22 Best Things to Do in Battle Creek, Michigan

By VacationIdea Staff on June 22, 2022 - Updated

11 Best Things to Do in Battle Creek, MI

City of Battle Creek, MI Government

This city in south west Michigan is at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. It was settled in 1831 and by 1837 schools and industry had been established. It is possibly best known for being the home of the Kelloggs brothers who invented the 'corn flake'. Dr JH Kellogg ran the Battle Creek Sanitarium and his brother WK Kellogg, a businessman, promoted the 'corn flake'. He had an egalitarian philosophy and brought reform to working conditions and race relations. He left the bulk of his fortune to the Kellogg Foundation. C.W. Post, also from Battle Creek, invented 'grape nuts'. The city became known as 'Cereal City'.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Binder Zoo Park, Battle Creek, Michigan

This park is one of the largest of its kind in Michigan. Many plant and animal species from around the world are found here. A 'conservation carousel' features popular wild animals. In the children's area, there is a petting zoo, which includes domesticated animals, such as sheep and goats. A train ride, interpretive center and viewing platform give visitors different perspectives of the animals. Away from the main zoo is an 18 acre Wild Africa cage-free enclosure where animals roam. The pedestrian trail that runs through it begins and ends at an African village that sells refreshments and souvenirs. The park is open from mid-April to mid-October.

2.Firekeeper's Casino, Battle Creek, Michigan

The casino complex was opened on 12/12/12 and attracts regular visitors from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The gaming floor covers 111700 square feet, housing 2900 slot machines, 70 live tables and rooms for poker and bingo. Restaurants and lounges provide ample refreshment. The 8-story hotel has 243 rooms, 26 of which are suites. The 2000 seat multipurpose event center can be used for trade shows, music concerts or banquets. Firekeeper's has a strong commitment to supporting the local community. To this end it has initiated income generating ventures and donated food, funds and accommodation to local businesses and charity organizations.

11177 East Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014

3.Woodland Park & Nature Preserve

The Woodland Park and Nature Preserve in Battle Creek provides several outdoor recreation opportunities and a resource for conservation and education for the local community. This natural area spans across approximately 145 acres and has entrances on both Gethings Road and Helmer Road. Several trails wind through the grounds of the park and take visitors past some of the most beautiful natural foliage in Michigan, as well as wooded and wetland areas. Woodland Park also contains a historic grain silo. In addition to hiking, other recreational activities possible at the park include bird watching, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing.

2518 Gethings Rd, Battle Creek, MI 49015, 269-969-8945

4.Kingman Museum, Battle Creek, Michigan

The Kingman Museum showcases collections and exhibits on the topics of natural history, astronomy, earth science and cultures of the world. It is owned and operated by the public school system. The first collections date back to the Civil War. Edward Brigham who became the first director of the museum from 1906 to 1943, oversaw the construction of the museum building in 1933. His son, Edward Brigham Jr, succeeded him as director, until 1969. The museum is open on weekends and admission is free. There is a fee to attend the planetarium presentations and night sky talks.

175 Limit St, Battle Creek, MI 49037, Phone: 269-965-5117

5.C O Brown Stadium, Battle Creek, MI

This baseball park is situated within Baily Park. It was built in 1990 as the home of American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) tournaments. It was named after Cooper Othniel Brown, a local baseball entrepreneur who became the first president of the AABC. It is currently the home of the Battle Creek Bombers and has a seating capacity of 2193. It also is home to Michigan's largest outdoor sports bar. There are picnics and playgrounds in the park and the venue is available for hire.

1392 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017

6.Battle Creek Farmers' Market, Battle Creek, Michigan

The farmer's market has been in operation since the late 1800s. In the 1980s, the farmers' association took over the running of the market and in 2015 opened the new Market Square. The market operates on Wednesdays from 9 am to 2pm and on Fridays from 3-7pm. Goods on sale include fresh produce, bake goods, preserves and dairy products. There is plenty to eat from the food truck and vendor stalls. All arts and crafts are made locally from local materials.

25 S McCamly Street, Battle Creek

7.Leila Arboretum, Battle Creek, Michigan

The arboretum was established in 1922 on land donated by Leila Post Montgomery, the widow of the late cereal magnate C.W. Post. The land formerly belonged to the country club. The Kingman Museum is a strategic partner and is situated in the grounds of the arboretum. There are over 25000 plants, including 3000 labeled trees, in six European-style gardens. The trails, labyrinth and sculpture gardens add further interest. There are free concerts, weddings and various other events held on the premises. The gardens are open between June and September each year.

