History & Coffee Make a Splash in Port Huron Daytrip

Port Huron, Michigan, is a perfect place for a daytrip. Distinctive coffee shops, unique museums, historic downtown, nostalgic eateries, and, of course, Lake Huron. You can’t go wrong planning a daytrip to Port Huron, Michigan.

sign on the lawn of a historic building that says, Port Huron Museum Carnegie Center

Shiny silver diner reflecting the light of the sun

sandy beach, big waves, and a cargo ship on the horizon

Downtown streets lined with historical updated buildings

close up of a coffee in a paper cup with city street behind through a window

But first, Coffee to begin your Port Huron Daytrip

We like to start our days with coffee, and Port Huron has a great selection of distinctive coffee shops. Each is unique and offers a slightly different experience with your morning coffee. They are also located conveniently next to some of the other stops you may add to your Port Huron daytrip.

The Electric Coffee Company

former gas station and garage painted white and turned into a coffee shop

metal chairs, wood table, metal garage doors floral accents and paintings

Display case of donuts, muffins, and other pastries

back corner of a coffee shop with coffee roasting machines and supplies

The Electric Coffee Company is located closest to the beaches and the lighthouse. It is in a renovated 1930s Shell gas station and repair shop. This bright, cheerful coffee shop is a perfect place to have a coffee and confection before beginning your explorations.

Kate’s Downtown & The Exquisite Corpse Coffeehouse

glass and wood door set in a brick building with a sign over it that says Kate's Downtown

tables with chairs scattered around a small cafe

sidewalk of downtown lined with buildings a sign sticks out that says Exquisite Corpse Coffee House

If you plan to begin in the downtown area, you have two coffee shops to choose from. Kate’s Downtown serves a more substantial breakfast menu if you want something more hearty. The Exquisite Corpse Coffeehouse is also downtown and offers lighter fare with your morning coffee. They each have a different atmosphere. Kate’s is more upbeat and has an old-meets-new sidewalk cafe vibrancy about it. The Exquisite Corpse is more artsy and cozy, inviting you to slow down and enjoy the scenery for a bit. Either one is a great choice.

Museums in Port Huron

The Port Huron Museum is actually 4 museums in 1. Some are seasonal, so check out the main Port Huron Museum website for hours when planning your daytrip. We enjoyed them all. Just like the coffee shops above, each one of these museums is quite a bit different from the other. The Museums included in the group are The Carnegie Center, The Thomas Edison Depot Museum, The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, and the Huron Lightship.

The Carnegie Center

3 story building with a tall glass atrium and doors

Pillars and entrance hall to CarnegieCenter

old several story staircases with nice woodwork railings

The Carnegie Center is located just southwest of the main downtown area. We walked there from the north end of downtown, and it wasn’t very strenuous and didn’t take long. This museum is more traditional and has many historical exhibits relating to the Port Huron area. The top floor is mainly focused on the maritime history of Port Huron. The other floors are more general history. This museum is set up to accommodate most people, with wide aisles and an elevator with stops at each level. Be sure to look around at the woodwork and architecture of this beautiful old building. I was in awe of the grandeur of the old foyers and entrances on each floor.

The Thomas Edison Depot Museum

Thomas Edison Depot Museum sign and building

Small wooden building with red walls and green trim on a cement pad and benches for seating

walls covered with little plaques with explanations and others with pictures all connected by one line that shows the order to look at them for the story of Thomas Edison's life

Two pairs of bench upholstered seats next to windows with an aisleway between them

small display of the inside of the schoolroom that Thomas Edison would have attended. Life sized replicas of a young Thomas Edison, his teacher, and his mother.

