Bay City and Mt. Pleasant, Michigan: Riverwalk Trail, Lumber Barons Brewery, Tavern 101, Soaring Eagle Casino...

March 2019, weekdays-weekend

Walking south from the DoubleTree along Saginaw River

Recreation: trails, parks, boating

Bay County Riverwalk Trail runs along both sides of Saginaw River, around Bay City, and as far north as the state park. Future plans include connections to BayZil Rail Trail on the south, and Pere Marquette Rail Trail to the west. I could not find information about when the connections will be completed.

It was quite chilly in Michigan the two days that we walked, and we did not walk as far as we would have liked. In the route photo above, we started at the DoubleTree, and walked south on the paved trail along the river. When that trail ended across the street from Rexer-Jablonski Park, we walked on sidewalks out to the island, and then continued on the Bay City Loop portion of Riverwalk Trail.

Looking toward the island from the pier

Michigan Sugar Trails (26 acres) is located on the Middlegrounds at the south end of the island, which is not visible on the map above. We plan to explore this area the next time we visit Bay City.

We also walked along the west side of the river, and out the pier, which is north of the island tip on the map above. There are several parks and historical markers along the trail. Trombley House and Kantzler Memorial Arboretum Park are located on the west side.

We have not been to Bay City during warm boating weather, although we observed boat slips and docks by Real Seafood Company, and in front of the DoubleTree. There is a marina located on the west side of Saginaw River by Veterans Memorial Park.

Dining, beverages, and more

I wish I had known about Great Lakes Bay Passport before our visit. The passport covers the entire bay region: Bay City, Saginaw, Frankenmuth, and Midland. There is no charge to sign up for the passport online, and there are several food and beverage discounts. We could have gotten $3.50 craft Beers at Riverfront Grille & Lounge inside the DoubleTree during our stay!

Lumber Barons Brewery is located on the west side of the river, and is about a one-mile walk from the DoubleTree. This was our second visit, and we liked it just as much as we had the first time. Great beer, service, and prices. We filled our growler, and the beer was fresh and delicious when we opened it a week later. The wood-fired pizzas looked and smelled great; however, we had already eaten before we stopped.

Bartender's choice at Tavern 101

After watching the sunset, we happened upon Tavern 101, which is one block north of the DoubleTree. This was another great find. The bartender crafted an excellent beverage after learning what I like, and they have over 50 beers on tap.

Taps at Tavern 101

Even though this location was busy with many patrons at the bar and in the dining area, we received excellent service, as did everyone else. There are two discount coupons in Great Lakes Bay Passport for Old City Hall, and one for Asian Noodle. Both of these establishments are located on Saginaw St., one block east of Tavern 101.

Pork Nachos at Ascend Sports Bar in Soaring Eagle

We had stopped at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant before arriving in Bay City. They have excellent promotions for seniors (55+) on Thursdays, which we always take advantage of when in the area. One of our favorite promotions is the dining discount. The pork nachos had excellent flavor, although we thought the dish would have tasted better, if it had been warmer/hot.

Misc. and overall

We stayed at DoubleTree Bay City Riverfront this visit, and you can find information about the hotel in my previous blog post. We are looking forward to our next visit to Bay City in the fall. We love the food and beverage options, trail system, and friendly atmosphere. An added bonus for us, is being able to walk or bike from our lodging destination.  Let me know if you have any questions!