“If you’re looking for things to do in Frankenmuth, Michigan, this is one of those places we never seem to get tired of visiting. We’ve been here for festivals, holidays, water park weekends, family dinners, outdoor adventures, and plenty of afternoons just walking through town and seeing what we find. While Frankenmuth is especially beautiful at Christmas, there really is something happening here throughout the year, which is one of the reasons we keep coming back.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
I recommend Frankenmuth because there is always something to do, no matter what time of year you visit. My family has watched the hot air balloons fill the sky, gone to the Dog Bowl, explored the ice sculptures in winter, watched fireworks, zip lined through the trees at the Aerial Park, celebrated the Christmas season, and spent plenty of time simply walking downtown, shopping, eating, and exploring.
Some of our favorite Frankenmuth memories have come from the big events, but others have been as simple as grabbing fudge and wandering through town together. It’s a destination that has grown with our family, and even after all of our visits, we can still find a reason to go back.
Quick Facts
- 📍 Location: Frankenmuth is in Mid-Michigan, about 25 minutes southeast of Saginaw.
- 🎄 Known For: Bavarian-style charm, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, famous chicken dinners, festivals, shopping, and seasonal events.
- 🍗 Our Favorite: We’ve eaten at both Bavarian Inn and Zehnder’s, but Zehnder’s is our family favorite.
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Any season! Christmas is especially festive, summer brings outdoor events and festivals, and winter is a fun time to see the ice sculptures.
Visitor Tips
- 🎆 Arrive early for fireworks: Parking fills up quickly during major events. We’ve had good luck parking at Zehnder’s, having dinner there, and then staying downtown for the fireworks.
- 🍗 Make dinner reservations: During busy festival weekends, don’t count on walking into the popular restaurants. If you want to eat at Zehnder’s or Bavarian Inn, make a reservation ahead of time.
- 🧊 Want to see the ice sculptures without the crowds? We like going the day after the event ends. The sculptures are usually still there, but parking and walking around downtown are much easier.
- 🎄 Consider Bronner’s in the off-season: We actually love visiting when it isn’t Christmastime. You can explore the store without the huge holiday crowds and still get the full Bronner’s experience.
- 👟 Wear comfortable shoes: Frankenmuth is a great place to park and spend a few hours walking between shops, restaurants, the riverfront, and attractions.
Things to Do in Frankenmuth, Michigan
Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth is one of those places where the meal feels like part of the Frankenmuth experience itself. Known for its famous family-style chicken dinners, Zehnder’s serves course after course of classic comfort food in a warm, traditional setting. It’s a place we’ve returned to many times, and for us, a trip to Frankenmuth just doesn’t feel complete without eating here.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
We always choose the family-style dinner because we love getting the full experience. The meal starts with bread and jams, cheese spread, chicken noodle soup, and other starters before the main course even arrives. Then comes the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all the comforting sides we look forward to every time.
And just when you think you couldn’t possibly eat anything else, they finish the meal with a refreshing sorbet. 😂
It’s definitely more than a quick dinner—it’s an experience we look forward to whenever we visit Frankenmuth. The food, the atmosphere, and the tradition of sitting down together for such a big family-style meal are what keep us coming back.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 🍽️ Come Hungry: The family-style dinner includes multiple courses, so come hungry!
- 🥡 Take Home the Leftovers: If you don’t finish everything, you can take the leftovers home.
- 🛍️ Short on Time?: If you don’t want the full family-style experience, check out the marketplace downstairs. You can get many of the same Zehnder’s favorites in a more casual setting.
- 🍗 Make Dinner Reservations: During busy festival weekends, make reservations ahead of time if you want to eat at popular restaurants like Zehnder’s or Bavarian Inn. Walking in without one can be difficult when Frankenmuth is busy.
- 🛍️ Stop at Rau’s Country Store: We like to visit Rau’s Country Store next door while we’re in the area. It’s an easy stop to add before or after your meal and another fun place to browse while you’re in downtown Frankenmuth.
Bavarian Inn Restaurant
The Bavarian Inn Restaurant is one of Frankenmuth’s most well-known places to eat, but there is much more to explore than just the dining rooms. Along with its famous family-style meals, the lower level is filled with shops, baked goods, desserts, candy, and gifts. We always spend some time browsing downstairs when we visit—and the toy store near the bottom of the stairs is usually the first place the kids want to go!
⭐ Why I Recommend It
We recommend the Bavarian Inn because the whole experience is fun, even beyond the meal. We especially love stopping downstairs for the baked goods and desserts and wandering through the different shops. The kids have always gravitated toward the toy store, while I enjoy looking through the other stores and seeing what treats we want to take home.
Even if you aren’t planning a full family-style dinner, the lower level is worth exploring. It’s one of those places where we almost always end up spending more time than we planned because there is so much to look at.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 🧁 Visit the Bakery Downstairs: Don’t leave without checking out the bakery and dessert cases on the lower level. We always like to see what treats are available to take home.
- 🛍️ Browse the Lower-Level Shops: The basement level has several stores to explore, including gifts, candy, and a toy store that our kids have always been drawn to.
- 🕰️ Watch the Glockenspiel: The Bavarian Inn’s Glockenspiel chimes on the hour and features moving figures that come out as part of the show. It’s a fun little tradition to catch while you’re there, especially with kids.
- 🚶 Explore the Nearby Shops: There are several shops to browse around the Bavarian Inn before you reach the covered bridge, so it’s easy to make a little shopping loop out of your visit.
- 🌉 Then Walk Across the Covered Bridge: After exploring the shops, continue over the Holz Brücke covered bridge for another fun Frankenmuth photo stop and a nice walk.
Zehnder’s Splash Village & Bavarian Inn Lodge Water Parks
Frankenmuth is a fun place to visit year-round, but we especially love the water parks during the winter. When it’s too cold to spend much time outside, both Zehnder’s Splash Village and Bavarian Inn Blast give the kids a place to swim, play, and burn off some energy while still feeling like we’re on a mini getaway.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
I recommend both water parks, but for slightly different age groups. Zehnder’s has always felt especially well suited for younger children, with plenty of water play and an arcade to enjoy when they need a break from swimming.
Bavarian Inn’s Bavarian Blast feels like the better choice for older kids because there is more to do beyond the water park. The three-story ropes course, laser tag, and rock-climbing walls give them extra ways to stay active and entertained.
For us, both have been great winter escapes. The kids can stay active, have a ton of fun, and enjoy a little vacation feeling without having to travel far.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 👜 Pack a Separate Water Park Bag: If you’re staying overnight, bring a separate bag with swimsuits, towels, and anything else you’ll need for the water park. You may be able to swim before your room is ready, so you won’t have to dig through your luggage.
- 🏊 Arrive Before Check-In: Both resorts allow guests to enjoy the water park before hotel check-in, which is a great way to get more out of your stay.
- 🍕 Food and Snacks Are Available: Both water parks have places where you can buy food, drinks, and snacks without having to leave the property.
- 🍹 Swim-Up Bar at Bavarian Inn: Bavarian Inn has a swim-up bar, which is a fun bonus for adults while the kids are enjoying the water park.
- 🛍️ Make Time for Downtown Frankenmuth: If you’re staying overnight, it’s easy to leave the resort for dinner, walk around downtown, and do some shopping before heading back to the hotel.
- 🎮 Budget for Extras: Arcades and some of the additional attractions can add to the cost, so it helps to decide ahead of time how much you want to spend beyond the room and water park.
- 🧴 Bring Water Shoes or Flip-Flops: The floors can get slippery, and it’s nice to have something easy to wear between the room, water park, arcade, and food areas.
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is the world’s largest Christmas store, and it really does feel like an attraction all on its own. There is so much to look at, from Christmas trees and elaborate displays to ornaments, decorations, gifts, and seasonal décor. Even if you aren’t shopping for anything specific, it’s fun just to walk around and take everything in.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
We recommend Bronner’s because the quality and variety of the gifts and decorations make it feel different from a typical Christmas store. There are so many unique items to browse, and one of our favorite things is looking at the personalized ornaments. They make such cute keepsakes and gifts, especially when you want something that feels a little more special.
We also like that Bronner’s is enjoyable even outside of the Christmas season. Visiting when it’s less crowded gives you more time to explore the displays, shop, and really see everything without feeling rushed.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 🎄 Visit Outside the Holiday Rush: We prefer visiting outside the busiest part of the Christmas season. Early November or even the days right after Christmas can be much less crowded.
- 🎁 Buy a Personalized Ornament: Bronner’s has a huge selection of personalized ornaments, and they make such cute souvenirs or gifts to take home.
- ☕ Skip the Café if Food Isn’t the Priority: There is a café inside, but we usually save our appetite for one of Frankenmuth’s restaurants instead.
- 🦌 Pair It With Grandpa Tiny’s Farm: Grandpa Tiny’s Farm is nearby and makes an easy addition to your Bronner’s visit. During the Christmas season, you may be able to get photos with the reindeer.
- ⏰ Don’t Rush Your Visit: This is not really a quick in-and-out store. If it’s your first time, I’d give yourself at least a couple of hours to browse.
- 🚗 Expect a Huge Parking Lot: The store is massive, and so is the parking area. It helps to remember where you parked, especially during busier times.
- 📸 Look for Photo Spots: Bronner’s has lots of fun displays inside and outside, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for family photo opportunities while you browse.
