City Guide: 10 Kid Friendly Activities in Frankenmuth, Michigan

Known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria”, Frankenmuth was officially founded in 1845 when a group of German immigrants traveled to Michigan seeking religious freedom. They traveled to the east central part of the state and began building a community. The name Frankenmuth translates to “Courage of the Franconians” and the founders quickly established several industries in the area: logging, farming, and wool production. Tourists began stopping in the area for more than just a car fill up of gasoline and a meal when places like Zehnder’s and the Bavarian Inn (originally the Union House) opened. The town continued to expand, adding dozens of dining, shopping, and lodging options and creating popular traditions throughout the 20th century.

Today, Frankenmuth is a popular place to visit ANY time of year, but the city of just about 5,000 full time residents really comes alive and welcomes visitors from all over for Oktoberfest weekend in September, Christmas Experience (a month long calendar of festivities), World Expo of Beer in May (over 300 varieties of beer and cider), and the famous Frankenmuth Dog Bowl in May.

We loved our summer visit to Frankenmuth and hope to return to experience the wonder of the holidays in such a special place. There are dozens of family friendly activities (see our top 10 list below) and plenty for couples, friends, and groups to enjoy, too.

Note: Out of our control, we ended up being in Frankenmuth during the peak of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires in July 2026. You’ll see some of the impact of the air quality in our photos (which we don’t edit) and we’ve noted a couple of activities we couldn’t enjoy because they were closed. However, we still had a wonderful visit and look forward to returning again.

Where to Start: The Visitor Center (located right on Main Street) has lots of information and print materials (their Travel Guide is super helpful and can be mailed to visitors ahead of time and the Coupon Book offers great discounts), and helpful, enthusiastic staff. Download the Gnome Hunt app here so kids can complete the Gnome Scavenger Hunt (there are over 50 gnomes hidden throughout town) and earn a fun souvenir. Also check out the seasonal calendar of festivals (at least five festivals every season), summer concerts in the park each week and other fun events. Restrooms are located in a building adjacent to the Visitor Center and plenty of free parking is available behind the building. The Visitor Center is centrally located to many spots on our list that are walkable. 

Where to Stay: We loved our stay at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, a massive (over 360 rooms!) resort next to the Cass River in the heart of Frankenmuth. The resort has indoor and outdoor pools (plus an adults only pool), an indoor water park, ropes adventure course, indoor mini golf and arcade, several dining and shopping options on site and about a million ways to have fun! We’ll have a full feature of the resort soon on the blog.

Where to Eat: There are dozens of dining options throughout Frankenmuth, and a lot more than the expected German fare (plenty of that, too!). This index of options can be filtered by cuisine and location. We loved our meals at Prost!Wine Bar (definitely build your own board, outdoor dining available and a good kid’s menu), Bavarian Inn Restaurant’s Michigan on Main on Main Street (perfect lunch spot for the whole family, with outdoor dining available), La Crepe du Jour (yummy crepes with tons of options) and Zehnder’s (when in Frankenmuth, it’s a must visit!). We also enjoyed treats at Sugarhigh Bakery (Food Network award winning cupcakes!) and Cherry Republic (with locations all over Michigan, including Frankenmuth) 

Getting around town: Downtown Frankenmuth is extremely clean, safe, and walkable. A majority of the attractions on this guide are within walking distance of one another. Plenty of free parking is available behind the Visitor Center and in side lots on and around Main Street. There is also a FREE Frankenmuth Shuttle that makes a 20 minute loop throughout the downtown area Fridays through Sundays from 12pm-8pm from mid summer through December; see the full list of stops here.

See good maps of the downtown area here and here.

