Trees ablaze in crimson & gold as radiant hues paint sunset skies — it’s fall, folks, and isn’t it simply breathtaking? Now’s the season for snuggling by campfires and taking leisurely strolls through nature’s display.
Find yourself sampling at apple orchards, sauntering through pumpkin patches, and enjoying delicious mulled wine with friends. Whether you hike, bike, or sit back and sip cider together, discover the best of fall when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
Discover 110 acres of autumnal beauty, drenched in color, at Dow Gardens — with views from four stories high along the nation’s longest canopy walk!
Read More +Take your fall experience to new heights, right through the colorful treetops, on ropes courses & ziplines at Frankenmuth Aerial Park.
Read More +Explore unspoiled nature at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and cruise the Wildlife Drive Auto Tour to marvel at Mother Nature’s paintbrush.
Read More +Trek through Chippewa Nature Center, with 19 miles of scenic trails, autumnal workshops, and a beautiful Arboretum.
Read More +Gaze at the sunset along the shoreline at Bay City State Park — and take in fall color from two observation towers in Tobico Marsh.
Read More +See terraces of bursting blooms at Dahlia Hill and experience a kaleidoscope of color from 300+ dahlia varieties!
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Be surrounded by fall splendor on the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail and enjoy your time beneath the colorful canopy.
Stop into Ray’s Bike Shop or Nor’East Outdoors to rent rides for your time on the trails.
Look to 142 miles of Saginaw Bay Birding Trail for fall glory and glorious nature sightings.
Tee off at two of Michigan’s must-play public golf courses, The Fortress and Apple Mountain, or discover over a dozen others.
Let the clip-clop of horses’ hooves lull you into relaxation with Fantasy Carriage Company or Frankenmuth Carriage Company as you ride through leaf-lined streets.
Hop aboard the nostalgic Golden Ticket Trolley and get the lay of the land in Frankenmuth on your narrated tour of town.
Join Flavors of Frankenmuth Food Tours to taste your way through Little Bavaria’s iconic eateries & hidden gems!
Bring adult beverages & friends for a colorful ride through Frankenmuth with PedAle Trolley, or grab single seats on evening pub crawls.
Sip a seasonal brew on a pedal-powered mobile party when you book the Sunrise Pedal Trolley to cruise through Bay City.
Explore the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge on a Fall Color Tour with Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips and enjoy stunning foliage & wildlife.
Unwind on a ride through the autumn leaves with Frankenmuth FunShips, or experience fall colors — and flavors — on a Wine & Chocolate River Tour.
Float in tranquility aboard the Bavarian Belle Riverboat and soak in a fall color show as you learn about the history & architecture of Frankenmuth.
Experience the splendor of the season as you cruise in comfort on a Saginaw River Guided Tour with Bay City Boat Lines.
Look to Nor’East Outdoors, Frankenmuth Kayak Adventures, or Mountain Man Paddle Co. to float through Mother Nature’s waterside canvases this fall.
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Think big fish and even bigger fall fun when you charter a guided excursion on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay!
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Stop into the small-town orchard of Bayne’s Apple Valley. Taste what’s on tap at Bayne’s Hard Cider House while you cozy up on a crisp fall day with cider donuts & caramel apples.
Sip fresh-pressed cider and devour donuts, or treat yourself to a cider sundae at Leaman’s Green Applebarn! Hop on a hayride, and take home pre-picked or u-pick apples.
Take your pick of pumpkins at Johnson’s Pumpkin Farm. Lose yourself in corn & soybean mazes, but find your way back for live music on weekends, shopping, and cider & donuts!
Make fall memories on Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm! Meet the animals, have a hayride, pick pumpkins, and end the day with cider & donuts.
Explore the five-acre Frankenmuth Corn Maze, play yard games, and check out hayrides on weekends.
Fall is harvest time, which means local farmers markets are overflowing with fresh produce & one-of-a-kind finds! Gather fresh-cut flowers, local honey, meat, Great Lakes fish, cheese, baked goods, and fall décor from the Midland Area Farmers Market, Frankenmuth Farmers Market, or Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market, to name a few.
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For forgotten treasures & unique items, head to the Michigan Antique Festival in Midland. Be ready for bountiful beer sampling & German heritage at Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, and discover countless other celebrations of fall!
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From Makin’ Bacon Truck that serves bacon mac ‘n’ cheese to Bavarian Inn Cluck Truck’s Frankenmuth chicken and 5-2-Oh’s street tacos, taste what food trucks are dishing up this fall!
