Top Things to Do with Kids this Winter in the Great Lakes Bay
Warm woolen mittens & fluffy down coats — wrap up the family for wintertime adventures! Whether you sled down slopes & twirl loops at ice rinks — or barrel down toboggan runs together — 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 Pure Michigan!
Midland
Bundle up for a day of winter play at Midland City Forest! Race down toboggan runs, skate the outdoor ice rink, go sledding — then enjoy hot cocoa & warmth by the bonfire.
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Midland
With 110 acres of snowy splendor, enjoy Dow Gardens in the winter — especially the canopy walk where you’ll venture four stories above the forest floor!
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Snuggle under a blanket on a horse-drawn ride with Fantasy Carriage Company or Frankenmuth Carriage Company. See Frankenmuth covered in snow, and let the kids point out (fudge, taffy, toy) shops they might like to visit later!
Explore a 1,200-acre winter wonderland, Chippewa Nature Center! See the Log Schoolhouse and visit the 1870s Homestead Farm.
Bring skates or lace up rental pairs for the Frankenmuth Ice Rink! With room for 200 skaters per hour, the whole fam will have fun while gliding along fresh ice.
Ride snowboarding hills, discover sledding thrills, and glide along the ice rink at Hoyt Park. Skate rentals are available, and hot chocolate is served in the warming house!
Twirl under the colorful lights, skate alongside the Saginaw River, and enjoy whimsical winter fun at Wenonah Park in Downtown Bay City.
Frankenmuth
Be among the first families to experience Michigan’s biggest indoor waterpark & family fun center, Bavarian Blast at Bavarian Inn Lodge! Try out 16 new waterslides, a wave pool, and a not-so-lazy river. Challenge each other at the ropes course, rock climbing walls, mini-bowling — or in the laser tag arena!
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Frankenmuth
Dive into 50,000 square feet of 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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Indoor Family Fun Zones
Let a roll of quarters take you out of the cold and into retro gaming fun at Crazy Quarters Arcade! Enjoy classics including Pac-Man, Galaga, and Space Invaders Deluxe.
Bring the kids into Brinstar for arcade games & pinball machines — but stay for creative burgers & fresh-cut fries the whole family will love!
Trade winter boots for bowling shoes at Stardust — and play two-story laser tag, ride indoor bumper cars, and try out 50+ arcade games!
Valley Lanes | @shineonsunfish
Leave winter behind inside Valley Lanes Family Entertainment Center! Whether it’s bowling or bumper cars that draw you in, discover family fun all around with arcade games, a laser maze, and more.
Step into an action-packed palace of arcade games at Fun Way Amusement Park — and don’t leave hungry! The menu here includes pizza, wings, and more.
When winter weather won’t allow outdoor play, bring the kiddos to The Playground! Kids can slide, climb, and have a ball at this safe, indoor playground — and parents can relax with a latte.
Defy gravity inside Airborne Adventure Park! With wall-to-wall trampolines, experience a whole new level of indoor recreation on more than a dozen bouncy attractions.
Play for hours, rack up points, and win big prizes at River Place Game Room! Test your skills on 40+ arcade games — then race into nearby SugarHigh Bakery and SugarRush Sweets & Treats.
Take your family on a cool adventure through a maze of 1,000+ mirrors in the Ultimate Mirror Maze, or try The Vault Laser Beam Challenge to twist & duck your way through laser beams.
Museums + More
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 enjoy this place where infinite fun is found!
Take the kiddos to the cosmos at Delta College Planetarium — and stop at the gift shop for out-of-this-world souvenirs.
Discover rich history inside a real-life castle — the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History! Explore automotive to lumbering exhibits as you wander through three floors of fascinating displays.
Painterly Pottery | @graceyhartwig
Arts + Entertainment
Winter weather frightful? All is delightful inside Painterly Pottery, the region’s largest paint-your-own-pottery studio! Spend time with your family crafting one-of-a-kind items.
