Saturday, March 1, 2014

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Not too long ago I blogged about our stay at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Today I want to share some pictures from the town because it's so unusual, so welcoming, and such a great place to go to refresh and recharge.


Located in Saginaw County, Frankenmuth is one of those places that is fun to visit any time of the year.


There is always something going on, including a huge Bavarian Fest held in early June, hot air balloon competitions, dog olympics, The Summer Music Festival, the very popular OktoberFest, and while we were there on our last visit, the ice carvings that were placed all over the town (sculptures entered in a Frankenmuth SnowFest competition).


The covered bridge in February, 2014

The Covered Bridge in the Summer!

A covered bridge right in the heart of town sets the tone for your visit.





I saw where Chuck from Secondary Rds recently mentioned the cheese in Frankenmuth.
Totally worth a mention because that is good stuff!

There are many shoppes and restaurants to visit, including one of my favorites, The Cheese Haus,


treat shops that sell things like homemade taffy (that you can watch them make), ice cream, and the Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen,

35 Days Until Spring? Def. a welcome sign to see!



an old-fashioned candy display at Rau's Country Store.


There is a toy store,


a historical museum,


and Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store.


Inside of Bronner's you will find just about any kind of Christmas ornament or decoration you could hope to come across.





They have ornaments from different countries....


different themes,


and even school (university) affiliations...not to mention different hobbies, interests, careers, animals, events, and 'just because' ornaments too.


The architecture is Franconian in style, and the town is often referred to as Little Bavaria.


There are a handful of restaurants (all delicious!), including the infamous Zehnders and Bavarian Inn that both serve authentic German food, complete with the wait staff being dressed in traditional Bavarian attire.


Frankenmuth has a lot of great/fun gift and/or specialty shops!

Shopping in the town is nice with quaint shops that sell sweaters, leather items, crafts, specialty coffee (there is a great coffee store with a cozy area for drinking/reading and a small children's nook), etc., and Birch Run Premium Outlet Mall is just on the outskirts of town. The outlet mall has 145 different stores and is a great place to visit if you've got some shopping you want/need to do (and Katie bar the door! they've got a store that sells premium quality Calphalon pans at a discount).  ;)

Fully where we intend to spend some time this summer.
Alongside the Cass River in Frankenmuth, MI

We have been to Frankenmuth quite a few times, and we always enjoy our visits. As small as the town is (you can walk everywhere if you choose to), we still have not seen everything there is to see.  I'm thinking this summer we might stop at the zoo right on the way into Frankenmuth, and see what that is all about.  Of course we'll be doing that on our way to a hotel that sits along the Cass River...because summer's are made for living and lounging (at least on the weekends), and one of the best places to do that, is in Frankenmuth, Michigan. 

184 comments:

  1. I have only been to Frankenmuth once, but I loved it. We are talking about taking a 4 day weekend this summer so we can visit again. After reading your other post, I really would love to stay at the Bavarian Inn. My kids are pushing for Zehnder's hotel with the waterpark though.

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    1. I haven't stayed at Zehnder's, but I've eaten there. If you stay, swing back over, would ya? I'd love to hear about it.

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  2. What a fun place this would be. Not in the winter for me, but the summer it would be great fun.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. It's one of the very few places I like to go in the winter. Otherwise, I'm hibernating as best I can. :)

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  3. 1) I love these old-timey towns. There are a few in OH and PA that I have visited.

    2) I don't get how a store that sells only Christmas stuff makes it all year round. Who wants to buy Christmas stuff February-October??? It's not that I am anti-Christmas in any way. I love it. My favorite holiday. I just don't want to have to go through all of the Christmas boxes in order to add a newly bought item to the rest. BUT, if I don't, chances are it will get lost. And so that is why I don't buy anything Christmas after the Christmas decorations are put away or before they are brought out again.

