Hotel dedicated to polka king

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. - Here's a hotel that should be music to your ears. Its theme? Accordion polka tunes.

The 38-room Marv Herzog Hotel opened seven months ago in this German-themed mid-Michigan tourist town. Perched on the edge of the Cass River, it is within walking distance to shops. Its rooms have balconies, comfortable beds and free Internet.

There's a hot breakfast every morning and a free cocktail hour featuring rich Frankenmuth beer every night. And each guest room celebrates a year in Marv Herzog's life with a collage of framed memorabilia.

If you're thinking, who the heck is Marv Herzog, obviously you don't know your polka history.

Herzog was Frankenmuth's most famous accordionist and bandleader. Herzog specialized in Bavarian-American polka music and performed for years all over the world. When Herzog died in 2002, his friend Bob Drury, owner of the Missouri-based Drury Hotel chain, decided to build a hotel in Herzog's memory with the help of the bandleader's widow, Teresa.

In the lobby is a small display featuring Herzog's hefty accordion and a tall silver microphone. The lobby also has several cases of other memorabilia - Herzog's awards, childhood toys, lederhosen and more.

Rates start at $99 a night. The hotel, 501 Main St. (www.marv

herzoghotel.com, 877-400-4210), takes reservations by phone only.

Other cool things to see while you're there:

_ Heilerde Day Spa at the River Place shopping center. It's a soothing place for a massage, pedicure or facials. Heilerde is a German word for "healing earth." (www.heilerdedayspa.

com, 989-652-6117).

_ Ha' Penny is a cool little shop opened last summer in the space of a former arcade. It features all kinds of tea, gifts and Frankenmuth-made soap and soy candles. Very nice. (www.ha-penny.com, 989-652-2400). *