Lucky Star Guide Book

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VISITORS GUIDE 

TO BAY CITY and BEYOND

Our Favorite Eats and Drinks

There are so many restaurants and other random spots in Bay City that we couldn’t list them here. Below please find our team favorites-the places we visit the most, and recommend when asked.  

*Indicates available seasonally

Coffee

• Harless + Hugh Coffee  - Great minimalistic aesthetic- coffee, tea, baked goods and a limited menu. (Including lox!) 
• Legacy Coffee  - Right around the corner with a rotating menu and many vegan baked goods to choose from. 
• Live Oak  - Great vibe and great coffee in Uptown. 
• LoloBee’s - Located in the Midland Street Business District, this inclusive coffee shop is open until midnight most nights. 
• Excited Goat Coffee Co. - With two locations, one on each side of the Saginaw River, these shops offer unique coffee, tea, and baked goods. 

Breakfast

• Vinny’s Stockpot - Located Downtown, this 50’s themed diner is a local favorite for breakfast and lunch. 
• Uptown Grill- Great place for breakfast or lunch.  Everything is good. If you like Monte Cristos, try their Waffle Cristo!
• Lasko’s- Known for their great food and huge serving sizes, Lasko’s is loved for breakfast and lunch regionally with locations in Bay City and Midland. 
• Zef’s Coney Island  - Located on charming Third Street and features typical coney island foods. 

Lunch

• Mulligans Pub - Located right below Lucky Star in Tanner Building, this is a local favorite for burgers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner!
• BarqueBC - If you like BBQ, this is a must-try! Huge BBQ tacos, award-winning chili and all kinds of incredible sides to try for lunch and dinner Downtown. 
• Wanigan Eatery - Fresh homemade sandwiches. So.many.options. (All good!)
• Intermission Deli - A Bay City staple. Great subs and soups Downtown. 
• Gilly’s Bistro - Mexican and American favorites made well. Also has a great selection of frozen lunch/dinner options to take home!
• Sushi Remix - Deconstructed sushi in a bowl! It’s poké with a delicious twist. 

Dinner

• Prost! Wine Bar and Charcuterie - Perfect date-night place.
• Vinny’s - Cozy, modern restaurant and bar with great pizza and Italian eats. 
• Gatsby's Seafood and Steakhouse - Great speakeasy vibe Downtown with excellent vegan options. 
• Real Seafood- Beautiful restaurant and bar located on the Saginaw River. Great for dinner or just drinks. 
• Beaver’s Pub - Casual comfort food done well in Downtown
• Los Pinos Tacos - An authentic Mexican restaurant located in the city’s South End. 

Pizza

• D’Angelo’s Pizza - Everything on this menu is good. Great vegan options. 
• Brooklyn Boys Pizza- NY style pizza and Italian dishes done well.  Try the garlic knots!
• G’s Pizzeria  - Fantastic pizza Downtown. 
• Gulino’s- A local favorite for wood-fired pizza. 

Sweet Treats

• Sarah’s Sweet Escapes - Try their chocolate covered blueberries! 
• Barney’s Bakery- Very well-known neighborhood bakery! Great donuts. 
• Little Pastry Shop - Best cinnamon buns! Located in City Market Building
• *Artisano- Great selection of charcuterie, drinks & gelato in the summer.
• *Mama Lupos- Another great homemade ice cream place.
• *Cream and Sugar- Homemade ice cream. Home to fresh, warm waffle cones! 
• Petit 4 Pastry - Located in Essexville, this small pastry shop offers European-style sweets and take-out lunch meals. 
• Water Street Nutrition - Sweet treats with a healthy twist! 

Drinks

• Mulligan’s Pub - Cozy & casual pub with the best prices in town and a rotating cocktail menu. 
• *Drydock - Now an official part of Mulligan’s, this outdoor space offers great opportunities for socializing and craft drinks. 
• The Public House + Neighbors - Incredible cocktails made well located Downtown. 
• Retro Rocks - Great for dinner or just for a drink Downtown. 
• Tavern 101 - 50 drafts on tap Downtown.
• Ideal Party Store - Don’t feel like going out? Ideal Party Store offers a large selection of drinks ranging from local to international. Stock up for a night in!

AREA ATTRACTIONS

One-of-a-kind Places in Bay City

• Antiques! (Bay Antique Center/Bay City Antiques/Americana Company) - 3 huge antique shops all located within 2 blocks of each other on Water Street Downtown. 
• Beatles and Beans Coffee Emporium- Thousands of pieces of Beatles memorabilia covering every inch of this cash-only coffee shop on Water Street. 
• C.A.T WORK ART Gallery- A collective of incredible local artists. 
• Crazy Quarters Arcade- 2 floors of vintage arcade games Downtown. 
• Electric Kitsch - New & used records, funky clothing & household items. 
• Meats and Moore/Meatys- Local meat shop housed inside the building Annie Edson Taylor’s historic barrel was made for her trip over the Niagara Falls. 
• Midland Street Books - 2 floors of used books. 
• R.A. Studio/Retro Attics - Huge collection of mid century modern furniture. 
• St. Laurent Brothers - A local MUST. Everyone stops in at this hundred year old business (Including Madonna when she’s in town!)  
• Timothy’s Fine Cigars - Nationally award-winning cigar lounge. 
• Tummy Ache- Whimsical and quirky candy store on Johnson Street.

