Michaela Estruth and friends explore the streets and shops of Frankenmuth.
Courtesy | Anna Maisonville
ButterBeer, Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans–classic candies sold in Hogsmeade–capture the tongues of young witches and wizards. Hogsmeade is the beloved escape town of the students at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Little do many people know, Hillsdale College students have their own escape town that holds warm food, tempting candies, Christmas shops, and gourmet coffees. The town of Frankenmuth is a little farther than a secret tunnel through the broom closet or a quick snap of the fingers to apparate, but the trip itself is part of the fun: Two full hours free of homework, papers, exams, and stress.
“Sacrificing the day was a pretty easy decision,” sophomore Nolan Nhor said. “Carpooling meant taking a nap and catching up on sleep.”
The town itself screams Christmas. Wreaths decorate every door. Lights string across the rooftops. Larger-than-life ice sculptures sit majesticly in a circle.
“I really enjoyed watching the ice sculpture carving,” sophomore Garrett Goolsby said. “As a kid from Texas, it was cool to see all the fanfare around a bunch of ice and snow because I didn’t grow up with that.”
The sweet, rich scent of cinnamon roasted almonds, pecans, and cashews hangs in every crosswalk corner, beckoning a growling stomach to follow their sizzling sound. Carriages decorated with evergreen branches and snowflakes roll through the city–these are drawn by horses, not thestrals.
“The trip was great,” Goolsby said. “It was well worth taking the day to have a fun social outing with friends and get away from the grind of studying for a bit.”
The hours in this tiny town fly like the swirling snow, forming heaps on the side of the road. Industrial brewery food stuffs every stomach–the thick burgers and fries satisfy any bottomless pit. If greasy burgers sound unappealing, you can always find the Paris crepes cafe.
“Getting to eat crepes instead of a saga brunch was heavenly, and seeing elaborate snow and ice sculptures made me hate winter less,” Nohr said.
Come with an empty stomach. All the food could fill you for days.
“The food was one of my favorite parts of the trip including beignets and hot chocolate from N’Orlins, a Monte Cristo crepe from La Crepe du Jour, and passionfruit honey from Sticky Situations,” sophomore Rachel Hintze said.
Every shop is an escape into a different world. Plants, dresses, jewelry, house decor, frame the inside of every boutique.
“It was fun to spend the afternoon exploring the town with friends, braving the crowds and the cold, and stopping in at all the fun little shops along the way,” Hintze said.
Before the trip home, thick blocks of chocolate fudge and chocolate-covered cherries sweetly complement the savory foods still pressing against your stomach–but don’t worry, these chocolates won’t jump out of your hand like a frog.
