Bavarian Inn Lodge Top 5 Reasons We Return
Even though we like to find new adventures, it’s nice to have those favorite places you always get back to visit. For us, Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Lodge is one of the places we go back to visit over and over. Here are the Top 5 Reasons we continue to return to Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Location
Bavarian Inn Lodge is nestled along the Cass River, and is within walking distance to Riverplace Shops, Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Heritage Park, and all the shops on Main Street.
Even though they have a shuttle to take you across the river, we love to walk over the wooden bridge instead.
Bavarian Inn Lodge Rooms
Each room is named for a German Immigrant family who settled into the Frankenmuth area. There are 360 European themed rooms, and each tells a family story. Part of the room decor is photos of the family, documents on their history, contributions to the area, and if there are still members of the family still in Frankenmuth area. This is such a unique way to share the history of Germans, and their immigration to America, specifically to Frankenmuth, Michigan. It’s nice to come back each time and read about a new family. You can find a name directory here, if you would like to learn more.
There are rooms with balconies to overlook the Cass River, and we’ve enjoyed having those rooms. Once we even had a room on the Family Fun Center level on the river side, and you could walk right out to the grass and walk along the river.
Our other favorites have been rooms with the large tower balcony that faces Heritage Park. Staying in one of these rooms during winter can be fun if there is snowfall, because you can go out and play in the snow!
Pools & Slides
Need I say more?? When we started to bring our girls when they were very young, they loved the indoor pools, since we would come stay a lot during the winter. There are 4 indoor pools, and 3 whirlpools, including one of each for adults only.
The two water slides were added in 2012, and adds to the fun!
Bavarian Inn Lodge Things To Do
Bavarian Inn Lodge has a Family Fun Center, and it is the largest in any Midwest hotel, with over 160 games.
They also have air hockey and pool tables.
Over the years our girls have had fun being competitive with each other, and also working together toward prizes.
When it comes to competition, our girls bring it to the 18 hole indoor Putt Putt course. I typically remind them to review their “rules” before starting, because they usually disagree about something, lol.
When our girls we much younger, they enjoyed the toddler play area. Matt and I would sit and relax while our girls ran around, played in the mini village, and climb on the slides for hours.
Depending on which days of the week, or what season of the year you stay, there are lots of activities put on in the Ratskeller. During the winter, we liked to stay a long weekend in December, before Christmas. This is a great time, because they would have tons of games and activities over the weekends. Check out the fun playing musical chairs, build a snowman, face painting, and limbo. Karaoke was one of Emma’s favorites, no surprise there!!
Bavarian Inn Lodge Restaurants
There are 3 restaurants inside the Bavarian Inn Lodge. Oma’s Restaurant, Lorelei Lounge, and Ratskeller. Oma’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a great Sunday breakfast buffet, which is where we first found their potato cheese dumplings. Now these are a must have when we visit Frankenmuth.
Lorelei Lounge & Schnitzelbank Bier Garten is open for the evenings only. Personally we’ve only been in there once, but had a good time. We had the kids with us, which they are allowed until 10:00pm, and there was music, drinks, and the kids have Shirley Temples.
Ratskeller is where we spend a lot of our time. It’s located in the Family Fun Center, so it’s by the games and putt putt. Ratskeller is a German term for a restaurant or bar located in a basement of a city building. This Ratskeller is both a restaurant and a bar. The Holiday activities mentioned above all take place down in the Ratskeller. This is also where Matt and I like to sit and have a beer at the bar. A couple years ago, we bought Matt a growler for Father’s Day.
As you can see, there is plenty to do right in the Bavarian Inn Lodge, and they always have special packages you can purchase with your reservation. We always get the Deluxe Family Fun Package which gets us a pizza, pitcher of soda, 2 days of putt putt for 4 of us, 1 pound of fudge, $20 in game play, and 2 small mini melts.
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I am actually from Michigan and I am so glad I stumbled upon this post. We enjoy visiting once a year and we are long overdue for another little road trip there. The chicken dinner is worth the long drive!
After moving to Florida we went years without visiting. I am so happy we are back to visiting more often!! And yes, the dinner is worth the drive!!
That place looks amazing! The slides would be so fun for the kiddos.
My youngest is always skeptical, but even she had fun on the slides!! It’s such a great place!
Great photos and video! Now I want to go! I love all of the kid’s stuff to do.
Thank you!! There is so much to do for all ages!!
Out of all the 44 States I’ve been to I have not been to Michigan yet. This looks like a great place to take the family to thank you for sharing all the great things that you all did.
We grew up in Michigan, you must visit!! It is such a beautiful state!!
Wow. What fun for the kids, AND The parents. You’d probably find me in the Bier Garden:).
Likewise!!! We’ve done many trips with other families too, and it’s a blast!!
Looks like a fun place, indoor slides are awesome!
We were so happy to see they added them!!
We have not been there. Yes, we would like to stay. Can’t pass up pizza and 1 pound of fudge.
And the pizza is pretty darn good for a German town!!
I would go just for the Bavarian Cream!!! Great photos!
Yes!! The bakery is so good!!
SOOO much fun!!!
Exactly why we keep going back!! The kids (and adults) love it!!
This place looks pretty awesome!!! (and that bakery!!!! YUM!!!). Will keep this in mind if we ever visit the area!
It’s worth the trip!! There is so much to do in the area!
Your photos are simply gorgeous and fun and make me want to pack my bags right now!
Thank you!! I have so many photos from over the years, it was hard to choose which ones to share!!
Awesome that you included a video! This seems like a great place to bring your family.
It’s been fun creating the videos. Thank you!! Great place for kids of all ages!!
What a unique place! I love the German influence. And I would spend a lot of time on those water slides.
We love the German theme too. All the workers dress in old German style too!
This place looks amazing! I’m not far from there, so I’ll have to make sure we go check it out! It looks like there is a lot to keep the kids occupied!
We miss being closer to Frankenmuth for sure!! Hope you get out to visit!
This looks like so much fun! I pinned it for when we make it to Michigan!
Yay!! It’s definitely a must do in Michigan!!
What a fun thematic resort. It’s amazing how many fun places there are in the United States that I’ve never heard of before.
I agree!! I am finding SO many neat places I never knew about, and it makes it so hard to decide where to go next!
I really want to take my kids here now!
Do it!! They will love it!!
What a great time with family! I also loved your video tour. The video added a great element to your post!
Thank you!! I’ve been having fun making new videos!!
What a fun place to visit. Looks like there is something for everyone!! Love your walk-through video – so helpful to see the different areas of the lodge!
There is definitely something for everyone!! Thank you!!
I haven’t been to Frankenmuth since I was a teenager. This post makes me want to pack up the kids and visit again. The Bavarian Inn looks like so much fun.
Oh my goodness!! Yes, you need to take your kids. It has changed SO much over the years. I remember going as a teen too.
It looks like everyone is having a great time!
We always do up there!
What a fun place! It looks like there is so much to do there. Plus the detail about each room telling a story is so unique! I’m going to have to put this on my list!
Makes me wish I had kept track of each room we ever stayed in!!
Looks like there was a lot to do there in Frankenmuth ~ but I have to tell you that what got me the most about this article is the fact that you mentioned that each room is named for a different German immigrant family. Wow! I love the idea that there are at least 360 stories that share a piece of history.
I agree. I still remember the first time I walked into the Lodge when it opened in 1986. I was still in high school and I thought it was so neat to walk in and read all about a family.
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