This blog post may contain affiliate links, which may reward me in the event of a sale. I use these funds to reinvest in my blog and to create more great content like this article to share with you! My visit to Birch Run, Frankenmuth, Midland, Bay City, & Saginaw was sponsored by the Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB, however all thoughts & opinions are my own. Disclaimer here.
Ready to go on an exciting family friendly adventure this summer to a unique area? Looking for a summer getaway destination that won’t break the bank? How about visit some hidden gems in an underrated area within Michigan? Let’s ditch the crowds and wait times found ‘up north’ and head somewhere just as pretty but less busy. Here’s how to spend a weekend in the Great Lakes Bay.
Where Exactly is the Great Lakes Bay?
Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay consists of the town’s in and around where the base of Michigan’s thumb connects with the hand. The area’s five most notable towns include Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, Birch Run, and Frankenmuth. While many of these towns are located inland, Bay City is right on Lake Huron and has a swimmable beach at the State Park!
What Kind of Stuff is there to Do in the Great Lakes Bay?
So many things!! Four out of five of these towns are located on river’s that offer a variety of recreational opportunities including boat tours, kayaking, or just enjoying the water along their riverwalks.
And each town has it’s own unique personality!
- Frankenmuth is the most well known, often referred to as Michigan’s ‘Little Bavaria.’ Many visitors come to Frankenmuth from across the Midwest to feel as if they’re in a German town without ever leaving the US. Plus there are a couple hotels with indoor waterparks, making it a fun destination year round.
- Birch Run is also a great town to stop in, especially if you’re looking for a deal at its outlet mall!
- Bay City is located nearby Lake Huron and has a lively downtown area with many historic hidden gems to enjoy.
- Midland is the town to check out if you’re into design and architecture.
- And finally, Saginaw is an underrated gem with rich history and cultural sights to visit.
Who Should Visit the Great Lakes Bay?
Everyone! However, during this weekend adventure I’m writing about, it was my toddler son, sister (who happened to be pregnant at the time), and myself. So this recommended itinerary is extremely family friendly. At the same time, many of these activities we did are also enjoyable for families with older children, couples, and empty nesters.
I made sure to add stops at unique hidden gems throughout this trip that will appeal to most people.
How Did You Spend a Weekend in the Great Lakes Bay?
In total, we spent three days within the Great Lakes Bay Area. We started off in Birch Run visiting a couple places, then headed to Frankenmuth to go on a tour with the Bavarian Belle. Following that, we drove to Midland where we spent the evening and stayed overnight. The next morning, after breakfast, we visited Bay City where we spent the rest of the day and stayed overnight there too. Finally, before heading home, we went to Saginaw to enjoy a fantastic and affordable inland beach and recreational area that I’ll get into below!
Day One – Birch Run
Before spending some time in the Great Lakes Bay, I never thought there was anything to do in Birch Run outside of shopping its outlet mall. As I planned out this trip, I did a little more digging and found a couple spots I immediately added to our trip plans. These attractions include a unique zoo with a touching founders story and a classic diner with history (and some Hollywood!) behind it. I highly recommend you add both spots to your travel plans as well!
Wilderness Trails Zoo
Founded in 1991, Wilderness Trails Zoo was the vision of two sisters passionate about animals. When it originally opened, it was mostly an animal park where people could visit and view local species of animals. But then due to its popularity, it grew and the animal park transformed into the nonprofit zoo it is today with over 200 animals. Eventually the zoo hopes to reach the same level of other renowned national zoos. How fitting to visit such a spot with my own sister!
Tickets to visit can be purchased online or at the door. While there aren’t any physical maps, the zoo is easy to navigate with signage pointing out the directions.
Within the zoo there are several exhibits where you can interact with the animals such as the parakeet house (which was my son’s favorite), petting zoo, and several quarter dispensers where you can feed the animals like goats and ducks.
Our favorites to see here include the servals which were being playful with each other, watching the camels snack on carrots, and the reptile sanctuary. The Wilderness Trails Zoo outdoor reptile sanctuary is the largest of its kind in the state!
Another thing that makes the Wilderness Trails Zoo unique is that it’s one of the only zoo’s I’ve been to that allows outside food and drink inside. There’s a designated picnic area for people to stop for a picnic. And just near that is a playground.
Other zoo’s to add to your visit within the Great Lakes Bay Area include a visit to the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. You can also read about my family’s experience visiting the Zoo Boo at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo here.
Comet Classic Diner & Creamery
Then, right across the street from the zoo, we grabbed lunch at this amazing, retro diner! This is the Comet Classic Diner and Creamery. It’s insanely adorable and colorful inside with 1950s music playing and everything you’d expect from a diner – hot dogs, burgers, and milkshakes.
