My Frankenmuth, Mich. Trip
On Saturday, June 6, 1998 I drove to Frankenmuth, Mich. and back. Before leaving I heard that Frankenmuth is about a hundred miles from here (Ann Arbor). The fastest way is just to get on U.S. 23 and go north to where you start seeing signs about Frankenmuth. I chose to go the side (slow) road, which is what I did. Going the slow road takes away the boredom of driving the freeway and gives one a little more scenery to look at. This was my first time to see
Frankenmuth.
I left Ann Arbor about 9 something in the morning. Between Ann Arbor & Brighton I follow Whitmore Lake road. Between Brighton & Fenton I follow Old U.S. 23. From Fenton to Birch Run Road I followed Linden road. I arrived in Frankenmuth about 11 something in the morning and I had traveled between 80 & 90 miles.
When I arrived in Frankenmuth I drove into downtown Frankenmuth and stopped at the Visitor Center. I got information about Frankenmuth and walked along Main street to the School Haus Square Mall, which is a shopping center. According to the Frankenmuth tourist brochure, the shopping center is "Frankenmuth's most unusual shopping experience. 25 unique shops found in a quaint, old, refurbished school. Spend an hour or a day browsing this one-of-a-kind experience". I got inside the entrance and found a little cafe and I had a late breakfast. Following that I proceeded to chase it down with lunch. In other words I had brunch there and the food tasted good. I then browsed around the mall.
After browsing I went across the street to the First of America bank ATM and withdrew money from my checking account. After getting my money I walked back to the Visitor Center and got in my car and drove to West Tuscola street and drove to St. Lorenz Lutheran Church. I looked inside the church and walked around the outside. The church played a big part in Frankenmuth's history. I would recommend the visitors see the church.
After sightseeing the church I got in my car again and went back to North Main and continued on main street out to a shopping center where I turned around and drove back through downtown and headed to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. There I looked around the store. That is a big store and I recommend that visitors also stop in and look around. Again, according to the Frankenmuth tourist brochure, Bronner's is "world's largest Christmas store-a shopper's dream! Over 50,000 trims and gifts. Fun for all ages. Open 361 days a year".
After looking inside the store I went outside to Bronner's Silent Night Memorial Chapel. According to a brochure about the Silent Night Memorial Chapel, the chapel is a replica of the Silent Night Memorial Chapel of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, Austria. The Silent Night Memorial Chapel of Oberndorf was the place where "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night), the widely known Christmas hymn, was first performed. Again, I recommend that visitors visit this replica.
After stopping at the chapel I decided that I would start back for Ann Arbor. On the way into Frankenmuth I notice a place or two for playing minature golf. Near Birch Run road was one place and I stopped there and went a round. From there I went back on the same side road that I followed to get to Frankenmuth. It was 4 something in the afternoon when I left for home and I got back about 6 something that evening. I could have spent more time in Frankenmuth looking around, but I have a start for if and when I return there.