I know this is my second review of the same hotel, but you'll see that they are quite different. The price went up considerably (about $50) and the extras and amenities were fewer. I understand that times are a little tough right now, but I was sad to see many things had changed. The rooms were still high quality and spotless. The linens showed some signs of wear but were still very nice. If you've never been to Frankenmuth, it's a beautiful little town in Eastern Michigan. It's definetly not a big "party town" or anything, but it's very nice for a relaxing long weekend. I was looking forward to spending an evening with live music on the patio as I had before. However, no more live music on the patio. I still enjoyed the company of my family, but was sad to see live music was gone. The staff was incredibly friendly, but there was only one girl, who was rather busy between people coming in, running the little bar at happy hour, and the phone. While I would love to stay there again, it's now out of my price range. Maybe when times are a little better...

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One of my favorite all time places to visit - Bronner's Christmas World!  On the south end of Frankenmuth, the very large spawling complex is a Christmas lover's delight!  If you need anything in decorations, lights, inflatables, statues, flags, trees, and much more for your home at Christmas, we have to make a visit to Bronner's!

You are immediately greeted by large outdoor decorations and lights.  Remember where you park, there are many entrances to the building.  Once inside, you are given a map with each section a theme, such as all Christmas trees are located in one section, all Santa ornaments can be found together, and displays of brightly colored lights will overwelm you.  If you can't find it at Bronner's, chances are it isn't made.  While wondering around in the store, we found Santa and Mrs. Claus shopping for decorations.  Come to find out, they like to visit during their vacation!

I am a big Snow Village collector, and Bronner's always offers me a chance for a new building or two and accessory pieces.  They always have the latest and a good selection of recently retired pieces.  The display is a fantasy land with lights and animation. 

We spent almost 3 hours wondering around in the building!  I picked up ornaments for family at Christmas, some lights, and of course, a few things for my village.  How can you spend that much time?  It is easy once you see the place!

Just outside Bronner's to the south, Wally Bronner has built a replica of the Silent Night Chapel.  This beautiful white building is a wonderful tribute to the beloved Christmas carol.  The pathway leading to the chapel has signs where the first verse of Silent Night is translated in many languages.  One can hear the song placing softly once inside.  The replica of the Oberndorf Chapel is a very quiet place to reflect on the miracle of our Savior's birth and the beloved Christmas song.  Also, inside are two plaques containing languages yet to have the first verse translated.  Outside, several nativites remind visitor's of the Christmas miracle.  Truly, an inspiring place to visit!

All too soon, it is time to head back home.  But, we stop a couple more places.  Just to the west of Frankenmuth are the Outlets at Birch Run.  A shopping mecca, there are many stores to shop.  There are eating establishments, and a trolley to move you around the complex.  We all have our favorite shops, and can't leave without something!  Our next stop was an inpromptu visit to the wind farm at Bowling Green, Ohio.

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For my birthday, my daughter, son-in-law, and husband treated me to an overnight stay in Frankenmuth, Michigan.  Frankenmuth is one of my favorite places to visit, but I have only been there in the winter.  It is truly a winter wonderland decorated for Christmas long after most of us have put our decorations away.  We have been to their winter festival and seen the snow carvings and ice sculptures.  We've walked the heated sidewalks, and stopped by places for warm drinks.  Visiting in the summer was a new experience!

Arrangements had been made at the Marv Herzog Hotel.  This new hotel featured the works of Mr. Herzog and his music.  An accordian player, Mr. Herzog's works had been transformed into names of rooms and featured different times in his life.  There are rooms facing the main street in town, and ones, like we stayed in, that faced the river which winds its way through Frankenmuth.  At the time, the hotel had only been open a few weeks.  Each evening, entertainment played on the patio, and drinks and snacks were served.  It was a great time to relax on the banks of the river.

I wasn't too sure about visiting Frankenmuth in the summer.  I was so used to it being blanketed in white, bundling up to walk the streets, and trying to find places to duck into for warmth.  Wow, was I surprised and pleased we were there in the middle of the summer!  Flowers, flowers, and more flowers adorned the city.  There were huge baskets of flowers, two to a lamp post.  Most every building had flower boxes with cascades of blooms hanging down.  Every little niche had beautiful colorful blooms growing. 

Walking up and down the streets without coats, hats, and gloves was very pleasant.  The shops were all open later in the summer.  Anything from toy stores, clothing, fudge, and knick knacks can be found on the main street.  We always like to eat at either the Bavarian Inn or Zehnders.  Both places serve family style chicken dinners along with other great menu items.  We just won't go away hungry from either place. 

There are two or three wineries in town.  They offer tasting opportunities of their finest wines.  My husband and I always find enough to take home a case.  Most of the shops are small, but the people are so friendly.  I enjoy taking time out from walking around town to unwind with a glass of local wine.

I found that Frankenmuth was beautiful on a summer's night.  The lights and flowers made for a perfect evening stroll.  Carriages gave visitors a ride around town, and the cooler temperatures provided a wonderful chance to walk off our big dinner. 

Tomorrow, we visit Bronner's, my favorite Christmas place!    

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We arrived in Frankenmuth and went straight for our hotel.  We stayed at the brand new (opened May 31^st) Marv Herzog hotel.  This place had only 38 rooms.  We had a private balcony overlooking the Cass River, were only steps from downtown, free snacks and drinks in the evening (yes, beer and wine included • 2 per person were free), an AWESOME hot breakfast, a large room with 2 queen-sized beds (down blankets).  Needless to say, it was a GREAT hotel.  I’ll stay there again.  For you wondering “And how much did she pay for THAT?”  Ready, with my AAA discount, only $140 after taxes.  I know, pretty affordable considering the awesome accommodations.

