Top Summer Outdoor Attractions in the Great Lakes Bay
Slip into sandals and grab your shades because summer is almost here! Better yet, bury your toes in the sand, step aboard a sailboat at sunset, and float a ferry boat right into the night! Soar through the treetops, bike scenic trails, rent paddleboards for the afternoon, or kayak your way to summer memories — and ice cream cones!
Follow the sunshine, fresh air, and this list of top outdoor attractions to make the most of your summer adventures when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
Boat Tours in Frankenmuth | @michiganaddicts
Guided Boat Tours
Could there be a better summer pairing than a relaxing boat ride where wine samples & handcrafted chocolates are served? Float away on a Wine & Chocolate River Tour with Frankenmuth FunShips, and keep your tasting glass as a souvenir!
Drift off into the sunset aboard the Appledore Tall Ships on a Sunset Sail with BaySail — and experience vibrant hues while enjoying snacks & beverages you brought on board! Or, book a daytime Great Lakes 101 trip for gorgeous scenery & wildlife sightings.
Experience the “Everglades of Michigan” on an expertly guided boat tour with Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips. Discover one of the richest wildlife habitats in Michigan and a unique boating adventure where guests can pack picnics, coolers, beverages of choice — and bring their pets!
Let yourself float freely on the Princess Wenonah excursion boat of Bay City Boat Lines this summer! Dine on deck before you boogie down aboard “Carefree Cruisin’” or “Rock the Boat” themed trips with live bands, or relax on a Saginaw River Guided Tour for spectacular views and the chance to see a lighthouse!
Climb aboard to ride an icon, the 150-passenger Bavarian Belle Riverboat. Departing from the waterfalls of Frankenmuth River Place Shops, enjoy a narrated history tour as you take in the beautiful Bavarian architecture.
Bay City State Park | @nature_lover_xo
Beaches
Relax along almost a mile of natural, sandy Saginaw Bay shoreline at Bay City State Park! Break from swimming at basketball & volleyball courts, and picnic in the shade at on-site pavilions. Inside the Park, you’ll also enjoy access to Tobico Marsh — a wetland preserve with Lagoon Trails and two observation towers!
Hit the beach at Haithco Recreation Area! This picturesque park offers a 40-acre lake & swimming beach, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits — and even scuba diving! Cook up a picnic on grills found throughout the park, rent paddleboats, rowboats, canoes, or kayaks, and see what you can catch from the fishing pier!
Dow Gardens | @nrupalikulkarni
Outdoors + Nature
Find yourself surrounded by vibrant blooms this summer as you stroll Dow Gardens' 110 acres, including Color & Rose Gardens, a peaceful Stream Walk, and Boulder Pass waterfall. Explore its Whiting Forest, too, with a one-of-a-kind canopy walk through the treetops — including a glass-floor viewing platform four stories high!
Soar to new heights and feel like you're flying at Frankenmuth Aerial Park! A sky-high obstacle course through the trees with options for all skill levels, this wooded park is packed with ladders, rope bridges, and ziplines for the ultimate adventure.
Venture out for fresh air, sun, and scenery at Chippewa Nature Center! Paddle the Chippewa River, overlook three marshes from the Observation Tower, and visit the 1870s Homestead Farm. With 19 miles of trails for hiking, join a Full Moon Stroll, Wildflower Walk, or a summer workshop!
Go exploring to see where four rivers converge at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge! Discover one of the largest wetland ecosystems in Michigan and experience a wondrous display of egrets, warblers, and more — especially along the 6.5-mile auto tour route, Wildlife Drive.
Midland
Toss back pints at Midland Brewing Company, in an open-air beer garden that backs up to the Pere Marquette Rail Trail! Boasting fireside seating and lawns that host summer cornhole leagues, try seasonal suds like Jenny’s Raspberry Sour Shandy.
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Bay City
Enjoy street fare & refreshing brews at Drift Shoreside Beer Garden this summer! Split buckets of cold beer, sip wine & craft cocktails — and don't leave without sampling from food trucks regularly parked on-site.