I ordered a Detroit coney dog with onion rings while my son got the kids hot dog and fries. The food was delicious and the service can’t be rivaled! The waitress was so dang kind to my son and made sure everyone felt welcome and taken care of. I can’t rave enough about our visit here.
Located behind the Comet Classic Diner is its creamery. Within the creamery, you can even see an old relic from the diner’s past – an old menu! This diner was originally known as the Old Yorkville Dinner in central New York before moving to Birch Run in 1993. Then in 2019, the Comet opened after the diner was originally used as various other diner themed restaurants over the years. It was even featured in the 2008 movie “Whip It!”
If you’re looking to visit a classic American diner car that’s straight out of the 1950s, you need to add a visit to the Comet Classic Diner and Creamery in Birch Run to your travel list.
Day One – Frankenmuth
After our lunch, it was lightly raining so we headed to the River Place Shops in Frankenmuth. There we boarded the family-run, Bavarian Belle riverboat for a little afternoon cruise along the Cass River.
I’ve never done this before and always wanted to!! And it was actually a nice thing to do while it was raining as the top level is covered. The cruise lasts an hour and now accepts credit cards as payment! (In past years it was cash or check only). We made sure to arrive early (about 20 minutes prior to departure) to ensure we were close to the front of the queue to choose our spot to sit on the boat. We ended up sitting facing the back so we could watch the waterwheel go around, which my son enjoyed watching.
Once the tour began, we journeyed along the Cass River and enjoyed the views. The lower level is enclosed which is also where the bathrooms and snack bar are located. During the tour, we waved at people enjoying their vacation at the Bavarian Inn, the shops and restaurants along the river, and saw a couple local, wild animals. The tour also passes under the Holz Brucke bridge, which is the longest covered bridge in Michigan!
The tours take place daily every hour and half and last about an hour in total. Adult tickets cost $16, kids 12 and under are $5 and kids 4 and under are free!
Day One – Midland
Rather than stay and play in Frankenmuth, we headed off to Midland! Midland is a town I absolutely loved visiting during our fall trip to the Great Lakes Bay area last year. While last year we explored some of the sights that are more of a drive, this time, we wanted to stick close to downtown Midland to enjoy its features within walking distance to each other.
After checking into our hotel, we immediately set out to explore Midland, which included a stop to hang out at the Commons. Then we walked over to the Dow Chemical Founders Garden, the Bridge, and Gerstacker Splash Pad.
The Commons
Our first stop was to check out The Commons – downtown Midlands pedestrian only social zone where you can buy drinks, relax, play games, do art, and take advantage of cute photo opps!
During Friday and Saturday evenings, a live band performs from 7-9pm. People show up and bring their chairs, dance and enjoy! It was raining earlier in the day so I didn’t think on the day we were in town it would be busy – but it was!
The Commons was inspired by Carl Gerstacker, a founder of Midland, who thought downtowns should be a community hub to socialize in addition to dining and shopping. With COVID and social distancing, the idea to create a community space in downtown midland was propelled forward and voila – the Commons was created!
After jamming out a little bit with the music, we played a couple games of corn hole together before continuing through the Commons to our next stop…
Founders Garden
Stop 2 in Downtown Midland is the Dow Chemical Founders Garden. While a little hidden tucked behind the Dow Diamond along the Tittabawassee River, there is a large sign calling it out. As you approach it from the path, there is a plaque on the ground announcing the garden being on the site of where the former Dow Chemical 47 Building Rotunda was located.
Within the garden, there are pretty flowers surrounding a sculpture of Herbert H Dow. It’s a quiet, peaceful spot to check out! Then you’ll come across five walls with each wall listing the five chemical elements Dow was founded for: chlorine, bromine, magnesium, sodium, and calcium, and on the other side, a quote from Dow.
Tridge & Splash Pad
We then turned back and walked the river walk to the Tridge, where we walked across 2/3 of it before heading to our final stop of the night – the Gerstacker Spray Park. This free splash pad is located close to the Tridge and has a rail around it to keep kids in or out. Within it, there are also benches for people to sit on at a safe distance from the splash pad. It runs between June and October from dawn to dusk.
Opened in 2002, the Spray Park is located nearby many of Midlands best known sights such as the Tridge, Pere Marquette Rail Trail, and Farmers Market. The spray park is motion activated and is a fun way to cool off after an active evening.
