Top Things to Do in Bay City
For Downtown, Uptown, and all-around experiences — shows to catch, boats to board, antiques to find, and flavors to never forget — read on to discover our top things to do in Bay City, Michigan, an eclectic and historic waterfront town!
Let Old Become New
With more than 400 booths situated inside 60,000 square feet of possibility at Michigan's largest antique center, find vintage glory at this historic corner building that spans an entire block of Bay City. Look for several smaller vintage & antique shops nearby, too — including The Americana Company Antique Mall and Retro Attics Studio!
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Sail on Sparkling Waters
Sail along the shimmering waters of Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay aboard BaySail's Appledore Tall Ship schooners. Choose between Great Lakes 101 or Sunset Sails — and enjoy the view!
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Find What Floats Your Boat
Enjoy a Saginaw River Guided Tour — or a "Rock the Boat" or "Carefree Cruisin'" concert cruise with dinner and dancing on deck — when you board with Bay City Boat Lines in Downtown Bay City!
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Charter an Excursion
From The Michigan Experience to Adventure 1 Charters and so many more, experience the world-class walleye fishing our Saginaw Bay charters have to offer — or venture out on your own to catch some big ones!
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Hit the Beach
Swim & splash (or just relax) along almost a mile of natural, sandy Saginaw Bay shoreline at Bay City State Park! Take a break from swimming at volleyball and basketball courts, and enjoy a picnic at the pavilions. Rent kayaks or paddleboards on-site from Nor'East Outdoors, and experience the park from a completely new perspective!
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Bask in Nature
Right within Bay City State Park, gain access to breathtaking Tobico Marsh — a wetland preserve with gorgeous Lagoon Trails, wildlife galore, and two 32-foot observation towers for bird’s-eye views of Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay!
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Pedal On
Traveling with friends? Book Sunrise Pedal Trolley's 8 - 15 passenger Dutch-made bike and enjoy a pint or two as you pedal the streets of Bay City!
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Rent Your Ride
Too few people to book a whole trolley? Rent wheels from Ray's Bike Shop instead and explore this whimsical waterfront city all on your own!
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Take the Trail
Discover boundless options along the Bay City Area Riverwalk/RailTrail with dozens of places to access. View Tobico Marsh and all of Bay City State Park, jump off for lunch in Downtown Bay City, or enjoy a bustling marina by Veterans Memorial Park.
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Tour This Historical Ship
Touring the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum will have you aboard the U.S.S. Edson DD-946, a destroyer ship designated a National Historic Landmark as well as a Michigan Historic Landmark. Don't miss this!
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Drift Shoreside Beer Garden | @_ekmphotography
Dine Downtown: Dock & dine waterside at Drift Shoreside Beer Garden for specialty cocktails, buckets of cold beer, and a buzzing food truck park. Enjoy a bistro with an extensive wine list at Old City Hall, or a farm-to-table restaurant with dishes rooted in Michigan history at MI Table (plus treats from St. Laurent Brothers or Village Chocolatier for dessert).
Enjoy Uptown Eats: Dine on fresh-catch flavors at Real Seafood Company on the Saginaw River, savor tasting boards and tap wines at Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie, or experience an authentic churrascaria at Costela Brazilian Steak House — followed by a bubble waffle cone from Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company.
Float for Fun: Bring your favorite snacks, drinks, and music aboard a tiki-themed pontoon boat — then watch the sun set over Saginaw Bay with Bay City Tiki Boat Tours!
OMONI Boutique | @omoniboutique
Discover Your Style: Find inspired décor and gifts at Violets Blue and My Secret Garden, stylish outfits and accessories inside Ferne Boutique or Panache Boutique, plus handcrafted goods and Mitten-inspired gear at Half Mile Handmade, all in Downtown. Or, step into Omoni Boutique and SoCal Threads Boutique in Uptown for on-trend fashions.
Sample This Shoppe: Experience mouthwatering traditional European cheeses and American originals, cured meats, and even authentic gelato inside Artigiano Artisan Cheese Shoppe in Downtown Bay City. (Be sure to check out their tasting and pairing events, too!)
Find Your Inner Artist: Make unfinished clay pieces your own at the region's largest paint-your-own pottery studio, Painterly Pottery. Or, explore always-changing art exhibitions — and a self-service Craft Bar where you pick the project — at Studio 23/The Arts Center.
Hop Riot Beer Fest
Celebrate Waterfront: With one of the Midwest’s largest fireworks displays, Bay City Fireworks Festival, the riverside Hop Riot Beer Fest, and a Tall Ship Celebration so epic it only returns every three years, live it up at Bay City's most-loved festivals!
See the State Theatre: Home to concerts, comedy shows, and movies (and even serving as the rain-out site for summer events at Wenonah Park), the State Theatre of Bay City was built in 1908 and is a must-experience historic gem, especially for lovers of Art Deco design.
Bring Your Quarters: Enter into two floors of retro gaming fun — including classics from Pac-Man to Galaga and more than 60 pinball machines — at Crazy Quarters Arcade.
Eat + Drink in Bay City
Down a pint of memorable craft brew at Tri-City Brewing Company or pick from a fleet of 54 taps at Tavern 101. Sample artisan craft cocktails with house-made syrups inside The Public House, or sip under the stars and string lights at the seasonal, outdoor Drydock Beer Garden in Unity Park!
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Third Street Star Bridge
Pose for a picture beneath the Third Street Star Bridge, knowing each luminescent light overhead was purchased in honor of a loved one.
Bringing the kids? Add these outings to your list!
Delta College Planetarium | @baycityphotos
Set Your Sights High: Out of this world, actually, at the Delta College Planetarium! Enjoy visually stunning planetarium shows and explore the outdoor observation deck for a memorable bird's-eye view of Bay City.
Beat the Heat: Right within Bay City State Park, cool off from an afternoon of beach fun and sun at Spray by the Bay Splash Park — and enjoy the wooden wonderland Play by the Bay playscape, too!
Find Fun with a View: Play mini-golf (right by a bustling marina) at Buoy 18, or putt-putt your way past a rushing waterfall before you hit the batting cages at Dutch Village Adventure Park.
Plan a Pitstop: Visit the Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum to explore impressive NASCAR and Tonka displays and see the largest collection of motorized fire trucks in the world!
Whether you spend a day, a weekend, or even longer, enjoy these experiences you'll find iconic to Bay City (and the reasons you'll return time and again)! Learn More
Things To Do
Shop antique centers to artisan boutiques, sample eclectic coffee shops and eateries, belly up for craft beer and handcrafted cocktails, and even board a tall ship schooner to sail off into the sunset! It’s all available (and ready when you are) on your weekend in Bay City!
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Things To Do
Situated along the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron, Bay City is bursting with flavors to savor, boats to board, and places to play, carefree! You're on vacation and you've got a weekend to spend making beautiful memories together in Bay City!
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Author
Jen W. O'Deay + Go Great Lakes Bay
By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | 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