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Bay City
Imbibe on your favorite brew in the heart of Downtown Bay City's dining district at Drydock Beer Garden. It’s an outdoor beer garden under the string lights in cozy quarters at Unity Park — with low-key vibes and a prime location.
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Bay City
Step out into the classic outdoor beer garden setting of Bay City's hometown brewery. With a year-round pavilion providing plenty of shade, sip your choice of beers, wines, and ciders on tap.
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Frankenmuth
Sway to live music on summer nights at Schnitzelbank Bier Garten in front of the Bavarian Inn Lodge. Enjoy your favorite beverage and “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit!” or “A drink to good friends and good times!”
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Frankenmuth
Experience a music cafe modeled after a German beer garden — Fischer Platz outside the Bavarian Inn Restaurant! Open daily during summer months, listen to accordion music and feel the sunshine on your skin while sipping a cold brew or glass of wine!
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Feet on the Street in Bay City | @miles2gobeforeisleep
Pedal Trolleys + Carriage Tours
Pedal below the Third Street Star Bridge when you book the Sunrise Pedal Trolley and partake in a mobile party on a 16-person trolley bike! Guests choose their own drinks & music, and each two-hour Bay City tour can include architecture, shops, and local pubs, if you like!
Coast through Frankenmuth on a City River Tour with PedAle Trolley! Power a 16-person trolley on a two-hour sightseeing tour, and visit local shops, pubs, and attractions. PedAle Trolley sells single seats for its Thursday- and Saturday-evening pub crawls, too!
Clip-clop through streets of Little Bavaria on a horse-drawn carriage ride with Fantasy Carriage Company or Frankenmuth Carriage Company. With beautifully carved carriages & extraordinary horses, your tour with either will include intriguing scenery and insider Frankenmuth gems.
Sports
Grab your lucky baseball mitts, and head out to a Great Lakes Loons game to catch a fly ball! Watch riveting Minor League Baseball with 5,200 stadium seats to pick from, or bring a blanket to cheer from the lawns!
Get a hole-in-one this summer, or have fun trying! Set your tee time at two of Michigan's must-play public golf courses — Apple Mountain and The Fortress — or your choice from more than a dozen others.
Saginaw River in Bay City | @mi_playground
Kayaking + Paddleboarding
Paddle along the Cass River on a self-guided kayak tour with Frankenmuth Kayak Adventures, and experience the tranquility of the water as it winds its way through Little Bavaria.
With Ike’s Mobile Kayak Rentals, go on a guided tour or self-led adventure! Want a longer reservation, or need unique accommodations? Ike's specializes in custom kayaking outings!
Book a 2-4 hour scenic paddle on the Chippewa River with Nor’East Outdoors – Midland. Brief paddling lessons & shuttle service come with each of Nor’East’s pre-set trips!
Gain easy access to Saginaw Bay this summer with Nor’East Outdoors – Bay City, conveniently located inside Bay City State Park. Borrow your choice of kayaks or boards and enjoy the views from offshore!
Bay City State Park | @mi_playground
Hiking + Biking Trails
Ride through fields of wildflowers — or along the riverfront — on the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail! With the 30-mile Pere Marquette Rail Trail, 21-mile Bay City Area Riverwalk/Railtrail, 11-mile Saginaw Valley Rail Trail and beyond, soak up gorgeous scenery and even waterfront views.
Bring your binoculars to the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail, a natural habitat for more than 200 species of birds! Covering 142 shoreline miles, this trail is home to everything from tundra swans to American white pelicans.
Take on eight miles of mountain biking trails at Midland City Forest! A 520-acre oasis for outdoor enthusiasts, City Forest is also home to Ray’s Bike Shop, so riders can test out bikes on the trails.
Downtown Frankenmuth | @roaming_michigan_together
Outdoor Public Art
Take an awe-inspiring route through dozens of outdoor art displays with the Great Lakes Bay Region Public Art Passport! Find information & stories about public art across the region — with photos, Google map locations, and opportunities to see an aerial preview!