The Thomas Edison Depot Museum is in an old depot building and is set up as a hands-on learning exhibit. This museum is almost directly under the Blue Water Bridge and is just across the street from the St. Clair River. The Thomas Edison Depot Museum focuses mainly on the life and inventions of Thomas Edison, beginning with his life in Port Huron working on the commuter train. One of the unique aspects of this museum was the timeline. From the start of the self-guided tour, you are invited to follow a line around the walls of the building that leads to each little noteworthy plaque and the major exhibits. It helps you flow through the exhibit while keeping your interest and attention. This museum is mainly on one floor, and there is a lift for those who need it to access the train car section of the exhibit.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Brick building surrounded by lawn and trees with a white lighthouse rising up behind

Tall white Lighthouse on the left, next to it is a large brick building with red metal roof

Tall white Lighthouse reaching up into the sky

Standing on iron grate spiral stairs looking down

The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is just north of the Blue Water Bridge and the museum that is closest to the beaches and the Electric Coffee Company. This museum is more than just the oldest lighthouse in Michigan and includes a scheduled tour through all the buildings on the premises that are currently ready for visitors. We toured 3 other buildings and then climbed the circle staircase to the top of the lighthouse. Make sure to schedule a tour with the fantastic tour guides. You can schedule this at the gift shop when you arrive. The buildings are not open for self-guided tours; you can, however, walk the grounds without a tour guide. If you have to wait for a tour to begin, perusing the gift shop, walking the grounds, and visiting the shoreline are enjoyable ways to use your extra time. This tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the climb to the top of the lighthouse is just short of 100 steps.

Huron Lightship

cement walkways along riverside next to an old boat that says HURON along the side

looking out a water splashed ship port hole and the water and shoreline beyond

in the ship, green linoleum tile floor, wooden table in the center, crescent shaped upholstered bench at the end of the room and a door off each side.

The Huron Lightship was the last operating lightship on the Great Lakes. The lightship is right on the St. Clair River, south of the Blue Water Bridge and along the Riverwalk. The ship museum is self-guided, but very knowledgeable volunteers are on board to answer many of your questions. The Huron Lightship Museum is fascinating. You walk around and climb up and down all the levels of the ship. You can explore the main living quarters, the engine room on the bottom level, and the deck. There is a lot to see. There are signs all over giving you good explanations of what you are looking at. This was our favorite museum of the four because of its uniqueness and the depth of information available in such a small package. The walkways are narrow, and the stairs are more like ladders, so be prepared if you put this museum on your list.

Port Huron Beaches and Riverwalk

Port Huron is the convergence of three bodies of water; the Black River, the St. Clair River, and Lake Huron. A Port Huron daytrip is complete only with a visit to at least one riverbank or the shoreline. There are several options that you can add to your trip, including beaches and a riverwalk.

Lighthouse Beach

Sandy rocky beach in front of a tall lighthouse

View from up high of the beach and shoreline, water goes all the way to the horizon

Sandy Shoreline with a layer of fluffy clouds and a bit of blue sky

Lighthouse Beach is part of Lighthouse Park and is adjacent to the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Museum. This is a lovely sandy beach with seasonal facilities, and you can watch the large cargo ships travel between the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. If you like to collect Rocks or enjoy the view of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, this is the beach for you.

Lakeside Beach

woman dressed for chilly weather walking out on the beach toward a very choppy lake

large sandy beach, cloudy skies with a bit of blue peeking through, and lots of waves on the lake

choppy waters along a wide sandy beach and a cargo ship on the horizon

Lakeside Beach is larger than the Lighthouse Beach and is a bit further north. This is also a sandy beach with a few rocks and seasonal facilities. You can still see the ships moving through Lake Huron from here, but they are farther away out in the water.

Bridge to Bay Trail

large bridge spanning a large river with a paved walk along the side of the river

a naked woman statue kneeling and leaning out on top of a very large rock

deck overlooking a large river and water splashing up on the rocks next to the deck

River walk along a large river and a small ship docked on the side in a bend

The Bridge to Bay Trail is a wide paved path along the St. Clair River. We walked a good bit of it, from the Huron Lightship to the Thomas Edison Depot Museum and then a bit farther to the Blue Water Maiden and Storm of 1913 Monument just north of the Blue Water Bridge. It was a pleasant walk with a few other markers of note along the way.

Lunch and Dinner Options in Port Huron

There are many restaurants located in and around Port Huron. It can be hard to pick a place to eat, especially when you are unfamiliar with the area. We have tested a few and definitely would recommend them. They are close to several other stops listed above that you may have already put on your list for your daytrip. Each one is a bit different from the others, and they offer diverse dining experiences.