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    1. My husband loves to be there off-season because there aren't big crowds and there are good sales. I just love it because I love it. :) My teen likes it, but she's take it/leave it as she is w/most things right now. ;) My 6yr. old though, could not wrap his mind around being there off-season (and he usually LOVES to be there). The Christmas music was playing, the decorations were everywhere, and he said maybe 6 times, 'but it's not really Christmas,' lolol

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  4. Rosey ~ what a great place and fantastic photos ~ Happy Weekend ~ xxx

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  5. Looked like a great place to visit and totally wanting to see them make Taffy now and maybe someday I will get there just to see that!! :)

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  6. Looks like such a pretty area. I've never been to Michigan. My company has an office in the upper U.P. We were going to have a company meeting there last fall, but we canceled it when so many employees complained about the drive.

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    1. NOOOO!! I have heard the UP is so so so beautiful, I bet they'd have ended up loving it!

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  7. I am pretty sure my parents have been to Frankenmuth. It looks so similar to some of our places around Amish country here. Like the cheese shops and things....probably because of the Pennsylvania Dutch influences. I would love to see all of the ornaments. I am a sucker for Christmas decorations!

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    1. Frankenmuth is a fun city. I agree with you too (on the ornaments), any day, any time. :)

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  8. so much cool stuff to take in...love the carved ice...the covered bridges...all the shops...that would be heaven for my wife....smiles...

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    1. It's very peaceful there (and fun if you want it to be). :)

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  9. I've bought stuff from Bronner's online before and I know I have seen them featured on shows on the Travel Channel before. I LOVE all things Christmas and I would love to go there just to go to Bronner's LOL :)

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    1. We stop there every single time we go. I just love that place!

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  10. I still dream of that cheese with bacon and chocolate. man that cheese store is awesome. Bronner's that's the name of the place. ha ha I'm getting old having trouble remembering the names of places I've been too. did you go to the church steeple and sign your name in their visitors book ? I want to go back there's a shirt I wanted that said will sell husband for chocolate lol I think all my photos are on my friends computer from our trip it was a girls day that we went it was a lot of fun .we went in the dead of winter last year.

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    1. I have never been in the church, but now you've made me curious to go. :) Frankenmuth is one of those places I like when it's warm or cold outside, and there aren't many of the latter on my list. ;)

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  11. Looks a great town! It's nice to get away sometimes and recharge and recuperate

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    1. It is a great re-charge place, absolutely! :)

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  12. I was admiring your pins from there today lol. It really is a charming city!

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    1. I found bazillions of pins I could have put up, but I try not to put the kids on the Pinterest travel boards. Some of the pics of the kids...they were so little!!! Big awws from me, going through the pics from previous trips there. :)

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  13. Looks like a great place to visit. I would like to try that cheese.

    Michelle F.

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    1. They have samples out of different types too, if you want to try before you buy. :)

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  14. This sounds like a great place to visit, I've never been to Michigan.

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    1. Michigan has a few places I really like, Frankenmuth is one of them. :)

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  15. What a place! Thank you for the tour - I loved the ice sculptures and the covered bridge particularly. No covered bridges over here. And they have a lot of charm.

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    1. I agree, the covered bridges are charming. :)

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  16. That looks like such a wonderful place to visit! I am loving that covered bridge; just beautiful, summer and winter!

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    1. I like that bridge in the summer because you can walk under it, and dawdle. In the winter, I'm driving because it's too cold to be walking. ;)

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  17. I love the covered bridge, I have always had a fascination with old bridges and barns. I would love to visit the cheese shop, my kids would love the mouse/cheese statue.

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    1. We have pictures w/that mouse every year for the last 6 years, lol. He's almost family. ;)

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  18. I have always wanted to visit some covered bridges. They are so neat!

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    1. I think that's the only one I've seen. I do love it though!

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  19. Cheese Haus! OMG I want to go to there! I love cheese. Frankenmuth is a beautiful town, the covered bridge is so romantic.

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    1. I would feel incomplete w/o going into the Cheese Haus while visiting. ;)

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  20. That bridge is beautiful! And LOOOOOVE the candy section. YUM! That's where I'd waste all my money.

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    1. That's where my husband spends the most while we're in town too. ;)

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  21. Sounds like a fun place to visit! Thanks to your post, I almost feel like I've been there! God bless,
    Laurie

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    1. It is a nice visiting spot. :) Thanks for your visit, Laurie.

