Places to go and things to do in Harbor Beach, Michigan is the focus of this category.
For a small city, there is a lot to do in Harbor Beach, especially given its location on Lake Huron, but not all of these attractions, events, and recreational opportunities are represented by a website so, since we list websites, some of them won't appear here, although we might discuss them in this category description.
The Harbor Beach Area District Library carries a large selection of books, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, music, and movies. There are computers with Internet access and WiFi, and the library hosts a storytime for children, a summer reading program, book discussion groups, painting classes, and other activities.
The Harbor Beach Community Center hosts a variety of organizations and events, and includes a Boy Scout Room, Children's Room, Citizens' Room, Common Room, and Women's Club Room, as well as a gymnasium used by community members, or reserved. The Harbor Beach Community Theatre is a historic building that is currently used primarily as a digital movie theater, although it has served several uses.
The city maintains five parks within the city limits: Judge James H. Lincoln Memorial Park, Davidson Park, Waterworks Park, Veterans Memorial Garden, and Memorial Park. The city also includes Harbor View Trail, a non-motorized paved trail system, and the Brian Backus Memorial Nature Trail, a hiking trail on the north edge of the city. The Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail includes launches and landings throughout the Thumb Region of Michigan, including Harbor Beach. A Historical Walking Tour includes informational kiosks telling the history of the city, and can be accessed throughout its trails, parks, and downtown.
Just south of Harbor Beach, along South Lakeshore Drive, the Harbor Beach Lighthouse was completed in 1885, its outer shell made of cast iron. Currently maintained by the Lighthouse Preservation Society, the lighthouse has six decks with rooms, and can be toured on Saturdays during the summer months.
The city is home to two museums, the Frank Murphy Memorial Museum and the Grice House Museum.
Of course, Lake Huron presents opportunities for paddlesports, boating, fishing, and kit surfing. There are three shipwrecks near the shoreline of Harbor Beach that can be seen by those who kayak or paddleboard to them, while there are others that can be viewed by those with scuba gear.
Appropriate topics for this category include online resources representing Harbor Beach art galleries, museums, historical places, theaters, and entertainment venues, as well as parks, recreational facilities and programs, sports programs, and local events, such as concerts or festivals.
Recommended Resources
Constructed by James G. Grice, who operated a shingle mill at what was then Sand Beach, and whose son, Joseph, was foreman on the construction project building the breakwall. Today, the home is a museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and furnished entirely by donated items from several families to depict life in this part of Huron County, Michigan. A virtual tour of the museum is available online, and schedules and fees for guided tours are posted.
http://www.gricehouse.com/
Harbor Beach Area District Library
The district library in Harbor Beach, Michigan holds nearly 67,000 materials, including books, magazines, audiobooks, movies, music CDs, e-books, and e-magazines, and it also offers local historical research resources and a variety of community programs. Library hours are published on the site, and a telephone and fax number, and a calendar of events are published. Library books and other materials may be searched online, and the library policies and procedures are set forth.
https://www.hbadl.org/
Situated on the shores of Lake Huron, in the eastern part of the Thumb Region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, just south of the city of Harbor Beach, guided tours of the lighthouse are available on Saturdays during the summer months. Tour guides will be knowledgeable about the historic structure, answer questions, and take photos if requested. The history of the light is told, with tour details, a newsletter, contacts, and a gift shop where tour tickets and gift items may be purchased.
https://harborbeachlighthouse.org/
Based in Harbor Beach, Michigan, U.S.C.G. Captains Janice and Ken Deaton provide fishing charter expeditions on Lake Huron. Directions to the location in Harbor Beach are given, including a map, and a form is available for charter date requests, brochure requests, or other contacts. Their boat, the J-LYNN, is a 31-foot Cherokee 310 Chief boat, with plenty of space, an on-deck table with bench seats, a lower galley area, and other features. All fishing equipment is provided.
https://jlyncharters.com/
Created in 2001 as a celebration of the transfer of ownership of the Harbor Beach Lighthouse from the US government to the City of Harbor Beach, the annual event may differ from year to year, but might be expected to include three days of music, several family events, and a fireworks display. Schedules and a calendar of events are posted to the site, participating musicians and bands are featured, and campgrounds and lodging options are posted. Venue information and sponsorships are included.
http://themaritimefestival.com/
