15 Best Things to Do in Saginaw, Michigan

© Castle Museum

Formerly known as Saginaw Post Office or Castle Station, the Castle Museum in downtown Saginaw, Michigan is a historic building and current home of the Saginaw County’s Historical Society. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum is comprised of three floors filled with displays and exhibits, such as an automotive industry exhibit, the lumbering exhibit, an archeology exhibit, a Saginaw cyclecar from the year 1914, and the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame. There are also changing special exhibits.

500 Federal Ave, Saginaw, MI 48607, Phone: 989-752-2861

© Children's Zoo at Celebration Square

The Children's Zoo at Celebration Square, also known as the Saginaw Children’s Zoo, is home to a wide array of animals. The zoo is open full-time to visitors between the months of May and September, as well as part-time from October to April. Animals at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo include miniature horses, river otters, pygmy goats, prairie dogs, capuchin monkeys, and many more mammals, along with a variety of birds, amphibians, and reptiles. The Zoo offers more fun for children besides the animals with its miniature train, the carousel, and Fossil Find, in which kids can dig for fossils.

1730 S. Washington Ave, Saginaw, MI 48601, Phone: 989-759-1408

© Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum near Saginaw is an art museum focused on the works and life of the sculptor Marshall Fredericks. Affiliated with University Center’s Saginaw Valley State University, the museum is located inside the Arbury Fine Arts Center and there is no fee for admission. The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is made up of a Main Exhibit Gallery featuring around two hundred works of art and temporary exhibition galleries that showcase changing exhibits of Michigan, regional, national, and international artists from the museum’s collection. There is also a Sculpture Garden and the Sculptor’s Studio.

7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI, 48710, Phone: 989-964-7125

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The Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge encompasses around twenty-five miles of central lower Michigan, just south of the Saginaw Bay. Established back in 1953 as a preserved habitat for migratory waterfowl, the wildlife refuge is more than 9,000 acres in size and offers a peaceful place just outside of the city of Saginaw. The Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, also known by locals as the “Shiawassee Flats,” is situated within the Saginaw Bay watershed, one of Michigan’s most productive and largest wetland ecosystems. The refuge is a great place to view a variety of birds, making it a popular destination for birdwatching.

6975 Mower Rd, Saginaw, MI 48601, Phone: 989-777-5930

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The Hoyt Library is located in downtown Saginaw, offering historic architecture, a vast collection, and a variety of activities and events held throughout the year. This historic library was constructed by Eric Pinchet in the Richardson Romanesque architectural style during the late nineteenth century and houses numerous Mid-Michigan area genealogical records. The library is one of the city’s beautiful historic buildings, with an oak interior throughout the building, along with an entrance almost identical to the Canterbury Cathedral.

505 Janes Ave, Saginaw, MI 48607, Phone: 989-755-0904

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The Fashion Square Mall is a “neighborhood mall” in the city of Saginaw, Michigan, providing the community with plenty of shopping opportunities. The shopping destination also happens to be the Great Lakes Bay Region’s largest enclosed shopping center. Home to many popular stores, the Fashion Square Mall includes Encore Shoes, Buckle, American Eagle, H&M, Macy’s, and JCPenney to name a few. There are also over one hundred speciality retailers in the shopping center and a 10-screen movie theater. As for dining options, Fashion Square contains a Food Court with several options, as well as TGI Friday’s.

4787 Fashion Square Mall, Saginaw, MI 48604, Phone: 989-793-6401

© Dow Event Center

Formerly named the Saginaw Civic Center and the Saginaw County Event Center, the Dow Event Center is an indoor event venue in the city of Saginaw, Michigan, consisting of several different parts, including The Arena, Huntington Event Park, The Red Room, The Theater, The Garden Room, and The Atrium. Dow Event Center has also housed multiple hockey teams over the years and is currently the home of the Saginaw Spirit, which is part of the Ontario Hockey League. The Arena regularly hosts sporting events, concerts, exhibits, and conventions, while the Theatre hosts the Broadway In Saginaw Series and other theater events.

303 Johnson St, Saginaw, MI 48607, Phone: 989-759-1330

© Temple Theatre

Also known by the nickname of the “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan,” the Temple Theatre is one of the most distinguished buildings in Saginaw, Michigan. Featuring seating for more than 1,700 people, the theater has hosted several legends over the years since it originally opened back July of 1927, ranging from George Carlin to B.B. King. The Theatre is also home to the only Barton Butterfield Special organ in its original condition in the world. The most historic theater in the region, legendary performers, famous performing groups, and contemporary stars grace the Temple Theatre stage every year.

