Thumbs Up to Port Huron
By Dianna Stampfler
Located in the heart of Michigan’s Thumbcoast, Port Huron boasts a charming small-town feel with big city amenities. Meeting planners and attendees alike will appreciate the safety of the suburbs while enjoying picturesque views, a vibrant culture and outdoor adventure opportunities, both during and after the workday.
In April 2015, the Blue Water Convention Center opened its doors and provided a wealth of new opportunities for event planners in Port Huron. The 40,000-square-foot building is connected to the DoubleTree by Hilton as well as Freighters Eatery & Taproom, which provides a place for attendees to eat after a day of meetings. The entire facility is ADA accessible, with hearing-impaired rooms available, a direct loading dock and complimentary same-level parking. To top it off, the center has expansive views of the St. Clair River and the Blue Water Bridge, which connects Michigan to Ontario, Canada.
The similarly sized, 48,000-square-foot McMorran Place Sports & Entertainment Center is also suitable for conventions, concerts, and exhibits, offering an event expansion in close proximity to the Blue Water Convention Center, just 1.7 miles away. Both facilities are near boutiques, live theater and eateries, with over 900 area hotel rooms to spend the night in.
Cooperative use spaces are on the rise in Port Huron, with options for business and artistic individuals to meet and gather. The Foundry, in the former Studio 1219 building, offers spaces dedicated to painting, pottery, photography, podcasting, video editing and other multimedia, and are outfitted with much of the equipment needed for each.
It’s not all work in Port Huron, there is plenty of chances to play as well. After the workday, the Hallway Entertainment provides several immersive team-building experiences such as custom-designed escape rooms, game show nights and fully-interactive escape dinners through partnerships with local restaurants.
Port Huron is also rich with natural resources and historical and recreational activities. The Bridge to Bay Trail–perfect for walkers, joggers, and bicyclists–extends from St. Clair County’s northern border down under the Blue Water Bridge and under the shoreline through Port Huron, all the way to Algonac. The trail connects to the Blue Water River Walk, which hugs 4,300 feet of shoreline and provides plenty of spots to watch passing freighters, enjoy the art sculptures or visit the Maritime Center. Nearby, both the oldest working lighthouse in Michigan and the last operating light ship in the Great Lakes are ready to be explored, and the St. Clair River, Lake Huron and the Black River all ready to be paddled. For a great meeting, just add water!
Contact:
Katie Stepp, Marketing Manager
Blue Water CVB
katie@bluewater.org
(810) 987-8687