Day Trips Worth Taking

• Frankenmuth- Michigan’s #1 tourist destination! Known for its Bavarian-style architecture you won’t find another place like this. Eat a chicken dinner at Zenders or the Bavarian Inn, explore the shops and head over to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the largest Christmas store in the world, covering a  little over 7 acres.
• Birch Run - Tons of shopping opportunities at the Birch Run Outlets, wander the Wilderness Trails Zoo, catch a film at Emagine, and grab a meal at Tony’s. 
• “The Thumb” - The peninsula to the east of Bay City. Take a drive up M-25 along the Saginaw Bay shoreline of Lake Huron. Stop in Caseville and Port Austin to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in Michigan. Check out the Barn Art Project Port Austin. 
• Tawas and East Tawas - Take a drive north along the coast of Lake Huron to these small tourist towns, enjoy beaches and the lake, lighthouses, Lumberman’s Monument, and Huron National Forest. 

Less-Than-Day Trips Worth Taking

Feel like taking a shorter trip? 

• Midland- Check out Dow Gardens, take a tour of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio. Stop downtown to shop and walk across the Tridge, a 3-sided walking bridge in the heart of the city.  Midland Districts of Interest: Downtown, Center City. 
• Saginaw- Grab a coffee at Red Eye Coffee & Tea, have a bite to eat and explore the SVRC Marketplace, a year-round indoor farmer’s market, and take a drive around the Shiawassee Nature Preserve, an unbelievable 6.5 mile drive through untouched wetlands.  Saginaw Districts of Interest: Old Town Saginaw, Downtown Saginaw. 

The Madonna Tour

Madonna’s mother, a Bay City native living in Pontiac, wanted her 3rd child to be delivered by a specific doctor in Bay City—thus, the Birthplace of Madonna.  While she never lived here, she visited family here often. 

• Former Mercy Hospital (now Bradley House) - 100 15th Street. On August 16, 1958 this building was once Mercy Hospital, the birthplace of Madonna. 
• Grandma’s House -1204 Smith St. Madonna grew up in Metro-Detroit, but spent a lot of time here as a child. 
• Visitation Church - 1106 State Street. Where Mom and Dad were married and where Madonna was baptized. 
• Calvary Cemetery - 2977 Old Kawkawlin Rd, Kawkawlin, MI. Featured in Madonna’s documentary Truth or Dare, Madonna’s Mom, Madonna Louise Fortin, and her brother, Christopher Ciccone, are buried in Section 8. It is rumored that Madonna hopes to someday also be buried there. 
• St. Laurent Brothers - 1101 Water Street. Madonna loves this candy shop, and once the owner of Lucky Star Rentals, Donald, actually bumped into her there! 
• Madonna Mural - 401 Center Ave- Located on the former City Market Building at the corner of Adams Street and Center Ave. This mural was completed by Venice, California-based group MuckRock in 2020. 
• Keits Flowers- 609 Washington Ave. Madonna’s family’s preferred florist. Madonna often called to purchase flowers for her grandmother until she passed away. Stop in to support this 150+ year old Bay City business. 
• Madonna’s almost Key to Bay City- A former Mayor intended to offer Madonna a key to the city, but after learning of her photos in Playboy decided not to. The key was given to actress Lee Meredith who kept it for two decades before giving it to filmmaker Zach Neumeyer, who interviewed her for Madonna’s documentary. Zach then donated it to the Historical Museum where it now hangs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inside the Historical Museum of Bay County.

Things to do, places to experience. 

In Bay City

Bay City Districts of Interest: Downtown Bay City, Uptown Bay City, Midland Street, Columbus Avenue, Johnson Street, Center Avenue Historic District.

