What are some relaxing & affordable ways to spend a weekend on the water in Michigan?

There are plenty of great ways to spend a long weekend on the water in Michigan when you Go Great Lakes Bay, including: taking a guided boat tour with Frankenmuth FunShips, Bavarian Belle Riverboat, Bay City Boat Lines, or Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips; relaxing along the Saginaw Bay shoreline at Bay City State Park; and enjoying world-class Saginaw Bay walleye fishing, possibly on a guided fishing charter.

What is a great 4-day long weekend waterfront itinerary in the Great Lakes Bay?

Skip to:

Day 1 — Thursday — Midland

Day 2 — Friday — Bay City

Day 3 — Saturday — Saginaw

Day 4 — Sunday — Frankenmuth

The Tridge
Day 1 — Thursday
Midland
Read More +
Chippewa Nature Center | @megsymarie13

Breakfast

  • Linger over breakfast on the terrace at Cafe Zinc, and enjoy Croque Madame or the Chef's Weekly Benedict, alongside a selection of fresh-baked breads & pastries.

Morning

  • Venture out to Chippewa Nature Center, situated along the Pine and Chippewa Rivers, and watch for waterfront wildlife, best enjoyed from the River Trail.
  • Spend some time strolling Downtown, and in & out of the quaint shops & boutiques. Don't miss Little Forks Outfitters, with fly-fishing gear to outdoorsy apparel, so you can stock up for future waterfront adventures!

Lunch

  • Enjoy an al fresco picnic by The Tridge, a three-legged pedestrian bridge spanning the confluence of two rivers.
  • Bring take-out to your Tridge-side blanket lunch: Molasses Smokehouse & Bar for St. Louis-style barbecue; Amazing Deli for sandwiches and creative hot dogs; Pizza Baker for wood-fired sourdough pies; or Pizza Sam's with specialty pizzas, sandwiches, and salads.

Afternoon

  • Book a pre-set paddle (like the 1- to 2-hour Lower Chip Trip or 3-hour Upper Chip Trip) with Nor'East Outdoors. Brief lessons & shuttle service are included with each outing, and so is your choice of sit-in, sit-on, or tandem kayaks.
Chippewa River in Midland | @keeley.kenny

Dinner

  • Partake in a layered experience of the perfect Italian meal at Gratzi! Enjoy classic pastas to Neapolitan-style pizza on the Mezzanine Balcony, near the riverfront and The Tridge.

Evening

  • Bring blankets or lawn chairs to Tunes by the Tridge, a free outdoor summer concert series on Thursday evenings, held right near the riverfront.
  • After the show, unwind at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom, a distillery, brewery, and winery in one. Sip your handcrafted beverage on the front patio in The Commons Refreshment Area, a social district open in summer months.

Stay Near the Water

  • Sleep in sophistication & style near the riverfront at The H Hotel, a AAA Four-Diamond property with on-site Oxygen Lounge and ONe Eighteen, where you can relax with a signature cocktail before retreating to your room.
Bay City Boat Lines
Day 2 — Friday
Bay City
Read More +
Saginaw Bay | @theoriginaldimples

Breakfast

  • Enjoy elevated breakfast comforts with a twist at Uptown Grill, and savor your Banana Bread French Toast, Lobster & Brie Omelet, or Traditional Benny.

Morning

Lunch

Saginaw River in Bay City | @mi_playground

Afternoon

  • Float away on an excursion boat during a Saginaw River Guided Tour with Bay City Boat Lines when it departs from the Wenonah Park docks at 1pm.
  • Or, experience the Saginaw Bay shoreline & sandy swimming beach at Bay City State Park — and its 2,000-acre lagoon, Tobico Marsh, for water views & abundant wildlife.

Dinner

  • Take in spectacular views of the Saginaw River from the upper Mezzanine or lower-level patio while you dine on fresh fish & premium seafood at Real Seafood Company. Slurp freshly shucked oysters from the rawbar, and enjoy Surf & Turf to Miso-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.
  • Or, book tickets to boogie with Bay City Boat Lines during "Rock the Boat" or "Carefree Cruisin'" themed trips with live bands. Enjoy dinner on-deck and dance into the night!

