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Why is Kalamazoo, Michigan a great place to visit?
- Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an eclectic college town and home to Western Michigan University, offering a vibrant mix of culture, arts, and entertainment.
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What does downtown Kalamazoo offer?
- The town features a hip and progressive downtown with many options for high-quality dining, interesting shops, art galleries, and entertainment venues.
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What outdoor activities can visitors enjoy near Kalamazoo?
- The town isn’t far from outdoor recreation, lakes, and beautiful scenery. Popular nature spots include the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Markin Glen County Park, and the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, all offering opportunities for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.
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1. Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo Valley Museum is an interactive and family-friendly museum that is focused on history, technology, and science. This free museum is run by the Kalamazoo Valley Community College and features more than 50,000 artifacts, including The Mystery of the Mummy exhibit, complete with a 2,300-year-old ancient Egyptian mummy and other artifacts from ancient Egypt. Additionally, there are exhibits related to local history and industry as well as several branches of science. In addition to exhibits, the museum features a 109-seat planetarium that shows a wide range of presentations with state of the art audio and video equipment to give visitors a fully immersive experience of the stars and planets.
230 N Rose St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Phone: 269-373-7990
2. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is a non-profit art museum and school in Kalamazoo’s downtown that hosts around a dozen temporary exhibit installations each year. They are quite involved with local schools and the community and each year the exhibits include recurring shows from high schools, young artists, and other locals. Other exhibits are made up of pieces borrowed from other museums, galleries, and private collections. In addition to the temporary exhibits, the museum has more than 4,600 pieces in its permanent collection. The primary emphasis of the collection is on art from the United States and the collection showcases such artists as Ansel Adams, Mary Cassatt, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and many others.
314 S Park St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Phone: 269-349-7775
3. Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo Nature Center is a nature preserve that includes 1,100 acres of rolling hills and woods to the north of Kalamazoo. The primary attraction of the nature center are the miles and miles of hiking and walking trails as well as the 13 different trails offering 10 miles of hiking and walking paths through the center’s ponds, prairies, forests, and other wildlife habitats. You can find one that is perfect for any ability level. For instance, the trail named Habitat Haven is a 0.6-mile handicap-accessible trail that is rated easy and features a variety of habitat overlooks. On the other end of the spectrum are the difficult-rated Fern Valley Trail and the 2.7-mile Bluebird Trail, which is the park’s longest trail and is rated as moderate.
7000 N. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, Phone: 269-381-1574
4. Kalamazoo Farmers' Market
The Kalamazoo Farmers' Market is a market selling locally grown produce and handicrafts. The market mainly operates in the summer months, starting from the first Saturday in May until November. It features more than 100 businesses weekly and hosts a night market with farmers, local artisans, and food trucks. In addition to the summer markets, they offer several winter markets in various locations around town. Shopping at the Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market is a great way to experience the local culture and support local farmers, artisans, and other creatives. Each of the markets offer unique opportunities for shoppers to get to know the person who created or grew the products they are selling.
251 Mills St, Kalamazoo, MI 49048, Phone: 269-342-5686
5. Markin Glen Park
Originally a private estate belonging to Morris Markin, who founded the Checker Motors Corporation, Markin Glen Park is now a treasured recreational park located just a short distance from downtown Kalamazoo. The park offers a variety of facilities including hiking trails, a mountain bike trail, a paved multi-use trail, fishing and swimming lakes and a swimming beach. In addition you will find tennis courts, volley ball and soft ball courts and picnic shelters which can be reserved. The park also has a great serviced campground where you can park your RV and settle in to enjoy all the facilities. A hike up to the highest point in the park will reward you with wonderful views of downtown Kalamazoo.
Markin Glen Park, 5300 N. Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49004, 269 381 7570
6. The Henderson Castle (Inn)
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The Henderson Castle (Inn) is one of Kalamazoo’s most popular and most impressive inns. The hotel is located in the historic West Main Hill neighborhood and occupies an 1895 Queen Ann-style castle. The impressive castle was formerly the residence of Frank Henderson, one of Kalamazoo’s most successful early businessmen. While the historic home has plenty of old-fashioned charm, the home has many modern amenities as well, such as WI-FI, heated marble floors, a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and much more. In addition to offering a fantastic option for overnight stays, the inn has an organic garden, vineyard, day spa, and restaurant that are open to the general public.
100 Monroe Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006, Phone: 269-344-1827
7. Farmers Alley Theatre
The Farmers Alley Theatre is home to a non-profit community theater group that performs classic plays as well as new and upcoming acts, cabaret shows, and kids’ programs. The theater offers an intimate, family-friendly, and community-focused environment to enjoy each performance. The seating area is small, which means no matter where you are sitting you will have a close-up view of the show. They offer drinks for purchase and sometimes offer light snacks. Each year the theater hosts a holiday show which includes hot chocolate, coffee, and holiday desserts as a part of the admission. Season tickets are available for guests who wish to see several shows during the annual season.
221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Phone: 269-343-2727
8. Markin Glen County Park
The Markin Glen County Park occupies the former site of a private estate that has been developed into public recreational land. The park features hiking trails, sports fields, and a lake with swim access and a beach. Fishing is allowed on the lake as well. The park has several playgrounds for children as well as a paved, multi-use trail. One of the highest points along the trails offers scenic views of downtown Kalamazoo. For overnight guests, the park has a campground with 38 campsites, each of which has a fire ring and a picnic table. The campsites are modern, with electric, sewer, and water hookups, a dump station, and modern restrooms with showers.
5300 N. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49004, Phone: 269-381-7570
9. Verhages Fruit Farm & Cider Mill
Verhages Fruit Farm & Cider Mill is a working farm and family-friendly attraction that offers a variety of experiences for guests. The farm’s attractions are mostly open in the fall and each week they host a variety of tours, each hour during the day. The tours take from 30 to 60 minutes and include a walk through the animal barn, a hayride, picking apples, and a cider making demonstration. The cider mill, donut shop, and country store offer a large variety of treats to enjoy at the farm as well as merchandise to take home. The farm and cider mill are very handicap accessible, including the hayrides.
8619 W. MI Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, Phone: 269-375-0153
10. Confections with Convictions
Confections with Convictions is a gourmet chocolate and candy shop specializing in hand-crafted truffles that are made with organic, fair trade chocolate from recipes created by chocolatier Dale Anderson. In addition to the shop’s own hand-crafted chocolates, they sell a selection of gourmet, organic, and fair-trade chocolates from various places all over the world. The store was opened to give troubled youth a chance to work towards something productive. The name of the store comes from the fact that the business employs and supports young people in the court system towards a more productive future and only uses the most wholesome ingredients in their sustainable production process.
116 W. Crosstown Pkwy #101, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, Phone: 269-381-9700
Best Time to Visit
Places to Stay
Tips for Visiting
Spring (March-May) – Mild temperatures and beautiful blooming landscapes.
The Kalamazoo House – A charming bed-and-breakfast in downtown Kalamazoo.
Visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center – Explore scenic trails and interactive exhibits.
Summer (June-August) – Warm weather, great for outdoor events and activities.
Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center – A stylish stay with easy access to downtown attractions.
Explore Bell’s Brewery – One of Michigan’s most famous craft breweries.
Fall (September-November) – Crisp air, fall foliage, and cultural festivals.
Henderson Castle – A historic boutique hotel with a unique charm.
Visit the Gilmore Car Museum – See one of the largest classic car collections in the U.S.
Plan Your Trip
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