Saginaw Shopping & Entertainment
Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region have also worked to solidify its position as a retail and tourist destination for the greater region and the state. With an average share of 16.0% Retail employment on the regional level, the area has enjoyed a comparative advantage having an approximately 15.6% higher level of employment dedicated to this sector than the nation and the 12.5% higher than the state.
Saginaw, Bay and Midland Counties each have large malls, downtown shopping districts and quaint communities that offer unique shopping.
The Accommodation & Food Services sector has seen a 0.65% increase in employment share since 2005. Retail and tourism locations within the Saginaw economy provide many shopping opportunities.
Recently the Michigan Travel Bureau ranked Saginaw County the Number 3 Tourist Destination in the State of Michigan. Saginaw County has 26 public and private golf courses and is home to 15 museums, 34 meeting facilities, 43 hotels and 12 bed & breakfasts.
The Birch Run I-75 exit, which also connects to Frankenmuth, is the second busiest exit for tourism in the nation (outside of Orlando, Florida). Birch Run and Frankenmuth are two of the top three destinations in Michigan.
Prime Outlets of Birch Run is a large outlet mall boasting over 130 stores. If you are looking for indoor/outdoor entertainment and events, stop by the Birch Run Expo Center where they may be hosting a motorcycle show, a dog, cat or horse show, or even Shipshewana on the Road.
The exit also connects you to Frankenmuth, Michigan’s own “Little Bavaria.” Frankenmuth is an internationally known tourist destination and it continues to make improvements. Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Water Park made a $14 million investment in the community.
Visitors come to Frankenmuth from all over the United States and the world to shop at the world’s largest Christmas store Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, and to eat a world-famous chicken dinner at the Bavarian Inn or Zehnder’s Family Restaurants.
Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth and the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn have been ranked in the top 100 highest grossing non-chain restaurants in the United States according to Restaurants and Institutions. Zehnder’s ranked number one in guest count and served 984,190 meals in 2008, with the Bavarian Inn serving 839,973 meals.
Chesaning, like many mid-Michigan towns, started as a lumbering community. You’ll see it in the beautifully restored lumber baron’s mansions throughout town. One of Chesaning’s signature events is the Chesaning Showboat, an annual week-long variety show that draws the likes of the Oak Ridge Boys, .38 Special, Three Dog Night and Lonestar. The Showboat has been providing families with a down-home good time each year since the 1940s.
Bargain hunters know Chesaning for its antique shows and sidewalk sales. A new event for the is the Saginaw County Harvest Festival held at the Saginaw County Fairgrounds in Chesaning. The Holiday Candlelight Walk features the historic homes decorated for the holidays and open for public viewing. Make your reservations early for the North Pole Express and Santa’s Village, where kids and their families are magically transported to the Santa’s Village at the North Pole aboard an authentic steam train.