• Crazy Quarters Arcade- 2 floors of vintage arcade games Downtown. 
• Washington Lanes - Bowling center and live music venue Downtown. 
• Reality Check - Axe throwing, rage & splatter room, virtual reality and more!
• BC Golf Sim- Indoor golf simulator.Play alone or with a group.
• Delta College Planetarium -One of only 2 planetariums built by NASA! Shows and events for all ages including music and digital arts. 
• Bay County Historical Museum - This is a local history museum that gives an overview of the region’s history ranging from lumbering, heavy industry, and important local figures. 
• The Center Avenue Historic District - This truly massive historic district starts on Center Ave. (M-25) and stretches eastward towards Hampton Township. Stroll the avenue and gawk at the numerous and unique mansions of bygone eras. 
• The Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame - Located on the second floor of the Bay County Historical Museum, this exhibit is unique to Michigan offering 130+ artists and music history relating to Michigan; everybody from Barry Gordy, Grand Funk Railroad, Madonna, Eminem, and many, many more!
• Bay City City Hall and Clocktower - Bay City’s seat of government is still located within this beautiful Richardsonian Revival Victorian-era building located at 321 Washington Ave. This building is open to the public during normal business hours. The clocktower is open until 3pm, and offers a 360-degree view of Bay City. 
• C.A.T WORK Art Gallery -a collective of incredible local artists. 
• Studio 23 Art Gallery- Great rotating exhibits of local artists and take home craft kits. 
• State Theatre -Historic 1930s single-screen theater with unique Mayan art deco design featuring live performance art including film and music. 
• U.S.S. Edson-Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum- Discover the history of the US Navy. The museum is housed in a naval ship on the Saginaw River in Bay City.
• *BaySail Bay City -Explore the Saginaw Bay on an 85 foot schooner Appledore IV. . Several tours are available weekly in the late spring/summer/fall.
• *Bay City Boat Lines- Learn about and see the region waterside on the Princess Wenonah, an excursion boat docked at Wenonah Park.
• *Buoy 18 - Putt putt golf and great ice cream on the Saginaw River. 
• *Dutch Village Adventure - Putt putt and batting cages near Bay City State Park. 
• *Starlight Event Center- Bingo Fri/Sat/Sun at 6:30 pm. 
• Saginaw River Marine Historical Society - Located in the Bay City Town Center on Wilder Road, this museum showcases the maritime heritage of Bay City. 

Around the Great Lakes Bay Region 

• Alden B. Dow Home and Studio- A mid century modern lover’s dream! The home and studio of 20th century architect Alden B. Down. Located in Midland.
• *Dow Gardens/Canopy Walk - Dazzling botanical gardens with trails, 
• children’s garden and sculptures in Midland’s city limits. 
• *Japanese Cultural Center Tea House and Gardens- Said to be the most authentic Japanese Garden in North America. Located in Saginaw.  
• Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum- Located in Saginaw Valley State University’s Arbury Fine Arts Center.  
• Midland Center for the Arts- Arts complex with a theater for drama & music events plus history, art & science exhibitions located in Midland. 
• Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum- Colorful attraction with hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for children under the age of 10. 
• Saginaw Art Museum- Charming local museum with diverse collection of fine art, sculpture and photographs. Open Wed-Saturday in Saginaw. 
• The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History - A breathtaking museum showcasing the history of our neighboring county of Saginaw, dive deep into the Indigenous history, lumbering era, General Motors history, and a sports hall of fame among many others. 
• *Saginaw Children’s Zoo- Featuring 150 animals, interactive exhibits, 80 gardens and a hand-painted carousel. Open May-Oct.  

*Indicates seasonal attraction 

Parks and Trails to explore. 

In Bay City

• Wenonah Park/Riverwalk - ½ block from this building along the Saginaw River.  
• Bay City Rail Trail - 21 miles of paved trail around Bay City.
• Bigelow Park/Sugar Trails - Located on an island (Middle Ground Island) on the Saginaw Bay. Walk over the water from the island to Vets Park. 
• Carroll Park - Centennial park with duck pond rumored to be designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect behind Central Park in NYC.  
• Golson Nature Area- 43 acres of paved walking trail along Saginaw River in the middle of the city. 
• Veteran’s Memorial Park -1.2 mile long park on the west side of the Saginaw River featuring beautiful walking trails and Kantzler Memorial Arboretum. 
• BayZil Trail - located on the city’s southwest side, this north-south railtrail extends southward along the Saginaw River into Saginaw County. At the end of the trail the Zilwaulkie Bridge is in view. Enjoy country meadows and landscapes between the cities of Saginaw and Bay City. 

Outside of and Around Bay City

• Bay City State Park / Tobico Marsh State Game Area - Great access to the Saginaw Bay with a clean beach and well groomed walking trails.
• Price Nature Center - Located 5 miles south of Saginaw, this park offers nearly three miles of hiking trails through its 186 acres.
• Saginaw Rail Trail- 9.5 miles of paved trails in Saginaw County. 
• Whiting Forest/Canopy Walk - 54-acre park of native forest, meadows and wetland in Midland’s city limits. Featuring the Nation’s longest canopy walk. 

Ojibway Island - This inner-city island park sits in the center of the City of Saginaw offering shaded areas and walking opportunities. Enjoy the views of the greenery and historic architecture on both sides of the Saginaw River.