Warm woolen mittens & fluffy down coats — wrap up the family for wintertime adventures! Whether you sled down snowy slopes or twirl loops at outdoor ice rinks — enjoy the hot cocoa & rosy cheeks afterwards!
From outdoor fun to indoor escapades, discover seasonal shows & kid-friendly performances, hands-on museums & vintage arcades, and explore a region that's ready to go when covered in snow. Read on to create forever memories as a family this winter when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
With 110 acres of snowy splendor, enjoy Dow Gardens in the winter — especially on a canopy walk through the frozen forest!
Bundle up for a day of winter play at Midland City Forest! Skate the outdoor ice rink, go sledding — then enjoy hot cocoa & warmth by the bonfire.
Explore a winter wonderland, Chippewa Nature Center, with 19 miles of snowy trails, a Log Schoolhouse, and 1870s Homestead Farm.
Bring skates or lace up rental pairs for the Frankenmuth Ice Rink and twirl laps under the string lights in the heart of Little Bavaria.
Snuggle under a blanket on a horse-drawn ride with Fantasy Carriage Company or Frankenmuth Carriage Company, and let the kids point out (fudge, taffy, toy) shops they’d like to visit later!
Ride snowboarding hills, discover sledding thrills, and glide along the ice rink at Hoyt Park before sipping hot cocoa in the warming house.
Pull on your boots or slide into snowshoes, and trek through the powder together along the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail.
Experience Michigan’s biggest indoor waterpark & family fun center, Bavarian Blast at the Bavarian Inn Lodge! Try out 16 new waterslides, a wave pool, and a not-so-lazy river — then tackle the ropes course, rock climbing, laser tag, and more.
Read More +Dive into aquatic fun at Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark! Go wild with tube slides, lazy rivers, a six-story family raft ride, and an arcade — and even enjoy poolside dining options.
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Let a roll of quarters take you out of the cold and into retro gaming fun at Crazy Quarters Arcade, with arcade classics & dozens of pinball machines!
Trade winter boots for bowling shoes at Stardust — and play two-story laser tag, ride indoor bumper cars, and try out 50+ arcade games.
Take family time to new heights at Urban Air Adventure Park! Jump on giant trampolines, tackle the climbing walls & zipline, and battle at laser tag & bumper cars.
Leave winter behind inside Valley Lanes! Whether it’s bowling or bumper cars that draw you in, discover family fun with arcade games, a laser maze, and more.
Step into an action-packed palace of arcade games at Fun Way Amusement Park — and treat the kids to pizza & pop!
Bring the family into Brinstar to play pinball & arcade games — but stay for their creative burgers & fresh-cut fries.
Shake off winter weather inside The Playground, where kids can slide, climb, and have a ball — and parents can relax with a latte.
Defy gravity at Airborne Adventure Park, with wall-to-wall trampolines and over a dozen attractions.
Rack up points and win big prizes at River Place Game Room — then race into nearby SugarHigh Bakery and SugarRush Sweets & Treats.
Take your family through a maze of 1,000+ mirrors in the Ultimate Mirror Maze, and try The Vault Laser Beam Challenge.
Get into hands-on exploration inside the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum. Crawl inside a larger-than-life mouth, experiment at the Tinker Track, and find tons of winter fun!
Take the kiddos to the cosmos at Delta College Planetarium — and stop at the gift shop for out-of-this-world souvenirs.
Find yourselves inside a real-life castle, the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, and wander through three floors of fascinating displays.
Grab tickets to the coolest games in town, Saginaw Spirit OHL hockey games!
Winter weather frightful? All is delightful inside Painterly Pottery and Space Studios, each with an assortment of handcrafted pottery available to paint!
Snag a front-row seat to family-friendly shows & winter fun at Midland Center for the Arts, The Dow Event Center, The Temple Theatre, or State Theatre of Bay City.
Discover a place fit for princes & princesses at Bavarian Inn Castle Shops and explore seven gift shops for unique toys, candy, and more.
Bundle up for a Bavarian shopping experience at Frankenmuth River Place Shops and sample fudge made before your eyes while browsing for souvenirs.
Take your time wandering through Joyful Tantrum, a whimsical shop filled with games & toys that inspire — batteries not required!
Check out cool creativity & hands-on play at Toyberg! Browse wooden toys & puzzles, and start thinking spring by taking home a new kite.
Find something for the whole family at Birch Run Premium Outlets, with shops like Go! Games & Toys for kids to Pottery Barn Outlet, parents.
Experience the magic of the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, and time your trip to pay a special visit to Santa!
Read More +Step into pure joy inside the Midland Area Santa House. Cozy up to a fieldstone fireplace, sit in Santa’s chair, and be on the lookout for his reindeer.
Read More +All aboard The Northern Star Train! During the Midland Area Santa House season, take a ride through town on a festive train decked out in holiday décor. Choo-choo!
Read More +Keep the Christmas spirit alive with a visit to the Nate & Mary Ida Doan Santa House. Gather at this cozy log cabin, and have your photo taken with Santa.
Read More +Make a seasonal stop to Santa’s Reindeer Farm on Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm. Meet Santa and his reindeer-in-training, deliver wish lists, and craft a keepsake holiday ornament!
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Stroll a candlelit pathway through a winter wonderland during the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk. Sip hot cocoa while enjoying merry melodies, and say hi to Santa’s reindeer!
Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus at Holidays in the Heart of the City. Enjoy cookies & hot cocoa — and take in horse-drawn wagon rides, a cookie house competition, and the finale fireworks show.
Experience Tis the Season Weekends at Frankenmuth River Place Shops. Visit Santa, sing with strolling carolers, and celebrate Christmas in Santa’s Workshop.
Pick a holiday playlist and cruise through Wilderness Trails Zoo to marvel at more than 2 million lights — and nocturnal zoo friends, too!
Sing along to the sounds of Christmas at Frankenmuth’s Spectacular Musical Tree Show. Enjoy popular holiday classics while colorful lights dance to each song.
Fill your mugs with hot cocoa, set the radio to holiday tunes, and head out for Little Bavaria’s “Little” Driving Light Tour, with a holiday poem to guide you.
See lights while staying warm & toasty on the Golden Ticket Trolley. Enjoy a holiday light tour through Frankenmuth — and Christmas jingles all along the way!
Cruise down 25 Christmas Lane as it winds past Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, and experience a display of 100,000+ bright, twinkling lights.
Discover a new family tradition at The Freeland Lights. Tune your radio to 93.9 FM, and listen to sounds of the season while thousands of lights dazzle.
Whether you gather for tree lighting ceremonies or holiday markets — shop the world's largest Christmas store or mingle at merry concerts — discover where to be for all the holiday glee when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
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Bundled up in bright-white snow, snuggled ‘round for hot cocoa, or off to festivals & seasonal celebrations? Indulge in each as you discover these winter wonderlands 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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