First item of business was to walk uptown and shop at the neat little stores.  We found out that Frankenmuth is in the running for the most beautiful town in the USA, and it’s easy to see why.  It was simply gorgeous.  It really looks like you’ve stepped back in time.  The buildings are all Austria-inspired.  The flowers are breathtaking.  Everything is extremely well kept and just, magical.  We wandered in and out of homemade fudge shops, general stores, gift stores, and other novelities.  There are horse-drawn carriages giving rides throughout town.

River Place seems to be the place to shop.  There are your typical chain stores like Yankee Candle, there are unique stores like a pet store that sells all things pets (We bought a sign to hang in the kitchen that says “We got rid of the kids • the cats were allergic”), day spas, and your typical tourist trap t-shirt shop.  It’s a beautiful place to just walk around.  There’s a laser light sown every night at 10 p.m.  The bead store sucked me in and I’ve already created necklaces from the beads I bought (which can be seen on my MySpace page • www.myspace.com/PhinsAndGills).

Across from River Place is the winery Chateau Leelanau.  For $3 you get one of their wine glasses and 4 tastings of wine.  We walked out of there with 7 bottles.  It’s Michigan wine and very good.

We carried the wine back to the hotel and relaxed.  We enjoyed our free drinks (more wine for me) and listened to the live music on the patio and overlooked the river.  It was a beautiful and relaxing late afternoon.

Time to eat!  Eating is very important in Frankenmuth and I highly recommend eating at either Zender’s or the Bavarian Inn.  They are across from each other and the center of downtown.  Get the family style chicken dinner.  For $19, you get (all homemade and German-style and unlimited): Chicken noodles, cranberry sauce, potato salad, different types of bread, ice cream, seasonal vegetable, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatos, bean salad, an entire plate of breaded chicken (which was moist and VERY yummy • and I’m chicken-picky), and a few more sides I know I’m forgetting.  If you leave hungry, it’s all your own fault.  They gave us little cakes for our many celebrations, too (we were celebrating 3 birthdays, a graduation, and an anniversary).  If I had to pick between the two restaurants, I’d pick the Bavarian Inn for the atmosphere.  The food is equally good in both locations.

The next morning, we went back uptown a bit because it’s so pretty.  We had to go to a gas station and buy a cooler and ice for our leftovers from the night before!  Mom and Dad went to this really cool clock store while I stocked up on more beads.  Then it’s out to the World of all things Christmas.

Broner’s brags to be the world’s largest Christmas store, and I’ll believe it!  This place looks like Christmas exploded in one location.  The neatest part of the store is just outside the building.  There’s a dedication to the song “Silent Night”.  They’ve built a replica of the chapel in Austria where Gruber wrote the song on Christmas Eve.  My favorite part of the chapel are the signs surrounding the building.  They have the first verse (all 3 verses in Spanish, German, French and English) of Silent Night in hundreds of languages.  (I’ve included a picture of the languages they don’t have • if you can help them out, please do • I know it’s hard to see them, it was a small sign).  The chapel is really very beautiful.  It seems almost sacred.  They have the song playing softly both in and outside of the building.  No matter what time of year, it really sends chills down your spine.  Silent Night is (like so many other Christians) one of my favorite Christmas songs, so I always enjoy going to this chapel.

Time to shop.  Lo and Behold, Santa was shopping that day as well.  My favorite part of the store is the room where the founder of the store has his extensive nativity collection from all over the world.  They also have a nativity city set up where they sell the pieces.  I would love to have the money and room to set this up.  The one I took a few pictures of is not just Jesus’ birth, but all the major events in his life such as Palm Sunday, a few miracles, Easter, and his time in the temple.

Dan and I have the Dept. 56 Dickens’s Village and we purchased a building (Scrooge’s house) and accessories.  Mom and Dad bought some decorations as well.  We had some ornaments personalized (free of charge with purchase of the ornament) for gifts as well.  It’s really different to be walking through Christmas World in the middle of July.  We spent a few hours at the store.

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The number one choice of most visitors remains the "all-you-can-eat" Chicken Dinners which consist of homemade breads, butter and freshly prepared preserves, chicken noodle soup, house-made salads, golden fried, lightly breaded premium chicken, savory dressing, thick, rich giblet gravy with creamy mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, hot vegetable, and homemade ice cream. If you leave the Bavarian Inn hungry, you alone are at fault. I have never had a bad experience. Most of the dishes are German style. I didn't know how to rank the price, you will pay $19 for the family style chicken dinner, but look at all the food you get. I think it's quite a deal for the price. Below the restaurant are 8 shops featuring wines, cooking utensils, toys, and other unique oddities. One shop even sells authentic and old-world style traditional German costumes. Eating at the Bavarian Inn is well worth a drive to Frankenmuth.

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I could not believe that the hotel was this cheap. We paid $140 (AAA discount) for a room with two queen-sized beds, a balcony overlooking the river, 2 free drinks each at happy hour, and live entertainment. I will come back to this hotel. The bedding was clean and beds were comfortable. The bathroom was spacious. Probably the most unique aspect of this hotel is that each of the 38 rooms is dedicated to a year in Marv's life. The hotel is lonely a block from downtown Frankenmuth. They offer free parking for the duration of your stay conveniently located under the hotel in a parking garage. If you are unfamiliar with Marv Herzog (as I was), he is a polka player from Frankenmuth. I found the staff to be very friendly and the entire experience to be positive.

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