928 West Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan, Phone: 269-969-0270

8.Battle Creek Bombers, Battle Creek, MI

“The Red” or “Skeeters' as this baseball club is known, play in the Northwoods League within the Collegiate Summer baseball league. They entered the league in 2007 and were joined by local rivals, Kalamazoo, in 2014. In 2011, the team hosted the Northwoods League Championships on their home ground, C O Brown Stadium and were inspired to win the tournament. The club's mascot is 'Moe Skeeter' and he has lent his name to Moe's Kids' Club. The club has three educational outreaches:- a reading program based on a baseball game, the Reading Day Game and Education Day, an exhibition of S.T.E.M. topics.

Battle Creek Bombers, 189 Bridge St., Battle Creek, MI 49017, Phone: 269-962-0735

9.Clara's on the River, Battle Creek, MI

Clara's restaurant is situated in the former Michigan Central Train Station building, with its enormous watch tower and two foot thick walls. The building was built in 1888 when railways were the premier mode of transport. The 11000 square foot interior is fitted out with antique furniture and Tiffany stained-glass lamps. It has once again become a community landmark after a decade of abandonment and neglect. The “everyman's restaurant” hosts mellow music events from Wednesday to Friday evenings. In good weather, the jazz bands play on the patio, overlooking the riverside gardens.

44 McCamly St N, 49017 Battle Creek, Michigan, Phone: 269-963-0966

10.Battle Creek Country Club, Battle Creek, MI

The club was started when community members built a 9 hole golf course, caddie house and pro shop. Another 9 holes and a clubhouse were added on the land that is now the Leila arboretum. Additional land was purchased for an 18-hole course. The family home of C.W. Post was used as the clubhouse until the new premises were completed in 1966. Several famous golfers such as Arnold Palmer and Gary Player have played on the course. The club offers members golf, tennis and a gym. The Gojuac lakefront affords opportunities for mooring, boating and swimming. The outside dining area overlooks the lake.

318 Country Club Dr, Battle Creek, MI 49015, Phone: 269-962-8734

11.Kitchen Proper, Battle Creek, Michigan

Food brought husband and wife team, Anthony and Sarah, together. They opened the Kitchen Proper restaurant in order to share their passion with others. The restaurant is described as an urban eatery with a rustic flare. They serve locally sourced food, fresh in season, consequently the menu changes often. Fine wines and crafted beers accompany the meals made from scratch. Menus for private functions and other special events are customized for each occasion.

34 W. Michigan, Battle Creek, MI 49017, Phone: 269-753-1550

12.Southern Exposure Herb Farm

The Southern Exposure Herb Farm is situated in an idyllic countryside location in Battle Creek, Michigan, boasting beautiful grounds and lush gardens. Established in 2002, the venue hosts weddings and many other special events. However, Southern Exposure Farm is a working farm as well that dates back to the nineteenth century. Several of the original farm buildings have been restored and repurposed. In addition to hosting private parties and events, Southern Exposure offers wine tastings, specialty gourmet dining experiences, a gift shop, and a variety of workshops, such as home decor, holiday art, crafting, cooking, and more.

11269 Gorsline Rd, Battle Creek, MI 49014, 269-962-1255

13.Kellogg House Park

The Kellogg House Park is home to the former residence of Will Keith Kellogg, founder of the Kellogg Company. He invented cereal flakes, along with his brother Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, while experimenting with creating easy-to-digest, healthy food for patients at the area's famous Sanitarium. The Kellogg House was moved by the Kellogg Foundation from its original site to its current location in the park in order to preserve the home. The house is now used for events and non-profit functions. Visitors, however, can admire the home's prairie-style architecture and take a stroll through the well-maintained gardens.

1 Monroe Street, Battle Creek, MI 49017

14.Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center

The Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center was once the site of the world-famous Battle Creek Sanitarium of Dr. J.H. Kellogg from 1903 to 1942. It then served as the Percy Jones Army Hospital throughout World War II and the Korean War until 1953. Tours are available by reservation from 9:00am to 3:00pm, except on weekends and on holidays. Visitors wanting to take a tour of the center need to make reservations at least a week in advance, but there is no charge for admission. The center is named for three individuals who were once patients at the Percy Jones Army Hospital.

