'Under the Radar' comes to Port Huron

McKenna Golat, Port Huron Times Herald
·3 min read
Tom Daldin swinging from the Great Lake to Lake Trail buoy during the filming of the Port Huron episode for "Under the Radar" on July 12, 2023. Daldin, the host of "Under the Radar," filmed in Port Huron during Blue Water Fest.
Tom Daldin swinging from the Great Lake to Lake Trail buoy during the filming of the Port Huron episode for "Under the Radar" on July 12, 2023. Daldin, the host of "Under the Radar," filmed in Port Huron during Blue Water Fest.

Port Huron is entering the spotlight after a visit from PBS show "Under the Radar."

Five stops in Port Huron are being highlighted in an upcoming episode of the weekly PBS program that showcases fun, interesting places in Michigan. The Port Huron episode will feature the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Bridge to Bay Trail, McMorran Plaza, Renaissance Man and the Port Huron Yacht Club. Each segment will also feature an interview with a Port Huron community figure.

The episode is slated to air at 8:30 p.m., July 27 on Detroit Public Television. The episode will also be posted on www.pbs.org.

Host Tom Daldin said Port Huron is one of his favorite cities in Michigan to visit.

"My wife and I will sneak up here about three to four times a year just to walk along the river and watch the ships pass through," he said. "It is such a beautiful sight to see when these giant ships navigate through the tiny passage where the lake meets the St. Clair River."

Daldin said the show has been to Port Huron before, but it has been a number of years since it was filmed. He said it just felt like it was time to come back.

Sheri Faust, left, and Tom Daldin, right, filming a segment for the Port Huron episode of "Under the Radar" on July 12, 2023. Faust talked about the Bridge to Bay Trail and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse for the episode.
Sheri Faust, left, and Tom Daldin, right, filming a segment for the Port Huron episode of "Under the Radar" on July 12, 2023. Faust talked about the Bridge to Bay Trail and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse for the episode.

Port Huron's episode of "Under the Radar" was filmed through the duration of Blue Water Fest. Daldin said he has always wanted to capture the festival and the subsequent Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race for the show.

"We've always wanted to capture it, but the timing never worked out," Daldin said. "So finally, this time we're going to get it. I'm excited for it."

Daldin said that in addition to Boat Week, Port Huron has so many interesting things happening, such as new restaurants, breweries and events.

On July 12, Daldin spoke with Friends of the St. Clair River President Sheri Faust about the Bridge to Bay Trail and Fort Gratiot Light House. On July 13, he spoke with Downtown Development Director Natacha Hayden about McMorran Plaza and Aaron Weiderman about Rennaissance Man Distillery. On July 14, Daldin spoke with Commodore Tyson Connolly about the Port Huron Yacht Club.

Tom Daldin, left, and Sheri Faust, right, getting ready to bike the Bridge to Bay Trail on July 12, 2023.
Tom Daldin, left, and Sheri Faust, right, getting ready to bike the Bridge to Bay Trail on July 12, 2023.

Katie Stepp, the marketing manager for Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that "Under the Radar" coming to Port Huron will give the city great exposure to the show's fanbase. She said the episode will showcase how much Port Huron has grown.

"People who have never visited Port Huron, or who haven't been here in years, will see all the changes that have happened and how cool of a place it is," Stepp said. "They should come here for the first time, or come back again, and be blown away with everything."

Daldin said narrowing down what "Under the Radar" would cover in Port Huron was a bit difficult. He said the show's team received a ton of suggestions from the Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as emails and Facebook posts from the community.

Daldin said "Under the Radar" has taken him to thousands of places across Michigan and allowed him to meet the state's most extraordinary and motivated people.

"We have such a wealth of natural beauty, produce, people, companies and businesses that it's overwhelming," Daldin said. "Our biggest challenge when we go places is narrowing it down to three or four things to feature."

Daldin said his job is to show the world why Michigan is an amazing place to live, work and play.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: 'Under the Radar' makes episode on Port Huron