When asked what there was to do in Fraser, most of the responses I received were shrugs or uncertain silence. Not many people, not even some of the residents, knew how to describe the cool amenities that Fraser had to offer. The consensus was that Fraser didn’t have much beyond great schools and a cool playground. But after journeying through the city, I would like to argue that there are tons of great places to visit in Fraser! Below are some of the haunts I stopped at during my trip.
I’ve come to realize that a lot of places in Macomb County serve Mexican cuisine or something of the same variety, and Fraser is no exception. In my opinion, Fraser has some of the best in the county! A crowd favorite is El Charro. If you stop by here, you can experience the taste of the famed puffy tacos first hand and grab a nice drink while you’re at it.
Another great Mexican restaurant is Grand Azteca on Groesbeck and 14 Mile. Their carnitas are especially good and their margaritas are spectacular. My family often brings friends who are food lovers to come eat here with us whenever we get the chance. Grand Azteca has a food truck sitting outside of the restaurant that serves great meals as well.
Other cool places to visit can be found off of 15 Mile on Utica. For hockey fans, the Big Boy arena is open. Formerly known as Fraser Hockeyland, this ice rink complex is the second largest in the United States. The establishment has four rinks in total and it offers event rentals, skate lessons, and even open skate sessions.
Just up the street from the arena, is Vik’s Diner, a local favorite that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options. I ordered their pancakes, eggs and bacon, with a side of hot chocolate. My breakfast was utterly delicious! I’ve been told that their tuna melt is pretty good, also.
Vik’s was recommended to me by a lovely couple who were in the midst of fending off a swarm of bees when I met them at Fort Fraser. A section of Steffens Park, Fort Fraser is another staple in the community. It truly does feel like a fort with how the wooden playscape acts as a maze of slides, tunnels, monkey bars and other playground games. The kid inside me couldn’t help but feel impressed and excited by the quality and size of the fun fortress. The rest of Steffens Park is just outside of the Fraser Municipal Complex. Here, there are tennis courts, basketball courts, a baseball diamond, a gazebo, and a small pavilion.
Turning onto 14 Mile from Steffens Park, you’ll find the Fraser Public Library. Inside, there are countless shelves filled to the brim with books of all kinds. When I visited I sat at a small round table near the back and wrote out the majority of this blog. But I must admit, it was tempting to pick up a book and read. Instead, I took pictures of the novels that interested me and added them to a list so that I could read them at a later date.
Another fun location in this particular area is Fraser Star Lanes. It’s a bowling alley off of Garfield Road, recommended to me by one of my co-workers. It’s a great place to spend some quality time with friends by putting your bowling skills to the test! I will openly admit that I am not that good at the sport, but I always have fun playing. If you’re looking for more bowling alleys within the county, be sure to browse through Make Macomb Your Home’s Things to Do page.
Another stop I made in Fraser was the Baumgartner House, a historical museum off of Kelly and Masonic. This is one of the oldest homes built in the city and was assembled in the rundbogenstil style, which was popular in Germany around the time of the house’s creation in 1875. Behind the building is a quaint but lovely garden. When I ventured through it, I was lucky to witness a duo of monarch butterflies fluttering around each other in a graceful dance along the flowers. I wish I could have taken a picture, but they never stood still.
Beside the Baumgartner House is Somerset Park. Here, there’s a nice-sized playscape, park tables and even a volleyball net! But what’s even cooler is the swimming pool, open for members whenever they want some pool time fun or are desperately trying to escape the heat. You can find more information on pool memberships here.
My last stop in Fraser was an alluring house modeled after the late Frank Lloyd Wright’s construction style. Wright has been hailed as an important figure in architecture, creating buildings that merge style and nature. Unlike Wrights’ usual creations however, this building doesn’t utilize nature’s essence for the interior decor, instead keeping the inside current and modern. Interestingly enough, this home was actually built in 1994 -- long after Wrights’ own death in 1959 -- and the people responsible for its construction were Dr. Myron Emerick and his wife Joann Emerick, both of whom were residents of Fraser! The current owners of the house very kindly allowed me to take a picture of their home so that I could showcase the splash of organic charm this piece of architecture brings to the community.
My tour through Fraser has since ended, but I would like to go again. Is there anywhere else I should visit next time?
Rachel Dearing is an intern for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
