Frankenmuth: Get Festive in Michigan’s Little Bavaria 

If the Christmas spirit ever overtakes you at the height of summer and you’re unable to travel to the North Pole, consider visiting the quaint town of Frankenmuth. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland — which is the world’s largest Christmas store — is open year-round. Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, so the Bavarian love of Christmas is the centerpiece of the town.

Frankenmuth began as a German farming community, and evolved into a place where Bavarian architecture, food, and festivals continue to flourish. Visitors can book a room at the Bavarian Inn and shop for German toys, candy, and jewelry at the adjacent shops. The Bavarian Inn is also home to a restaurant that serves world famous fried chicken.

No trip to Frankenmuth is complete without a stop at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Founded in 1945, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is the size of 1.5 decked out football fields. Visitors can shop for sparkly mistletoe, personalized ornaments, and reindeer lawn figurines galore 361 days a year. Expect to fill an entire sleigh with Christmas-themed goodies. Don’t expect to go on a Christmas shopping spree on Christmas day, because Christmas is one of the few days that Bronner’s is closed.

Anyone familiar with German culture knows that Bavarians love their gnomes. There are 40 gnomes hidden at various businesses throughout Frankenmuth. Travelers who document finding 15 gnomes are eligible for a special prize at Frankenmuth’s visitors center.

One of the best ways to learn about the history of Frankenmuth is to hop aboard the Bavarian Belle Riverboat. The paddlewheel riverboat cruises on the Cass River around Frankenmuth while a tour guide talks about the history of Michigan’s Little Bavaria. During festival season, you may even catch a glimpse of some joyous beer drinkers and spirited folk dancers performing at Oktoberfest.

Visitors can also kayak on the Cass River. There are several parks that line the river, including Frankenmuth Aerial Park — which is an excellent place to go ziplining. Kayaking is one of the best ways to enjoy Frankenmuth’s unique Bavarian architecture and lush forests.

Next time you have the urge to listen to Christmas music in July, consider a road trip to Frankenmuth. You can shop for Christmas goodies at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, have a hearty fried chicken dinner at the Bavarian Inn, and receive a small gift from the Frankenmuth Visitors Center for being an expert gnome hunter. A trip to Frankenmuth will fill you with Christmas cheer every day of the year.