Directions to Far Point

Far Point is our house in Alpena. 

The address is 5075 Huron Beach Rd, Alpena, MI 49707. 

The phone number is 989-354-4742.  Cell phone towers do not reach the Far Point House.  We do have a Verizon minitower in our closet, so if you have Verizon, you can use your cell in the house.  If you do not have Verizon, you should give our phone number to anyone who might need to reach you. We do have high-speed WiFi internet.

Once you are a mile away from North Point Rd, your cell phone will lose coverage.  So if you need to call for directions, do it shortly after you leave Alpena.  On the way up 23 there are also several dead spots for cell phone coverage.  I've noticed in particular between Au Gres and Tawas; also some between Harrisville and Alpena.

GPS CAUTION

The map databases used for at least some GPS include roads that no longer exist - once you get past Alpena.  Also, there will be tendency to send you down Hamilton Road from U.S. 23.  Hamilton is a very rough, poorly maintained road.  Even though it would be the shortest route, Hamilton will take much longer and could cost you a muffler.  GPS will work fine to actually get you to Alpena, although it may make some strange choices.

SPEED TRAP CAUTION

There are several places on US 23 where the road opens up to four lanes providing passing lanes.  For some reason cars that have been traveling at 50 MPH often speed up to 65 when you get to the passing lane, so you might need to go 70 to actually get past them before the lane ends.  Don't do it.  The police love to hang out here, particularly in the passing lanes areas just before Tawas and half way between Tawas and Oscoda.  The speed limit doesn't change and we have multiple people who have been ticketed there.

Lunch

 If you want to eat there are these alternatives to suggest.  There are also various fast food restaurants in Au Gres, Tawas and Oscoda. 

• • In Au Gres there is a restaurant called Dunleavy's on the right side of the road, just past the first traffic light.  They have changed hands and menus several times lately.  But they are pretty good - if you like Shepards pie, try theirs.  This is about 2 hours to Far Point.

  • In Tawas there is reasonable pizza at G's Pizza.  After you get to the lake, you go about two miles, passing the Walmart on the left and then a trailer park on the right.  Go through traffic light and then take the first left, it's right on the road visible from 23.  When the weather is good we often call ahead to order pizza (do it in Au Gres before you lose phone coverage), then pick it up and go back a quarter mile to the park on the lake. It makes for a pretty quick stop. Their phone is 989-362-8659.  This is a little more than 1 1/2 hours to Far Point.

Food Shopping

There are several good places to pick things up along the way.

• • 0.4 miles after getting onto U.S. 23 you will see Jay's Farm Market on the left hand side.  Jay's is a good place for produce including local produce  They also have a good selection of meat, jerky, and smoked fish.  And they have a bathroom.

  • When you get to Harrisville, there is one traffic light.  When you can see the light coming, but a tenth of a mile before you get to it there is a park on the left hand side.  In the parking lot of this park there are often 2 or 3 produce vendors with local stuff.  If there are Michigan cherries available you are commanded to buy some.  Alpena strawberries are also a must buy when they are there.  Other stuff as it appeals to you.

  • If you need to buy any groceries, the best overall supermarket in Alpena is Niemanns which is on the right side of US 23 past McDonalds and at the second traffic light in Alpena. Now closed.

  • If you want to try an interesting old side high-volume, high-quality meat counter, follow Carol's route below.  As you leave town, just past the Holiday Inn on the right you will come to Perch's IGA on the left.  The meat counter is in the back, they also have all basic groceries.

From Ann Arbor

• 1. Take U.S. 23 north to join I 75

  2. If traffic seems heavy, such as on a Friday evening, consider taking exit 164 labeled to M13 Wilder Rd Kawkawtin.  M13 is four lanes all the way to Standish and is shorter than taking I75.  On the other hand it is 55 MPH instead of 75 MPH and you do need to slow down through a couple of towns.

  3. Continue north on I 75 to exit 188 which is labeled U.S. 23 Standish Alpena,

  4. You will be on freeway for about 2 miles after the exit.  At the end of the freeway bear to the left which will turn you to the left continuing on U.S. 23.

  5. Follow 23 until you get into Alpena.  You will go past several miles of stores and strip malls, then you will go through a little more than a mile of residential district. You will arrive at a dead end where you should turn to the left (there is a sign indicating 23 turns to the left).  This is the continuation of 23 and is also Chisholm.  Note:  you do not want to take the left hand turn onto business 23 which occurs at the end of the commercial district.

Up the middle alternative.  We have returned to usually traveling up the middle of the state on M33 through Mio.  This route is 5 miles longer, but according to Google 5 minutes faster.  We believe this route is usually a little faster, particularly if you are NOT in weekend traffic jams.  The route is pretty, but you do not see Lake Huron until you get to Alpena.  Traveling up US 23 gives you many Lake sightings.

• 1. Instead of existing I75 at exit 188 continue to M33 at exit 202.

  2. Go north on 33,

     • There is a Dairy Queen in Rose City on the right side

     • In Mio we have eaten at the Ausable Restaurant.  Very simple food, quick service

     • There is also a McDonalds across the street

  3. 5 miles past Mio you will make a sweeping right turn, the road now becomes 33 and M72

  4. 3 1/2 miles after the turn, M33 turns left, you continue on M72

  5. M72 dead ends into M65, turn to the right.

  6. After 20 miles turn right onto Werth Road, it is the first flashing light after you turn onto 72.

  7. Proceed on Werth Road until it deadends into US 23 in Alpena.  Turn Left

  8. You will go past several miles of stores and strip malls, then you will go through a little more than a mile of residential district. You will arrive at a dead end where you should turn to the left (there is a sign indicating 23 turns to the left).  This is the continuation of 23 and is also Chisholm.  Note:  you do not want to take the left hand turn onto business 23 which occurs at the end of the commercial district

Now you have two choices depending on whom you trust.