74 N Washington Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49037, 269-425-3350

15.Sojourner Truth Monument

The Sojourner Truth Monument is a sculpture in Battle Creek measuring twelve feet high of Sojourner Truth, a woman who was born into slavery, escaped with her daughter, and went on to become an abolitionist and suffragist. Designed by Tina Allen, a renowned artist, the sculpture was dedicated in 1999 in Monument Park. Truth stands next to a lectern, symbolizing how she used her public speaking gift to fight for suffrage and abolition in nearly twenty states. Sojourner Truth moved to Battle Creek in 1857 and lived in the town until 1883. She is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery.

2-14 E Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49014, 269-962-2240

16.U.S. Postal Service Museum

The United States Postal Service Museum can be found in the U.S. Post Office’s basement. Open for tours by appointment, the museum features the largest United States postal memorabilia collection outside of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., housing items that span the entire length of U.S. mail delivery history. Highlights of the U.S. Postal Service Museum include V-Mail from WWII, Schwinn postal bicycle, Model A mail truck, the first postage stamps in the world, and a storefront post office from the 1890’s.

90 McCamly St S, Battle Creek, MI 49016, 269-979-2719

17.Battle Creek Welcome Center

It’s recommended that visitors to Battle Creek, Michigan make their first stop at Battle Creek Welcome Center. Operated by the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau, the center is located downtown and is easily identifiable by the cereal mascots in the windows and a blue roof. The Battle Creek Welcome Center is a great resource for the city and the surrounding Calhoun County area. There is also a shop for souvenirs and gifts, a cereal history exhibit, a board where travelers can pin where they’re from, and a photo opportunity with Tony the Tiger against a cereal box backdrop.

34 Jackson St W, Battle Creek, MI 49017, 269-962-2240

18.Bowlero Lanes Fun Center

Bowlero Lanes Fun Center in Battle Creek, Michigan is the area's source of bowling entertainment and more. The Zap Zone Laser Tag arena features a multi-level, fully themed maze equipped with the latest in laser tag technology. Bowlero's laser tag arena offers new challenges and advanced, multicolored targets to take the game experience to the next level. There is also a sports bar with big screen televisions and more than a dozen beers on tap. Arcade games at Bowlero Lanes Fun Center include popular titles like Cruis'n Blast, Despicable Me, and The Walking Dead among many others.

775 W Columbia Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49015, 269-963-9121

19.Full Blast & Flash Flood Waterpark

The Full Blast Recreation Center and Flash Flood Waterpark is a sports recreation center and outdoor and indoor water park in Battle Creek. The waterpark is generally open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The water park features a water playground, indoor splash pool, zero-depth entry swimming pools, two outdoor water slides measuring two hundred feet, and more. Other attractions include Water Wars, a bounce house, and an inflatable slide. There's also a shop and concessions available. The recreation facility also consists of a multi-purpose space, batting cages, gymnasiums, an indoor walking track, locker rooms, and full-service fitness center.

35 Hamblin Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017, 269-966-3667

20.Historic Adventist Village

An interesting three-block experience, Historic Adventist Village tells the story of how the Seventh Day Adventist faith started. The Village features authentically replicated or restored buildings, including the Parkville Church, which was the first church dedicated following the "Seventh-day Adventist" name being chosen. Visitors can also learn about the stories of several African-American Adventist pioneers, as well as explore the interactive John Harvey Kellogg Discovery Center and see the home of Ellen and James White that dates back to 1856. The Seventh-day Adventists played a significant role in making Battle Creek, Michigan a health attraction known throughout the world.

411 Champion St, Battle Creek, MI 49037, 269-965-3000

21.Station 66

Station 66 is housed in a former gas station from the 1940’s and is a place full of nostalgia. Diners can enjoy glass-bottled soda from the 1940’s vintage Coke machine and many homemade, all-American classics from the food menu. Original gas station artifacts can be seen throughout the dining establishment. The restaurant also has a spacious side yard featuring space to roam, a giant ice cream cone, cornhole games, and picnic tables.

4588 D Dr S, Battle Creek, MI 49015, 269-979-5766

22.Art Center of Battle Creek

First opening its doors to the community in 1948, Art Center of Battle Creek has been providing the Battle Creek area with culture and arts for more than seventy years. Every year, the center exhibits around eight to ten art shows highlighting a wide variety of subjects that range from contemporary visual art to traditional cultural arts. Art instruction for all ages in various media is also offered by the Art Center, such as jewelry, knitting, stained glass, ceramics, painting, drawing, and more. The Holly Mart Holiday Sale and a family-oriented exhibition take place in November and December.

265 E Emmett St, Battle Creek, MI 49017, 269-962-9511