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  22. What a nice quaint town. Seems like a lot to do there. I would shop!

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    1. My MIL loves to go for the shopping, esp. at the outlet mall just outside of the city.

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  23. A quaint town indeed, the covered bridge i liked the most for some reason. Boat on the river would be a fun ride too

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    1. We've never gotten on that boat to take a ride, but we have watched them roll by. I think a ride on it would be nice. :)

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  24. Wow, what a unique place. I'd love to get some good ornaments. I'm going to look and see how far this is from us!

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    1. You can shop for the ornaments online at Bronners.com too. :)

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  25. Oh I want to visit Frankenmuth! It looks like such a really cute town!

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  26. What a beautiful town to visit!

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    1. Thanks, Lena. It is a nice place to visit, for sure. :)

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  27. A wonderful diverse village. Feels awkward to say city, because it has the elements of an old village.

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    1. Right! That's how I felt and I looked it up to confirm it was indeed a city. :)

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  28. That looks like such a cool place! Makes me want to visit. :)

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    1. We go a couple of times a year. If we lived closer, we'd go more. :)

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  29. This really does look like a wonderful family place to visit. I love your photos.

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    1. Thanks, I know I get photo heavy w/the travel posts. And that's w/restraint. ;)

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  30. What beautiful pictures! I love specially the box bridges :)

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    1. I think that bridge is very welcoming. I love it. :)

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  31. I love Frankenmuth! I too stayed at the Inn. I collect unique hand painted ornaments - years ago on my 1st trip to Frankenmuth I got started on my collection. I live in Wisconsin - but my Mom and brother live in Monroe County south of Detroit.

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    1. I'd love to visit your state. I hear the Wisconsin Dells is fantastic for family visits. :)

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  32. Looks like such a fun and quaint place to visit! I love your photos and it makes me want to visit!

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  33. Looks awesome. I love the feel of old towns like this that have managed to preserve all the buildings! And that bridge is beautiful.

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    1. We haven't found one thing we don't like, and we've been visiting for quite a few years now. :)

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  34. Indeed, such a wonderful place - I hope one day I can get to visit it too.

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  35. Great photos!

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Joyce. It's just over an hour from where your daughter is...if you come to visit maybe you all can take a day trip. :)

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  36. Such an amazing place! I would love to visit. My favorite would be the specialty coffees and sweets. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures!

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  37. This looks like some fun. The ice sculptures are amazing. Great pictures.

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    1. They had them everywhere. I think the gingerbread man in front of the candy store was my favorite. :)

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  38. What a charming place and I love the covered bridge!

    Http://www.lululovesfilms.wordpress.com
    Http://www.myfamilyandabruzzo.com

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    1. I love that too. Do you have two blogs??? I knew about My Family and Abruzzo... did I visit the other ever? I'm headed over to visit them both.

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  39. Replies
    1. You ain't a' kiddin'. ;) There's a couple here that we've found. Mackinac Island is the other and I love it there!!! It's a loooong drive for us though, so we don't go often.

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  40. Oh, I don't think I'd ever be able to leave the Cheese Haus. Sounds like my kind of place!

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    1. They've got some flavors that are delicious, and some that make me say nu uh, no way (like chocolate covered) but I do appreciate the great number of choices. A trip to Frankenmuth wouldn't be complete for us w/o a visit there. :)

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  41. What a fun place to visit, the town is so cute... I'd love to just walk around!

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    1. You can walk the whole town too. I like that quite a bit. :)

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  42. Great place! Lots of photos too. Wow! {A dog olympics sounds like a lot of fun!}

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    1. I think it'd be fun to be there for that even too. :)

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  43. It seems to have such a historic and cozy town feel. Looks like you had a lot of fun! I'd love to visit when I can take some time away from work.

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    1. It's great for a day visit or for the weekend. :)

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  44. That moose is cute! ha . Love the sculptures those are really cool. What a place to enjoy. Tons to see, great pictures.

