Touring Frankenmuth

The downtown businesses have a German style.
9/24/2019 dwm photo

Frankenmuth, Michigan is known for a few things:
1. German heritage and first home for many German immigrants
2. A Bavarian style downtown that attracts tourists from across the country
3. The Christmas Store

According to a Historical marker downtown, early Germans arrived planning to share the Gospel with the Chippewa tribe.

They found suitable farmland and land that reminded them of home, and put down roots.

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth is
famous for its fried chicken. (dwm)

All these years later, the town attracts visitors who want to see where their ancestors first lived in America.

The entire downtown looks like a movie set, with brilliant architecture and beckoning store fronts.

Front and center in attracting shoppers is Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.

Christmas is celebrated every day at Bronner's - including
a lane decorated with seasonal lights. 9/24/2019 (dwm)

It is a huge store, when you walk in you are handed a color-coded map so you don't get lost.

My goal was to find a lighthouse themed Christmas bulb.  Right there on the map it showed me Nautical themed decorations are in section 10 B.

Just after finding the right one, I took it to the section where a "penner" personalized it.

My "penner" working
on our ornament.
9/24/19 (dwm)

It's been a long time since we visited Bronner's.

Last time we were here - our youngest wasn't yet walking - we joined my parents and sister on a trip to see my two Great Aunts.  I'm sure there are still relatives in the area, but time and distance widened the gap.

You may not be able to go home again, but thanks to a store like Bronner's - it is possible to relive and re-create the feeling of Christmas any day of the year.

And, if you have enough room on your credit card, you can make all your Christmas decorating dreams come true!