Frankenmuth, Michigan

Frankenmuth is a Bavarian Disneyland 1.5 hours north of Ann Arbor. The buildings are fairly new and there is a slight a cartoon quality about the town with facades made to look like castle tops. That said, it has an authentic element since many Germans settled there. It seemed like something to see before leaving Michigan this summer.

A friend and I drove up for the day and had a good time exploring the sites, laughing at a bit at the excess and eating a heavy German lunch at the Bavarian Inn. The dining room we sat in was over the top with flowery wallpaper, costumed waiters and live music.

We started off with mixed appetizers that included pretzels, fried potato puffs and fried cheese puffs with pork. There was a cheese sauce to dip everything in. It was greasy and delicious. I had a bratwurst with a side of warm potato salad. The potato salad was surprisingly inviting. There was a light vinegar taste, but mostly the potato flavor was complemented by the onions and brought out by the warmth of the dish. With a black German beer to wash everything down, it filled us up for the rest of the day.

With a German sausage store, and a cheese store, not to mention a year-round Christmas store on the edge of town, Frankenmuth was worth seeing with the right approach.