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    9 Activities

    Eurotrip in Michigan: French Castles and Little Bavaria

    Eurotrip in Michigan: French Castles and Little Bavaria
    Starts from

    Detroit

    Transportation

    By Car

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Activities

    9

    Duration

    8 hrs 55 min

    Length

    57 mi

    Guide details

    Starts from

    Detroit

    Transportation

    By Car

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Duration

    8 hrs 55 min

    Length

    57 mi

    • History and Culture
    • Family-Friendly
    Map preview
    Alana Valko

    Alana Valko

    Travel Expert

    • Visit a French-style chateau-turned-museum.
    • Explore the Bavarian architecture and cuisine in Frankenmuth.
    • Take a river cruise to learn about Frankenmuth's German history.
    • Celebrate Christmas year-round at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.
    Travel to unique, European-style towns on this day trip without ever needing a passport. On this day trip in Michigan's Great Bay Region, you will travel from historic Saginaw to Frankenmuth, a city with rich German roots and history that has been well-preserved and celebrated to the present day. You'll start the day visiting an extraordinary French castle dating back to the late nineteenth century, which once served as Saginaw's post office. The castle has been converted into a museum where you can learn about the history of the region and Saginaw's industrial past.
    You'll then take your journey to Frankenmuth to walk the Bavarian-style streets and appreciate the German roots of the city. You'll stop at a wine and charcuterie bar for lunch and then take a riverboat through the city to learn about Frankenmuth's history and rich tourism industry. A trip to Frankenmuth cannot be made without enjoying their famous family-style chicken dinners, so you'll eat at the long-running Zehnder's Restaurant for dinner, which has been operating since the town's inception over a hundred years ago. Just outside the quaint downtown streets, you will make a necessary stop at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, an enormous all-season Christmas market that prides itself on being the largest in the world.

    Categories

    • History and Culture
    • Family-Friendly
    Travel to unique, European-style towns on this day trip without ever needing a passport. On this day trip in Michigan's Great Bay Region, you will travel from historic Saginaw to Frankenmuth, a city with rich German roots and history that has been well-preserved and celebrated to the present day. You'll start the day visiting an extraordinary French castle dating back to the late nineteenth century, which once served as Saginaw's post office. The castle has been converted into a museum where you can learn about the history of the region and Saginaw's industrial past.
    You'll then take your journey to Frankenmuth to walk the Bavarian-style streets and appreciate the German roots of the city. You'll stop at a wine and charcuterie bar for lunch and then take a riverboat through the city to learn about Frankenmuth's history and rich tourism industry. A trip to Frankenmuth cannot be made without enjoying their famous family-style chicken dinners, so you'll eat at the long-running Zehnder's Restaurant for dinner, which has been operating since the town's inception over a hundred years ago. Just outside the quaint downtown streets, you will make a necessary stop at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, an enormous all-season Christmas market that prides itself on being the largest in the world.
    Alana Valko

    Alana Valko

    Travel Expert

    • Visit a French-style chateau-turned-museum.
    • Explore the Bavarian architecture and cuisine in Frankenmuth.
    • Take a river cruise to learn about Frankenmuth's German history.
    • Celebrate Christmas year-round at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.

    Day Itinerary

    9 Activities
    Map preview

    Day 1

    56 mi0.5 mi

    Exploring Michigan's Famous German Town

    Start the morning in the Great Lakes Bay Region at a French chateau in Saginaw, then continue into Frankenmuth to explore the German town known for its Christmas decorations and it Bavarian-style architecture and cuisine.
    Have breakfast at home, then leave the Detroit area in the morning to venture through a French castle and the German town of Frankenmuth for the day.
    Cafe Rhema

    Cafe Rhema

    Step back in time and soak up the vintage ambiance at Cafe Rhema, where you can enjoy expertly crafted espresso drinks and delicious cafe fare in a brick-lined and chandelier-lit setting. From the cozy seating to the friendly service, Cafe Rhema offers a unique and welcoming atmosphere that's perfect for a casual hangout, work meeting, or solo coffee break. Don't miss their delightful selection of pastries and baked goods, which are all freshly made in-house.
    37.8 mi
    40 min
    Castle Museum of Saginaw County History

    Castle Museum of Saginaw County History

    Travel to the Castle Museum of Saginaw County, which once served as the local post office in 1898, and was designed to replicate French Renaissance chateaus. The Castle Museum hosts the local historical society, as well as an active archeology program that preserves and investigates archeological sites in Saginaw County. At the museum, learn about the Anishinabek people, who inhabited the river valley long before Europeans stepped foot on the land. There are also period rooms, gardens, and various other exhibitions pertaining to local industrial history to explore.
    The museum opens at 10 am every day except Sunday, when the museum opens at 1pm. If it's closed or you're short on time, we recommend viewing the building's grand exterior—but make sure you leave time to explore more of Frankenmuth.
    15.6 mi
    25 min

    Parking Lot

    Park your vehicle on the Main Street in Frankenmuth before continuing your journey exploring the culture-rich town.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Frankenmuth

    Frankenmuth

    After parking your car, explore the quaint, Bavarian-style architecture of the downtown streets in Frankenmuth. In 1845, missionaries from Neuendettelsau, Germany settled in the region. The region grew with churches and cottages into the village of Frankenmuth. Now, the streets are defined by their Germans roots and history, and travelers flock to the region all seasons to experience the city's quaint streets, shops, and German cuisine.
    If visiting in the fall, try to stop in when the city celebrates Oktoberfest, the only Oktoberfest outside of Munich to be sanctioned by the Parliament and City of Munich. It's a huge celebration and the world-famous Hofbräuhaus brewery of Munich exports beer to it every year.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Prost Wine Bar & Charcuterie

    Prost Wine Bar & Charcuterie

    After making your way through the cottage-like buildings and shops, stop in for small plates, wine, and lunch at Prost, a highly-loved wine and charcuterie bar. The restaurant is known for its luxurious rustic decor, sunny patio, and extensive drink options. Have a toast and say "Prost!" before diving into your delectable meal here.
    0.2 mi
    5 min

    Parking Lot

    Pick your car back up and drive over to the parking lot at the Bavarian Belle Riverboat loading stop.
    0.7 mi
    5 min
    Bavarian Belle Riverboat

    Bavarian Belle Riverboat

    Take a cruise on the Cass River to learn about the history of the region as you pass by landmarks, bridges, and buildings. You'll travel past the Holz-Brücke bridge, a fully covered wooden bridge resembling the wooden covered bygone bridges of 19th-century that existed throughout Germany.
    The tour is family-owned and operated and runs until dusk from May to mid-October. If you are visiting in the winter, we recommend staying indoors and visiting the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, which is open year-round.
    1.1 mi
    10 min
    Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

    Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

    After finishing your historical tour, drive a little outside of downtown Frankenmuth to stop in the world's largest year-round Christmas market at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. The store is truly enormous. Inside you can find ornaments for anything and everything you can imagine — there are over 6,000 styles offered and ornament and stocking options to personalize. Get lost in the Christmas spirit whether it's July or December, and even get some of your Christmas shopping done early.
    1.1 mi
    5 min
    Zehnder's of Frankenmuth

    Zehnder's of Frankenmuth

    Drive back over to downtown Frankenmuth to indulge in one of their famous family-style chicken dinners. Operating since the first German settlers inhabited the region, Zehnders has been cooking meals for the region for 160 years. Enjoy all-you-can-eat platters of chicken, bowls of mashed potatoes, egg noodles, and vegetables.
    Map preview
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