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Enjoy the crisp fall air — by warming lamps & fire bars that make dining al fresco a delicious experience long into autumn! Discover picturesque views from welcoming patios, and fall in love with local, seasonal fare.
Read More +With drinks, dining, dancing, and live music, outdoor social districts are whimsical places to enjoy autumn. Purposeful street closures make The Commons in Midland the perfect space to dine outdoors and sip a spiced cocktail or two — and the Frankenmuth Social District allows for strolling while warming up with a seasonal beverage!
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Get lost within Michigan’s largest antique mall, Bay City Antiques Center/Bay Antique Center, and shop multiple floors and 400+ booths.
Peruse 70+ antique vendors inside the Antique Warehouse, then grab a bite to eat at the café.
Stroll through 90+ booth spaces stocked with antiques & vintage goods at the Freeland Antique Mall.
Get your fill of nostalgia at Americana Company Antiques, with unique antiquities & local memorabilia.
Be inspired by reimagined pieces of mid-century modern furniture at Retro Attics Studio, open Saturdays only.
Shop old & new at The Iron Gate Emporium, a marketplace of Michigan-made, vintage, shabby chic, antique, and industrial.
With vintage kitchenware to collectibles, discover The Little House Antiques that’s been delighting shoppers for 40+ years!
Get your hands on interesting garden décor & vintage galore from 60+ vendors at Around the Farm Antiques.
Travel to Thrifty Treasures Antiques & More to shop from 20+ dealers offering glassware, furniture, primitives, and more.
Step into a vintage goldmine at Sister's Vin-Tiques, with mid-century furniture, retro clothing, and quirky collectibles.
A must-visit for retro clothing & décor, be transported to a bygone era at Flash Back Vintage.
Perfect for history & antique enthusiasts alike, find furniture to memorabilia at Michiganders Antiques and Collectibles.
Enjoy a vintage, antique, and upcycle shop, Court Street Antiques, inside a historic building brimming with character!
With estate sale gems, professional quality costumes, and vintage clothing pieces, enjoy exploring Adomaitis Antiques.
Find a unique curation of new & used records, electronic equipment, and funky vintage household items at Electric Kitsch.
Search for treasures inside The Antique Center, with vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles, and antiques of all kinds.
Follow cobblestone walks to 40+ stores at Frankenmuth River Place Shops and find clothing to souvenirs and even wine tasting!
Shop 100+ designer & name-brand stores at Birch Run Premium Outlets, at savings of up to 65% off!
Stock up on ornaments & gifts for the upcoming holiday season at the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland.
Peruse “Michigan’s Largest Village of Unique Shops” at Pride and Country Village, each housed in a historic farm building.
Stroll through seven unique shops at Bavarian Inn Castle Shops, nestled inside a cobblestone-lined castle.
Wander about SVRC Marketplace, sampling from unique eateries while shopping yarn & beads to apothecary products.
Discover artisan-crafted gifts & goods at Serendipity Road, Creative Lane, or Amazin’ Mitten.
With gifts to fashionable clothing, apothecary & plants, uncover unique treasures at My Secret Garden and Botanica Modern Market.
Step inside inviting shops including Violets Blue, Little House, G.T. Homestead, and Warmbier Farms — and find your fill of décor, gifts, and garden items.
Choose from the curated racks inside Ferne Boutique, Omoni Boutique, or Fran & Dot Boutique — and leave with a fresh fall wardrobe!
Find fashions, accessories, and apothecary items at Adorn Boutique, White House Boutique, Rapunzel’s Boutique, Ellie & Isabelle, Margos & Co., Sassy & Chic Boutique, and more.
Discover small-batch, handmade cheeses from around the world at Artigiano Artisan Cheese Shoppe, or sample from 270+ specialty cheeses at Frankenmuth Cheese Haus.
Find unusual souvenirs & memorable gifts, many Michigan-themed, at Frank’s Muth or The Michigan Shoppe.
Stock up on essentials for fall adventures from fishing to hunting at Frank’s Great Outdoors, Little Forks Outfitters, Saginaw Bay Trading Company, or Northwoods Wholesale Outlet.
Don your flannel by the fire pit and sip pints in the beautiful backyard beer garden of Midland Brewing Company.
Experience a distillery, brewery, and winery in one at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom! Watch the distilling process through a viewing wall as you sip your Oatmeal Stout or Cinnamon Whiskey Sour.
Taste 150 years of brewing tradition while soaking up fall river views at Frankenmuth Brewery, Michigan’s oldest microbrewery.
