Fourth of July in Frankenmuth

Usually, the Smiths spend the Fourth of July on Lake Syracuse with Kris’s family. This year, however, the Smith family took a mini vacation with The Scholls (Kris’s sister Meg & her family) to Frankenmuth, MI. Frankenmuth is a small town of German heritage and German theme. It is also the home of Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Although it was strange to be somewhere other than the lakes, we had a great time.

We started our trip on Thursday. We met the Scholl family on Friday at the hotel, The Bavarian Inn. This is a neat hotel that looks like a German Lodge. Leading to the hotel, there is a covered bridge that crosses a river (see the picture – how pretty!). The Bavarian Inn has a Family Fun Center where we spent a lot of time. Caitlyn and Maddie loved swimming in the kid pools. There are four pools with fountains, waterfalls, and water guns. The big kids (Doug & John) had fun in the huge arcade. We also had a lot of fun playing putt putt in the Fun Center. The putt putt course had decorative golf balls that we got to keep (Maddie loves to play with them!). Maddie seemed to like staying in a hotel – her favorite part was playing on the bed!

On Saturday and Sunday, we did a little shopping at the River Place Shops. The shops were designed to look like a small German village. The shopping area is beautiful with waterfalls, streams, and flowers. On Sunday, we went to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland (which is a massive Christmas store). Doug got a really cool Elvis nutcracker. Maddie got two stuffed animals (Grover and Snuffleupagus), which she loves. Of course, we found some cool ornaments too! The Smith family also did some shopping at Birch Run (a gigantic outlet mall).
There were a few things that we did not have time to do (such as take a carriage ride, take a steamboat tour, etc.). We may just have to go back next year!

The Bavarian Inn Lodge

This is a cool old car that was parked outside the inn.

The Smiths

This is right above the hotel lobby at night.

The river that the Bavarian Inn is located near

The covered bridge

Meg & Caitlyn walking across the bridge

These are some pictures of the River Place Shops and some of the landscaping around the shops. It is beautiful!

Caitlyn, Maddie, & Aiden playing on the bed

Maddie thought Aiden was sooooo funny!

Maddie in the hotel playing on the bed

Kris and her 18 oz prime rib (which she split with Meg).

Maddie & Caitlyn in their 4th of July swimsuits

Maddie with her Mommy in the pool for the first time. She LOVES the water.

Maddie & Caitlyn in the pool.

Meg, Aiden, Maddie, & Caitlyn in the pool.

Doug & John watching the kids

Maddie riding the fountain

Doug, Caitlyn, & Maddie playing in the fountains in the pool.

Maddie & Caitlyn posing in their matching 4th of July outfits

Here they are with Aiden and his 4th of July outfit. The girls shirts say "Miss Independent" and Aiden's says "Mr. Independent".

Kris and Caitlyn blowing bubbles in the hallway at the hotel

Maddie riding her first ever ride.

Mommy & Maddie out to dinner

Maddie found a loose string on the bedspread

Putt Putt fun

Maddie at Sunday brunch

Caitlyn under the table at Sunday brunch

Daddy and Maddie at brunch

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

Doug looking through a giant Christmas kaleidoscope. It is for sale for $5000!

We took Maddie to the Family Fun Center in the hotel. She got to ride in a Kermit the Frog car. She thought it was a lot of fun. Luckily, I got some great video of her riding and waving.