Frankenmuth, Michigan
I should probably wait until for photo contributions before I start posting about our trip, but I am a void today of what to write about, other than my procrastination in cleaning for several guests who will be coming in this week. One of which is my mother, which means that I have got to do a thorough job if I don't want to be harrassed about what a lax housekeeper I am. Seriously, my place is never too bad, but I did just spend all of June in another home and wrote a 150+ page thesis. Cut me some slack, okay?
Anyway, I will start by telling you all about the first and most bizarre place we went to on the trip. On the drive up Interstate 75 to our first scheduled night stop, a national forest campground in St. Ignace, Michigan, I kept passing these billboards for Frankenmuth in old-like script promising tasty Bavarian food. I was intrigued. Before I departed I had purchased several books to aid the trip. They were both informative and good, so I will give them a shout out: The Moon Handbooks Michigan was terrific, as was Michigan's Best Campgrounds. A copy is now available on Amazon.com, if you are interested in purchasing that book for yourself. So, curious about what exactly this Frankenmuth town is, I refer to the Moon guide, which has this to say: "It would be easy to dismiss Frankenmuth as the worst kind of overcommercialized kitsch. 'Michigan's Little Bavaria' once was a quiet and undistinguished German farm town of just more than 4,000, but has since grown to become the state's top tourist attraction, with an estimated three million visitors each year. (144).
Did someone say kitsch? Tourist trap? Oh, I am so there. The place was extremely ridiculous and I just kept shaking my head as we drove through the two blocks or so of absolutely
Barvanian kitschness and parked in the Vistor's Center parking lot. Walking around the town left less than to be desired. Unless you are hungry enough for a chicken dinner (something we never did figure out exactly what it was) or want to buy ugly souvenirs, it's best just to drive by this little town. It was surreal, like being trapped in a bad Epcot Center ride, but it was memorable, and I bought some tasty treats that aided me on the rest of the way up to St. Ignace. The food was exceptional, I got a hot pretzel and a carrot bunt cake that was so delicious. I also didn't make time for the Bavarian Riverboat cruise or go to the Bavarian shopping mall, so maybe my view is skewed. Anyway, if you are ever up in that part of Michigan, I do recommend at least taking a spin around town and picking up some food.
Anyway, I will start by telling you all about the first and most bizarre place we went to on the trip. On the drive up Interstate 75 to our first scheduled night stop, a national forest campground in St. Ignace, Michigan, I kept passing these billboards for Frankenmuth in old-like script promising tasty Bavarian food. I was intrigued. Before I departed I had purchased several books to aid the trip. They were both informative and good, so I will give them a shout out: The Moon Handbooks Michigan was terrific, as was Michigan's Best Campgrounds. A copy is now available on Amazon.com, if you are interested in purchasing that book for yourself. So, curious about what exactly this Frankenmuth town is, I refer to the Moon guide, which has this to say: "It would be easy to dismiss Frankenmuth as the worst kind of overcommercialized kitsch. 'Michigan's Little Bavaria' once was a quiet and undistinguished German farm town of just more than 4,000, but has since grown to become the state's top tourist attraction, with an estimated three million visitors each year. (144).
Did someone say kitsch? Tourist trap? Oh, I am so there. The place was extremely ridiculous and I just kept shaking my head as we drove through the two blocks or so of absolutely
Barvanian kitschness and parked in the Vistor's Center parking lot. Walking around the town left less than to be desired. Unless you are hungry enough for a chicken dinner (something we never did figure out exactly what it was) or want to buy ugly souvenirs, it's best just to drive by this little town. It was surreal, like being trapped in a bad Epcot Center ride, but it was memorable, and I bought some tasty treats that aided me on the rest of the way up to St. Ignace. The food was exceptional, I got a hot pretzel and a carrot bunt cake that was so delicious. I also didn't make time for the Bavarian Riverboat cruise or go to the Bavarian shopping mall, so maybe my view is skewed. Anyway, if you are ever up in that part of Michigan, I do recommend at least taking a spin around town and picking up some food.
posted by Molly | 12:12 PM
6 Comments:
I was gonna ask about the picture... This post explains the Germanic-style of it!
By the way, seeing that you're going to Ukraine, do you really need to find a job at the moment?
Well, I need money in the meantime before I go to Ukraine (in October) so that I can do cool American shit before I leave. You know, like eat tons of processed foods, go see crappy movies that aren't dubbed badly in Russian, and travel in my vehicle to cool places like KANSAS CITY! (Leah, that was for you, if you ever see this!)
Would you like to sponsor an American for the summer? For just 1 English pound a day, your money could but me an ice cream cone or half a gallon of gasoline/petrol.
If I had some money I would... Currently on the dole, until I get a job sorted out.
From Wham!, "I'm a soul man, I'm a dole man, take pleasure in leisure, I believe in joy!"
I don't really have the George Michael/Princess Di hair-do to go along with it tho...
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