I was doing some inspections recently in Frankenmuth, famous for being Michigan’s “Little Bavaria.” I had been here before, and had always found it to be charming. The winding main street of the town is lined with wood and stucco Bavarian-style chalets, and the Cass River runs in a “U” shape right through the center of the town which makes for some lovely park space and gorgeous river views from many of the hotel rooms.
I was last here in the summer months and then the sidewalks were packed with families and couples of all ages strolling along Main Street and the river walk, soaking in the sun, popping in and out of the Bavarian-themed shops and restaurants. The town is famous for brew pubs, homemade sausage and cheese and, of course, the diet-busting, all-you-can-eat Frankenmuth chicken dinner. There's also picnicking in the park, and just plain enjoying the historical-themed sights and sounds of this quaint Midwest town.
This was my first time in Frankenmuth in the winter, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that Frankenmuth was home to
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, which is a popular tourist attraction and store that sells Christmas ornaments and counts down the days until Christmas 361 days of the year. What I wasn’t prepared for was just how much more beautiful this charming little town is under the twinkle and glow of the holiday lights adorning every building and street light in town! Beyond just the scope of Bronner’s decorations (which believe me, are quite
extensive – Bronner’s boasts a half-mile long “Christmas Lane” that glimmers and gleams with thousands of twinkling lights every day of the year), the entire town takes on a magical, romantic feel, almost as if you’ve wondered onto the set of a holiday movie.
Walking down Main Street it’s hard not to get caught up in the holiday spirit with the brisk air, snow covered streets and staccato “clip clop, clip clop” of white horse-drawn carriages carrying couples snuggling cozily under warm lap blankets. And because winter is technically off-season, not only are there fewer people around, there are great deals to be found at the local hotels. Talk about an ideal spot for a holiday-themed romantic getaway!
Here are a few tips on Frankenmuth:
- All-you-can-eat chicken dinners are served at
Zehnder’s and the
Bavarian Inn Restaurant.
- For brew pubs, try
Frankenmuth Brewery or
Sullivan's Black Forest Brew Haus & Grill, both of which brew their own microbrews on site and serve casual pub fare as well as a few Bavarian-themed options like bratwurst or schnitzel.
- The
Bavarian Inn Lodge and
Marv Herzog Hotel have rooms with views of the Cass River; the
SpringHilll Suites,
Fairfield Inn and
Drury Inn are all centrally located making walking downtown easy;
Zehnder’s Splash Village boasts an indoor waterpark that will help keep the kids happy; the
Frankemuth Motel is an excellent budget option.
Click on the map to locate Fankenmuth, Michigan with TripTik Travel Planner and to see AAA Approved lodgings and restaurants.
