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Tri-City Advantages

Collectively, the Tri-Cities (Midland, Bay City and Saginaw) have a lot to offer.  Because of their proximity, inter-city commutes for the purposes of work, play and school are common.

The centrally located Midland-Bay City-Saginaw International Airport near Freeland serves the Tri-Cities and much of the northern lower Michigan peninsula.

Delta College (community college) and Saginaw Valley State University are short drives from anywhere in the Tri-Cities area.

The Saginaw River and Bay

The Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River are places to play. These are two of the best walleye fisheries in the country. The Bay and River are popular with boaters and the restaurants, shops, walks, beaches and parks along the Bay and River are popular with everyone.

The Saginaw River is navigable by freighters and it's not unusual to wait for one before being able to cross a River bridge. The lake freighters are massive. Sailboats aren't, but they're still interesting to watch while waiting for a draw bridge to open and close, unless of course you're in a hurry.

The River banks, which were once nearly all industrial, are giving way to recreation and other  uses.

The pace of things in Bay City is a little slower than some other communities and the pace is part of the charm.

Legacies

The history of Bay City is interesting and diverse. French fur traders were the first Europeans. European settlement started with lumbering and the lumber mills; several well maintained lumber baron mansions still exist. Once the trees were cleared, the rich soil attracted Western European farmers. Coal was discovered and many Eastern Europeans worked the coal mines; shale piles from abandoned coal mines surrounded by otherwise flat farm ground remain curiosities. The farms needed seasonal laborers and a Latin community emerged. Manufacturing and ship building dominated the 20th century and attracted African-American workers.

There are old-timer stories about how the Polish boys and German boys used to regularly fight during recess at the old West Bay City one room Sugar School, but Bay City is a community where the various race/ethnic groups and cultures went to school together, worked together, respected each other, got along, and still do.

Things to Do

The Bay City Convention and Visitors Bureau website is a good source for things to do in the area. Festivals, art galleries, historic locations, camping on the Bay, swimming, birding, fishing on the Kawkawlin River, Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay, water fowl hunting and boating are all local attractions.

Antique shopping is a big attraction with several east side stores near the river. The same section of town has several art galleries and restaurants.

The Historical Museum of Bay County is walking distance from the antique shops along with the Delta College Planetarium.

Across the river on the west side of town, you'll find Midland Street and several blocks of pubs and restaurants. Midland Street is also the location of several old mansions and the historic Sage Library.

Within walking distance of Midland Street night-life, Veterans Memorial Park offers a boat launch ramp, stands for watching summer fireworks displays over the River, a portion of the River Walk, picnicking and play ground, Kantzler Memorial Arboretum and the Bay County Community Center.