10 Kid Friendly Activities in Frankenmuth:

Learn more about the history of the area by touring the Frankenmuth History Museum. The ten gallery exhibit hall features the history of Frankenmuth starting with the Anishinabek descendants who lived on the land for hundreds of years to the German missionaries who established the city to German Americans persecuted during WWI and WWII to the vast businesses that call Frankenmuth home today. Many of the exhibits are interactive and engaging for kids of all ages.
Kids will love playing checkers, pretending to sell produce, pretending to steer an old plane, and relaxing in the Book Nook.
Travel Tips: The museum is open seven days a week with a nominal admission fee; free parking available behind the museum; handicap accessible; restrooms and gift shop available; plenty of dining options nearby; plan on an hour to fully explore all exhibits. 

Celebrate Christmas all year long at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. The 2.2 acre retail store, which opened in 1945, is the largest Christmas themed store in the world. There are (seemingly) millions of displays of ornament, decor, trees, lights, figurines, and collectibles for every interest, hobby, (Michigan based) school and sports team, food, and tradition. There are creches, Advent candles and calendars, scavenger hunts for kids, a cafeteria, and a Program Center showing movies throughout the day. Make sure to leave time to walk over to the Silent Night Chapel, a replica of the original Oberndorf/ Salzburg, Austria chapel where Silent Light was first sung in 1818. The Chapel is open during store hours for quiet reflection and to read about the history of the song and area.
Kids will love shopping for a favorite ornament, watching a holiday themed movie, mailing a letter to Santa anytime of year, and reading the lyrics to Silent Night translated into dozens of languages on display along the path around the chapel.
Travel Tips: The store is open 361 days a year; handicap accessible; bring the stroller for the toddler crew; restrooms and dining facilities on site; plan on an hour just to walk through the entire space- see the map here.

Get wet at the Bavarian Blast Waterpark. Admission to the waterpark is included in Bavarian Inn resort stays, but day passes are available for purchase. The waterpark has 16 waterslides, a zero entry massive wave pool, and Bavarian Springs (an indoor and outdoor pool complex). Older kids will love Willy’s Wave, Greta’s River Run,and Schnitzel Swirl. There are also plenty of smaller, shallower, calmer water areas designated for the toddler and preschool crowd. Guests can also purchase tickets to enjoy the 18 hole miniature golf course, ropes course, laser tag, arcade, and Build a Bear Workshop– see the full list here.
Travel Tips: The waterpark is usually open from 10am-8pm or 9pm (weekends); plenty of free parking in the Main Lot; there are plenty of changing areas, restrooms, and dining options available; consider reserving a cabana for a “homebase” for the day; Sensory Room open to anyone who needs a quiet break;  helpful maps of the waterpark here and here.

Pay your respects to the veterans of Michigan at the Michigan Military and Space Heroes Museum. Started in 1976 by Stan Bozich, the Michigan Heroes Military Museum opened as a public museum in Frankenmuth in 1981 to honor men and women born or raised anywhere in Michigan. The museum has grown over the past 40+ years to include displays honoring over 700 veterans and astronauts and moved in 1990 from its original Main Street location to the current, nearby Weiss Street location to accommodate its ever growing collection. Only 140 displays can be shared with the public at one time and the museum routinely rotates honorees, which dates as far back as the Spanish American War through the War on Terror. There are also displays to honor Michigan astronauts.
Kids will love completing the BINGO game to earn a souvenir and seeing the 24 named Meal of Honor recipients and medals- the largest public collection anywhere in the country.
Travel Tips: The museum is open from 10am-5pm Monday through Saturday; kids under age 5 receive free admission; plenty of free parking behind the building; small gift kiosk located near the admissions desk; restrooms located on site; entire museum handicap accessible on one floor; no dining facilities on site; plan on an hour or so to fully tour all exhibits. 

Watch cheese being made at the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus. Opened in 1968, the shop sells over 270 types of cheeses from all over the world and makes a dozen varieties of cheese on site. There are also dozens of Michigan made products (food, gifts, housewares) available for purchase and the company will ship products just about anywhere. Stop by the “in haus” bakery, which sells homemade sweets and desserts. Visitors can sample several varieties of cheese (and sometimes other products) throughout the store. Be sure to look for the sundial to check the time. 
Kids will love the Figurinespiel shows played outside the shop everyday at 9am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, and 8pm. Listen for the 35 carillon bells that play and the 15 hand carved wooden characters and animals from around the world that appear for each show (except 9am).
Travel Tips: The Shop is open daily from 10am-9pm; plenty of free parking on site; handicap accessible; restroom on site; click here for free in store coupon. 

