Michigan Vacations With Dogs – Frankenmuth, Michigan is a city worth visiting whether you have a dog or not. But like few cities in Michigan, Frankenmuth prides itself on being dog-friendly. It hosts the Dog Festival, “the world’s largest dog Olympics,” and hosts several dog-friendly festivals throughout the year. We go to Frankenmuth at least once a year!
In this guide, I’ll share all the information about dog-friendly places in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and how to have a great weekend with your pup!
Michigan Vacations With Dogs
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I have a more detailed article about Frankenmuth here, not just dog-friendly Frankenmuth tours. But in short, Frankenmuth is a beautiful town that resembles a German village. Known as “Little Bavaria”, it is famous for its chicken dinners and is home to the world’s largest Christmas market.
On the dog side, Frankenmuth, Michigan hosts several dog-specific events hosted by River Place Shops in particular. If you have a dog that loves crowds and other dogs, plan your trip around Memorial Day Weekend and attend the Dog Bowl!
Fair warning: our dogs don’t like dog bowls, and we’ve since learned that Kirby doesn’t like other dogs. It was not a good experience for us, so while I still recommend the event, I personally will never take my dog to a crowded dog event again. But you know your dog, so if your dog doesn’t have a problem with crowds or other dogs, you’ll probably have a good time.
Winter: Stroll through beautifully decorated shops, drive through Bronner’s light displays and drive by Halo’s Burgers.
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Fall: Wear your pooch for Scarecrow Dog Day weekend or attend Oktoberfest, which is also dog-friendly!
Most famous for them is the Dog Bowl, “the world’s largest Olympic-style dog festival,” which takes place over Memorial Day weekend. Here you will find marina dog shows, K-9 shows, dog races you can enter, agility competitions and more. We went this year, and like I said above, it wasn’t the best experience for us, but if your dog likes other dogs and people and doesn’t mind crowds, it’s still a great experience.
Another dog-friendly festival is Scarecrow Day – Doggy Weekend in mid-October, enjoy scarecrows, pumpkin balls and a dog costume contest!
The River Place store is very dog friendly! They are organizing the Dog Bowl and Scarecrow Festival – Dog Weekend. With over 40 shops and attractions, you could spend a whole day here. You can find dog stores with paw prints in their brochures, and often stores have paw prints on the doors to let you know which ones are dog-friendly. If you’re stuck in Frankenmuth on a rainy day, this is a great option.
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If you’re looking for more shopping, head to Birch Run Outlets, home to over 100 brand name stores like Calvin Klein, Carter’s, J. Crew, Kate Spade and more. They also have a dog bakery, Doodle Doo Bakery, where you can bring your dog. Common areas are dog friendly, there is a dog park in area E and some stores will allow your dog, just ask before entering!
Bavarian Belle River Boat, also located at the Shops at River Place, offers a 60-minute guided tour of the Kaas River in Frankenmuth. This authentic, family-owned, 150-passenger yacht is dog-friendly from May to October and offers dog-friendly tours during Dog Bowl.
We did this ride during the Dog Bowl and it was the only thing Kirby liked about being in the Dog Bowl!
Bronner’s Christmas Store is the “world’s largest Christmas store” spanning 27 acres of property and grounds. With over 6,000 different ornaments and other holiday decorations to choose from, you can spend hours in this store! We love going to Bronner’s for their personalized decorations and hanging out in “Christmas Wonderland” any time of the year, no judgment 😉
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Although the shop itself is not dog friendly, it does have a huge light show at night that you can chase your dog after dark!
Walking downtown or the 0.9 Loop River Walk through Heritage Park is a great way to spend quality time with your dog in Frankenmuth. Heritage Park also has a dog park called Hund Platz where your pooch can enjoy the time away.
We also enjoyed walking under the Holtzbrook Bridge, the largest covered bridge in Michigan! It has a rich history and is one of the historical landmarks of Frankenmuth’s German roots.
Le Crepe du Jour – Not very dog friendly, but a great place to take out. If you have company, you can order them while you wait outside with hand-held pancakes!
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N’orlins Beignets – a taste of New Orleans! Beignets here are very tasty. They have two locations: the downtown storefront and the River Place Shops. If your dog is with you, walking can be a great option.
Zehnder’s – Enjoy their famous chicken dinner! Zehnder’s is always busy, so be sure to call and reserve a table. They have a dog-friendly outdoor patio that is open all season. Call ahead to make sure the patio is open.
Pasty Haus – Offers homemade pastries, milkshakes, smoothies, sundaes, bubble tea and a dog menu! There are outdoor tables in front of them.
Fischer Platz Biergarten – outdoor entertainment square that offers a small selection of food, snacks and beer during the summer.
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Cheese Haus Food Truck – Located outside of the amazing Cheese Haus Market, it offers a variety of cheeses and specialty items like mustards and sauces. The food truck offers mac and cheese, grilled cheese and other cheesy treats.
Prost Bar & Deli – the perfect place to relax on the terrace with your dog! Enjoy a wine tour, a charcuterie plate or one of their sandwiches!
Halo Burger – Located outside of town near Birch Run, but worth a stop if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat while driving. ,
Sugar High Bakery – They have a variety of baked goods and sweets. They also have dog food!
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Drury Inn and Suites is in-state, highly rated, and offers a 5:30pm discount on appetizers and drinks during dinner!
I hope you have a great time at this dog-friendly location in Frankenmuth, MI! If you want to explore more of Michigan with your dog, check out my dog-friendly travel guide to Michigan!
Architect by day, writer by night and travel whenever possible. It’s all done with the grace of God, coffee, a to-do list, and a Broadway musical. I currently live in Michigan with my husband and Kobe, a small gold dealer.
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Dog Friendly Hotels & Accomodations
75 additions 34 reviews 15 ratings Swoon Reads is a great experience. I will repeat this with another story. I’m not sure Sweet Enough is the right story for Swoon Reading, but I appreciate any additions, comments, and ratings. Sweet Enough is available for another season at Swoon Reads (their next release will be at the end of February), so if you’ve been dying to read it, now’s the time. ! I don’t know where this book will end up, whether it’s self-published or thrown into the question pit, but it’s definitely a book I’m not ready to let go of. Links in bio are free to read! . . . . . . . . . . #writing #writers #writer #writing #contemporaryfiction #Tucked at the tip of Michigan’s thumb, Port Austin is one of the lesser-known gems in the entire state, and it’s dog-friendly too! Nearby Crescent State Park has more than 3 miles of sandy beaches where you can spend the day in the clear blue water, or more than 18 miles of forest trails with access to terraces and beautiful water views.
The dog-friendly beach near the mouth of the Pinnebog River is accessible via a metal bridge that connects hiking trails near the campground. The animal must be on a leash, and it is also important to remember to clean up after the pet!
Pak’s Backyard is one of our favorite dog friendly patios, also in Port Austin! They offer a great selection of Michigan craft beer, delicious bar food, and an amazing atmosphere. They often have live music,