Immerse yourself in an array of streetside beauty at Old Town Saginaw Street Art Park, including mini-murals dotted with bright flowers, a larger-than-life orange butterfly, and the colorful Court Street Bridge Mural.
Stroll through a garden alive with artistry at the Sculpture Garden just outside of Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. Enjoy beautiful bronze sculptures, botanical beds, and tranquil water sounds from the Day and Night Fountain.
Summer Walleye Fishing
June, July, and August are primetime for Saginaw Bay walleye fishing, because a world-class walleye bite is happening all throughout the summer! Whether you’re fishing from your own boat, a chartered vessel, the Saginaw River banks, or the shores of Saginaw Bay, get in on the summer walleye action!
Read More +Bringing the kids on your summer vacation? These outdoor attractions are favorites for families!
Saginaw
Ride the iconic miniature train at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. Choo-choo! Say hi to 150+ animals and take a few spins on the hand-carved carousel. Picnic on-site with a bite to eat from the Train Whistle Café, and snap pictures of the colorful peacocks if you see them on the paths!
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Birch Run
Meet more than 200 exotic animals at Wilderness Trails Zoo! With a Petting Area, Parakeet Encounter, and Rainforest Experience, this 56-acre zoo is home to lions, bears, zebras, reptiles, and so much more!
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Frankenmuth
Pet Rosie The Donkey and meet Mr. Nibbles (the very soft bunny who doesn’t nibble) at Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm. Enjoy hayrides, hands-on learning experiences, and chances to pet, feed, and hold some of the animals!
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Dutch Village Adventure Park | @dutchvillageadventurepark
Outdoor Mini-Golf + More
Have a ball playing miniature golf at Dutch Village Adventure Park! Swing hard in the batting cages, and treat yourselves to a cool-down with hand-dipped Hudsonville ice cream.
Create forever memories at Buoy 18 Miniature Golf, Arcade & Ice Cream Shop, right by a bustling marina. Play games in the arcade, and have fun choosing your ice cream: regular, sugar-free, vegan, or gluten-free!
Putt-putt your way to a hole-in-one, race go-karts, run through laser tag, ride bumper boats, and play arcade games — all in one family-friendly place at Fun Way Amusement Park!
Choose between two mini-golf courses at Alpine Mountain, or play both! Challenge the fam to bank-shot basketball, race go-karts & bumper boats, and indulge in ice cream!
Bay City State Park | @frommichiganwithlove
Spray Parks + Splash Pads
Whoop it up with water (and rest on provided lawn chairs) at Spray by the Bay Splash Park inside Bay City State Park. You’re right next to a playground, pavilions for picnics, a sandy beach, and nature trails!
Check out the earthy-themed splash pad at Haithco Recreation Area for sun-soaked fun. Enjoy this park & 40-acre lake with swimming beach, and be ready to ride the universally accessible merry-go-’round!
Count to 18 together, because Frankenmuth Jaycee Spray Park's zero-depth water play area has 18 different fountains, sprays, and geysers — accessible for all ages & abilities!
Play for ages in filtered-water, zero-depth sections at Celebration Square Splash Park! Enjoy Discovery Bay with misters for toddlers, Adventure Bay with showers & dumping buckets for children, and Action Bay with water soakers & large Ground Geysers fun!
Get wild, wet, and feel wonderful! Be ready for belly laughs by the buckets, and waterspouts, at Longview Spray Park!
Splash & play by the iconic Tridge, and right next to the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, at Gerstacker Spray Park. Watch the kids in the waterspouts? No way! This place is for the young & young-at-heart!
Things To Do
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 Pure Michigan!
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Things To Do
Get to dozens of magical outdoor spaces where toddlers giggle and teenagers come alive (and parents have just as much fun as the half-pints)! Bring your camera, your favorite sneakers, and your sense of family adventure — big smiles are just up ahead!
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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
