Wildlife Drive | @yoga.mary

Ride into Beauty: Not only will booking a custom boat tour with Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips bring you through one of the richest wildlife habitats in Michigan — the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge — but your ecotour will also include unforgettable views that'll leave you daydreaming about how relaxed you felt on this outing!

Cruise to Views: You could even wind through the Refuge from the comfort of your car — along the scenic, seasonal Wildlife Drive — a 6.5-mile auto tour route that's open June to October.

Japanese Cultural Center | @you._can._call._me._al

Take Tea: Revered as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America and the only authentic Japanese tea house in the Midwest, experience the Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House and Gardens of Saginaw. Traditional Tea Ceremonies (Chanoyu) are offered the second Saturday of each month, but a "Tea & Tour" can be scheduled anytime and the three-acre gardens on the shores of Lake Linton are free to enjoy.

Explore a Castle: Built in 1897 in the style of a French chateau, explore the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. Featuring traveling exhibits and showstopping displays of Saginaw history, try to find the gargoyles outside and ask a staff member inside about their meaning!

Pride & Country Village | @prideandcountry

Find Old & New: Experience "Michigan's Largest Village of Unique Shops" at Pride and Country Village! With multiple historic buildings stocked with home decor to clothing & accessories, save time to visit the old-fashioned deli & Red Caboose Ice Cream Parlor after your retail therapy.

Scour vintage goods, furniture, and hard-to-finds at the Antique Warehouse, Freeland Antique Mall, Adomaitis Antiques, and Court Street Antiques, to name a few — and absolutely stop off for coffee at local shops like Red Eye Coffee + Tea.

Meet the Market: Wander through SVRC Marketplace, an indoor, European-style market filled with a variety of ever-changing vendors. Sample unique and ethnic eateries, shop sweet treats to jewelry-making and crochet supplies, and explore the Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market under the outdoor pavilions in-season.

Eat + Drink in Saginaw

Sample authentic Asian dishes (and arguably the best spring rolls around) at Pasong's Café, enjoy award-winning steak and global wine selections at Jake's Old City Grill, or experience upscale-yet-urban fine dining (and an open-kitchen concept) at Artisan Urban Bistro in Old Town.

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MFS Museum | @bernsiekay

Get Artsy: Peruse the Saginaw Art Museum, a 1904 Georgian-revival mansion with Italianate gardens and a permanent collection spanning 4,500 years, or possibly Gingerblue Gallery, featuring both international and local artists. Or, browse the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, with more than 200 sculptures (and 20 bronze statues in the outdoor Sculpture Garden).

Pick Your Project: Attend a DIY Workshop at Board & Brush Creative Studio for the chance to create a custom piece of wood artwork for your home. Spend time relaxing in the inviting space as you learn to distress, sand, stain, and paint your one-of-a-kind creation!

Catch a Show: Check for concerts, comedy shows, and more to enjoy within The Dow Event Center, or outside at the neighboring Jolt Credit Union Event Park in summer months. Just up the street is the historic Temple Theatre, a beautifully restored 1927 gem that hosts concerts and performances, plus Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra ensembles.

Go All In: Enjoy an evening of immersive experiences at 906 Lapeer. With four escape rooms, a 3D blacklight GellyBall arena, axe-throwing, and a full-scale haunted house, find hours of fun in one indoor escape!

Eat + Drink in Saginaw

Whet your whistle (maybe with Moonshine) at Old Town Distillery, slip inside Woody's Draught House to sample from over 100 taps, or taste the elevated craft at Oracle Brewing Company, where artisan touches are infused from grain to glass. Belly up at Loggers Brewing Company for ales & lagers to wines & hard seltzers (alongside rotating food trucks), or travel to The Maple Grille Restaurant & Microbrewery to taste scratch-cooked farm-to-table fare alongside wood-fired beer selections.

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Bringing the kids? Add these outings to your list!
Saginaw Children's Zoo | @shineonsunfish

Go Wild: Be sure to spend time at the Saginaw Children's Zoo, marveling at more than 150 animals and riding the hand-carved carousel and miniature train. (Psst! Buy double tickets. When the kids say, "Can we ride again?", say, "Yes!" and watch their faces light up!)

Splash & Play: Head to Frank N. Andersen Celebration Park, featuring a playscape with rock-climbing wall, pavilion with picnic tables — and a splash pad with three bays that cater to kiddos of different ages!

Hit the Beach: Spend an afternoon, toes in the sand, at Haithco Recreation Area. This park offers a 40-acre lake, playground, splash pad, and fishing access — plus paddleboat, rowboat, canoe, and kayak rentals!

Enjoy Wee One Fun: Let the kids have hands-on fun in the interactive play & learn galleries at Mid-Michigan Children's Museum (and try deciding if little kids or "big kids" enjoy this place more).

Jump Around: Have some high-energy fun inside Airborne Adventure Park! With wall-to-wall trampolines, a Ninja Warrior Course and Foam Zone, this place is sky-high fun for all ages!

Have a Blast: Race go-karts, ride bumper boats, play mini-golf and laser tag, and challenge each other in the action-packed arcade at Press Play 989! Or, step into Stardust, where bowling, LED bumper cars, 60 arcade games, two-story laser tag, and four escape rooms will welcome your family into all kinds of excitement!

Whether you grab a Coney dog at Saginaw's 1950s-style carhop, Old Town Drive In, or take your finds from SVRC Marketplace to picnic on Ojibway Island — enjoy every bit of your getaway in Saginaw, Michigan! Learn More
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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