Kalamazoo is one of the best places you can choose for your next vacation. The place will be etched in your memories forever after taking the trip. From the popping art and culture scenes, fun-filled activities, hiking trails, amazing summers to the vast museums, recreational activities, splendid nightlife, and the best winter holiday activities- there is no shortage of The Best Things to Do in Kalamazoo. With a number of museums to explore, beautiful nature to enjoy, and one of Michigan’s most famous breweries, Kalamazoo offers a lot to locals and visitors alike.
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Spend a night at Henderson Inn
The Henderson Inn which is also known as the Henderson Castle is one of the most attractive places in Kalamazoo. It was a castle, but later the government remodeled some of the parts turning it into an inn. And, the best part? It is open to the public for spending a night!
Frank Henderson who was a very successful business-man, owned this home back in 1895. It was built in a Victorian mansion-style design and still looks well-detailed even to this day. After the remodeling of the place, you can find hot baths, saunas, WiFi, in-built vineyards, and tonnes of modern things in the inn. It is a perfect combination of the past alongside the present.
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 is 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.
Walk around Al Sabo Preserve
Want some greenery away from the chaos of hectic city life. Kalamazoo presents you with the Al Sabo Preserve. It has almost 741 acres of free land that consists of trails and even boardwalks. Moab, Lookout, Atwater, and Mandala Two are the names of some of the trails.
Interested in mountain biking? There is an option for that here too! With almost 7 miles of biking trails inside the preserve area, you can easily go mountain biking. Also, the views are quite excellent. There are the views of the Kalamazoo river itself meeting up with Portage Creek. You can probably see a lot of animals here. Deers, coyotes, muskrats, and turtles are just to name a few.
See live music at old Dog Tavern
There’s a lot more bars than just breweries in this town. And good thing, since most of those close before midnight. Spend your Kalamazoo evenings at Old Dog Tavern, located right down the street from Bell’s Brewery, and a cross between a restaurant, bar, and music venue with live acts every Friday and Saturday. There’s a special every day of the week, including jazz brunch on weekends and a $5 whiskey & beer drink promo on Fridays. And if you need even more to “cheers” to, there’s always free ping-pong and pinball, plus local craft beers on tap. It’s pretty much impossible to have a dull night here — and no, that’s not a challenge. Just enjoy it.
Enjoy a game at Bronson Park
Bronson Park has been a tourist attraction of Kalamazoo since the 1850s. Located in the prime location of Downtown Kalamazoo, it is the center of the crowd’s attraction too. The locals generally go to Bronson Park if they want an outing. With ample space, a picnic area, and greenery- Bronson Park has some fountains and sculptures too. The sculptures are the statues of the heroes that have given away their lives in the war.
But, did you know you can even play at Bronson Park? Gear up and play Bubble soccer! But, make sure that you visit the park with a group of friends as the equipment is available for rent for a group of 10. Visit the park on a sunny afternoon and have the time of your lives.
