Guided Boat Tours

Relax aboard a cozy tour boat with Frankenmuth FunShips, and sip wines paired with handmade chocolates while you’re on the water!

Feel the wind in your hair on a majestic tall ship sailing excursion with BaySail, possibly at sunset!

Dine & dance to live bands on-deck aboard Bay City Boat Lines, or enjoy a relaxing guided river tour.

Take a boating ecotour with Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips through one of the richest wildlife habitats in Michigan, the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.

Board the 150-passenger Bavarian Belle Riverboat for a narrated history tour on the Cass River.

Boat Rentals

No boat? No problem! Choose your pontoon from Bay City Boat Rental, docked at Scotty's Sandbar, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon or weekend cruising the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay.

Tours + Experiences

Coast into great times when you book the Sunrise Pedal Trolley! Bring beverages aboard and ride through Bay City enjoying architecture, shops, and local pubs.

Pedal through Frankenmuth on a 16-person bike when you rent the PedAle Trolley, or purchase single seats on an evening pub crawl!

Enjoy a guided tour and summer scenery all throughout Little Bavaria on a horse-drawn carriage ride with Fantasy Carriage Company or Frankenmuth Carriage Company.

Cruise through Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge along the scenic, seasonal Wildlife Drive — a breathtaking 6.5-mile auto tour route.

Tour the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, an oasis of mid-century modern architecture, or marvel at 400+ other structures, guided by the Mid-Century Modern Midland mobile app.

Immerse yourself in Frankenmuth from the cool comfort of the Golden Ticket Trolley when you hop aboard this nostalgic trolley bus for a narrated tour of town.

Beaches, Paddling + Fishing

Hit the beach at Haithco Recreation Area, a picturesque park with a 40-acre lake. Rent paddleboats, rowboats, canoes, or kayaks — and bring your fishing pole!

Soak up the sun at Bay City State Park, on a beach with nearly a mile of natural Saginaw Bay shoreline! Enjoy picnic areas and Tobico Marsh — a wetland preserve with observation towers.

Shopping

Follow cobblestone walks to 40+ stores at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, and find clothing boutiques to fudge kitchens and even a bead shop with in-store wine tasting!

Peruse “Michigan’s Largest Village of Unique Shops” at Pride and Country Village, each one housed in a historic, refurbished farm building.

Shop 100+ designer and name-brand stores at prices of up to 65% off at Birch Run Premium Outlets.

Stroll through seven unique shops inside a cobblestone-lined castle at the Bavarian Inn Castle Shops.

Peruse the SVRC Marketplace, sampling from unique & ethnic eateries while shopping yarn & beads to apothecary & wellness products.

Experience the magic of Christmas — even in the midst of summer – at the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland.

With gifts to global textiles, apothecary and plants, uncover unique treasures and fashionable clothing at Rebel Co., My Secret Garden, and Botanica Modern Market.

Step inside inviting shops including Violets Blue, Little House, Warmbier Farms, Baxman Market, or Saturday Mornings Home Décor & Gift Haus — and find your fill of home décor, gifts, and garden items.

Antiquing

Get lost within Michigan’s largest antique mall, Bay City Antiques Center/Bay Antique Center, and shop multiple floors and 400+ booths, including European-imported finds.

Peruse 70+ antique vendors and six specialty shops inside the Antique Warehouse, then grab a bite to eat at Cafe K-Wall's Kitchen.

Stroll through 90+ booth spaces stocked with antiques and vintage goods at Freeland Antique Mall.

Get your fill of nostalgia at Americana Company Antiques, with unique antiquities, vintage items, and local memorabilia.

Be inspired by vibrant, reimagined pieces of mid-century modern furniture at Retro Attics Studio, open Saturdays only.

Shop old & new at The Iron Gate Emporium, a marketplace blending Michigan-made, handcrafted, vintage, shabby chic, antique, industrial, and mid-century modern.

With vintage kitchenware to collectibles and memorabilia, discover The Little House Antiques that's been delighting shoppers for over 40 years!

Get your hands on interesting garden décor and vintage galore from 60+ vendors at Around the Farm Antiques.

Travel to Thrifty Treasures Antiques & More to shop from 20+ dealers offering jewelry, glassware, furniture, primitives, and more.

Visit Vintage Annex and find yourself surrounded by retro goodies from fashions to housewares and fabulous vintage jewelry.

Live Entertainment + Nightlife

Feel the nostalgia at Brinstar while playing pinball and arcade games — and sample from a menu of creative burgers, with 12 on-tap beer options.

Bounce back into retro gaming fun at Crazy Quarters Arcade — and be sure to test your skill on dozens of pinball machines!

Catch a comedy show, concert, or other performance inside Midland Center for the Arts, The Temple Theatre, The Dow Event Center — or on the lawns of Jolt Credit Union Event Park!

Saunter into Stardust to bowl for strikes, but stay for axe-throwing, four escape rooms, and The Taproom with 41 craft beer handles.

Escape the heat (and the room) at Great Lakes Escape Game, Saginaw Escape, or Code Breakers Escape & Puzzle Rooms. Unravel cryptic clues together and get out before your time is up!

Step into an immersive experience at 906 Lapeer, featuring four escape rooms, indoor GellyBall, axe-throwing, and a haunted house!

Experience a distillery, brewery, and winery in one at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom! Watch the distilling process through a viewing wall as you sip your Raspberry Hibiscus Lemonade or Rye IPA.

Slip inside Old Town Distillery to taste vodka, rum, whiskey, and Moonshine, distilled on-site. Order the Orange Creamsicle — or a cocktail flight to sample all four spirits!

Relax with artisan cocktails in an intimate space inside The Public House, and choose from house specialties like Gin-Soaked Girl.

Gather on the patio at Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie and discover six tap wines. Sip samplers like Rosé All Day or spritzes like Lethal Lemon.

Sample from an award-winning portfolio during a guided tasting session at St. Julian Winery — and hold onto your souvenir glass!

Unwind on the patio with “worldly wines made local” at Grape Beginnings Winery, or sip a Wine Crushy (slushy) in the summer sun!

Experience a wine tasting unlike any other (mixing wines together, with lemonade, or even cream soda) at Modern Craft Winery.

Enjoy wines, ciders, and charcuterie in a cozy, rustic tasting room at Crazy Vines Winery.

History + Museums

Explore the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum aboard the U.S.S. Edson DD-946, a permanently moored National Historic Landmark.

Venture through the Michigan Heroes Museum, featuring displays of Michigan veterans.

Discover a three-story gem of fascinating history inside a French chateau-style castle, the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History.