Bruce's more confusing, somewhat faster route:

• 1. After the left turn onto Chisolm in downtown Alpena turn, go two blocks to 2nd Ave, which is the first traffic light.  Turn right on 2nd.

  2. Follow 2nd Ave until it ends at Wessel Road.  Turn right on Wessel.

  3. Go one block to Ford Ave.  Turn left on Ford.

  4. Drive through the Cement Plant (no problem, it's a real road).

  5. After about a mile, you will be through the cement plant, you will have a slow left curve, followed by a tight right curve.

  6. From  the point of the tight right curve, proceed another 3 miles to North Point Road which is the second street light and the first real left turn.  Turn left on North Point.

  7. After 1 mile you come to a choice of left or right.  Go to the left, which is the continuation of North Point Rd.

  8. After a quarter mile you will be forced into a right hand turn.

  9. After the right turn, continue 1.5 miles to Hamilton Rd, which is the first intersection you will reach.  Turn right on Hamilton.

  10. In about 0.3 miles, the road splits.  Stay on Hamilton, which is the smaller road continuing straight.  The main road vears to the right and becomes El Cajon, but you don't want that.

  11. Hamilton ends in a tenth of a mile, your only choice is to turn left on Huron Beach Rd.

  12. Go 0.5 miles to 5075 on the right hand side.  There is a sign for Far Point.

Carol's simpler, somewhat slower route with no tour of the cement factory:

• 1. After the left turn onto Chisolm in downtown Alpena continue out of town. About 5.5 miles after the turn onto Chisholm you will reach Bloom Rd.  At Bloom and 23  Bloom you will see a driving range, miniature golf and a small Ferris wheel on the right.  Turn right on Bloom.

  2. Proceed 5.2 mile on Bloom until it dead ends at North Point Road.  Turn right on North Point.

  3. Proceed a little more than 1.5 miles to Hamilton Road, which is the first road to actually cross North Point.  Turn left on Hamilton.

  4. In about 0.3 miles, the road splits.  Stay on Hamilton, which is the smaller road continuing straight.  The main road vears to the right and becomes El Cajon, but you don't want that.

  5. Hamilton ends in a tenth of a mile, your only choice is to turn left on Huron Beach Rd.

  6. Go 0.5 miles to 5075 on the right hand side.  There is a sign for Far Point.

In Town

After town

From Mackinaw City and points North 

• 1. If you have crossed the Mackinaw Bridge heading south, take exit 388 which is the second exit after the bridge, you will be placed directly onto U.S. 23 south

  2. If you happen to be going north on I75, take exit 387, turn right at the end of the ramp and proceed half a mile to U.S. 23 where you should turn to the right.

  3. If you are in Mackinaw, get out to Huron Avenue which is the road along the lake.  Follow it south until it dead ends at US 23.  Turn left on 23.

  4. Follow US 23 south for 56 miles where you will come of a traffic light at the intersection of US 23 and M 68.  This is a point to check your odometer.. 

  5. From the intersection of US 23 and M 68 proceed completely past both Grand Lake and Long Lake a total of 32.1 miles to Bloom Road, you will see a Ferris wheel on the left hand side of 23 just before Bloom.  Turn left on Bloom.

  6. Proceed 5.2 mile on Bloom until it dead ends at North Point Road.  Turn right on North Point.

  7. Proceed a little more than 1.5 miles to Hamilton Road, which is the first road to actually cross North Point.  Turn left on Hamilton.

  8. In about 0.3 miles, the road splits.  Stay on Hamilton, which is the smaller road continuing straight.  The main road vears to the right and becomes El Cajon, but you don't want that.

  9. Hamilton ends in a tenth of a mile, your only choice is to turn right on Huron Beach Rd.

  10. Go 0.5 miles to 5075 on the right hand side.  There is a sign for Far Point.

Coming to Alpena on M32 from the west.  You might do this if you are already on the west side (the rich side) of the state. 

• 1. When you enter town you will go through about a half mile commercial section of town.  You will pass a Home Depot and Walmart on the left.  Proceed until you get to Bagley St, which is at the second traffic light.  If you start passing a cemetary you've missed the turn.  Turn left on Bagley

  2. Proceed 1.2 miles to Long Rapids Road, which is the first light.  Turn right on Long Rapids.

  3. Proceed 1 mile to Chisholm, which is the first light and also is US 23.  Turn left on Chisholm.

  4. Proceed 4 miles to Bloom Rd.  Past Bloom you will see a small Ferris wheel on the right.  Turn right on Bloom.

  5. Proceed 5.2 mile on Bloom until it dead ends at North Point Road.  Turn right on North Point.

  6. Proceed a little more than 1.5 miles to Hamilton Road, which is the first road to actually cross North Point.  Turn left on Hamilton.

  7. In about 0.3 miles, the road splits.  Stay on Hamilton, which is the smaller road continuing straight.  The main road vears to the right and becomes El Cajon, but you don't want that.

  8. Hamilton ends in a tenth of a mile, your only choice is to turn right on Huron Beach Rd.

  9. Go 0.5 miles to 5075 on the right hand side.  There is a sign for Far Point.