Michigan Part 7: Frankenmuth

With only a few days left in Michigan, I decided to venture out of Detroit for a day trip to visit Frankenmuth, referred to as "Michigan's Little Bavaria." On my way, I made one stop near Detroit, at Belle Isle Park.

Belle Isle Park

Belle Isle Park is a 985 acre island park located near downtown Detroit.

Douglas MacArthur Memorial Bridge

From Detroit, you cross the Douglas MacArthur Memorial Bridge, with its 19 beautiful arches, and you'll arrive on the island.

On the island, you will find the James Scott Memorial Fountain. James Scott was a socialite who has been referred to as "a womanizing scoundrel."

James Scott Memorial Fountain

When he died in 1910, he left his estate to the city upon condition that a monument be erected in his honor. The city accepted the money from this controversial Detroit resident and in 1925, the large, white, marble fountain pictured above, with its many water outlets and central spout was unveiled.

Nancy Brown Peace Carillion

Elsewhere on the island, I found the Nancy Brown Peace Carillion, a neo-gothic tower designed by Clarence E. Day. The tower was erected in 1940 and is dedicated to Nancy Brown, the pseudonym of The Detroit News columnist Mrs. J. E. Leslie. Ms. Leslie raised the funds for the peace carillion through her readers, in contrast to the bequest that made the James Scott Memorial Fountain possible.

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory

Close to the Nancy Brown Peace Carillion, is the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, a greenhouse and botanical garden adjacent to a tranquil pond. The greenhouse was closed during my visit, but I did get a chance to walk around the grounds, which were lovely.

Major General Alpheus Sharkey Williams Monument

Belle Isle Park is a great place to visit if you are looking to escape from the city and enjoy nature in a quiet setting.

Frankenmuth

After wandering around Belle Isle for some time, a slight drizzle began, my sign to get on the road and head toward Frankenmuth. Along the way, I drove past many golden fields and finally experienced the verse in the song "America the Beautiful" that refers to "amber waves of grain." So pretty!

About an hour and a half after leaving Detroit, I arrived at the "Willkomen" or welcome sign in Frankenmuth, the town founded by German missionaries in 1845.

Gunzenhausen Platz Fountain

Frankenmuth is still closely tied to it's German roots. The Gunzenhausen Platz Fountain, pictured above, was created in commemoration of the 50 year sister city relationship between Frankenmuth, Michigan and Gunzenhausen, Germany. The statue features two bronze, dancing figures sculpted by artist, James Ardis.

Holz Brucke Wooden Bridge

Frankenmuth means "courage of the Franconians," referring to those who are from the Franconia region of Bavaria.

The entire town is filled with Bavarian style architecture, riverfronts, cobblestone paths and water features, creating a quaint and cozy ambiance.

One of the most famous spots in Frankenuth is the Bavarian Inn. During your visit you can stay at the inn and enjoy their amenities, including indoor pools, riverfront rooms and a waterslide.

Bavarian Inn

If you are on a day trip as I was, I recommend stopping at the Bavarian Inn for a meal, because they are famously known for their fried chicken and beer.

Bavarian Inn Beer Tasting

To get a taste of their most popular beers, I did a tasting.

Part way through, my lunch arrived. The best known meal at the Bavarian Inn is what they refer to as a "chicken plate." It consists of a minimum of two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and baked dressing.

I did not have an appetite for that much food so instead, I ordered one piece of chicken a la carte and a side of kartoffelkasenknodel. I can't pronounce it, but I can describe it.

Kartoffelkkaseknodel are potato cheese puffs, or the four darker golden patties you see above. They were tasty, but more dense than I had hoped. I ate half of one and moved on to the Bavarian Inn's most popular item, the fried chicken.

The chicken is seasoned with the Bavarian Inn's own blend of spices. I was told that the blend is a closely guarded secret. I thought I detected salt, pepper, onion and garlic but I guess I won't know for sure.

After seasoning and breading, the chicken is quickly fried until it's golden in color and the meat in fully cooked and still moist. Overall, I thought the meal was very good. This wasn't the best fried chicken I've eaten, but it was better than most.

I left Frankenmuth on a full stomach of one chicken thigh and half a kartoffelkasenknodel. Just as the city had welcomed me with a sign, it bid me farewell in the same fashion.

The drive back to Detroit was just as lovely as the trip to Frankenmuth. While I don't know if I would make a return trip to Frankenmuth having seen it once already, I definitely enjoyed my time there and would suggest a stop if you've never been.

That just about wraps up my time in Michigan. Next, I have a final post that begins in Detroit and culminates in a Canadian city, just across the Detroit River. I hope this series inspires you to visit Michigan, the Great Lakes State.