Where We Stayed – The H Hotel, Midland
In Midland, we stayed at the H Hotel, which has always been a bucket list hotel for me! The H Hotel not only has an exemplary theme that goes along great with Midland, but an interesting history as well. Plus it’s a boutique hotel, and I’ve come to a realization that I love boutique hotels. We have more of them than I thought we did in Michigan so I’m happy we stayed here!
In 2006, the H Hotel opened up in Midland after its conversion from another brand hotel and before that, an old JC Penney. Unfortunately in 2020 after the flooding Midland sustained after the Edenville and Sanford dams broke, the H Hotel shouldered a lot of flood damage on its main floor with over 10 inches. (And that was even after some initial renovations in 2019.)
The name of the hotel and its dining options are inspired by chemistry and a nod to Midland’s Dow Chemical. Within the H Hotel, there are three dining options: the Oxygen (cocktail) lounge, Cafe Zinc, and ONe Eighteen, an American tavern open only for dinner with mid century modern vibes. This is also a play on Midland’s Alden B Dow and his impact on mid century modern architecture.
Upon checking in, we headed up to our room on the 5th floor, which overlooked the courtyard and out over downtown Midland. The rooms are spacious and cozy with fluffy, comfy bedding. So comfy, that my son plopped down and took a nap (which he hardly does anymore!) There are also many modern enhancements in each room including automatic window curtains, a flat screen TV that doubles as a mirror when not in use, and retro-modern controls located on the nightstand for a clock (if still needed). Plus, expected amenities like a coffee maker, refrigerator, and safe all found in each room.
One thing I’ve come to expect at every boutique hotel I’ve stayed at is a robe. And sure enough, there were a couple robes waiting for us in our room!
ONe Eighteen
Once my son woke back up, we headed down for dinner at ONe Eighteen, right at the H Hotel. From the moment you step into ONe Eighteen, you’ll know it’s going to be a great experience. Its style is very mid century modern as a nod to architect Alden B Dow, whose studio you may also tour when visiting Midland (this is on our bucket list once our son gets older!).
The food, drinks and service were all fantastic! I told them to surprise me with a whisky based drink and ended up with a delicious citrusy whisky sour. Plus, there are mock tails on the menu too, which my pregnant sister appreciated!
For dinner, I ordered the skirt steak that comes with a fried potato salad and corn pico de Gallo with chimcirri sauce on top. Win ordered mac and cheese, and for all the picky kids out there – it is like kraft mac n cheese. So yes, your kids will eat something. Plus the kids menu is so cool! It’s arranged to look like a table of elements.
Cafe Zinc
Then, in the morning, dine at the most adorable cafe in Michigan – Cafe Zinc! This cafe reminds me of a European style cafe and patisserie. Its bright and welcoming with pops of vibrant colors. Along the back of the cafe is a long counter with pastry displays, counter dining seating and espresso makers.
There are indoor and outdoor dining options. I recommend reservations as by the late morning the restaurant is busy. Grab a brunch cocktail, latte for dine in or to go, delicious brunch options or a pastry.
For breakfast, I ordered an Eggs Benedict for myself and a kids breakfast for my son. The food was served quick, hot and delicious. Definitely worth a stop here whether you stay at the hotel or not.
Day Two – Bay City
No trip to the Great Lakes Bay is complete without spending some time in Bay City. Bay City is the Great Lakes Bay region’s connection to Lake Huron as it’s located on the mouth of the Saginaw River. Bay City also has strong historic roots as a major hub for shipbuilding and and Great Lakes maritime transport as several saw mills were located in this area. A lot of the lumber left the port of Bay City over a century ago. Today, there is still evidence of its maritime history with major events such as the Tall Ship Festival taking place here. However, there are lots of other great sights and things to do in Bay City to add to your travel plans. Here’s how to spend a weekend in the Great Lakes Bay, focusing specifically on a day in Bay City.
Bay City State Park
After our breakfast at Cafe Zinc, we packed up, checked out, and hit the road for Bay City State Park! While my son didn’t have much interest in any Lake Huron action, he did enjoy the splash pad. Known as ‘Spray by the Bay,’ it is open Memorial through Labor Day from 10am to 8pm. From the splash pad, it’s a bit of a walk to get to the swimming beach but has a bathroom and changing facilities right next to it!
Also, there’s a BRAND NEW playground next to the splash pad. It’s modern with rubbery floors and with a natural feel to it. There’s bridges to cross, swings, slides, musical instruments, ramps and more!
There are also a number of convenient parking spaces right by the splash pad and playground making it easy for families to park here. But arrive early to ensure you get a spot!
