For getting into the Christmas spirit, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, quite like Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (often printed as Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland) in Frankenmuth, Michigan.  This mammoth lights display/museum/store/restaurant is the subject of numerous travel channel documentaries, and with good reason.  Bring your sense of childlike wonder and your wallet, and enjoy a hefty dose of holiday.

Know Before You Go
Despite its Christmas emphasis, Bronner's is open year round.  From January through May, hours are Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5:30 p.m.  The rest of the year, the facility remains open until 9:00 p.m. every day except Sunday.  Bronner's is closed (perhaps ironically?) on Christmas day as well as on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  The exterior light displays are left on until 11:00 p.m., however, so those arriving in town late can still enjoy part of the show.

My primary recommendation for visiting Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is arrive early!  We got there at a couple of minutes to nine and loved wandering the deserted grounds and snapping holiday card perfect exterior photos with no one else in them.  Starting at around 10:00 a.m., the place slowly begins to become a complete madhouse.  We visited in October so I can't even imagine it on, say, December 15th. 

Parking is free and amply available on site.  Actually, virtually all of Bronner's attractions are "free", except, of course, it is impossible to get out of this place without buying an Advent calendar, a personalized stocking, or at least a Christmas cookie.

Things to Do at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland
While Bronner's is often advertised as the "World's Largest Christmas Store," there are many things for guests to do, see, and enjoy here without spending a single penny.  The following are some "must-see" highlights:

1.  Program Center - This charming little theater offers a rotation of three different films shown every hour on the hour.  A large poster out front explains what will be played when.  While in theory it might be nice to view a film first to orient oneself to the facility, in reality the theater is never going to be that crowded while other areas will become a mob scene within a couple of hours. 

We watched then 11:00 showing of "The Wally Bronner Story" about the store's creator and enjoyed it quite a bit, although as Wally passed away relatively recently so it seemed a little bit bittersweet.  If you see this one, don't sneak out early - the shots of Wally interacting with patrons over the credits are priceless.  Other film options were "World of Bronner's," about the store's history, and "Silent Night," about the song and the on-site chapel it inspired.  The former two seemed to be more frequently shown than Silent Night on the day we visited.

2.  Silent Night Memorial Chapel - This memorial/mini museum is a rather unique attraction commemorating the song "Silent Night," A.K.A. "Austria's Christmas Gift to the World."  Guests approach the chapel via a pathway lined with printings of the song in dozens of different languages.  Inside is set up as an exact recreation of an identical memorial chapel in Oberndorf, Austria.  Silent Night plays constantly.  Guests can sign a visitor book and it's fun to check out where all of the other visitors are from.

Try to fit in a visit to the memorial chapel early in the day.  The site packs much more punch when it is empty and tranquil.  We lucked out, and the group ahead of us left quickly so we could sit in silence for a moment or two.

3.  Shopping - Bronner's offers a literally dizzying array of Christmas merchandise and a much smaller selection of items for other holidays.  Don't worry, they also provide carts to haul it in!  Despite the sheer volume, finding the trees, wreaths, or Christmas dishes is less difficult than one might imagine thanks to the snazzy map and corresponding numbers placed throughout the store.  Nutcrackers are in Zone 5, lights are in Zone 15, and so forth.  I'm not even going to bother trying to name all of the different types of items available for sale.  Suffice to say if it is a Christmas home décor product, it's there.

We most enjoyed the extensive collection of ornaments.  Displayed by theme, options include Fishing & Hunting, Animals & Pets, Occupations and Hobbies, Sports, Birds, Cats, and Patriotic among many, many others.  With so much selection were able to pick up an special ornament for each member of our family.  For ourselves, we snagged some of the beautiful ornaments from the "Around the World" collection.  I also bought some awesome pop-up Christmas cards and I only wish I would have gotten more.  Prices are probably a little cheaper than the base price at department stores but hardly anything is on sale like at mass retailers, at least during the pre-Christmas season.

The only holiday accessory which seems to be lacking at Bronner's is a collection of holiday movies.  While this is not a home décor item, I would still like to see these for sale and I bet a lot of folks would purchase their favorites. 

Even if you don't plan to buy anything, be sure to browse through the whole of Bronner's to check out the holiday displays throughout.  Visitors are welcome to take photographs with anything in the store, and apparently some folks use these scenes for their holiday greeting cards!

4.  Season's Eatings - This quaint little nook is not to be missed.  Guests can park their (full) carts and sit and relax while enjoying various food items.  The hot dogs and popcorn smelled good, but the real not-to-be missed items are the hot cocoa and hand-decorated CHRISTMAS COOKIES!  Don't worry, they're available year round.  Mid-October or no, I was fully in the holiday spirit after enjoying these tasty treats!  The view of a fully decorated store while we ate was an added bonus.s

5.  Collectable Collections - Tucked away in the Program Center are several display cases devoted to "retired" and "suspended" collectibles.  These include Precious Moments, Hummel, and Nativity figurines.  None of these are on sale but it's fun to look and I suppose if you saw one you liked you could find it on eBay. 

6.  Special Events - Depending on which day you visit, there may be something special going on at Bronner's.  Ornament personalization seems to be available just about every day, but sometimes ornament creators pop in to sign their own work.  Hummel and Precious Moments events are also regular features.  Most importantly, Santa visits daily from December 1st through 25 in a room designed just for his appearances. 

There is a calendar on the Bronner's website so vistors can see what is going on on any given day.

7.  Outdoor Displays - Finally, no visit to Bronner's is complete without the obligatory photograph with a giant Santa or light bulb.  I recommend saving these areas for last, when the weather is warmer and the interior areas are mobbed.  The lit displays are definitely worth a visit at night, too, although photo opportunities will be much more limited in the dark.
 
My Thoughts
This facility is much more than a store, and its goals seem to go far beyond just making money.  We spent four wonderful hours enjoying everything that Bronner's Christmas Wonderland has to offer.  Although we visited in October, the trip truly got me ready for the holiday season.  I'm already planning a fall visit for next year!  For those who, like me, truly love to celebrate the holidays, this facility is truly a "wonderland" and very much worth a day or long weekend trip to visit.

*You are all cordially invited to join my "Get Those Holiday Reviews Out" Write-Off!

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime