time here. It was tragic when John A. Lau Saloon burned down. It was just reopening under a new owner. The theater had also undergone extensive renovation just months prior to the fire. Unfortunately, everything had to be stripped from the theater building due to smoke damage. It will reopen eventually, I'm just relieved that the building was able to be saved. The saloon and theater buildings were build in the 1880s I believe. I'm still very sad about the loss of the saloon, it really was an Alpena gem. It was like a museum. It had hundreds of old photos, artifacts, and signs on display from old businesses and places in old town Alpena. It was a very sad day for our town when that place burned! If you ever come back here, you absolutely MUST check out the NOAA center. It's only a few blocks away from downtown on the opposite side of the river. Cheers!

[@DraysWorld]

Such a great part of the world! I would have loved a round or two in that old saloon.

[@thatslazar]

This was a great video . I use to live and went to the college in Alpena in the early 80s . A little history the place across from the visitor center is called JJs . Well it use to be called The Friendly Bar and in the bar they use to have live bands and you could dance there every Friday and Saturday night . Bob Seger that was dating a woman that lived in Alpena back then and use to come in the bar to listen to the bands and have a beer or two back then . I got to meet him there and he was so nice and a overall great guy .

[@DraysWorld]

Cool story! I figured Bob would be a cool guy.

[@rezzzo76]

I grew up in Alpena, and I remember people talking about Bob Seger in the area. It was always JJ's the time I lived there. JJ's has some of the best pizza. They also make a pizza hoagie that is to die for!

[@mia-um5zc]

Next time, go to Mangos Tequila Bar at the downtown. 🥭 You will not be disappointed.

[@DraysWorld]

I love tequila

[@abbedelehanty1665]

That would be a great name for a boat 😎

[@Niftynorm1]

You should look up info on a city before you explore it to better understand what you are seeing. The 'gun' is a naval cannon taken off the USS Maine which was sunk in Havana Harbor. The board on the end was probably a temporary fix to keep litter and other crap out of the barrel. You missed the biggest attraction which is the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center and the Jessie Besser museum. Also many restaurants close on Mondays as they are a very slow day.

[@nicolecarr4893]

Hey, glad you enjoyed Alpena! I work at the Visitor's Center and was wondering if you had an email address so I could let you know some information that you were wondering about. Thanks!

[@DraysWorld]

[e-mail] Thank You.

[@NewIpswichNarc]

Stay away from first Ave and creepy Kenny

[@DraysWorld]

Noted.