Bay City Boat Lines
Stop two during our weekend adventure was to board Bay City Boat Lines’s Princess Wenonah for a river cruise along the Saginaw river. They operate a few options such as the Saginaw River Guided Tour, dinner cruises, and even offer a number of FREE history tours through the summer. Check it out!!
This tour takes place on the weekends at 1pm and lasts until 3pm. Once you’re on board, you can find any seat you’d like and even head to the main level to purchase snacks and beverages (cash and card accepted). Seats on the upper deck face either side looking out over the water so everyone can enjoy a view.
The tour is narrated and points out the sights found along the river. During this tour, you’ll pass the USS Edson and see a lighthouse that’s undergoing repairs to one day open to the public. The guide even gives tips on good spots to return to for the Tall Ship Festival.
My son was enamored with the number of drawbridges he got to watch go up and down along the tour. Plus there are a couple of swing bridges for trains.
Restaurants in Bay City
Keeping with our embrace of water while in Bay City, we decided to dine at only waterside restaurants. Bay City makes this easy and enjoyable to do with a couple options – each on a different side of the river.
Drift Shoreside Beer Garden
First, in lieu of lunch, we headed to Drift Shoreside Beer Garden for refreshments! We easily found some street parking in this area and walked in. There’s both indoor, side patio (which has a number of backyard games), and two back patio’s by the water to chose from. The seats are all pretty comfy and it s a great spot to come to relax, which is what we wanted to do. In the afternoon when we visited, we had the place to ourselves!
Drift sells a variety of drinks both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. There are also food trucks in the parking lot out front you can order food from. If we were all hungrier, I would have ordered something but after our large breakfast from earlier in the day, we opted for an earlier dinner.
H2O Waterside Grill
That early dinner we planned to have, was in the hopes of evading a crowded new restaurant. This restaurant is H2O’s Waterside Grill. But alas, even though we arrived at 4:30 for dinner, we still had to wait. We opted for a first available table because by that time, we were pretty hungry. Even with getting an inside table, we still ended up with water views!
I ordered a mango tango cocktail which was sweet and spicy. Plus we ordered appetizers (elote & cheese curds) with a pepperoni pizza to split. The food & drinks were delicious!
The staff were so sweet and kind. They kept apologizing and thanking us for our patience, but really, I found the service to be speedy!
Towards the end of our dining experience, I got up to walk around and found there are several dining options. Besides inside or inside at the bar, you can sit outside on one of two patio’s. Plus there’s outdoor bar seating!
Hidden Gems to See in Bay City
From my perspective, I’ve noticed many hidden gems in Bay City both during my visit last fall and this summer. I define a hidden gem as something that’s not widely known or advertised. Or it is an obvious place but with a deeper story behind it that most people don’t realize. Using these two definitions, I consider the below hidden gems in Bay City.
Third Street Hidden Gems
Throughout our day, we noted several hidden gems to spot in Bay City. When wandering around near Third Street in the afternoon, we checked out the cute home decor shops on this street. Blocked from vehicular traffic and with string lights crisscrossing the Victorian buildings, Third Street is an adorable mini social zone. Add this to your travel list if you’re looking for a cute Instagrammable spot in Bay City.
Third Street deadends into another hidden gem – the Third Street Waterfall Park. This waterfall looks more like a fountain from its entrance but when you swing around it, it cascades down. While I couldn’t find out too much history about why a waterfall exists here. I did read that a bridge that crossed the Saginaw River used to exist and collapsed. But conveniently next to the waterfall is an historic plaque honoring Bay City’s daredevil, Annie Edson Taylor. She was the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive.
Throughout the summer, Third Street Waterfall Park is a concert venue on Friday evenings at 6pm.
Kantzler Arboretum
The Kanzler Arboretum holds lots of history and natural beauty! It was founded in 1977 by the Bay City Garden Club with the help of funding by the Kantzler Memorial Foundation.
Before an arboretum, the land was the site of Capt Davison’s Dry Dock slip. This slip serviced wooden ships until wooden vessels were replaced by steel ships. By the 1930s, the company abandoned the site and old remains of wooden ships were left to the elements. Within the arboretum, an old rudder from the wooden steamship Sacramento is displayed. It’s huge!
There are trails all over the arboretum with a variety of trees to enjoy. In 2000, the garden club added flower beds. There’s even a peaceful, beautiful serenity trail in a section. Next door to the arboretum is the Trombley House, which is one of the first wooden homes in the area. Then next to that is the Meyer Log Cabin – an example of what houses looked like back in the 1860s. Both homes moved here in the 1980s after the arboretum was created.
