Alpena is a community of approximately 12,000 and is primarily an industrial community producing cement, limestone, paper and machinery. The balance of Alpena County is devoted to farming, forestry, and tourism. The city borders on Lake Huron and is only 15-20 miles from 3 large inland lakes supporting boating, fishing, and all water activities.
There is a variety of things to see and do in the Alpena area. Summertime activities include boating, water and jet skiing, and scuba diving, camping in the Alpena State Forest, fishing for walleye, pike, bass, perch, salmon, and trout in Lake Huron and the many inland lakes, streams, and rivers, and hunting. For those with historical interests, Mackinac Island, Ft. Mackinac, and the Presque Isle Lighthouse and Harbor are all within a 90 minute drive from Alpena. For the golf enthusiast, Alpena boasts four championship 18 hole golf courses within a 16 mile radius of the CRTC. The Alpena Health and Racquet Club offers special one or two week racquetball memberships to visiting military personnel.
Wintertime activities also abound as there is ample cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the area, and downhill skiing available just a short 90 minutes away. Ice fishing is prevalent as are major hunting seasons.