You’ve arrived for a weekend getaway and you’re ready to explore! But — it’s downpouring with no end in sight, suddenly sleeting — it’s just too hot out to handle! Now what?
When your itinerary includes outdoor gallivanting but Mother Nature has other plans, look to this guide for weatherproof ways to make the most of a day indoors in Saginaw!
Breakfast: Regardless of the weather outside, inside The Bread Gal you’ll discover an intimate neighborhood bakery with breads, pastries, and quiche to start your day deliciously. Or, step into dawn of a new day coffee house for a cup of organic, fair-trade coffee and a breakfast sandwich.
Mid-Morning: Have yourself a shopping & sampling extravaganza at SVRC Marketplace, an indoor, European-style market with a smattering of assorted eateries and retail shops. Or relax on the velvet, teal couch inside Fig & Honey Cheese Co. and enjoy charcuterie boards and “Shareables” like the Baked Brie topped with garlic honey drizzle and pecans.
Next, see inside Saginaw’s antiquing scene for vintage finds & one-of-a-kinds at Adomaitis Antiques, Court Street Antiques, and Old Town Furniture. (These three shops are within earshot of one another, enjoy!)
Shop more than 20,000 square feet inside the Antique Warehouse, and travel back in time at Pride & Country Village through seven shops that span more than 40,000 square feet.
Discover more than 90 booths inside Freeland Antique Mall, or check out Thrifty Treasures Antiques & More and The Iron Gate Emporium in nearby Birch Run — both close to Birch Run Premium Outlets, a shopping mecca of more than 100 designer and name brand stores!
Lunch: Nevermind the weather — it’s always comfortable inside Fralia's, where fresh deli sandwiches and homemade soups are always on the menu. Enjoy made-to-order Asian cuisine inside Pasong's Cafe, known for the best spring rolls in town, or let Mexican dishes and a menu of sandwiches keep your mind off Mother Nature at Valerie’s Downtown.
Mid-Afternoon: Spend your afternoon immersed in art & history inside the Castle Museum, built in 1897 in the style of a French chateau; Saginaw Art Museum which houses more than 2,000 objects inside a 1904 Georgian-Revival mansion; or Gingerblue Gallery for local and international works inside the historic Graebner building.
Learn ancient customs and sip ceremonial tea while touring the Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House & Gardens of Saginaw, or discover more than 200 sculpted works of art at Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.
Dinner: Enjoy the casual-upscale ambiance, award-winning wine selection, and decadent dishes at Jake’s Old City Grill, or melt into the artful decor inside Artisan Urban Bistro to taste seasonally inspired plates and wines made on-site, served from an open kitchen. Dine at The BoardRoom Bistro inside SVRC Marketplace and select from a seasonal menu and curated wine, beer, and cocktail lists.
Evening: Attend a Board & Brush Creative Studio Pick Your Project Workshop and plan to leave with a hand-stained and -painted piece of decor for your home — or your front porch! Take in a live concert or show at The Dow Event Center or Temple Theatre and check for performances at Pit & Balcony Theatre, one of the oldest playhouses in the nation!
Have a nightcap at The Taproom at Stardust, and maybe bowl, ride bumper cars, or try axe-throwing while you’re there! Or belly up inside Old Town Saginaw’s neighborhood pubs to bring unique flavors to your night.
Look to Oracle Brewing Co. for inventive craft beer in a laid-back space (and order the C-Beans chocolate coffee stout). Old Town Distillery serves up craft cocktails with vodka, rum, whiskey, and moonshine, distilled on-site — and Woody's Draught House is your place to be for nearly 100 rotating beers on tap.
Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com
When it’s time to really get away, get to a city that’s got some soul. Get to Saginaw, Michigan!
Read More +A diverse city from Riverfront Saginaw to Old Town — with natural wonders like the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge beckoning for adventure — Saginaw is rich in chances to explore.
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