Grandpa Tiny’s Farm
Grandpa Tiny’s Farm is a fun family stop in Frankenmuth, especially when you have younger kids. We visited when our daughter was little, and she loved seeing the animals, exploring the farm, and riding through the property. It has that simple, old-fashioned farm feel that makes it an easy addition to a Frankenmuth day.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
I recommend Grandpa Tiny’s Farm for families with younger children because it gives them a chance to slow down, see the animals, and enjoy something hands-on. We especially enjoyed visiting in the fall, when the farm felt extra festive. It also pairs really well with Bronner’s since they’re so close to each other.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 🐐 Great for Younger Kids: The animals and farm activities are especially fun for little ones.
- 🎃 Visit in the Fall: Fall is one of our favorite times to go, with seasonal decorations and wagon rides.
- 🦌 Watch for Seasonal Experiences: Around Christmas, the farm often has special holiday activities, including opportunities to see reindeer.
- 🎄 Pair It With Bronner’s: Grandpa Tiny’s Farm is very close to Bronner’s, so the two are easy to visit on the same trip.
- 📅 Check Before You Go: Some attractions and activities are seasonal, so check what’s available on the day of your visit.
Frankenmuth Aerial Park
Frankenmuth Aerial Park is one of our favorite places in town for a little adventure. We’ve visited several times, and it’s especially convenient because it’s close to many of Frankenmuth’s other attractions, so it’s easy to add to a full day in town. The park has aerial obstacle courses and zip lines set among the trees, with different levels of difficulty depending on how much of a challenge you want.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
We recommend Frankenmuth Aerial Park because it gives older kids and teens something active and exciting to do beyond the usual shopping and sightseeing. My son especially loves the zip lines and has challenged himself on some of the harder courses.
Those upper-level sections are no joke — they take balance, confidence, and quite a bit of arm strength. That challenge is part of what makes the park so rewarding, especially for kids who like to push themselves and try something a little harder.
I also love that it’s close to the rest of Frankenmuth, so you can easily pair it with dinner, shopping, Bronner’s, or another attraction the same day.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 👟 Wear Closed-Toe Shoes: Closed-toe shoes are required for the course, so plan your footwear before you go.
- 👖 Wear Comfortable Pants: We recommend pants or longer athletic bottoms because you’ll be climbing, balancing, and working around ropes and harnesses.
- 💪 Expect a Workout: The harder courses can require quite a bit of upper-body and arm strength. My son loved challenging himself on the more difficult sections.
- 🎟️ Check Groupon Before You Book: We’ve often found deals for Frankenmuth Aerial Park on Groupon, so it’s worth checking before paying full price. Groupon currently has an active deal for the park.
- 🧤 Bring or Buy Gloves: Gloves are required and are not included with the Groupon offer.
- 📅 Reserve Ahead: Online reservations are required for the current Groupon offer, and walk-ins are not accepted under that deal.
Wilderness Trails Zoo
Wilderness Trails Zoo is a fun family stop near Frankenmuth with plenty of opportunities to get closer to the animals than you would at a typical zoo. We’ve enjoyed walking through the zoo, feeding the budgies, and even getting the chance to hold a baby kangaroo. It’s especially memorable for kids who really love animals.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
We recommend Wilderness Trails Zoo because it offers some really unique animal experiences. Feeding the budgies was one of our favorite parts, and getting to hold a baby kangaroo was such a special memory.
My daughter also participated in their Zookeeper for a Day program during the summer and absolutely loved it. She enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at caring for the animals and has already said she wants to do it again. For kids who are especially interested in animals, that experience makes the zoo feel like much more than just another day of looking at exhibits.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 👟 Wear Closed-Toe Shoes: Much of the zoo is along a gravel pathway, so comfortable closed-toe shoes are a good idea.
- 📅 Check the Website Before You Go: Look for special animal visits, camps, seasonal programs, and other events that may be happening during your visit.
- 🧺 Bring Your Own Food & Drinks: Outside food and drinks are allowed, and there are picnic areas available throughout the zoo, which can make it easier to save money and take a break during your visit.
- 🦘 Watch for Animal Encounters: Special animal experiences can make the visit even more memorable. We loved getting the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.
- 🥕 Bring a Few Dollars and Some Quarters: You can purchase a $5 cup of carrots to feed the animals, and there are 23 feed machines throughout the zoo, so bring quarters if your kids want to feed even more animals along the way.
- 🐾 Check the Current Animal Encounters: Wilderness Trails Zoo offers several special encounters that can make your visit even more memorable. Current options include Asian small-clawed otters, bat-eared foxes, capybaras, hot sloth yoga, an immersive rainforest experience, lowland paca, ruffed lemur, and Palawan binturong encounters. These can change, so check the zoo’s website before your visit.