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  45. Wow...tons of GREAT photos!! My favorite is the covered bridge. I absolutely LOVE those!! It really looks like an awesome place to visit. Michigan isn't that far away and we drive through there often. I'll have to schedule a visit to some of these places!

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    1. I hope you get to stop, it's really nice there. :)

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  46. What a great trip! My favorite is the covered bridge too. I just watched Bridges of Madison County the other day, and they are so romantic, huh.

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    1. I've only watched that movie once but it was so good, and so so so hard to watch. I bawled like a baby with the car scene.

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  47. I Wish I Was There So Quant & Cute Everything So Simple I Love The Mouse With The Cheese He's Adorable!! I Miss That Lifestyle!!

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    1. Things do have a simpler feel, actually. It's nice. :)

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  48. These are such neat pictures! I love the ice sculptures, they're so pretty. The entire town looks so unique!

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    1. Those ice sculptures were cool. I've heard about that event each year, but never seen any of them in person. It was cool (haha, literally and figuratively). :)

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  49. What a quaint town with so much to do... I love Michigan for the variety we find in each area... Would love to see this

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    1. I hope you get a chance to swing on over. It's def. worth a visit. :)

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    2. I hope to do so some day... Will re-tweet this for you! ;-)

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    3. Thank you for the visit and the Tweet. :)

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  50. The ice sculptures are beautiful!! Thanks for sharing so many great photos of your vacation!

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  51. What a cool place to visit! I love the covered bridges and you can't go wrong with a cheese shop!

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    1. That bridge is really cool in the summer when you can get out and walk around. :)

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  52. We typically require the ocean when we go on vacation but this place looks beautiful, especially in the summer.

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    1. I'm happy with an ocean too!!

      Frankenmuth really is pretty in all seasons, but it's at its best, I think, in the summer!

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  53. What a cute place to visit! That Christmas store looks amazing! I get an ornament for my kids each year, and a store like that would make it much easier.

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    1. We get one for our tree each time we visit. :)

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  54. I grew up in MI! We went to Frankenmuth all the time. I need to take my kids next time we hit MI

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  55. What an adorable place! I love the covered bridge, that must have been an awesome site to see!

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  56. Looks like a great place to visit! I love old bridges! I also love Christmas stores - the Christmas Mouse is one of my favorites but this place looks like it has even more! :)

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    1. I'm going to go look up the 'Christmas Mouse.' I haven't heard of it until you just mentioned it, but I'm totally up for giving it a look. I love Christmas stores. :)

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  57. It looks like such a fun place. I could have so much fun

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    1. I do have a nice time, I like to go there no matter who I'm with...small kids, teens, in-laws. Everyone just loves Frankenmuth. :)

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  58. Fudge, cheese, and candy. It's hard to go wrong with those!

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    1. There's a lot of calories in that response, but they're oh so worth it!! :)

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  59. This looks like such a fun town! I'd head to the cheese shop first - immediately followed by a visit to Bronner's!

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    1. I could stay inside of Bronner's a lot longer than anyone else in the family. I'm glad to go with them because my pocket book would suffer otherwise. ;)

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  60. Looks like a fun place to visit! I love covered bridges :)

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  61. This looks like a great place to visit. I enjoyed seeing your photos of the place

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  62. I love seeing all your photos. Looks like a fun place to visit! -April

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  63. That looks like such neat place! I love when destinations allow children to learn about other cultures, architecture, food, etc. I wish we lived closer so we could take our boys.

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    1. I agree, the additional learning on the culture of Bavaria is awesome. :)

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  64. So awesome - totally a place that my family would love to visit. So much to see and learn. I love the old fashioned candy store!

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    1. Isn't that candy store the coolest? :) I like to just look at it!! And I like that they have some of my childhood favorites (like Zots) that you can't find anywhere anymore. I got a couple of those. :)

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  65. Those are such fun photos to look at. Thanks for sharing.

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  66. I think my hubby would make the trip there simply for the cheeses! And did you say sausage?! =) Can't wait for spring to be here!!

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    1. Sausage for hubby and cheese for both of us, every single time we go. :) I can't wait for Spring either!