Gather by the fire bar at Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie to sample six tap wines, or handcrafted house specialty cocktails.
Linger in a laid-back space at Oracle Brewing Company and sip on something fit for the season, like C-Beans, a chocolate coffee stout.
Warm up with local (vodka, rum, whiskey, Moonshine) spirits at Old Town Distillery by Wonder — with eats from Wonder Burger or other guest food trucks!
Kick back with street eats & seasonal brews at Loggers Brewing Company — and watch for Trivia Nights!
Relax with artisan cocktails in an intimate space inside The Public House, and enjoy light bites from Parm Fries to Pickled Deviled Eggs.
Nestle into the cozy setting at Neighbors Natural Wine & Bottle Shop for natural wine pours & wine-forward cocktails.
Partake in a guided sampling at the Frankenmuth tasting room of Michigan’s most-awarded winery, St. Julian Winery.
Taste true, community-driven whiskeys at EverNorth Spirits Co., including eclectic & unique bourbon blends.
Try a wine tasting “mixperience” (mixing wines together, with lemonade, or even cream soda) at Modern Craft Winery.
Sip on suds that pay homage to the area at Tri-City Brewing Company, best enjoyed with flavors from rotating food trucks.
Enjoy your brew (beer or coffee) while savoring baked goods & live music at MI Element Grains & Grounds.
Order your signature cocktail smoked table-side at Beaver’s Pub, a low-key bourbon bar.
Taste signature brews like Sweet Hazelnut Stout at W.H. Ales Brewpub, possibly with a wood-fired pizza!
Sample wines, ciders, and charcuterie in a rustic tasting room at Crazy Vines Winery.
With cooler nights, the entertainment scene heats up! Catch a show at The Dow Event Center, The Temple Theatre, Midland Center for the Arts, or State Theatre of Bay City.
Don’t miss a minute of the action on the ice at a Saginaw Spirit OHL hockey game!
Bring back nostalgia at Brinstar, on arcade games & pinball machines. Taste creative burgers & fresh-cut fries, with 12 beers on tap!
Come to Stardust to bowl for strikes, but stick around for axe-throwing, escape rooms, and The Taproom.
Bounce into retro gaming fun at Crazy Quarters Arcade and spend hours playing classic arcade games and dozens of pinball machines!
Dare to find your way out this fall at Great Lakes Escape Game or Code Breakers Escape & Puzzle Rooms!
Enjoy an immersive experience at 906 Lapeer, with escape rooms, indoor GellyBall, axe-throwing, and a haunted house.
Travel country roads, leaf-peeping places, and scenic spots on a curated, self-guided Fall Color Tour.
Read More +Follow your nose & taste buds — and our fresh-pressed Cider & Donuts Tour — for a delicious fall experience!
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Discover autumnal beauty at the Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House & Gardens of Saginaw and experience an authentic tea ceremony.
Find your way to stunning displays of public art this fall with the free Great Lakes Bay Region Public Art Passport.
Step into a vision that is the Saginaw Art Museum & Gardens, a 1904 Georgian-revival mansion with Italianate gardens in full fall splendor.
Explore the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, and enjoy the tranquil outdoor Sculpture Garden.
Personalize unfinished pottery items while cozied up inside Painterly Pottery or Space Studios.
Attend a workshop at Board & Brush Creative Studio, and leave with a hand-stained & -painted piece of wooden décor.
Browse the gallery at Studio 23/The Arts Center, and drop into the Craft Bar for a self-service art experience.
Reserve a guided tour through the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, an oasis of mid-century modern architecture.
Cruise along a self-guided tour of 400+ stunning structures with the Mid-Century Modern Midland mobile app.
Take the Center Avenue Historic District Walking Tour of Bay City to revel in beautiful views of buildings & homes built prior to cars!
Dive into a piece of the past while on the water at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, located aboard the U.S.S. Edson.
Pay tribute to Michigan veterans at the Michigan Heroes Museum, the only museum of its kind in the country.
Lose yourself inside a castle, the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, as you explore three floors of captivating exhibits.
Schedule a personal tour of the Autism History Museum to discover the history of autism in a space that celebrates neurodiversity.
Take picturesque hikes & colorful boat tours, peruse apple orchards & sip on cider, pedal trolleys through leafy streets & ride ziplines through the trees! Pull on your boots, bring a light jacket, and be ready for these must-experience fall excursions when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
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Find your favorite view as you explore these one-of-a-kind places to leaf-peep when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
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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
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