Raven Cafe

front of a brick and dark wood building above the entrance is a large raven and a sign that says Raven Coffeehous

tables and chairs along a set of windows. above the windows is a loft that is used as a stage. lots of decor and lights to look at

front windows in a cafe with tables and chairs surrounded by dark honey woodwork

close up of the sandwich and salad on a plate

The Raven Cafe in downtown Port Huron is a quirky coffee shop stylized after Edgar Allen Poe. This is more than a coffee shop, though. Unlike many coffee shops, you seat yourself, and the waitstaff takes your order. They serve delicious sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts. They also have a bar serving up tasty adult beverages. Consider the potato salad option if you get a meal with a side. I am picky about potato salads, and theirs is outstanding! Grab a seat and a book from their library spread throughout the shop and enjoy a nice meal while reading a few lines in an interesting book. This cafe is close to the Carnegie Center and is part of the old historic downtown.

Nicky D’s Burgerz

row of round red stools in front of a stainless steel counter for eating in a diner

row of red and white retro boots along the outside wall of a diner with windows and mirrors along the side of the booths

Bright shiny silver diner reflecting the sun

shiny red and white booths and tables in front of a mirror in a diner designed with retro decor

Nicky D’s Burgerz is a nostalgic lunch counter restaurant serving tasty sandwiches made fresh right in front of you if you sit at the counter. More traditional booths line the walls of the small, well-appointed restaurant. It feels like you stepped back in time as soon as you pull into the parking lot. We enjoyed both of our delicious sandwiches, fries, and onion rings. Several people around us ordered burgers and seemed to be regulars, so I bet those were also delicious. Nicky D’s Burgerz is only a block from the Carnegie Center and is at the far southern end of downtown Port Huron.

Freighters

Double sided fireplace surrounded by tables with chairs and a bar with seating in the background

Two meals with fries on plates in a restaurant

restaurant in the foreground, sharing the same parking lot is a small red building and above them is a giant bridge

view of a wide choppy river from inside a restaurant

long building with lots of windows and the sign Freighters on the building

Freighters shares a parking lot with the Thomas Edison Depot Museum and has an entire wall of windows overlooking the St. Clair River. It is a full-service restaurant with dinners, burgers, and a full bar. We were there for lunch and ordered a burger and fish sandwich. The prices here are higher than the other two restaurants we recommend above, but we wanted to give a range of options. This restaurant is conveniently located near the waterfront museums, beach, and river trail.

Historic Downtown Port Huron

city street lined with colorful painted brick downtown buildings and string lights strung across the road from the buildings on each side

boat on a river going under a drawbridge that is rising

Tall historical brick tower rising above downtown buildings

Historical building in the back framed by two modern buildings in the foreground

Downtown Port Huron is a delight to visit. The historic buildings, the lights, the shops, and the drawbridge over the Black River are all reasons to plan a visit here. Kate’s Downtown, The Exquisite Corpse Coffeehouse, The Raven Cafe, The Carnegie Center, and Nicky D’s Burgerz are all in the downtown area. All are located on Military Street except for the museum, which is only one block off. Downtown is great for eating, strolling, shopping, and looking at the historic architecture. When we were walking downtown, a boat traveled down the Black River to the St. Clair River, and the drawbridge was going up just as we approached. Watching the drawbridge operate, and the boat cruise under was a unique experience that gave us a few minutes to slow down and take in the scenery while we waited. We enjoyed our walk down and back up Military Street, visiting the shops and museum.

One Last Stop Before You Leave Port Huron

Downtown street and buildings with cars parked along road

3 story downtown building with brick and dark wood from across the street

Downtown is home to Border Keep Games, located next door to The Raven Cafe. If you want a unique souvenir you can enjoy at home, what’s better than a new board game or card game? This way, whenever you play the game together or with other people, you are reminded of a great daytrip to Port Huron, Michigan. You can reminisce and tell stories of your trip to this beautiful city with a rich history. Stop in to Border Keep Games and grab a souvenir you can enjoy for years.

We encourage you to plan a daytrip to Port Huron, Michigan, soon. It’s a great place to visit any time of the year. We had so much fun exploring Port Huron in 2023 that we used it as inspiration for our Travel Plans for 2024. Be sure to follow along and join us on our next adventures.

We have more trip ideas for Lexington, Metamora, Marquette, and Grand Rapids. Check them out for ideas.

If you are planning to stay overnight, check out our Tips for Booking Hotel Rooms.