Summer will be here before you know it! Check out this getaway that lets your family experience a faraway land without leaving the USA! Imagine a “Little Bavaria” that’s located about an hour from Detroit and about 2 hours from Grand Rapids. It’s the idyllic town of Frankenmuth, Michigan and home of the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Restaurant.
You will enjoy wonderful, authentic German meals, old town shops and charming accommodations. The Bavarian Inn Lodge has 360 European-themed guest rooms, including whirlpool and family suites, an adult-only pool, two gift shops, two lounges and two restaurants. The Lodge’s 35,000 square feet Family Fun Center houses two dramatic water slides, three pools and two whirlpools, over 150 video and redemption games, a two-story children’s play village and Willy’s Kingdom indoor mini-golf course.
Our readers can save on these two Family Vacation Deals when you book by June 30, 2018:
Exclusive Coupon for Bavarian Inn Lodge $35 off your Bavarian Inn Lodge Stay! Call (855) 421-1366 to book and use Code #1239JD
Click and print this Coupon to get HALF OFF your check at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant
Our Michigan Mom blogger, Anne, recently stayed at the Bavarian Inn Lodge and dined at the Restaurant. Anne raved about the delicious chicken dinner and said the experience was beyond what she and her family had ever expected. According to Anne, visiting Frankenmuth “is like going to Epcot and taking a deep dive into one part of the world”.
The nicest part about staying at the Bavarian Inn Lodge is that it’s perfectly set up for families. There’s a bar in the arcade so you can enjoy a beer while keeping an eye on your kids who can run around or go to the pool.
The second best part is that you don’t have to move your car the entire time you’re there! A free shuttle takes you to downtown which is less than a half a mile away.
Here’s the full review from our Michigan Mom on why you should plan a trip today:
ARRIVING > When driving into town it looks like you’re in a commercial district and then suddenly you’re transported! You pass by the Glockenspiel and cross over an authentic wooden covered bridge to arrive at the Bavarian Inn Lodge where it’s clear they strive to promote friendships, partnerships, and a “sense of family” with their guests.
ACCOMMODATIONS > The Lodge sits on 7 acres on what used to be the Weiss Family Farm. Each guestroom at the Lodge is named to honor either a local family, a neighboring community, or an individual who has impacted the history of Frankenmuth. Check out their list of guest room family histories and see if you know anyone!
VALUE > Both the Inn and Restaurant have extremely reasonable prices. And the activities at the Inn are a bargain. For example, we gave the kids $10 for the arcade and they each came home with a good-sized stuffed animal and 2 toys!!! That’s unheard of! The one theme we enjoyed our entire stay was Value Value Value!
HISTORY > The town was originally established by German immigrants so there’s much history to discover there. If you home school or want a good topic for your child’s “What I Did This Summer” project there are plenty of opportunities for an educational twist. There is also wonderful architecture such as the Glockenspiel Tower which houses a magnificent 35-bell carillon, a beautiful figurine movement and an illuminated clock, all imported from Germany! Before striking the hour, and on each quarter hour, the clock sounds the 5-bell Westminster chime. At Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. each day the Bavarian Inn Glockenspiel plays several selections which are immediately followed by figurine movement depicting the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
CULTURE > Brush up on your German before arriving. When we enter the hotel staff wishes us “Willkommen” and when we leave they say “Auf Wiedersehen”. Exploring a faraway language was an unexpected surprise for our children.
FOOD & DRINK > You may sample Michigan’s greatest selection of German beers at the biergarten, Fischer Platz (Fischer Place). It’s open daily during the summer months as an outdoor music cafe with live music, accordion. We were impressed with the many German drafts they had at the bar, authentic beers that you can’t find elsewhere.
At the Bavarian Inn Restaurant the amount of food they bring you is insane!! It’s a 7 course dinner served family style with authentic German meats you can’t get anywhere else. Celebrating 125 years of service in 2013, the Bavarian Inn Restaurant has become a Michigan landmark. Generations of diners, lodgers and tourists from around the globe have discovered true Bavarian hospitality thanks to Dorothy and her late husband William “Tiny” Zehnder. Guests experience the old-world European charm of the Bavarian Inn – whether it’s the famous chicken dinners, fresh
baked goods or Michigan’s greatest selection of German beer. Bavarian Inn also prides itself on being one of the top consumers of Pure Michigan agricultural products.
ENTERTAINMENT > Enjoy live entertainment, nightly singalongs, dinner shows, and concerts – plus free Karaoke every Friday and Saturday at the Lodge!
ACTIVITIES > Mini Golf, Pool, Water Slide – these are the things that literally exhausted our kids during the day! We enjoyed them as a family and were grateful when the kiddos fell to sleep easily each night.
SHOPPING > Have you ever noticed that tourist towns tend to have the same items in several shops? Not here! The town is filled with one-of-a-kind shops such as a store that sells kilts, Public Cheese Haus where you can taste everything including chocolate cheeses and a Covered Bridge & Leather Shop. If you love to browse shops you will be pleased with the unique items here.
HOLIDAYS & EVENTS > This Bavarian village is a festive one and decorates for many holidays and events including Easter, the Historical Reenactment, Hot Air Balloon Event in May, the Scarecrow Festival during weekends in October and of course, Christmas. Be sure to check their Calendar of Events before planning your visit.
The Bavarian Inn Lodge and Restaurent are one of Michigan’s top tourist destinations and an important destination for travelers for more than 30 years. Check out their top rating on TripAdvisor and learn more at BavarianInn.com – this is one family vacation you don’t want to miss!
