PORT HURON — There’s no better way to beat the winter blahs than to head out on a short trip.

Vickie Ledsworth, director of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce in Port Huron, said the city has been experiencing a resurgence of new restaurants downtown.

“It’s neat because it’s in the historic district,” she said. “There are a lot of places to walk and there’s the waterfront, and it’s all bundled together. It’s safe, it’s clean, and it’s a nice little getaway.”

Ledsworth said Vinomondo Winery in Fort Gratiot, situated just down the street from the Birchwood Mall at 4505 Lakeshore Road, recently opened the Vinomondo Wine Bar and Brew Pub downtown. Questions? Check out www.vinomondowinery.com for details or call (810) 385- 4062.

She said another new arrival is the Fuel Woodfire Grill and Spirits at 213 Huron Ave. that mixes casual smokehouse cuisine with affordable prices. Its chef produces a menu that is a cut above the normal American fare with big salads, great burgers, fresh fish, steak and seafood. Call (810) 479-4933 for more info or log onto www.fuelwoodfiregrill.com.

The Vintage Tavern, located downtown at 103 Michigan St., is a venue that offers several tempting dishes including steak, seafood, chicken, lamb and drinks. The restaurant offers rooftop dining in the summer with views of the St. Clair and Black rivers and Desmond Landing. Log onto www.vintagetavern.net or (810) 982-1866.

There’s no better time to check out the new Lynch’s Irish Tavern, 210 Huron Ave., in the downtown district. Lunch and dinner are on the menu including soups and salads, burgers and sandwiches, and even such specialties as deep-fried pickles, Irish nachos, shepherd’s pie, and corn beef and cabbage. Find out more by visiting www.lynchsirishtavern.com or call (810) 824-4021.

Grab a bite to eat at the Raven Café, a cultural, musical and culinary Mecca in downtown Port Huron. The café also is a coffeehouse offering over 100 delicious hot and cold nonalcoholic drinks, an array of “craft” micro-brewed beers, and good wines.

The Raven offers lunch and dinner with a variety of sandwiches, meal-sized salads, delicious soups, great side dishes, appetizers and a kid’s menu. For dessert, temptations such as carrot cake, cheesecake, pies, dessert bars, muffins and ice cream sundaes will make your mouth water.

Live music provided by musicians near and far is featured Thursday through Sunday. On Wednesdays, you can enjoy Wii bowling and karaoke in the balcony. You also find 8,000 antique and contemporary books on its bookshelves. The Raven, 932 Military St., can be reached at (810) 984-4330 or by logging onto www.ravencafeph.com.

Another unique eatery to check out is the Atrium Café and Ice Cream Parlor at 1519 Military St. Step back in time at the bricked café, which offers a 1890s atmosphere inside with architectural artifacts salvaged from local demolished Victorian homes. Diners can enjoy fresh homemade soups, gourmet burgers, salads, loaded baked potatoes, appetizers, sandwiches, dinner entrees and even breakfast. Afterward, ice cream cones, shakes, malts, floats, sundaes and a hot ice cream sandwich are available. Rock and Gayle Steven are the owners and hosts. Check out www.atriumcafe.net or call (810) 989-6002 for other facts.

If you’re looking for entertainment, Military Street Café at 1102 Military St. has an array of daily specials each week and provides free Wi-Fi, two pool tables, dart machines, digital jukebox and TV trivia. Keno and pull-tab lottery tickets also are available. Live entertainment will be provided by The Gobies on Fri., Feb 24 and Sat., Feb. 25. The café opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast and the kitchen stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more, go to www.msmusiccafe.com.

The Port Huron Figure Skating Club will present 2012 Ice Fantasies “Once Upon A Time” on Sat., Feb. 25 at McMorran’s main arena, 701 McMorran Blvd. Show times are 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets which are available at the box office are $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and students.

The Port Huron Museum, located at 1115 Sixth St., always has plenty of activities including Toy Tech, a hands-on interactive exhibit from Northwest Invention Center in Redmond, Wash.

In addition to the display, the museum will host Toy Tech Discovery: Build a Boat on Sat., Feb. 25. Visitors can create a paper boat that floats and learn about the science of buoyancy and design. The cost is $3 (optional materials charge), and finished designs will be tested in the special “gutter race course” at the museum. Winners will be invited to the Day of Champions on Sun., April 22.

On Sat., March 3, Overnight at the Museum for Girls is a girls-only night where they will enjoy a tour of the museum and Toy Tech, doing crafts in the Cupcake Café, and having a manicure, snack and girl talk before lights out. The evening starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 a.m. Reservations are required, and the cost is $20 per person.

Toy Tech Discovery: Rocket Launch on Sat., March 4 begins with concepts, plans and materials to create a rocket to be tested in the Toy Tech rocket launcher. Design, workmanship and distance traveled will be judged, and the best may compete on the Toy Tech Day of Champions in April. The price is $3

The museum will host Toy Tech Discovery: Premier Engineer on Sat., March 10. Great products begin with an engineer to create the design and workings of everything from toys to toasters to trains. Participate in the process with a project to construct a wooden puzzle and create a 3-D toy to take home for $3.

On Sun., March 18, Toy Tech Discovery: Wind Tunnel will take place. Participants can discover the principles of flight and experiment by making your own helicopter, paper airplane or a flying machine of your own design to be tested in the Toy Tech wind tunnel. Results will be measured, and winners will be invited back to the Day of Champions. The cost is $3.

Admission to the Port Huron Museum is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors age 60 and over, and $5 for students. More details can be found at www.phmuseum.org.

Be sure to check out Studio 1219, the Thumb’s largest art gallery, while you’re in town. The Best of the Best - Artist Network Exhibit is being featured now through Sun., Feb. 26.

On Fri., Feb. 23 from 7-9 p.m., Studio 1219 will host Old Time Jam with the Blue Water Musicians at no charge. Visit www.bluewatermusiciansnetwork.com or call Dave at (810) 434-9967 for details.

The studio will present a touring show sponsored by Community Mental Health now through Wed., Feb. 29 in the Chase and Van Gogh galleries. It will feature 34 pieces on easels and grid wall. A reception will be held on Thurs., Feb. 23 from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Contact Telly at CMH at (810) 966-3743 for more info.

A variety of art classes also are available at the studio, located at 1219 Military St. in downtown Port Huron. Additional information can be found at www.studio1219.com or call (810) 984-2787.