Outdoors & Nature

• Discover 110 acres of autumnal beauty, drenched in color, at Dow Gardens — with views from four stories high on the nation’s longest canopy walk!
• Explore the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and cruise the Wildlife Drive Auto Tour to marvel at Mother Nature’s paintbrush.
• Take your fall experience right through the colorful treetops on ropes courses & ziplines at Frankenmuth Aerial Park.
• Trek through Chippewa Nature Center, with 19 miles of scenic trails, autumnal workshops, and a beautiful arboretum.
• Gaze at the sunset along the shoreline at Bay City State Park, and take in fall color from two observation towers in Tobico Marsh.
• See terraces of bursting blooms at Dahlia Hill and experience a kaleidoscope of color from over 340 dahlia varieties!
• Enjoy the colorful canopy along the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail and stop by Ray’s Bike Shop or Nor’East Outdoors to rent your rides.
• 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.

Fishing

• Charter a guided excursion with the pros on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay to enjoy some of the best walleye fishing in all of Michigan!

Paddling

• Look to Nor’East Outdoors, Frankenmuth Kayak Adventures, or Bay City Boat Rental to float through nature’s waterside canvases this fall.

Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches

• Cozy up on a crisp fall day at Bayne’s Apple Valley, and taste what’s on tap at Bayne’s Hard Cider House with caramel apples & delicious cider donuts.
• Sip fresh-pressed cider and devour donuts at Leaman’s Green Applebarn! Hop onto a hayride, and handpick your own apples.
• Take your pick of pumpkins at Johnson’s Pumpkin Farm. Get lost in a massive corn maze, but find your way back for live music, shopping, and cider & donuts!
• Make fall memories on Grandpa Tiny’s Farm! Meet the animals, have a hayride, pick pumpkins, and end the day with cider & donuts.
• Wind through the Frankenmuth Corn Maze, play yard games, and check out hayrides on weekends.

Waterfront Dining

• Savor fresh catch & crisp autumn air along the riverfront at Real Seafood Company, relax on the deck right by a marina at H2O’s Waterside Grill, or fall in love with comfort food, seasonal brews, and river views at Frankenmuth Brewery.
  

Outdoor Dining

• Warm up with tap wines & regional charcuterie by the fire bar at Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie, cozy around warming lamps in the courtyard at ONe eighteen with tavern fare & classic cocktails, or soak up autumn evenings on The Rooftop @ The Station 100, with elevated bites, artful cocktails, and fine wines.
  

Casual-Upscale Dining

• Experience an open-kitchen concept & boutique winery at Artisan Urban Bistro, savor elevated comforts & seasonal craft cocktails at Beatniks, or linger over a layered Italian meal at Gratzi. Enjoy European dishes paired with the perfect wine by a sommelier at The Station 100, or slip into Old City Hall or Jake’s Old City Grill for steaks, seafood, and a robust wine list.

Shopping

• Stock up on ornaments & gifts for the upcoming holiday season at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store.
• Shop 100 designer & name-brand stores at Birch Run Premium Outlets, at savings of up to 65% off!
• Follow cobblestone walks to 40 stores at Frankenmuth River Place Shops and find clothing to souvenirs and even wine tasting!
• 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 the Bavarian Inn Castle Shops, nestled inside a cobblestone-lined castle.
• Wander about SVRC Marketplace, sampling from eclectic eateries while shopping yarn to beads.
• Discover artisan-crafted goods at Serendipity Road, Creative Lane, or Amazin’ Mitten.
• Find memorable gifts & Michigan-themed souvenirs at Frank’s Muth, Covered Bridge Shop, or The Michigan Shoppe.
• Step inside charming shops including Lumberman’s Mercantile, Violets Blue, Little House, G.T. Homestead, and Warmbier Farms — and find your fill of gifts & décor.

Antiquing

• Get lost inside Michigan’s largest antique mall, Bay City Antiques Center/Bay Antique Center, with multiple floors and 400 booths.
• Stroll through 90 booth spaces stocked with antiques & vintage goods at the Freeland Antique Mall.
• Peruse 70 antique vendors at the Antique Warehouse, then grab a bite to eat at the café.
• Get a dose of nostalgia at Americana Company Antiques, with unique antiquities & local memorabilia.
• Enjoy a vintage, antique, and upcycle shop, Court Street Antiques, inside a building brimming with character!
  
• Discover The Little House Antiques, delighting shoppers for over 40 years with vintage kitchenware to collectibles.
• Travel to Thrifty Treasures Antiques & More to shop glassware, furniture, and primitives from 20 dealers.
• Get your hands on interesting fall décor at Around the Farm Antiques, while browsing vintage galore from 60 vendors.
• Spot vintage furniture, antiques, and local art oddities while visiting The Vintage Greenhouse.
• Wander into Timeless Trading Company to uncover antiques, vintage goods, and thrifted items.
• Stop by The Sanford Antique Mall, a sprawling haven offering antiques, primitives, and collectibles.
• Search for treasures inside The Antique Center, with vintage clothing, jewelry, and antiques of all kinds.

Distilleries & Craft Cocktails

• Discover a distillery, brewery, and winery in one at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom, and cozy into the rustic charm with your Oatmeal Stout or Cinnamon Whiskey Sour.
• Savor local spirits at Old Town Distillery by Wonder — with bites from Wonder Burger or other guest food trucks!
• Relax with artisan cocktails in an intimate space at The Public House, paired with Parm Fries to Pickled Deviled Eggs.
• Gather at Scandinavian-inspired Nord Social to choose from a curated menu of seasonal craft cocktails.
• Order your signature cocktail smoked table-side at Beaver’s Pub, a low-key bourbon bar.
• Unwind in the warm atmosphere of hockey-themed Gordie’s Bar with a handcrafted cocktail.
• Taste community-driven whiskeys at EverNorth Spirits Co., including eclectic bourbon blends.

Live Entertainment & Nightlife

• Catch a concert or comedy show at Midland Center for the Arts, The Dow Event Center, The Temple Theatre, 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, with arcade games & pinball machines, plus 12 beers on tap.
• Come to Stardust to bowl for strikes, but stay for axe-throwing, escape rooms, and The Taproom.
• Find retro gaming fun at Crazy Quarters Arcade while playing classic arcade games and dozens of pinball machines!
• Spend an evening at 906 Lapeer, with escape rooms, flashlight ghost tours, axe-throwing, and a haunted house.
• Dare to find your way out this fall at Great Lakes Escape Game or Code Breakers Escape & Puzzle Rooms.

History & Museums

• Dive into a piece of the past at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, located aboard the USS 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.
• Tour nine permanent galleries that share the stories of Frankenmuth’s first settlers inside the Frankenmuth Historical Museum.
• Schedule a personal tour of the Autism History Museum to explore a space that celebrates neurodiversity.