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  67. Oh, I like the covered bridge, it reminds me of a Joe Hill book I read last year. That town looks great!

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    1. It reminds me of Bridges of Madison County. :)

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  68. Wow, those are great photos! That town looks fun.

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  69. I love places like these that preserve history. It looks so exciting to go to!

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  70. Our family visits Frankenmuth atleast once a year. Always around Black Friday. We LOVE the history and tradition.

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    1. I've never thought to visit around Black Friday. If that big outlet mall in Birch Run has those kind of sales going on it must be crowded, but awesome!

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  71. Never been there but it looks like such a great town. So pretty, too. Thanks for sharing.

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  72. And now I'm craving cheese but all we have are Kraft Singles. :(

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  73. go back to the candy store, we need more pictures of that candy!!!!! I do like the architecture of that town!

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    1. That Country Store really is rocking awesome, but we love the candy bins so much we often don't do much else browsing while we're in there. :)

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  74. Yep, this is a beautiful place. Your photos tell the story alright! Very nice - not sure I'll ever make it there, but what a neat town to visit

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    1. If by chance you to make it to the area, give it a consideration because it is a really cool place to visit. :)

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  75. i could sample cheese all day long at that place. my kids would love the candy store though LOL

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  76. You always share such fun, beautiful places. I would so love to experience a visit here.

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    1. It would be romantic to go w/just your fiance, or awesome for the whole family!

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  77. The "Cheese haus" is so cute! I love trying new cheeses (and wines!).

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    1. It is just a fun store. I have my son every year posed with the mouse statue out front, and my daughter since she was 9 (that's when we moved here). :)

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  78. That bridge is so awesome! I like old bridges like that, though admittedly I'm a bit afraid to drive on them.

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    1. This town has hardly any traffic at all, so people are very courteous about allowing each other to go through one lane at a time. :)

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  79. We've never been to Frankenmuth, but I want to now!

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    1. It's nice, Virginia. :) Thanks for your visit!

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  80. What a fun place to go! I love the different cultures!

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  81. Oh it looks like heaps of fun. I love seeing real pictures not just the touristy ones of the US like disneyland and the empire state building :)

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    1. I would love to see Disneyland or the Empire State Building (the latter of which I've only seen from a far). ;)

      I love these kinds of places too though. :)

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  82. The Cheese House is quite interesting. My parents-in-law would love to see it.

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    1. We travel w/our in-laws to Frankenmuth sometimes and they always want to stop in there too. :)

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  83. This place looks amazing. We're planning on traveling to this area to visit a friend soon, so I'll have to bookmark this.

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    1. Hurrah, I hope you get to visit. It really is a nice city. :)

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  84. That covered bridge looks so familiar as if there was a movie done there that I've seen.

    What an adventure to be had at that place!
    I would love to visit in the Spring, Summer and Fall!

    Thanks for sharing these fun photos of this place.

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    1. I've never been in the Fall, but I bet it is pretty then. I'd like to visit during that time too!

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  85. That looks like an amazing place to visit!

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    1. Thanks, Shellie. It's one of our favorite cities to spend some time. :)

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  86. ohmygoodness, what a charming place! i love the candy store and the cheese haus...adorable!
    you visit the neatest places, rosey!!

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    1. And you have the cutest pictures!! I just left your blog and was oohing and ahhing all over the place. :)

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  87. I didn't see the bridge the first time so its good to be back. What a great place to visit.

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  88. I just shared this fun post with my Michigander hubby. To fun. Thank you for sharing your sweet blog at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop ♥

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    1. I hope he knew the place? If not, you should go sometime, it's really nice there!! :)

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  89. Frankenmuth looks like a wonderful place to visit any time of year. Can't say that about many areas!!!! I'd love to go in the fall!

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  90. I live in Michigan and we visit Frankenmuth every single year with family, there is so much to see there and shopping is so much fun. Great place to tour.

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  91. Frankenmuth is such a neat place to visit! My girls love it and go often with their friends, we live about an hour from there.

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  92. This looks like a great place to visit. We don't get to travel very often.

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