Leaf-Peeping Weekends: Mid-Michigan
As you explore the mid-Michigan region, you’ll notice how the shifting of colors varies based on how close you are to the water. Leaves transform earlier in the inland forests than by Saginaw Bay and the Great Lakes, and the whole area is filled with family-friendly festivals, fall flavors and plenty of other ways to savor the season.
Find your base in Frankenmuth, officially known as Little Bavaria. While its beloved Oktoberfest takes place a few weeks before peak colors, there’s plenty to explore all season long.
View the foliage from every angle
A stroll through Frankenmuth’s Main Street is about as charming as it gets. With rich red and gold foliage peeking between Bavarian-style buildings, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped straight into a storybook. Pop into one of the Frankenmuth River Place Shops along the Cass River for a homemade pasty, a nibble of chocolate or the perfect gift for yourself and everyone on your list.
Keep that fall feeling going with a tour aboard Bavarian Belle, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat that glides along the Cass River. With views of the foliage reflecting on the water and clear views of the town’s architecture, it’s a classic Frankenmuth experience that you don’t want to miss.
And if you’re craving a bigger rush of adrenaline, imagine flying high through the treetops at the height of autumn. At Frankenmuth Aerial Park, adventurers of all ages can climb and zip-line along the colorful canopy.
Pop in for a bite and a beer at Frankenmuth Brewery, known as Michigan’s oldest brewery. Since 1962, locals have been coming here to sip and mingle, and today it continues to be a popular gathering spot. Choose from at least 15 beers on tap, including six craft brews available all year and a rotating collection, and pair that with a dish from a full menu of comfort food. Our tip? Share an order of the giant pretzel to start your evening.
Day trips full of discovery
From this mid-Michigan point, you’re just a few miles away from Saginaw Bay and greater Lake Huron. Walk along the shoreline and take a classic tall ship with BaySail, listening to the wind whip at the sails as you cruise slowly by day or on a sunset sail.
Head over to Saginaw, where the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge offers a spectacular perspective of bird species and wildlife through a variety of wetlands and forests. An auto route along with miles of trails open to hikers and bikers gets you close to nature among fall’s finest hues. Within this natural expanse, an eco-tour with Johnny Panther Quests Ecotours gives you a guided perspective of the watershed, known as the “Everglades of Michigan.”
Explore bright forests from above and below
In Midland, Dow Gardens covers more than 110 acres of curated landscapes – including the gorgeous Whiting Forest that transforms into a kaleidoscope of colors in fall. Stroll 40 feet above the ground on the 1,400-foot-long, accessible canopy walk, the longest of its kind in the country. Or hike, bike or skate along the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail from points all throughout the Mid-Michigan region. Stretching for nearly 100 miles, this well-maintained rail trail surrounds you in bright fall colors.
After your day trips conclude, carve out time to return to Frankenmuth for another must-have meal: the famous chicken dinners at both Bavarian Inn and Zehnders. Both restaurants have rightfully earned their reputation as the best places for crispy, savory fried chicken served with heaps of mashed potatoes and gravy.
Find more activities in the Great Lakes Bay region, from craft beer tastings to family-friendly attractions.