Things to Do in Chesaning: The Ultimate Pure Michigan Guide

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In our modern times where everything moves lightning-fast and everyone gawks over the latest gadget or gismo, Chesaning offers quite the opposite: respite and relaxation, quaint and quintessential. It's the kind of place where you can still stroll along the boulevard or stop into mom & pop shops and be greeted by the owners themselves.

 

Read on to discover things to do in Chesaning, but do take your time; there's no need to rush while you're in this laid-back location!

 

1. Feast with Family & Friends 

Paying homage to the actual Showboat that's iconic to Chesaning and its storied history, eating at Showboat Restaurant is a must while you're here. The relaxed atmosphere and gorgeous woodworking are reason enough to visit, but the homemade specialties, prime rib, and seafood dishes will bring you back. Don't pass up the Riverfront Grille, either, especially if you're looking to watch the big game on high-def screens and enjoy tasty fare with a cold brew in hand!

 

2. Dine at The Malt Shop 

Be sure to put a trip to The Malt Shop on your must-do list, too. Serving more than 24 flavors of soft-serve and Mooney's hand-dipped ice creams, along with a complete menu that includes its infamous broasted chicken, the Malt Shop is a family-owned gem that's been part of Chesaning for more than 50 years!

 

3. Indulge Your Passion at Creative Passions Crop and Quilt Retreat Center 

 

Home to trunk shows, teaching retreats, and more, it'd be hard to miss the large and inviting Creative Passions Crop and Quilt Retreat Center and its bright purple door that welcomes quilters, scrapbookers, crafters, and all-around-retreaters by the thousands to the heart of Chesaning. If this sounds like your kind of retreat, Creative Passions offers four locations (each with a unique atmosphere and varying options), making this a must-do on your getaway in Chesaning.       

 

4. Explore Showboat Park 

Located on the banks of the Shiawassee River, Showboat Park is 68 acres of opportunity to explore and enjoy! Pack a picnic and spend the day enjoying three sand volleyball courts, two basketball courts, a fishing dock, and an 18-hole disc golf course. Looking to launch your boat or stay over campground-style? It's all here!

 

5. Learn Local History at Chesaning Area Historical Museum 

Located in a late-19th century church, the Chesaning Area Historical Museum exhibits area historical artifacts and information, old country school photos and memorabilia, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder display that are all worth a visit while in Chesaning.

 

6. Strike it Big at Pintown Pizza & Lanes 

Not only is Pintown Pizza & Lanes the perfect place for bowling, but it also serves up pizza dough and sauce made on-site daily, then baked to perfection in a brick oven.

 

7. Book a Stay at The Stone House Inn 

Stay in stone at The Stone House Inn, a B&B inside an historic home built in 1909. With six beautifully decorated period rooms, be sure to put modern amenities and historic charm on your must-experience list while on your getaway in Chesaning.

 

8. Enjoy Seasonal Events 



Depending on when you're visiting, don't miss the Saginaw County Fair in summer or Santa's Village - The North Pole U.S.A. each winter. Visit Santa and experience merriment inside 25,000 square feet of Christmas wonderland, complete with carnival rides, crafts, and more, and coincide your Christmas traditions with the annual Chesaning Christmas Candlelight Walk. What a whole-town caroling, luminous streets glowing treat!

 



 Whether you're looking to add 18 holes to your getaway at Twin Brooks Golf Club or wanting to peruse a little bit of "anything and everything" that M-57 Surplus is known to provide, you're sure to find the right amount of what you seek in this charming village. Enjoy your escape from the everyday grind while basking in rest and relaxation on your Great Lakes Bay getaway in Chesaning!

 



About the Author: Jen W. O'Deay is a writer and small business owner in Saginaw. You can find Jen reading, always, camping with her family, or at: www.feelthesewords.com