Take a tour of the town via trolley or river boat. Frankenmuth Golden Ticket Trolley Tours offer 45 minute Hidden gems and History tours  (the best way to get a live history of the town) and various themed tours throughout the year, including holiday options. Tours are typically offered at 11am and 2pm five to seven days a week- up to date schedule here. Free parking available at the River Place Shops. The Bavarian Belle Riverboat is available for one hour cruises on the Cass River from early May through mid October. The two deck boat is handicap accessible and has an enclosed lower deck for visitors who want a little more shade. Tours depart from the River Place Shops 90 minutes starting at 11am through evening; up to date schedule here.
Note: When we visited in July of 2026, neither company was operating due to the Canadian wildfire smoke. We heard such positive reviews of both tours from multiple people, we feel confident in suggesting a tour even though we did not experience it firsthand. 

Walk through the Legacy Wall at Zehnder’s and learn the history of the Zehnder family.  America’s largest independent family restaurant which opened in 1856 as the Exchange Hotel, Zehnder’s serves almost one million dinners a year (the most popular dish is the family style chicken) in its 10 distinct dining rooms. The lower level of the restaurant is home to Zehnder’s Marketplace, which includes a large bakery (lots gluten free options), deli and cheese shops, quick service and take out service for full meals, dozens of homemade items and Made in Michigan housewares and gifts. Nearby, the Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark includes an almost 200 room hotel and indoor waterpark.

Listen for the sounds of the Bavarian Inn Glockenspiel Tower on Main Street. At 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, and 9pm each day, the 35 bell carillon rings (different tunes each time of day), followed by a short “show” of the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin with hand carved wooden figurines circling through the tower. The tower was constructed in 1967 and the clock, bells, and figurines were made in Germany and brought to Frankenmuth. 

Learn about how bedding and blankets are made at the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill. The oldest wool mill in Michigan, opened in 1894, used locally grown wool to originally create quilts and blankets as well as mittens and socks. Later, the socks were worn by soldiers in World War I,  and today, the company’s organic comforters, bedding, and pillows are some of its best selling products. Visitors can shop at the South Main Street store. Be sure to head to the back of the store where large windows offer a peek into the factory production lines. There are also touch screen videos that show the step by step process.

Shop for souvenirs at the River Place Shops. There’s a store for every interest (apparel, souvenirs, books, games, even pet products!) and lots of options for dining on site.  See the full directory of stores and hours here.  The complex also hosts lots of annual, seasonal events– everything from the Dog Bowl in May to Scarecrow Fest in October and Holiday Hot Cocoa Crawl in December. Make time to walk over to the Covered Bridge Shop (just over the covered bridge from River Place Shops) for more souvenir options, including many handmade items. Sit in the outdoor Sister City Chair for a fun photo.
Kids will love Thunder Bay Mining Company and the lawn games.
Travel Tips: The shops are open year round- check seasonal hours here; an easy, less than five minute walk from Main Street; plenty of free parking and access points around the complex; public restrooms located throughout the complex.

Bonus: Peek inside Frankenmuth Clock Company’s flagship store, with over 1,000 authentic German clocks on display. The shop also sells nutcrackers, Christmas pyramids, and wooden toys. Be sure to keep a close eye on little ones. 

Looking for other City Guides, including nearby Holland, Michigan? Check here for our index. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclosure: We were hosted for a stay by the Bavarian Inn and were given “Frankenmuth Money” (great idea for a gift for someone traveling to Frankenmuth) to explore some of the attractions on this list. All opinions expressed are my own.