whoo hoo, going to Bronners

[bethene]

This Thursday hubby and I are driving across the state and going to Frankenmuth, which is home to Bronners. For those that don't know, it is the biggest christmas store, around!! Maybe in the world. I have never been there have wanted to go for a long time, our anniversary is in October, right in the middle of our halloween camping haunts, so due to money issues, we decided to wait til now. This time of year they have their grounds lit up, and decorated. There is supposed to be a replica of the small church that the carol "silent night" was written in. I don't remember what all else they had, but I am so happy to be going, finally!!:)

[Lagrousome]

Oh how exciting! Take lots of pictures (if you can) and post them. Would probably have lots of ideas for decorating and props!

[putrid]

Totally cool Bethene! I've only seen it on TV. Looks like a place you could spend a few days in and not get board.

[Santa Kong]

You'll like Bronners. It worth going to and the surrounding area of Frankenmuth is cool as well. I live about an hour from there.

[Sickie Ickie]

I've been there a couple times. They sell those dept store animatronics, some hard to find inflates, ornaments ranging from a dollar to hundreds, and much more. Everything from small customer to dept stores get their stuff from there. I've been trying to arrange a trip again in the past few years, but stuff keeps popping up...like bankruptcy, the twins, etc. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

I forget, we also hit a restaurant near there that deals with chicken. German?

[Santa Kong]

I forget, we also hit a restaurant near there that deals with chicken. German?

You definately have to hit the chicken restaurants. They have Lehnders and Bavarian Village. Growing up we always called it the "white" or "brown" building.

[Sickie Ickie]

LOL Seems fitting since there's white meat and dark meat.

[Nephew Fred]

I am sooo jealous...I wanna go too.
I have friends that go every year they are back in Michigan.
They always bring something home.

[Just Whisper]

OMG that sounds more fun than a Bass Pro Shop trip. I hope you have a great time. Ditto on the pictures. Take lots, and show us. BTW Happy Belated Anniversary.

[bethene]

thanks, just whispers! I have a camera phone, so I will take pics, I just have to figure out how to post them on the web! Cuz I don 't imagine they'll want me to take my camera in, even though I thought about it!!

[jgwood]

you can bring your camera no prob have whent 3 times in the last 2 yrs and got all kinds of pics
Gregg

[childofthenight]

ohh please take pics ! I've never herd about it or seen it..sounds soo neat!!!

[Nancj]

OMG that sounds more fun than a Bass Pro Shop trip. I hope you have a great time. Ditto on the pictures. Take lots, and show us. BTW Happy Belated Anniversary.

Thats so funny you mentioned Bass pro Shops, my husband has been trying to drag me there for the past two weeks to see their santas work shop. He's dying to try out the daisy red rider bb gun they have there. saw it on the web it does look pretty cool. Frankly my husband considers going there a night out on the town.(even though the food at the restaurant there is good, I'm holding out for more)
Maybe if I go with him there he'll promise to finally take me to Bronners.
I'm so jealous Bethene, I've been wanting to go there for years, and the one time we attempted to go, there was severe lake affect snow, so we had to cancel our trip. Hopefully we can try to go there after Thanksgiving. I heard going there is a whole day event, lots to see and do.

[smileyface4u23]

Oh Bethene - you are so lucky! I get the Bronner's catalog and emails, but there is little to no chance I'll ever get to actually go there. I'm excited for you. :)

[bethene]

thank you smileyface4u23, I I have waited many years to go, I have been into christmas big time for years, folks can't believe I haven't gone, so yea, finally.
Child, I will try to remember to take the camera in, I will take pics for you!
jgwood, thanks for the tip that's it's ok to take a camera in, I will do it for sure!!

[Warrant2000]

He's dying to try out the daisy red rider bb gun they have there. saw it on the web it does look pretty cool.

Don't let him shoot his eye out! :)

[Nancj]

Don't let him shoot his eye out! :)

He's a police officer so that would look bad.:)

[Sickie Ickie]

It would make him see even worse!

[Nancj]

LMAO!! so true!

[SantaPaws]

Any pictures yet?

Where is this store at?

[bethene]

nope, no pics yet, I just got back this after noon, and seeing as I have dial up I need to get to my sons to use his . It is in Frankenmuth , Michigan, in a small quaint town, I had a very good time , bought a few ornamants, had a very good time looking around , they had so much I couldn't believe it. I will post the pics later ,

[Sickie Ickie]

Disappointed at all B?

[bethene]

no, not really , Sickie, I mostly am into ornaments, and they had more of them than you could possibly imagine.! They have alot of santas, snow men, nutcrackers too. The bigger things are mostly up near the ceiling(out door animated things, like you'd see in store window's when I was growing up. Alot of hummels and precious moments. Actually so many things, I tend to over load and forget what all I saw, We went back at night too, the road leading up to it is all lights, animated figured, flat lit and 3-D, Huge nativities. We went into the Silent Night chapel, when we went it is was windy and cold, when we came out , about 5- 10 minutes later, it was blowing snow, you could hardly see, .
The only thing I was disappointed in was the dog gone chicken dinner every one talks about, it was family style, and 20 bucks :exclaim: not worth it at all in my book, It was good but not THAT good, I must say I personally can make it as good at home, IMHO:happyfatsanta:. Big Boy near the outlet mall had a soup and salad all you could eat buffet,for $6.95, and sad to say, but I would of been happier there! I would love to go back in the summer and walk the town and little shops with out freezing my tookus off! But it was great to see the town decorated for christmas,

[bethene]

Also, I want to add that Bronners prices are great, not over the top at all, Lots of things under 20 dollars, ornaments no different than Hobby lobby or the like, amybe even a little cheaper. I was very happy with the prices, although it does add up quickly!

[bethene]

I took pics of the bigger things , near the ceiling, lots of those, and also just some random ones so you could get a feel for the vastness, and some pics of ornaments I want to use for ideas for me to paint! I will try to get them up this week.

[Sickie Ickie]

Looking forward to it. Post them when ya can! :D

Ya know we have a photo album for every member here in your control panal, right?

[bethene]

yup, but thanks Sickie!!

[SantaPaws]

You can tell that Sickie is getting excited about those pics; the same as I am.

[bethene]

the problem is I have dial up, and with thanksgiving and both my son's and my work schedules, I am having a hard time getting to my son's to get them down loaded to his pc. But will as soon as I can!!

[bethene]

well, here are finally some of the pictures from Bronners. To See more, check out the Bronners album!

[putrid]

Checked out your album Bethene. Totally cool shots! Thanks for posting them. So how long did ya'll stay in the store?

[Just Whisper]

Bethene, Thanks for sharing the pics. It was fun looking at them. Looks like a really great place to visit.

[Sickie Ickie]

What great pics! Either I had one too many, or your camera was a bit blurry. LOL I always love statues and what great ones they had. Thanks for sharing!

PS I loved the pirate ornaments!

[bethene]

well, Sickie, don't know if you had one to many or not, but I do tend to have a shaky hand, when the pics are small you can't tell as much but when they are big it is noticable. I really need a tripod before next halloween!
Putrid, I wandered around there for about 2 1/2 hours, but hen went back at night to see it lit up, which I didn't bring the camera for, and they have a exact replica of the little chapel that Silent night was written in, so we went in there at night too. I would love to go back again!
Sickie, I loved the Pirate ornaments too, they also had some other halloween type. I got a spider web, with spider in the center, an it has the legand of the spider tag with it, great story

[Mistress of Mistletoe]

Holy Christmas Heaven! Look at all that wonderful stuff! Thank you so much for sharing!!