Evening

  • Unwind at Drift Shoreside Beer Garden for an easygoing dockside evening, cold brews & delicious cocktails, riverside seating with a fire pit, and food trucks that pop up on-site.
Doubletree Bay City

Stay on the Water

Haithco Recreation Area | @mi_playground
Day 3 — Saturday
Saginaw
Read More +
Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips | @johnnypantherquests

Breakfast

  • Start your day deliciously with a scratch-made breakfast at The Brunch Guy. Try the Bananas Foster Waffle with rum butter sauce, or order from a full menu of Benedicts.

Morning

Lunch

  • Picnic on Saginaw’s own Ojibway Island, situated on the Saginaw River. Stroll along the waterside to enjoy lush, natural scenery and a relaxing location for lunch.
  • Dodge “inland” to pick up the makings of your picnic: artisan New York-style slices from Old World Pizzeria, gourmet deli sandwiches from Fralia's, or a variety of assorted eateries inside SVRC Marketplace.
Haithco Recreation Area | @mi_playground

Afternoon

  • Soak up the sun & sandy beach at the beautiful park & 40-acre lake of Haithco Recreation Area. Rent your choice of paddleboat, rowboat, canoe, or kayak right on-site, and spend some time fishing from the pier!

Dinner

  • Experience a casual-upscale chophouse at Jake’s Old City Grill, near the Saginaw River. With charbroiled steaks & seafood, along with an extensive martini & wine list, savor every moment!
  • Or, a few blocks away, indulge in European-inspired fine dining at Artisan Urban Bistro. Relax in the intimate ambiance and sip something from the boutique, in-house winery alongside your meal.

Evening

Stay on the Water

  • Step back in time at the historic Montague Inn, an inviting bed & breakfast on tranquil Lake Linton. Indulge your senses in this Georgian-style mansion with intricate architecture, and stroll the grounds for lavish gardens & lakeside views.
Day 4 — Sunday
Frankenmuth
Read More +
Boat Tours in Frankenmuth | @michiganaddicts

Breakfast

  • Grab a Signature Breakfast Pizza or Breakfast Bowl at T.Dub's Pizzeria & Pub, or try the Chicken & Waffles topped with house hot maple syrup.

Morning

  • Enjoy a peaceful morning when you drop in your line at the Cass River Dam and fish near Frankenmuth’s Fish Passage. Catch large walleye & lake sturgeon to bluegills & rock bass.
  • Or, reserve kayaks from Frankenmuth Kayak Adventures, and paddle along the calm Cass River on a self-guided & tranquil tour.

Lunch

Afternoon

  • Board the 150-passenger Bavarian Belle Riverboat for a one-hour, narrated sightseeing cruise, complete with local history & fascinating facts about Frankenmuth.
  • Or, book a Wine & Chocolate River Tour with Frankenmuth FunShips to sample wines paired with handmade chocolates while aboard an ultra-quiet, 12-passenger electric boat.
Frankenmuth Brewery | @frankenmuthbrewery

Dinner

  • Tour the historic Frankenmuth Brewery, Michigan's oldest microbrewery, before ordering craft brews & comfort food from your choice: two levels of outdoor seating, or an enclosed patio with ceiling-to-floor glass windows overlooking the Cass River. Cheers!

Evening

  • Relax into the rich, warm ambiance of The Landmark Lounge, located in the lower level of The Mill at Zehnder Park. Share elevated small plates and sip expertly crafted cocktails.

Stay on the Water

  • Rest & retreat at The Mill at Zehnder Park, a four-suite luxury boutique hotel, tucked along the banks of the Cass River on the historic site of an 1848 flour mill.
  • Nestle in for the night on the banks of the Cass River in a European-themed guest room at Bavarian Inn Lodge — and enjoy a moonlit stroll along the water.
  • Or, stay riverside at the Marv Herzog Hotel, and experience a charming alpine lodge with free Deluxe Hot Breakfast including biscuits & gravy and Belgian waffles.
Like This? You Might Also Like:
Things To Do
Top Things to Do on the Water in the Great Lakes Bay

Dip your toes, drop a line, and dive right in as you discover these must-try attractions, hotels, and restaurants on the water when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!

Read More +
Things To Do
Guided Boat Tours + River Cruises in the Great Lakes Bay

Will you float off into the sunset, or drift dreamily under sunny skies? Take your chance to see a lighthouse, or sip wine & savor decadent chocolates while you're on the water? Read on to meet the fleet of boats you can enjoy when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!

Read More +
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