Sprinkles of Christmas Magic and A Perfect Present in "Little Bavaria" U.S.A.

Who doesn't want a bit of 🎄🎄Christmas magic sprinkled on their life? 🎄🎄The 🎄🎄Christmas season is often the one month when giving and sharing are at their peak, it's a time for gathering with family, and friends, and eating festive foods, a time when the church doors are open longer, and faith is a bit stronger. It's a time to BELIEVE 🎄🎄🎄in the magic of Christmas. It's also a time to travel, but with dozens of countries still locked down to tourists, traveling around the globe isn't so appealing. So why not stay closer to home? My one wish this year was to travel internationally to a place like Argentina, Germany, India, or Switzerland, but that didn't happen. Even my plans to go visit the Grand Canyon in Arizona or Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia  (USA) were shattered. I was giving up hope until I remembered about a place pretty close to home called "Frankenmuth" otherwise known as "Little Bavaria."🎄🎄🎄

FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN at Christmas is like stepping inside the pages of a perfectly illustrated fairytale. It has all the fixings of Christmas; a replica of the original chapel in Oberndorf, Austria where the Christmas carol "Silent Night" was composed beckons visitors who feel as if they've been transported to Austria. Just a few yards away from the chapel is the world's largest Christmas store called "Bronner's Christmas Wonderland." At Bronner's you'll find over 50,000 trims and gifts for all reasons, seasons, and budgets. As if this isn't enough Christmas magic, there's plenty more, just one mile from Bronner's and the Silent Night Chapel is the town of Frankenmuth that was settled by 15 Germans in 1845 led by Reverend August Craemer, a Lutheran minister. The small band of settlers came to the area from Neuendettelsau, Germany, for the purpose of evangelizing to Native Americans. Today, Frankenmuth looks and feels like an authentic village in the Bavarian federal state of Germany.

MAGIC IN FRANKENMUTH:

Enter Frankenmuth, and feel the sprinkles of magic warm your heart and body with hope, peace, and love. Begin your journey with a cup of hot cocoa and a carriage ride with the Fantasy Carriage Company at 780 Mill Street. Take a ride down beautiful Main Street and check out historic sites as well on a comfy carriage ride that makes you feel like a king or queen. Next grab some ice skates and skate your way around the ice rink at Zehnder Park. Admission is $10.00 and skate rentals are $3.00. Thanks to the generous contribution of Huntington Bank the Zehnder Park Ice Rink is open to all from November 18th to mid February. Feel like shopping? Explore more than 40 shops and attractions at the Bavarian themed "River Place Shops." Here you can shop for everything from clothes to candles to wines. If you're feeling hungry, feel French and indulge in authentic French crepes at Le Crepe du Jour or some tasty beignets at N'Orlins Beignets. You'll need at least an hour to explore "River Place Shops." Next head to the Frankenmuth Spectular Musical Tree Show next to the Frankenmuth Visitors Center and gaze at the gorgeous Christmas tree while listening to Christmas songs that will warm your soul.

Now it's time for a meal. The two most famous places to eat are Bavarian Inn Restaurant and Zehnder's. Both of these large restaurants are known for their chicken dinners and other amazing German dishes. The atmosphere is "Bavarian" with the staff dressed in German clothing. Both restaurants feature a variety of shops downstairs. Cozy up and fill your stomach with delicious food at either the Bavarian Inn Restaurant or Zehnder's. Why not eat at both if you plan on staying in Frankenmuth for more than one day. 

Main Street Frankenmuth is a jewel of a place at Christmas time, when the days are dark and the street are lined up with lampposts, and Christmas lights. As you stroll down Main Street you can go inside a variety of shops, "Amazin' Mitten" featuring Michigan artistic products, "Frankenmuth Clock Company," with about 1,000 clocks hailing from Germany, and "Frankenmuth Cheese Haus" for out of this world cheese, meat, and specialty foods. For the oldest and largest candy store in Frankenmuth visit "Rau's Country Store." Over at "Zak & Mac's Chocolate Haus" indulge in fudge, truffles, and other treats in a cozy setting. "Covered Bridge Shop" carries everything from footwear to handbags, to shirts, wallets and more. 

You'll be so magnetized by the charming and idyllic Frankenmuth, that spending the night is a must if time permits. My suggestion for a peaceful night of rest is at the fantastic "Bavarian Inn Lodge." Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Cass River across from a unique covered bridge, this Bavarian-style resort features a water park, mini golf, an arcade, plus two restaurants. The atmosphere here is spectacular as is the location. Book a night or two at "Bavarian Inn Lodge."

BONUS ATTRACTION: (Absolutely Divine)

Silent Night Chapel at Bronner's and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

Bronner's Silent Night Chapel, a 56 foot-tall landmark is nestled on the southern tip of Bronner's 27 acres of landscaped grounds. The Silent Night Chapel is a replica of the original chapel in Oberndorf, near Salzburg, Austria in which "Silent Night" was first sung on Christmas Eve in 1818. Go inside the lovely chapel and feel inspiration, hope, love, and peace. The chapel is open daily for visitation and meditation.

Over at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, it's Christmas everyday. Since 1945 Bronner's has sold everything Christmas; trees,  nutcrackers, ornaments, lights, nativities, calendars, wreaths.....the list goes on. Bronner's is the largest Christmas store in the world and is open to devoted customers 361 days a year. Many famous people have made their way through the doors of Bronner's to do their shopping.

Seek and you shall find, that's what I did this December when I was longing for a beautiful Christmas town that warmed my heart. How blessed I was to have Frankenmuth nearby. Frankenmuth, Michigan U.S.A. is truly one of the best Christmas towns in the world. Come and visit Frankenmuth in December and give yourself the gift of Christmas magic!