Discover a wildly creative place, Space Studios, and create from ready-to-be-painted pottery at The Glaze Bar inside.
Stop by the Craft Bar at Studio 23/The Arts Center for a self-service art experience, and choose a project off the menu to become your make-and-take art!
Grab tickets to the coolest games in town, Saginaw Spirit OHL hockey games at The Dow Event Center — and check out their calendar for more family-friendly events!
Snag a front-row seat to winter fun at Midland Center for the Arts, with shows including Doktor Kaboom: Look Out! Science is Coming!
Kids' Shopping
Bundle up for a Bavarian shopping experience at Frankenmuth River Place Shops! With 40+ attractions & stores, sample fudge made before your eyes between browsing for souvenirs.
Discover a place fit for princes & princesses at Bavarian Inn Castle Shops! Let the kids pick something from the bakery and explore seven elaborate gift shops for unique toys, candy, and more.
Find something for the whole family at Birch Run Premium Outlets. With shops like Go! Games & Toys to The Children’s Place Outlet, explore 100+ shops for savings of up to 65% off.
Let the kids experience “a toy store, unplugged” at Joyful Tantrum. Discover this whimsical shop filled with games & toys that inspire — batteries not required!
Find cool creativity this winter and hands-on play at Toyberg! Check out wooden toys & puzzles, and start thinking spring by taking home a kite.
Shop nostalgic candy, fun gifts, and novelties at Happy Go Lucky, and bring the kiddos to a place where $1 will get them a lot (like it used to in the old days)!
Frankenmuth
Experience the magic of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland this winter! See sights & sounds of the season at the world’s largest Christmas store and shop 50,000+ ornaments, trims, and gifts.
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Frankenmuth
Make a seasonal stop to Santa’s Reindeer Farm on Grandpa Tiny’s Heritage Farm. Gather in a cozy barn to meet Santa and his reindeer-in-training, deliver wish lists, and craft a holiday ornament!
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Midland Santa House | @frommichiganwithlove
Step into pure magic inside the Midland Santa House! Cozy up to a fieldstone fireplace, sit in Santa’s chair, and be sure to stay on the lookout for his reindeer.
All aboard The Northern Star Train! During the Midland Santa House season, take a magical ride through town on a festive train decked out in holiday décor.
Keep the Christmas spirit alive with a visit to the Nate & Mary Ida Doan Santa House. Bring the young & young-at-heart to this cozy log cabin, and have your photo taken with Santa!
With merry music playing, see lights while staying warm & toasty aboard the Golden Ticket Trolley. Enjoy a holiday light tour of Downtown Frankenmuth — and Christmas trivia along the way!
Frankenmuth's Spectacular Musical Tree Show | @frommichiganwithlove
Family Holiday Light Shows
Sing along to the sounds of Christmas at the 40-foot Frankenmuth’s Spectacular Musical Tree Show! Enjoy popular holiday classics while colorful lights dance about 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, travel along festive streets to brilliant light displays.
Cruise down 25 Christmas Lane as it winds past Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, and experience a dazzling 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 the sounds of the season while thousands of lights dance to the classics!
Midland
Sing with carolers as you stroll a candlelit pathway through a winter wonderland during the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk. Sip steaming hot cocoa while enjoying merry melodies, and say hello to Santa’s reindeer!
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Frankenmuth
Experience Tis the Season Weekends at Frankenmuth River Place Shops. Visit Santa Claus, sing with strolling carolers, and celebrate Christmas in the elaborately decorated Santa’s Workshop.
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Saginaw
Hop on for a free pony ride and visit Santa & Mrs. Claus at Holidays in the Heart of the City. Enjoy cookies & hot cocoa — and take in free horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday concerts, and the finale fireworks show!
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Winter Trip Ideas
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 Pure Michigan!
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Things To Do
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 & extra-cool events when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Pure Michigan!
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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
