Frankenmuth, Michigan

As part of Michigan month I am going to be showing you some fun, fabulous and some of my favorite places in Michigan.

Today I am talking about Frankenmuth.

Frankenmuth is Little Bavaria here in Michigan- one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state.

I love visiting Frankenmuth- there is always a festival or something fun going on. Frankenmuth is filled with food, shopping and unique tourist attractions both inside the city and in the areas close by- like Birch Run which has the huge Prime Outlets Shopping Mall.

I prefer the sites of Frankenmuth over shopping because honestly I hate to shop (gasp, I know someone needs to take away my woman card). The only shopping I like to do is treaure hunting in dusty old antique shops and rummaging through yard sales, flea markets and estate sales and coming out with some unique treasure. Odd to some but that's how I am.

In Birch Run on the way into Frankenmuth there are a few antique shops and in the summer there are usually a lot of yard sales- people take advantage of the tourist traffic.

Anyway, back to Frankenmuth.

If you decide to visit Frankenmuth and want to stay in a hotel the Frankenmuth Zehnder's Splash Village is a great place to stay if you have kids- it has an indoor water park for fun splashing all year long even when it's cold outside.

And that's just the beginning of things to do in the area.

If you have kids or even if you just want to act like a kid yourself be sure to hit the Mirror maze and Grandpa Tiny's Farm which has lots of petting zoo type animals and its an educational experience the kids will love- you also get to go on a horse drawn wagon ride.

There's also horse drawn carriage rides through downtown Frankenmuth which will take you over a historic covered bridge. If you are into museums and history be sure to visit the Frankenmuth Historical Association's Museum and the Military and Space Museum.

A Riverboat ride on the Bavarian Belle is a great way to relax and cool off on a hot summer day. It's also a fun way to see some of Frankenmuth's sites- from a totally different viewpoint.

And the one thing you can absolutely not miss is Bronners where it is Christmas all year long. Bronner's is the world's largest Christmas store and more people come to Frankenmuth to visit Bronners than any other attraction. Sadly the founder who loved Christmas so much he created a store open all year long, Mr. Bronner, passed away a couple years ago but his family keeps the store up and running but somehow it's just not the same to not see Mr Bronner there greeting everyone. But if you don't know what you're missing I guess you'll enjoy it just the same.

My family loves Frankenmuth because it's close to home- less than a thirty minute drive- yet it feels like we've stepped into a totally different world and there's always something new to do and see. Whenever we want to vacation without going too far away we drop by Frankenmuth.

Here are some photos from my family vacations past:

This photo above was taken outside the old mill.

Here's me and the hubby at The River Place Shops

This is another photo from The River Place


I believe this tiny castle is outside of Zehnders or the Bavarian Inn, can't remember




This is a photo of the family (2005 before my youngest was conceived)
with Mr. Bronner at Bronners

Waterfall at River Place


A beautiful Maypole Fountain in downtown Frankenmuth

My kids outside The Cheese Haus- you have got to stop here they have samples of cheeses and spreads that will make your mouth water- you will not leave this store empty handed

My daughter in the western store at River Place

The kids horseback riding in Frankenmuth

A couple of tortoises at the Birch Run Wilderness Park

My daughter feeding a goat at the Wilderness Park in Birch Run

So that's a quick view of Frankenmuth and Birch Run Michigan- hope you'll come for a visit sometime, it's a lot of fun.