Michigan's St. Clair County sits on the shores of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River, giving residents ample opportunity to enjoy boating and fishing on the second largest of the Great Lakes. Part of Michigan's Blue Water Area, the shores here are lined with quaint villages and smooth, sandy beaches. Visitors can also find historic lighthouses, watch enormous freighters from the city of St. Clair's boardwalk or explore the area's shipping heritage in the county seat, Port Huron.
Port Huron Lakeshore
- Lighthouse Beach has a long stretch of sand near the mouth of the St. Clair River and several picnicking areas. The beach is named for the Fort Gratiot lighthouse; as Michigan's oldest operating lighthouse, it's guided sailors and ship captains into the St. Clair River since 1829. If you're in the area in the middle of July, check out the annual Port Huron to Mackinac Sailboat Race. In what's known as the world's longest freshwater race, sailors depart from Bayview Yacht Club and sail all the way to Mackinac Island, near where Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan. Two race courses, both more than 200 nautical miles, keep sailors on the water for at least 36 straight hours. Spectators celebrate the race for days at the Port Huron Yacht Club and throughout downtown Port Huron.
Palmer Park
- Palmer Park is the jewel of downtown St. Clair, a city located just south of Port Huron on the St. Clair River. The boardwalk running along the river is known as the longest freshwater boardwalk in the world and the best place to see a freighter up close; a sandbar in the river forces shipping traffic to travel close to the park. Several restaurants line St. Clair's waterfront and unique sculptures are scattered throughout the city.
Port Huron Historical Sites
- Port Huron is nicknamed the Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes, and since the early 1800s it has stood sentinel by one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, which runs from the East Coast to Chicago. Several museums detail the area's history, including Port Huron Museum and Great Lakes Maritime Center. The Maritime Center has historical exhibits and an underwater video camera that allows visitors to see what's happening beneath the surface of the St. Clair River. Watching freighters motor by is a cozy way to spend a winter day near the water.
Thomas Edison's Stomping Ground
- Thomas Edison spent part of his childhood and early adulthood in Port Huron. The railway depot where he worked as a news reporter from 1859 to 1863 has been preserved as the Thomas Edison Depot Museum. Interactive exhibits describe details of this famous inventor's life and the time he spent in Michigan. An old baggage car has been restored on the site and his mobile chemistry lab and printing shop are re-created inside.
