Guidebook for Saginaw
Food Scene
Good home cooking, locally owned, in a historic old building a short distance from the house.
Savoy Bar & Grill
127 S Franklin StGood home cooking, locally owned, in a historic old building a short distance from the house.
Baby Boomer to Hipster scene, poetry readings some evenings, light jazz occasionally, quiet, reflective spot. Great coffee.
Red Eye
211 N Hamilton StBaby Boomer to Hipster scene, poetry readings some evenings, light jazz occasionally, quiet, reflective spot. Great coffee.
Locally owned, restored historic hotel building. Great downtown views from the large windows. Good coffee, sandwiches, and snacks.
Bancroft Coffee and Tea
122 E Genesee AveLocally owned, restored historic hotel building. Great downtown views from the large windows. Good coffee, sandwiches, and snacks.
Upscale restaurant in a restored historic Old Saginaw building. Good food, beautiful setting and views of the historic Neon Sign park.
9 locals recommend
Jake's Old City Grill
100 S Hamilton StUpscale restaurant in a restored historic Old Saginaw building. Good food, beautiful setting and views of the historic Neon Sign park.
Hamilton Home Bakery
One of Saginaw's oldest bakeries. Wonderful donuts and incredibly inexpensive.
Established around 1854, Spatz has fantastic old style bread, donuts, and cookies. Very basic, nothing super fancy, but inexpensive and satisfying.
Spatz Bakery Inc
1120 State StEstablished around 1854, Spatz has fantastic old style bread, donuts, and cookies. Very basic, nothing super fancy, but inexpensive and satisfying.
Originally an A&W restaurant, the current owner has kept the look, feel, and basic menu of what the original restaurant offered. Excellent, basic diner fare. Small inside seating and car hops still bring trays to your car for you to eat and then come back to collect it after you're finished. Great place.
Old Town Drive-In
807 S Granger StOriginally an A&W restaurant, the current owner has kept the look, feel, and basic menu of what the original restaurant offered. Excellent, basic diner fare. Small inside seating and car hops still bring trays to your car for you to eat and then come back to collect it after you're finished. Great place.
Drinks & Nightlife
Locally owned, in a restored historic hotel structure. Great craft cocktails and wine selection. Intimate and inviting. Occasional music via piano or small jazz type performers.
Bancroft Wine & Martini Bar
101 S Washington AveLocally owned, in a restored historic hotel structure. Great craft cocktails and wine selection. Intimate and inviting. Occasional music via piano or small jazz type performers.
Good bar food that is a bit beyond simply fried, good selection and good prices. Drinks are basic and inexpensive. Usually bands on weekends. This bar has been popular since the 1960's.
Hamilton Street Pub
308 S Hamilton StGood bar food that is a bit beyond simply fried, good selection and good prices. Drinks are basic and inexpensive. Usually bands on weekends. This bar has been popular since the 1960's.
Great staff, attentive and good mixed drinks and beers. Food is a huge step up from typical 'bar' food. It's extremely good and different from what you would expect. We eat here often. Dinner is available from around 6pm till 10pm.
6 locals recommend
Retro Rocks
110 S Hamilton StGreat staff, attentive and good mixed drinks and beers. Food is a huge step up from typical 'bar' food. It's extremely good and different from what you would expect. We eat here often. Dinner is available from around 6pm till 10pm.
Locally owned, craft cocktails, usually small bands/singers on weekends, cool, urban vibe. Good food and drinks.
Bourbon + Co
118 E Genesee AveLocally owned, craft cocktails, usually small bands/singers on weekends, cool, urban vibe. Good food and drinks.
Parks & Nature
A bit of a drive (20 minutes) but the trails and views of wildlife and birds is what makes it worth the trip. During autumn the fall color is fantastic set against the rivers and marshes.
8 locals recommend
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
6975 Mower RdA bit of a drive (20 minutes) but the trails and views of wildlife and birds is what makes it worth the trip. During autumn the fall color is fantastic set against the rivers and marshes.
Local zoo that is one of the best in the state. A hand-carved carousel and train are major draws.
13 locals recommend
Saginaw Children's Zoo
1730 S Washington AveLocal zoo that is one of the best in the state. A hand-carved carousel and train are major draws.
If seclusion is more your style, then this is the place for you! Located 5 miles south of Saginaw, this park offers nearly three miles of hiking trails through its 186 acres.
Price Nature Center
6685 Sheridan RdIf seclusion is more your style, then this is the place for you! Located 5 miles south of Saginaw, this park offers nearly three miles of hiking trails through its 186 acres.