The arboretum hands down was one of my favorite spots in Bay City. For a Saturday night, there was barely anyone in the arboretum, yet it was so beautiful! Definitely a great spot for a little peace in nature within the city.
Where We Stayed in Bay City
After our day exploring Bay City, we stayed at the DoubleTree Hilton Bay City. This hotel is located next to the Bay City Boat Lines dock and Wenonah Park, a popular event spot.
You can book rooms with a riverfront view, which we did! We stayed on the third floor with two queen beds and the rooms were clean and comfortable. The rooms come with amenities like a coffee maker, fridge, and microwave.
Parking is free. During the day, there’s a guard checking to ensure only guests park in the lot.
If you’re staying with kids or thinking of staying with kids, do it! And make sure to carry a swimsuit! The swimming pool is adorable. Definitely not an indoor waterpark, but it has a couple of (fake) palm trees with small waterfalls and a bench. The bench is perfect for toddlers to stand on comfortably. The water is warm and comfortable. Next to the pool is the hot tub, which fits about 8 people comfortably.
Another perk of the DoubleTree is its on site restaurant Riverfront Grille. We came down here for breakfast the next morning. Menu items include a buffet or a number of chef made breakfast options. I opted for a pancake breakfast with bacon and fruit to split with my son. This ended up being enough food for us as our next stop is a playful one!
Day Three – Saginaw
After checking out of our hotel in Bay City, we headed down to Saginaw where we spent the afternoon at one of the most well-rounded parks I’ve ever visited – Haithco Park. This Park has many things to do within it – all for only $5 per car (cash only).
Within the park, there are a couple playgrounds, a large woodland themed splash pad, swimming beach with lifeguards, picnic tables, volleyball court, nature trail around the lake with scenic overlooks and fishing. There’s also concessions and paddle boat/board, canoe and kayak rentals (all also cash only), but very affordable!
We spent most of our time at the playground which has many ADA accessible features plus a seesaw which I haven’t seen at many playgrounds in years and musical instruments. While it states the park opens at 9am, the beach, concessions and splash pad open up at 11am. We ended up arriving around 10:30am, which helped us snag a parking space right up front in the paved lot. This lot is a short walk from the concessions/restroom facilities, swing set, playground and splash pad. During the 30 minutes we had before everything opened up, we were able to scout out the beach and see all the amenities available here.
Once the splash pad turned on at 11am, my son played here until we left for the day. Although I have to say, the beach area is phenomenal. Every night they rake out the beach so its fluffy and enjoyable to walk on each morning. And the sand is excellent for bringing sand toys to make sand castles and molds.
Creation Coffee
After this fabulous, final activity, we headed to a place I always visit whenever I’m around the Great Lakes Bay – Creation Coffee! This Midland headquartered coffee chain is delicious and has a number of convenient locations with drive throughs in the area.
But I like to go inside to order because I love the mid century modern vibes its decorated in. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, there are also food items like sandwiches and pastries.
Where to Stay during a Weekend in the Great Lakes Bay
If you’re looking for more options of where to stay within the Great Lakes Bay in addition to the gorgeous and airy The H Hotel in Midland or the centrally located Doubletree by Hilton Bay City, I’ve got you covered. Here are other hotel options in the area and one’s we recommend from past stays:
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Midland – The Fairfield is a great option for where to stay if you plan on attending a Midland Loons game at the Dow Diamond next door. It’s also just a short drive away from the Dow Gardens and comes with free continental breakfast.
- Courtyard by Marriott Bay City is where you’ll want to stay in Bay City if you want a little rest and relaxation from the lively downtown area. It’s also easy to reach downtown by walking along the Riverwalk and is steps away from a variety of restaurant options.
- Four Points by Sheraton Saginaw is a relaxing, carefree place to rest your head if you’re in Saginaw taking advantage of its many great museums. It’s only about a couple minutes drive away from Haithco Park.
- Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth is the place to stay if you’re visiting Frankenmuth. It’s perfect for both families and people traveling without kids. While it’s known for its indoor waterpark (that’s getting bigger with a huge addition in process), there’s also an adults only pool. Learn more about our stay by clicking here.
Map Detailing How to Spend a Weekend in the Great Lakes Bay
What do you think? Are you convinced to take that trip to one of more of these fantastic towns within the Great Lakes Bay? And if you’re looking at additional options of things to add to your travel plan in Midland, Bay City and Saginaw, check out where my family and I visited in the fall. I’ve also written about our stay at Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Inn here too. And for other idea’s of how to spend a weekend in the Great Lakes Bay, visit gogreat.com!
Until our next Michigan adventure together!
From Michigan with Love,
Jackie
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