201 N. Washington Ave, Saginaw, MI 48607, Phone: 877-754-7469

© Pride and Country Village

The Pride and Country Village in Saginaw is the largest “village of unique shops” in the state of Michigan. Located minutes away from charming Frankenmuth, the shopping village is conveniently accessed just outside of the main area of Saginaw from Interstate 75. The Pride and Country Village is a one-of-a-kind shopping destination offering unique merchandise ranging from accessories and clothing to bath and body products to gifts and home furnishings.

5965 E. Holland Rd, Saginaw, MI 48601, Phone: 989-754-5807

© Saginaw County Veterans Memorial Plaza

The Saginaw County Veterans Memorial Plaza, is dedicated to the men and women of the military from Michigan’s Saginaw County who lost their lives, whether by virtue of military conflict or war, serving the United States. The Veterans Memorial Plaza has its official dedication at the Memorial Day service on May 30th of 2005 with a mission of providing a place for people to come and pay their homage to all veterans of Saginaw County. The Plaza’s origins date back to 2000 when the community wanted to restore Michael Jeffers Park, site of a World War II monument, to its original design.

1574 S Washington Ave, Saginaw, MI 48601, Phone: 989-752-4000

© Saginaw Art Museum

The Saginaw Art Museum, housed inside of the family home of Clark L. Ring, is a museum that maintains a rather impressive permanent collection and hosts an active schedule of art exhibitions, in addition to various programs and special events. The museum’s permanent collection is primarily focused on watercolors, sculpture, and painting created by European and American artists from the eighteenth century through the twenty-first century since 1947. The permanent collection of the Saginaw Art Museum also contains numerous photographs, works on paper, glass, and ceramics.

1126 N Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602, Phone: 989-754-2491

© Timbers Bar and Grill

The Timbers Bar and Grill is a locally owned and operated restaurant and bar that has been providing quality food and drinks to the Saginaw Township community since 2001. The family-friendly dining establishment takes its decor and name from the logging history of Saginaw and serves a menu focused on freshly made American fare and on hearty portions. Along with its plentiful menu, the Timbers Bar and Grill offers nightly specials and a bar with as many as twenty beers available on tap, many of which are Michigan-made craft brews. There is also a decent cocktail and wine selection.

6415 State Street, Saginaw, MI 48603, Phone: 989-790-2345

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A casual-upscale restaurant in the city of Saginaw, Jake's Old City Grill offers comprehensive wine bar and martini menus, in addition to a classic, yet modernly updated dinner menu consisting of pasta, poultry, exotic seafood, chops, steaks, and vegetarian entrees. Jake's Old City Grill pairs its food and drinks with personalized, gracious service and dynamic presentation. The restaurant’s sophisticated decor is reflective of the Victorian-style architecture of the building, as well as the early Saginaw heritage, in an unpretentious, comfortable, and warm fashion. Jake's Old City Grill is open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner and Saturdays for dinner.

100 S Hamilton St, Saginaw, MI 48602, Phone: 989-797-8325

© Pasong's Café

Pasong's Café in Saginaw, Michigan boasts a story rich in tradition. Pasong Saycosie-King, as well as her husband and two daughters, came to Saginaw in 1979 from Laos. Pasong soon found herself supporting her family by selling spring rolls she made in the family’s kitchen. Her traditions and values of service, integrity, and quality are carried on today by her daughters Tina and Nonnie, who believe in the local community and strive to buy ingredients locally whenever possible. The food at Pasong’s Cafe is always prepared to order without using MSG and can be accommodated to all diets.

114 N Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602, Phone: 989-791-5008

© Fuzzy's Restaurant

Fuzzy's Restaurant is one of the Saginaw area’s premier family restaurants, offering a casual and pleasant dining experience within a bistro-style atmosphere that’s suitable for kids, adults, and groups alike. The restaurant takes great pride in its delightful ambiance and its extensive, flavorful menu, which includes an all-day full breakfast menu, Angus beef burgers, and the signature Folded Sandwich, which is a hand-rolled bread that’s stuffed with vegetables or meats. Fuzzy’s Restaurant also offers homemade bread and pies baked fresh daily, as well as more than thirty flavors of ice cream.

1924 Court St, Saginaw, MI 48602, Phone: 989-790-1719