William H. Haithco Recreation Area is a beautiful park with a 40 acre man-made lake. The park offers a lifeguard supervised beach (from 11:00 am-7:30 pm every day beginning the Friday before Memorial Day until Labor Day), sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, paddle boat rentals, rowboat rentals, canoe rentals, kayak rentals, playground, fishing access, grills, concession stand, a pump track and modern restrooms.
Haithco Park
2121 Schust RdWilliam H. Haithco Recreation Area is a beautiful park with a 40 acre man-made lake. The park offers a lifeguard supervised beach (from 11:00 am-7:30 pm every day beginning the Friday before Memorial Day until Labor Day), sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, paddle boat rentals, rowboat rentals, canoe rentals, kayak rentals, playground, fishing access, grills, concession stand, a pump track and modern restrooms.
The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail is one of Saginaw Counties gems, stretching 11 miles from St. Charles to Saginaw. It incorporates a number of natural features including: seven bridges over various rivers and creeks, The Shiawassee State Game Area and many wetland areas. The Rail Trail also offers an equestrian trail, trail shelters, restroom facilities at the Van Wormer parking lot, viewing platforms and benches.
Saginaw Valley Rail-Trail
Saginaw Valley Rail-TrailThe Saginaw Valley Rail Trail is one of Saginaw Counties gems, stretching 11 miles from St. Charles to Saginaw. It incorporates a number of natural features including: seven bridges over various rivers and creeks, The Shiawassee State Game Area and many wetland areas. The Rail Trail also offers an equestrian trail, trail shelters, restroom facilities at the Van Wormer parking lot, viewing platforms and benches.
Arts & Culture
Contained in a historic building that was once a Post Office, the structure alone is worth a walk through.
8 locals recommend
Castle Museum of Saginaw County History
500 Federal AveContained in a historic building that was once a Post Office, the structure alone is worth a walk through.
The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is a FREE and open to the public museum which features a unique collection of more than two thousand objects that span the 70-year career of Detroit-based public sculptor Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998). He is known nationally and internationally for his impressive monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials, fountains, portraits, and medals.
6 locals recommend
Marshall M Fredericks Sculpture Museum
7400 Bay RdThe Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is a FREE and open to the public museum which features a unique collection of more than two thousand objects that span the 70-year career of Detroit-based public sculptor Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998). He is known nationally and internationally for his impressive monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials, fountains, portraits, and medals.
One of the oldest community theaters in the area, Pit & Balcony puts on very good plays four to five times per year.
Pit & Balcony Inc
805 N Hamilton StOne of the oldest community theaters in the area, Pit & Balcony puts on very good plays four to five times per year.
Japanese Cultural Center
527 Ezra Rust DrHand built Japanese Tea House and gardens.
Entertainment & Activities
Exquisite historic theater, fully restored to its 1927 appearance. Known as the “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan” – is one of Saginaw, Michigan’s most distinguished buildings. With seating for 1,750, the theatre has been graced by legends ranging from B.B. King to George Carlin. It is home to the world’s only Barton Butterfield Special organ in original condition.
9 locals recommend
Temple Theatre
201 N Washington AveExquisite historic theater, fully restored to its 1927 appearance. Known as the “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan” – is one of Saginaw, Michigan’s most distinguished buildings. With seating for 1,750, the theatre has been graced by legends ranging from B.B. King to George Carlin. It is home to the world’s only Barton Butterfield Special organ in original condition.
Sightseeing
Collection of Saginaw's most famous neon signs from many different businesses. Arranged on poles and on the building walls, this neon sign park has all of the neon signs repaired and operating. Beautiful to see at sunset and late night.
Neon Park
South Hamilton StreetCollection of Saginaw's most famous neon signs from many different businesses. Arranged on poles and on the building walls, this neon sign park has all of the neon signs repaired and operating. Beautiful to see at sunset and late night.
Historic train station undergoing restoration. This is the last Victorian era train station of it's size and design in the United States.
Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad East Saginaw Depot
Historic train station undergoing restoration. This is the last Victorian era train station of it's size and design in the United States.
Shopping
Large collection of antique dealers right off the I-675 expressway, seven miles or so from the house.
Antique Warehouse Inc
1122 Tittabawassee RoadLarge collection of antique dealers right off the I-675 expressway, seven miles or so from the house.
Wonderful, locally owned store that has unique home decor items and accents. You won't leave without buying something as it has so much to look at.
G T Homestead
109 3rd StWonderful, locally owned store that has unique home decor items and accents. You won't leave without buying something as it has so much to look at.
Locally owned, fantastic collection of local artists' works, sculptures, paintings and more.
gingerblue gallery
124 N Michigan AveLocally owned, fantastic collection of local artists' works, sculptures, paintings and more.